| It is natural to be skeptical when someone talks | | | | college funding opportunities, sorted for a student's |
| about free money for college: Tuition is more | | | | individual eligibility factors or custom search terms. |
| expensive than ever and student loans have become | | | | However, some websites or "private" financial aid |
| an almost unavoidable part of funding higher | | | | counselors will ask for payment up front. Some claim |
| education. While skepticism is good way to avoid | | | | guaranteed results, or promise to do all the work - |
| frauds and scams, free money for college can be | | | | avoid these opportunists and be familiar with the |
| obtained through a combination of researching | | | | warning signs pointed out by the Federal Trade |
| available programs, preparing thorough applications, | | | | Commission's page regarding scholarship scams. |
| and maintaining strong grades. A little bit of luck and | | | | With so many students competing for a limited |
| some unique personal attributes or hobbies might also | | | | amount of money, the best way to guarantee |
| help, but the big key is to avoid paying for the | | | | financial aid success is hard work that can be |
| information that is already available for free online or | | | | displayed in the form of great grades, high |
| at school financial aid offices. | | | | standardized test scores, community service, and |
| Ideally, the process of paying for college should begin | | | | organizational leadership experience. These are the |
| long before the student applies for admission. It is | | | | fundamentals of attracting tuition assistance, but the |
| never too early for parents to save (as budgets | | | | specific criteria varies from program to program so |
| allow) and the student should work on making good | | | | one should not be afraid to look even if the student's |
| grades as soon as they get to high school. Contests | | | | grades aren't quite perfect. |
| and scholarships for research projects are available at | | | | Students should identify the programs they are |
| all levels of high school, so it is good to start | | | | eligible for through free services on the internet or |
| researching funding opportunities as soon as possible. | | | | school guidance offices. Few scholarships are |
| Focus on Free: Avoid Scholarship Scams and False | | | | guaranteed, so applying to many scholarship and |
| Promises | | | | financial aid programs can literally pay off big time. |
| Dozens of websites offer free information about | | | | |