You can’t beat free money for college. That’s why smart students use a 1-2-3 approach to paying for college: first, use money that doesn’t have to be repaid—like grants and scholarships; second, explore federal loans; and third, fill any gap with private loans.
How do students find scholarships? What are some keys to qualifying for them? The following are some tips you can give your students to help them locate and take advantage of scholarship dollars.
Don’t rule yourself out. Scholarships are not limited to class valedictorians and star athletes. They’re awarded based on any number of factors—from career goals to exceptional writing skills displayed in an essay contest.
Apply for as many awards as you qualify for. Even small awards can be helpful in covering costs such as books and other expenses, and, taken together, they can really add up.
Understand the conditions of the award. You may be required to maintain a specific grade point average or even play in an orchestra to qualify.
Proofread: Review everything before you send it. Having a typo on your application may limit your chances of being considered for a scholarship.
Enlist support: Supplement your application with personal letters of recommendation.
Pay attention to deadlines. Miss a deadline and you’ll likely miss out on scholarship money. You may even want to try to submit your application early to stand out from the crowd.
Follow up. Confirm that the organization sponsoring the scholarship received your application.
Send a thank-you note after you receive a scholarship. This small courtesy often has a disproportionately big effect.
Make use of free scholarship directories. Never pay for scholarship information. SallieMae.com and Fastweb.com are two reliable sources of free scholarship information.
More information about scholarships is available at Salliemae.com/scholarships and Thesalliemaefund.org/scholarships.
Sallie Mae and Champions for Higher Education are registered service marks of Sallie Mae, Inc. The Sallie Mae Fund is a registered service mark of the Sallie Mae Fund. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae, Inc., are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. Copyright 2008 by Sallie Mae, Inc. All rights reserved. 11/08.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:48 am
There should just be a goverment fund created just to pay for students who want to go to college and have a standard GPA to do it.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:49 am
i would love to recieve free money for college. i really hope to attend alabama state university.i have lots of friends and family attending school down there. i really would like to join this school because i no they have an outstanding criminal justice program. I HOPE TO BE ATTENDING THIS SCHOOL FALL OF 2010.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I really appreciate sites like these that help students get into college as painless as possible.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I love the fact that there is free money out there. Its just that when you compeeting with thousands of other students it can be hard to win. But i plan on getting the hope scholarship to pay for college.
i cant wait
=]
October 8th, 2009 at 11:46 am
this was very helpful process and it was really appreciated.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I would also like to recieve free money for college.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Being from a low income household, i do hop to attend collge low of charge. I will be applying for as many scholarships as my time allows!!!!
October 8th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
i would love to qualify for scholarship so i dont have to paid for school. Or at least paid not as much
October 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I would love to receive free money. The more money for college, the better.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I think deadlines should be taken into consideration and there should be federal funds for students who want to go to the college. Some people don’t have the funds to aspire for college so there should be some kind of support
October 12th, 2009 at 8:53 am
This is a good blog. It covers the basics of
how to earn scholarships and how to
look for them. I plan to get some
scholarships for college.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I need all the scholarships and financial aid there is…I don’t want to be one of those students who completes 2 and a half semesters and then drops out because of financial issues.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I would love to receive free money for college. it would really help me get through college, since i come from a one income household.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I think there should be special funds for students who have a GPA good enough to receive a grant for just wanting to go to school, because some high school students don’t even consider going to college.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
i believe their should be a goverment funded grant that pays for students who have a desire to learn even if they don’t have the G.P.A
October 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Fast web really does help the college search process for scholarships. You should also try berecruited.com for athlete scholarships!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Fast web really does help the college search process for scholarships. You should also try berecruited.com for athlete scholarships!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
This article was very useful, I will look into these resources.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I would love to recieve free money for college. it’s something you cant beat. Times are very hard and ruff so this is the year for 2010 to strive for everything they can. these tips can really help you succeed. Im very optimistic about college. I will need as much college assistance that i can take as in money;scholarships;and advice on the perfect field. We need to make a change!
October 16th, 2009 at 10:28 am
This article was helpful, I definitely plan on applying to everything possible..this article encourages me to do so.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:11 am
These steps are steps that I will definitely use while applying for college. This will help my aplication process go smoothly and I appreciate all the help.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:19 am
I really think getting free money school is great for people who really want to further there education. In my opinon I think the money should be for people who can write a good essay explaing why they really want to go to college and use that money as a stepping stone to better there future. Any how when it all comes dowm to it I think the government should ofer to pay students college funds with a G.P.A of a 3.5 and higher. For now I think the money we get free is good for right now!!!!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
this is a really good blog, i appreciate these helpful tips.!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Sometimes students have excellent grades, but their ACT Scores don’t allow them to get the kind of scholarships they want which isn’t fair to those students who are sometimes bad testers.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Sometimes students have excellent grades, but their ACT Scores don’t allow them to get the kind of scholarships they need which isn’t fair to those students who are sometimes bad testers.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:21 am
i think act or sat scores should not be the basics for
earning scholarships and or full rides to college. some student like myself are not good test takers but i have a high G.P.A
October 19th, 2009 at 8:31 am
This article is true and very helpful
October 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I love the fact that there is free money out there. Its just that when you compeeting with thousands of other students it can be hard to win. But i plan on getting the hope scholarship to pay for college.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Its just that when you compeeting with thousands of other students it can be hard to win. But i plan on getting the hope scholarship to pay for college.I love the fact that there is free money out there.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I think everything she said was right and important.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:25 am
If u have a opportunity u should take it, especially if its free money for college. Thats the best thing that could ever happen to you.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:27 am
This information is helpful because as a senior student in high school now I have been applying for scholarships and things to pay for college. I really want to go to college and do something with my life.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:30 am
This was a good article that gave much helpful information. It would be extremely helpful if I can receive money from the governmant that i won’t have to pay back.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:30 am
This is all true thats why I don’t give up on looking for money for college. But I just don’t understand why does the ACT score mattter so much to colleges when you have the grades and had the grade since the 9th grade.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:31 am
i would love to recieve free money for college just in case its someone who dont have money or who cant afford money for college..
October 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
i think its good that there are scholoarships and finacial aid for students who need money for college. i myself plan on going to college on a basketball scolarship
October 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I THINK MOSTLY EVERYBODY NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO BUT NOT HAVIN MONEY IS NO OPITION. THEN YOU DONT WANT TO TAKE OUT A LOAN BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO BE OWNING THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
October 19th, 2009 at 9:35 am
This was a good article. It would be helpful if I can receive schloarships and grants for college.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:15 am
thanks for the information this site will be helpful
October 19th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I would really love to get free money for college and I am still undecided on what college i want to go to so i would really like it if i could get some info from colleges sent to my email! thankyou
October 19th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I like the fact that there’s free money for student who really want to further their education….. But it is hard for some students to receive the grants and scholarships out there
October 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I think that they should do a type of funding for students who really want to attend college and so something to keep it funded. Because college is really expensive now so it should be other ways to get money for college for those students who have higher than a 2.0 GPA and if your g.p.a falls then you should not get funded anymore. Or do something that could be a easier way to make money and pay expensives for college.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I think this is a good article and i feel that students should take this very serious especially if someone is trying to help u with an education and if the money is free.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I enjoyed reading this article. And I would love to receive free money for college
October 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I Think This Is A Good Way To Plan For College. It Is Reasonable And Organized.!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:42 am
this ariticle doesnt really catch your eye at the begining but once you read the article it intrest you. as an athlete i am always looking for more ways to get money for college. but i do not think ACT scores should not matter when you apply to college
October 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I would love to receive free money for college, I dont mind working for the money.I think that doing some type of funding for the students who are going to college, and cares about there education and also based on G.P.A AND INCOME.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:43 am
I feel that school should be a lot cheaper than they are makeing us pay but thanks for the outlook on the grants and the other ways to pay for college.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:16 am
there should b some type of government payment or sum type of payment so that the childen who has good g.p.a and good high school grades who cant afford college should pay for them to go!!!!!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I really appreciate this website
December 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
School be cheaper, yet affordable. However, this is America, so it is expected to say the less. I appreciate the people who help, and hope they continue to do so in the future.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I would like Schlorships and Grants not loans.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
This article is very helpful in alot of ways. I appreciate this article because I was really lost on alot of things when it came to paying for college. I am very appreciative for this article.