The costs for higher education continue to skyrocket making scholarships almost a necessity.
College is an expensive proposition. With costs constantly rising, it is difficult to afford an education without some form of financial aid. Common forms of financial aid include grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Scholarships are most often awarded based on merit and do not have to be paid back. They can be awarded based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, service in the military or leadership abilities. There are many scholarships out there both large and small. The trick is to find the ones that are designed for you.
Instructions
1. Meet with guidance counselors. Your high school's guidance counselors are trained in helping students prepare for college. They will likely know of many scholarship opportunities both local and national. Set up an appointment with a counselor and explain what your plans are and which colleges you are applying to attend. Ask for help finding scholarship opportunities.
2. Visit your local library. Ask the librarian where the reference books on college scholarships are kept. The library is also likely to have books that will help you apply for scholarships, write personal statements and fill out applications correctly. Your local library may also have some applications available for local and federal scholarships.
3. Browse academic scholarship Web sites. Visit the sites that offer free scholarship listings. Some of these are listed in the resources section. Create a profile at each of these sites so that their engines can match you up with scholarship opportunities based on your academic profile, extracurricular activities, financial situation and other details.
4. Contact the financial aid department of the educational institutions you plan to attend. Most colleges have specific scholarships for students entering their institution. Some are based on specific majors, locations or ethnic and cultural background. Ask what you need to do to qualify and apply for school-specific scholarships.
5. Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application must be filled out if you wish to receive just about any form of financial aid including scholarships, grants, student loans or work study.
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