Financial Aid and Scholarship Tips

File your FAFSA and other forms as early as possible.
Each college has their own deadline, but the earlier the better. Students who file later, risk receiving less aid as colleges approach their budget limits.

Start locally.
Your high school, school foundation, your company or employer, local clubs, and organizations often sponsor scholarships with information and applications readily available from your counselor.

Avoid scams and frauds.
A large number of scholarships that require fees of any kind are scams and may very well be illegal, even if they actually award money to someone. If you use a consultant, make sure they will fill out the form for you and will sign it as the preparer.

Apply only if you are eligible.
Read all the scholarship requirements and directions carefully to make sure you're eligible before you send in your application.

Complete the application in full.
If a question doesn't apply, note that on the application. Don't just leave a blank. Supply all additional supporting material, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays.

Follow directions.
Provide everything that's required, but don't supply things that aren't requested—you could be disqualified.

Neatness counts.
Always type your application, or if you must print, do so neatly and legibly. Make a couple of photocopies of all the forms before you fill them out. Use the copies as working drafts as you develop your application packet.

Write an essay that makes a strong impression.
The key to writing a strong essay is to be personal and specific. Include concrete details to make your experience come alive: the who, what, where, and when of your topic. The simplest experience can be monumental if you present honestly how you were affected.

Pick people for letters of recommendation who will help you.
They should be willing to take the time to write a personalized letter, instead of stamping your name on a form-letter. Provide them helpful information about the scholarship, its requirements, and the deadline.

Watch all deadlines.
To help keep yourself on track, impose your own deadline that is at least two weeks prior to the official deadline. Use the buffer time to make sure everything is ready on time. Don't rely on extensions—very few scholarship providers allow them at all.

Make sure your application gets where it needs to go.
Put your name (and Social Security number, if applicable) on all pages of the application. Pieces of your application may get lost unless they are clearly identified.

Keep a back-up file in case anything goes wrong.
Before sending the application, make a copy of the entire packet. If your application goes astray, you'll be able to reproduce it quickly.

Give it a final check.
Proofread the entire application carefully. Be on the lookout for misspelled words or grammatical errors. Ask a friend, teacher, or parent to proofread it as well. Mistakes can cost you money.

Ask for help if you need it.
If you have problems with the application, don't hesitate to call the funding organization.