Types of Financial Aid

• Scholarships- gift, usually not need-based
• Grants- gift, usually need based
• Loans- must be repaid
• Work-Study- guaranteed work on campus for wages
   

Sources of Aid- largest to smallest

• Federal Loans
• Collegiate Resources
• Federal Grants
• Tax Relief
• The States
• Employer-Paid Tuition
• Private Sources
• Veteran’s Administration
   

Typical Scholarship Criteria

Scholarships will not normally be offered to students who have not achieved more than minimum academically. Colleges and scholarship committees are often looking for students who fall within particular qualifications.

• good grades
• high ACT or SAT scores
• extraordinary talents (art, music, writing, sports, science, etc)
• extra curricular activities participation
• leadership
• character
• volunteer community service
• activity in community organizations
• a certain nationality or race
• career plans
• parents who are veterans or belong to certain organizations, unions, clubs, etc., or are employed by certain companies.
   

Finding Scholarships

1. Check with the Counselor's Office. The local scholarship list is available as well as some additional scholarships.
2. Do a free scholarship search on the internet. You enter in information about yourself and you are matched with a list of potential scholarships.
   Suggested sites:
   1. www.scholarshipexperts.com
   2. www.fastweb.com
   3. www.collegeboard.com
3. Check websites of individual colleges, financial aid brochures, or college catalogs to see Freshman Scholarships. On the college website, look for Prospective or Future Students OR Financial Aid or Scholarships. Check www.meritaid.com to match yourself with merit scholarship opportunities from colleges across the country.
4. Fill out the FAFSA by February of the senior year for qualification for need-based money for college. You may obtain a PIN and apply for financial aid free at www.fafsa.ed.gov

If you are wondering if you will qualify for financial aid, check out a Financial Need Estimator. Many colleges have them on their websites or go to one of these sites:

• www.act.org/fane
• www.finaid.org/calculator/finaidestimate

Additional Advice

• Check with employers and organizations or clubs to which you belong (student & parent).
• Visit colleges and talk to financial aid people. Call or email for information.
• Take the ACT (as many times as you can or wish!).
• Submit a financial aid form (FAFSA) February of senior year at www.fafsa.ed.gov and fill out a separate financial aid application if colleges require them.
• Reapply for financial aid and scholarships each year you are in college
• Apply to more than one college so you can compare financial aid packages.
• Pay attention to deadlines for scholarship consideration.