Find Scholarships Online

Applying for scholarships may seem like a daunting task to students who are just starting to investigate how to pay for college. However, most scholarships have a similar application process, which means that applications should be easier to complete over time. Also, remember that if you are awarded a scholarship, the effort you put into applying will be well worth your time.

FAFSA

The first form you should fill out is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This form is available from the U.S. Department of Education and it determines your eligibility for need based grants and government-sponsored loans. The FAFSA form will require that you supply pertinent financial information such as your W2 forms and Expected Family Contribution. Once you have gathered this information, keep it on hand for use with other scholarship applications.

The FAFSA should be submitted on or after January 1st for the upcoming school year in which aid is needed. This means that if you are beginning school in September you need to have your FAFSA application in the January before September. Also, the earlier you submit your FAFSA form the more likely it is that you will receive aid.

Scholarship Databases

There are many sites that specialize in providing scholarship search engines. However, these sites largely vary in their quality. In general, you will want to look for sites that have a sizable database of scholarships and a specific way for you to search for scholarships that you are eligible for.

USDE Scholarship Locator

The next best step is to use the scholarship locator on the Department of Education's website. Due to the fact that this locator is affiliated with a federal agency, you can be sure that the scholarships found are legitimate and obtainable. Enter a keyword in the search box that relates to either the educational program you are entering or any strong skills or interests that you have. Clicking on the fields that appear will give you more information about the scholarship programs available. From this point, you can email or phone the organization to request a scholarship packet.

State Departments of Higher Learning

From the Department of Education's website you can find your own state's department of higher learning. The federal Department of Education allocates funds to each state annually. These funds are used to provide scholarships and aid to college students. Each state designates how and when to distribute these funds. Find your state's agency and search their website for funding options.

College Answer

Sallie Mae's College Answer features over 60,000 scholarships, tuition waivers, fellowships, and grants to students. Use this free search tool to find funding that is unique to your own personal needs; these qualities can include ethnicity, academic strengths, and family information. College Answer will match you with opportunities that you are qualified for.

Junior Achievement

The Junior Achievement organization hosts their own scholarships for high school students. These scholarships are often related to ethics and student achievement. The applications frequently involve an essay and an application form, which is obtained by contacting the organization posted. The links on their website will provide further information about availability, amount of aid, and how often the aid will be dispersed.

For High School Students

If you are a high school student, your high school or college academic counselor will have a listing of scholarships for you. Use this resource to its full advantage by asking your counselor any questions you have about scholarship applications and technical jargon. Professionals in this field have a lot of knowledge about the strategies used to win financial aid, and they are always willing to share this information with students. Starting with local resources can have many benefits when applying for aid. The number of applicants to any one scholarship will be smaller, and your chances of winning will be greater. Your counselor will also have national scholarships available.

Finding and applying to financial aid is an integral step in the college application process. These organizations and forms will give you the foundation you need to fund your higher education.

Article References

FAFSA
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

USDE Scholarship Locator
https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/v3browse.asp

State Departments of Higher Learning
http://www.guidetocareereducation.com/complete-list-of-state-departments-of-higher-education.html