Pleasant Ranch

It may be a daunting task to think about where your financial aid is coming from. There are many great resources that are readily available to anyone that is willing to take them. Utilizing the skills of your admissions and guidance counselors as a resource is a great place to begin in your hunt for college resources. While, the admission and guidance counselors may be a start, they should not be the only resource that you explore throughout this process.

The first form of aid that you need to apply for is the FAFSA application. This form should be filled out as early as January 1st of your high school senior year. The closer you can fill it out and send it in the better as aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Considering that there are millions of applications that will be submitted, the difference of just a couple weeks could be the difference between receiving money and being denied. In addition to the FAFSA, you should also explore the CSS Profile form. This is a form that is required by some schools. It is best to check with your high school guidance counselor.

The next step is to begin canvassing the organizations and memberships that you or your family participate in. Churches, social groups, and clubs, no matter their size, often fund scholarship programs that are not made public, and you will never know until you ask. Try grocers and pharmacies in your area, or an uncle?s restaurant chain. There are a great many small scholarships that are not advertised to the public, mainly because they are small and private amounts. If you don?t ask about them, or bring attention to yourself as a deserving prospect, they will simply pass you by.

In addition to colleges and universities, another great source of scholarships are the employers of the student?s parents. Many times there is money available, even if it is only a couple hundred dollars. Even a few hundred dollars can go a long way and by simply adding a few of these smaller scholarships they will quickly add up. Most colleges have a work-study program that will help subsidize the student. You are not necessarily paid for your time, but you will be forgiven from the amount of money that you will owe upon graduation. Talk with your counselor about the details and applying for their program.

Even if you have to get a loan or two, it is not the end of the world. Just make sure that you do your homework and are very sure of the terms of the agreement. Just like any other loan commitment, make sure you shop around for the best rate. One thing that you should note is the re-payment schedule. Most of them do not require re-payment until at least 6 months after graduation.