There are so many options for education financing to choose from that it can be very confusing, especially for high school students just entering college. Here are a few things to watch out for if you or your child will be entering college and looking for financing in the near future.
When applying for education financing, it is often easier to prepare one written statement including all of the basic application information. You can then use this template as a “cheat sheet” when filling out the individual grant and scholarship applications. It will need to be altered, though, to fit the specific application. Some areas of your life that are usually of interest to scholarship review boards include career goals, specific talents, extra curricular activities and community clubs, academic achievements, financial need, and ethnic background, if applicable.
If you or your parents are a member of any particular group or organization, then be sure to inquire about scholarships. This can include everything from the military, unions, employers, professional, community service groups, and other clubs. Larger groups, and even some small ones, offer scholarships or some kind of tuition repayment plan that may come in very handy towards finishing your college education.
Discuss your education financing options with your high school counselor before graduation. Many counselors know of scholarship programs for the local college or other universities you may be interested in attending. Your counselor can also advise you which extracurricular activities will help your chances of receiving financial aid. Scholarship providers show a higher interest in students that show a wider range of activities than simply seeking to excel academically.
Check out your school’s library for scholarship resource books which list all possible education financing options available to you. Your library may have several of these books and they can be very valuable, but be sure to get the current editions. It will list scholarships for college that are available from just about every group, state, and according to the major you want to pursue. Some books also include lists sorted by field of study, recreational interests, ethnic groups, and other subcategories.
Be sure to start the application process as soon as possible. Many students are competing for a limited amount of education financing, so it is important to get your application in front of the review board quickly. These community groups can take many months to review applicants, so do not get discouraged if it takes awhile to get a response.
