How Do I Get Money for School? Your Guide to Securing Scholarships

We recommend the following tips to increase your chances of securing a valuable Scholarship for your education. Remember, often times scholarships are financial rewards that never have to be repaid. How great is that!

1. Do not limit your scholarship searching resources. Uncover a plethora of options. Your school, local guidance counselor, or library is a good start. The Internet offers an almost unlimited amount of scholarship portals, which allows its users to locate the right scholarship for their needs.

2. Every heard the saying, "Try, Try and Try Again"? Well the same can be applied to scholarships, "Apply, Apply and Apply Again". A lot of students only apply for 1-2 scholarships. This severely decreases their chances for securing funds for their education. Increase your chances by accessing the robust scholarship databases offered online.

3. Stay organized. If you took the advice from point #2, then you will have a lot to keep track of come deadline time. Keep notes on which scholarships require what information and when the submission date expires.

4. Keep your head up. You will most likely not be awarded every scholarship you apply for, however if you stay positive and follow some simple tips mentioned above you will find the right financial assistance you need.

Other notes of interest:

Last year the U.S. Government passed a bill that will increase aid to college students.

A college education is more important than ever these days.

Do not let the cost of an education deter you from reaching your dreams.

Scholarships are the best way to fund your education. Why? Because you rarely have to repay the money.

Some grants and scholarships are based on financial need; others are awarded based on achievement, religious affiliation, ethnicity, memberships, hobbies, or special interests.

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Facts About Financial Aid

Financial aid is money to pay for college from sources other than your savings or your family's contribution. It can come in many forms and is available to students who demonstrate financial need or to those who just want to pay for college on their own.

For most college students, they would not be able to go to college without financial aid. And for many parents, financial aid is the lifesaver that helps give their kids a proper education.

Read the list of financial aid statistics to see why college financial aid is so important:

From the National Household Education Surveys Program, 1999

When students enter high school, 91 out of every 100 say they plan to go to college, according to the federal report.

More than 7,900 students in grades 6 through 12 and their parents showed that few of them knew anything about college costs. Two-thirds of the students, as well as nearly half their parents, said they couldn't estimate what tuition and fees are for the kind of college the student hoped to attend.

From the Harris Poll commissioned by Sallie Mae Fund, 2002

Nearly half of all parents (48%) wished they had more information about how to pay for college.

60% of parents with incomes under $50,000 said they need more information about how to pay for college compared to only 37% of parents with incomes of $75,000 or more.

50% of Hispanic-American parents said they had "no idea" how they were going to pay for college, compared to 23% of white parents and 26% of African-American parents.

Just over one in four (26%) young adults not currently in college, but who considered college, would have been more likely to attend college if they had had better information about how to pay for college.

From the Education Commission of the States, 2003

While the average cost of college tuition rose 110% between 1981 and 2001, median family income only rose 27% in the same period.

From an American Association of University Women Survey

70% of respondents worry more about the cost of college education for their children than the cost of a house, a car, or secure retirement.

What Kind of Financial Aid is Available?

The basic types of college financial aid available can be broken down broadly into the following categories:

Scholarships: Free money that does not need to be paid back. Scholarships can be need or non-need based and can come from a variety of sources, such as the government, a school, or a professional or recreational organization. Scholarships are many times awarded to students with achievements in academics, athletics or other school activities.

Student Loans: Money that is borrowed and must be paid back with interest. A number of student loan varieties exist, including those administered by the federal government like the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan and PLUS loans, as well as private loans, which are available through banks and other lenders.

Grants: Free money that is need-based and does not need to be paid back. Grants can be federally funded, or they can come from a school.

Non-Loan Options: A number of other options exist to help you pay for college, including the U.S. military's ROTC program, where students receive money for college in exchange for military service, and the federal work-study program, where students work in exchange for funds to pay for college.

With so many people in need of financial aid and so little of them knowing about it, it is important to learn as much as you can before you get to college.

You should use a student financial aid calculator, such as one from Ed Fund, to help you determine your total college cost, and if you discover you don't have enough money to pay for school on your own, there are always tuition payment options.

Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, Student Finance Domain and Study Abroad Domain, websites that are devoted to providing college students with helpful environmental, financial and study abroad advice.

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How to Get Financial Assistance

If you'd like to go into a college, or even already been a student, but money's a problem. What should you do? Should you spend the money you've saved? However, the foundation of your education is established in the process.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that only rich kids can afford a top college or school. Every one can get proper education, better education. Some colleges offer financial aid to some of their students.

The different types of financial assistance

Scholarships. Many colleges or schools offer money to promising low-income students. You can try to ask the possibility of this. Ask for a list of available scholarships. (Local community organizations and religious groups sometimes offer aid, but the amount is usually minimal.)

Financial aid. This is a "need-based" type of aid - and it doesn't have to be repaid.

Loan programs. This choice helps you borrow money to pay all or part of your tuition. Some colleges loans directly; some are affiliated with outside agencies through which you can apply for a loan. You even can ask your bank for loan information.

Payment plans. According to this option, you pay your tuition to college in monthly installments as you would a mortgage (you may also have to pay a nominal signup fee).

Where to start looking? Start with the college institution themselves. They will be your best source of information on scholarships, student loans, and other types of financial assistance. Many colleges provide their own scholarships and also provide you with a list of outside sources with financial assistance.

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Know Your Financial Aid

Financial aid, you are going back to school and probably wondering if it could help you? If you are like most people today debts are on the top of your list and take up majority of your income. Well, what you might not realize is that there are many different types of financial aid available to students today. These different types of financial aid can assist you in achieving your dreams.

Knowing the different types of financial aid programs out there is the key to understanding what you are getting yourself into and preparing for the future. People get excited about going to school but do not research fully their options and end up hurting themselves in the end. Here is some information to get you better acquainted with the types of financial aid.

Different types of financial aid:

Government loans - These are loans given by the government to students and usually are based on need. The interest rates of these loans are lower than private loans. These loans can be subsidized and unsubsidized which means the government pays the interest accrued on the loan while the student is in school or on deferment. Students are advised to take advantage of subsidized government loans first if possible because they will save some money on repayment.

Private loans - These loans are mainly credit based so the lender will verify the student's credit score to determine their interest rate. If the student has no credit, which is the case with most young students, this might not be the best way to go because your interest rate will be extremely high. The only two reasons for thinking of taking out these loans would be if; one, there is no other option or two, if you have excellent credit. With excellent credit you will be sure to get the lowest interest rate possible.

Government grants - Grants are a good type of financial aid because this is basically "free" money. This is money you receive and do not have to pay back.

Scholarships (School and Private) - This is another type of "free" money. Scholarships can be given out by the school based on merit, GPA, sports and other factors but does not necessarily have to be earned. Sometimes you do have to meet requirements to keep receiving this type of financial aid such as a 2.0 GPA. Private organizations can also award scholarships to students for many different reasons. Some organizations hold contests, or will ask students to write essays to determine a winner but these are only a few examples. Be sure to check with local organizations, clubs, churches, and schools in your area to find out more information.

Work programs - These programs allow the students to work off their debt. The student can usually work around campus and earn an hourly wage which goes into repaying back tuition and books. The work the student performs is not always related to their field of study, even though sometimes it can be.

There is financial aid available based on different factors so be sure to review all information and speak with your financial adviser to determine what is best for you. If you don't get the answers there speak to someone you trust, a lender, or even other students to get all the information necessary to help you make your decision. Amongst the different types of financial aid you should find one that is the right one for you.

The author is a recent graduate of an accredited online university and uses her website, http://www.OnlineDegreesMadeEasy.com - to help students and parents get information about online education and financial aid. Also, an employee of a student loan servicing center, Ms Garcia has plenty of experience in dealing with student loans, financial aid and providing advice to borrowers on repaying their loans. For more information you can find articles at How to Earn an Online Degree, http://www.OnlineDegreesMadeEasy.com

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Five Secrets of Successful Scholarship Winners

Are you wondering how some students manage to bag good scholarships? It isn't always because they are just smart or talented; it's also because they prepared for it. If you really want to get a scholarship to help you with your education needs, here are a few secrets scholarship winners have shared with us:

Prior preparation prevents poor performance. You don't have to wait until your senior year before applying for a scholarship. You can start looking for one as early as your sophomore year. There are contests, exhibitions as well as summer jobs you can apply for, and they can help you prepare for college.

Do the search on your own. Sure, you can ask for some help from your parents, but it's much better to take charge of your own scholarship search. You're the one who's going to apply for that scholarship, not your parents, your teachers, or your friends. Why not test how far you can reach using your capacities?

Avoid errors on your applications. Make sure that there are no typographical errors on your scholarship form, since these might lead to unnecessary problems in your application. Also, proofread your essays. Ask someone to recheck your essay before submitting it. Mistakes, no matter how small they are, reflect one's character. You may not be able to win that scholarship you're eyeing for because of these errors.

Scholarships help make your college life so much fun.

Apply for multiple scholarships, regardless of how big or small they are. Local scholarships, even those in small amounts, can be extremely useful once you get them. You can use the money to beef up your savings, or you can set the extra cash aside for your emergency money.

Look for scholarships everywhere. Don't just rely on the internet; check out your school's bulletin board or the Guidance Counselor's office. Besides giving you information about the usual range of scholarships out there, your guidance counselor can also tell you about other lesser-known scholarship packages sponsored by companies and organizations.

Looking for a scholarship isn't that difficult. Just remember that patience and good preparation are crucial to looking for a scholarship that fits your needs and skills. Who knows, you might stumble upon a good find today!

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All About College Scholarships

There are many alternatives to pay for your college education rather than taking out a student loan.

The best way to do this is to utilize your talents and abilities and to apply for a college scholarship.

Just like college grants, scholarships are free money that can cover a large portion of your student expenses. Their purpose is to help you further your education, and they are based on a wide range of criteria.

To help you learn more about scholarships, here are some basics:

What types of scholarships exist?

There are a wide range of scholarships available to students to help them pay for college, so it should not be difficult to find one that's right for you.

The types that exist are:

• Academic - Based on a student's grades and their performance in school


• Athletic - Given to talented athletes who perform well in their sports


• Financial Need - Given to distinguished students who exhibit financial need


• Religious Affiliation - Given to outstanding students who are dedicated to their religion and its practices


• Ethnicity/Minority Status - Given to students who positively represent their specified race


• Institution-Based - Given to students from the particular university or college they plan on attending


• Community-Based - Given to students from the particular community that they grew up in


• General - These cover a wide range of sponsors who are not listed above

Who offers these scholarships?

Both federal and state organizations offer scholarships.

A few are:

• Employers/companies


• Community foundations


• Labor unions


• Churches


• Individuals


• High schools


• Colleges


• Religious groups


• Volunteer organizations

What do I need to get a scholarship?

In order to fully apply for a scholarship you will most likely need:

• Your high school transcripts


• Standardized test scores like the SATs


• Financial aid forms (FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE)


• Your parents' financial information (like their taxes)


• An essay (topics will vary)


• At least two letters of recommendation (from reliable sources)


• Proof of your eligibility

Where can I get a scholarship?

There are many places where you can find the perfect scholarship if you:

• Research them online


• Contact your college financial aid office


• Ask your guidance counselor


• Get advice from former scholarship winners

It's true that most students are not fortunate enough to get a 'full ride' college scholarship, but don't despair because there are plenty of scholarships available.

All you need to do is to take the time to find them and to answer their questions. You'll find that some are easy to apply for, while others ask you to submit an essay describing yourself and detailing the reasons why you deserve the scholarship.

This is not the time to be shy. Just be yourself and open up in these essays. The scholarship committees are looking for interesting individuals with unique stories to tell.

Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, Student Finance Domain and Study Abroad Domain, websites that are devoted to providing college students with helpful environmental, financial and study abroad advice.

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