| There is a lot of money available to prospective | | | | 4. Get In Front of The Pack |
| college students. There aren't really any tricks or | | | | Everyone has heard that the early bird gets the |
| shortcuts to getting it, all it takes is a little motivation | | | | worm, well the race for college scholarships is no |
| and perseverance. The following five guidelines will | | | | different. First, if they are eligible, students better |
| help you know exactly what you need to do in order | | | | there chances of receiving federal aid by filling the |
| to get into the dough and help you pay for all those | | | | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), |
| expensive college years. | | | | which is a funding requirement for many institutions. |
| 1. Be positive | | | | Second, it is not only wise but almost obligatory for |
| Some students don't even try to get a scholarship | | | | students who want to find the best scholarships to |
| because they believe that their GPA or test scores | | | | take the PSAT or ACT during their junior year in |
| are too low. Nevertheless, they don't realize that | | | | order to be able to apply for scholarships early. Not |
| there are thousands of scholarships that don't | | | | only does this allow for students to apply early on |
| concentrate as much on the GPA and test score and | | | | for college money but if a student is not satisfied |
| concentrate more on the person and who he/she is. | | | | with his/her test score, he/she still has time to |
| The first step to landing a college scholarship is | | | | retake the test another time to raise his/her score. |
| believing in yourself and believing that it is possible to | | | | Students shouldn't put off taking the test, take it |
| get one. College admissions officers around the world | | | | early and take it again later if needed.. |
| would be able to tell you that it never hurts to apply | | | | 5. Serve Others |
| for scholarships even if your GPA is just average or | | | | Luckily, the focus is shifting from grades to |
| even below average. | | | | personality a little ever year for college scholarship |
| 2. Start Fast | | | | committees. Before, they would only look at grades, |
| Students need to be searching for scholarship | | | | but now are looking more towards the overall |
| opportunities before their 10th grade year. By the | | | | attributes of the student. Students who have spent |
| sophomore year, parents and students ought to | | | | all of their high school career doing nothing but |
| start exploring the financial aid programs that colleges | | | | studying and concentrating on getting straight A's |
| and universities offer. Students should never forget | | | | may not be as likely to get a scholarship then those |
| that is it vital to write a school asking for special | | | | who have actively participated in community service |
| information on admissions and scholarships. This lets | | | | groups, extra curricular activities and other things |
| the college know that they are serious about finding | | | | such as these. Most college admissions officers weigh |
| money for college. Something that most students | | | | extracurricular activities combined with grades much |
| forget is that their local level scholarships are much | | | | more than grades alone. Grades only tell them if the |
| more easy to receive than other scholarships. One of | | | | student has put some effort into their high school |
| the best places to get local scholarship sponsors are | | | | work. If you were a college admissions or college |
| community churches. | | | | scholarship committee, you wouldn't select students |
| 3. Involve the family | | | | who have no community involvement and proved |
| It's no surprise that Pa and Ma feel the pressure to | | | | that they have spent all of their time studying over |
| get their finances in order long before their son or | | | | students who were able to distribute their time well |
| daughter leaves home. Most importantly, parents | | | | enough that they could participate in many extra |
| need to understand the importance of their expected | | | | curricular activities and still find enough time to work |
| family contribution, or EFC, a formula based on | | | | on their school work. Therefore, there is still hope for |
| assets and income which can affect the amount of | | | | those who didn't spend all of their time studying in |
| college scholarship funding for their children. Parents | | | | high school. As long as you spent your time actively |
| should attend college admissions and scholarship | | | | involved in the community or in extra curricular |
| workshops with their children to gain a better | | | | activities, you should have no problem finding a nice |
| understanding of the financial aid process. | | | | scholarship. |