Getting Free Money For College - How Hard Is It?

There is plenty of scholarship money out there. Some sources estimate there is between $60 and $70 billion available in college and university scholarships, grants, fellowships and federal funding. All it takes is knowing where the money is and how to get it. You can have your share if you just follow these five steps.

1. Don’t Be Negative

The very first thing that needs to be done is a check on your attitude. If you don’t believe that you will get a college scholarship than chances are pretty good that you won’t. I would tell you to don’t ever give up when trying to apply but the problem is that many students don’t even give themselves a chance in the first place. Be positive about getting money for college and don’t believe that just because you didn’t graduate in the top %10 percent of your class that you won’t be able to get some much needed money for your college education.

2. Don’t Delay

Students would be wise to begin the long search for college money when they are about 16. By the sophomore year, students together with their mom or dad should have completed a thorough investigation of each financial aid program of any institutions that they desire to attend. Students need to contact the schools in order find out about college admissions and the requirements each school has for financial aid. Students should remember that getting a scholarship can be even more simple when they don’t look to far for one. Often times, the best scholarships are within your own city limit and not on a national level. There is always less competition making the chances of finding a scholarship much much easier. One of the best places to get local scholarship sponsors are professional organizations.

3. Include All Family In The Process

It isn’t anything new that parents feel the pressure to have reliable income long before their kid moves out of the house. Whether they like it or not, parents do have the responsibility of helping their child in the long process of college admissions and scholarships. Whether it is direct financial help or direct help with all the admissions and scholarship applications, parents need to feel the pressure of helping their child get a jumpstart on life. Parents should look at it this way: “If I don’t help my child find money for college, the money might just be coming out of my pocket.”

4. Get a head start

There are two vital tips for getting ahead in the scholarship race. First, students can become eligible for federal grants and work-study money by applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is a funding requirement for many colleges and universities. Second, taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) during the junior year of high school will qualify students for a bulk of the national college scholarships that require a PSAT score.

5. Move out of the classroom

For many college admission committees, a well-rounded student who gives back to the community is just as impressive as a straight A scholar. Activities outside the classroom are actually more important than high grades and SAT scores to many college scholarship and college admission committees because they want to know how you will impact a community or a college once you get there. If your grades are not great, this may be the loophole you’ve been hoping for.

Hopefully these five steps give you a good idea on what you need to do to get free money for college. No matter what happens, be persistent and patient. Never give up, you will find money if you are optimistic and endure to the end.