| According to official statistics almost 64% of high | | | | institutions, Athletic scholarships, and academic ones. |
| school students enroll in colleges or universities each | | | | In case you are planning to seek private funding, find |
| year. Costs of education escalate each year and just | | | | out if your college accepts this. |
| tuition fees, room and board would be US$10,000 | | | | Find out what the eligibility criterion for each |
| and more per year in a public institution, and | | | | scholarship is, and assess whether you are eligible to |
| US$25,000 and more in a private one. | | | | apply. The general criteria would be academic |
| So, even before applying for a scholarship, you will | | | | performance, talents, community efforts, and ACT |
| need to sit down and think out the finances and | | | | or SAT scores. Specific criteria could be religion, |
| what the rules are in the colleges you are considering. | | | | ethnic group, subjects being studied, or where you |
| While calculating your needs, the factors that need | | | | live. |
| consideration are: the cost of education in totality, | | | | Sources for finding out about scholarships are the |
| your family contribution, and the earnings in your | | | | high school guidance office, the Internet, the college |
| family. The difference between the cost of education | | | | aid office, you local library or town hall, local |
| and your family contribution is your demonstrated | | | | newspapers, and scholarship directories. |
| need. | | | | The ideal strategy is to begin the process well in |
| How much of a scholarship you will require depends | | | | advance, say September of your high school junior |
| on the package worked out by the financial aid | | | | year. This is when you should begin research, |
| department. Once you know the amount, you can | | | | reviewing your academic goals and schedule, |
| apply for different scholarships based on what your | | | | attending college fairs, and exploring financial options. |
| college accepts. For example, if your college qualifies | | | | Seek the help of senior students who have managed |
| to receive grants from federal programs, you can fill | | | | to get scholarships, and also ask guidance counselors |
| in an application at FAFSA, Other options are | | | | and college admission cells. |
| scholarships offered by the college, private | | | | |