Scholarships and grants are helpful in financing an education. The difficulty of these benefits is figuring out how to register for them. The process can be time consuming, and can result in utter frustration on the part of the applicant. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when filling out applications for grants and scholarships.
- Scholarship competitions may require a nominal fee, but winning such a competition not only looks good on a resume, the financial benefits are very satisfying. If you win, publicity photos and restrictions pertaining to the use of the money might be required before you can have access to the scholarship funds, but the additional cash towards your education is well worth it.
- Prior to applying for scholarships, you will most likely be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Abbreviated and more commonly known as FAFSA, it is recommended that a student fill out this form prior to searching for grants and scholarships, since the application is practically used by almost every extant scholarship and grant. Other forms and applications might be required for competitions or grants, so thoroughly researching the required items needed to complete the paperwork is necessary. Additionally, there are three very helpful resources to use in the search for financial aid.
- The student guide to federal student aid is a free government resource that is available to all college students. It can be downloaded, and offers an explanation about every extant student aid program. For more information, please go to http://www2.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide/1997-8/index.html.
- The scholarship coach is a service offered by Ben Kaplan. All of the information is free, and he gives suggestions not only about finding scholarships but also how to win them. Other helpful items on the site are tips to finding more obscured funding. To visit the site, go to http://www.cityofcollegedreams.org.
- Directory of Canadian Government Aid Websites is a helpful resource for all Canadian students trying to find financial aid. It is a comprehensive guide, giving Canadian citizens information about each province. Administered by McGill University, the address for the site is http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/government/directory.
With the vast number of resources available to students, finding the funding that you need for college has never been easier. You might not be able to get your college education completely funded, but by using the resources outlined here, you can cut down significantly on the amount that you need to pay and avoid years of your life spent worrying over unpaid school debts.
