Here are fundamental ways you can increase the amount of financial aid you receive and alleviate some stress you may have relating to college expenses.
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Simply put, college is EXPENSIVE.
Quite frankly, the thought of having to pay thousands of dollars per year can be pretty terrifying. Many people turn to financial aid and scholarships but think it is hard to obtain if they are not the perfect student with a 4.9 GPA, countless awards, and a star athlete. Scholarships are easier to get than you may think. If you follow the proper steps, you can significantly increase your chances of receiving financial aid to help decrease the sticker price of your college education.
I want to show you fundamental ways you can earn scholarship money and alleviate some stress you may have relating to college expenses!
There are endless amounts of scholarship opportunities out there - you may just have to take some time to find them. Make Google your best friend. If you research all of the different scholarships available, you will find ones that are applicable to you, even if you did not expect them to exist. For example, there are so many random or surprising scholarships that businesses or companies have to offer, rather than just the schools you are applying to.
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Need-based scholarships and low-income grants are also highly accessible. To begin the process, you need to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and establish that you have a financial need to attend that college. More on this in just a minute, and other blog posts :). Applying through FAFSA is considered one of the most important and significant ways students earn financial aid. This is because many students are qualified to receive government grants. However, you can’t get government grants without filling out the FAFSA forms, so it’s essential to fill them out if you are likely to receive at least SOME money. Even if you do not receive as much aid as you had hoped, you can still apply for more money through FAFSA.
Community service scholarships are also available for high-schoolers who have played a significant role in the community. These are just a few of many scholarship examples, and with the right amount of research, you can find numerous sources to submit an application.
Although you don’t have to be an A+ student to be eligible for scholarships, it is still vital that you show dedication towards your education. The people reviewing your scholarship applications want to see that you are a hard worker and put effort into your studies. Your high-quality GPA will also show that you are fit for a more rigorous college education. Try your best when it comes to schoolwork, and your grades will reflect your hard work. Overall, good grades will give you more scholarship options and make you more eligible to receive aid. Many schools also provide merit-based scholarships based on solidified academic criteria.
If you have a 3.5 GPA and 27 ACT - you can get $24,000 in financial aid. I think that’s pretty great! In addition to getting good grades, getting a good ACT or SAT score can help you land some scholarship money. As you can see from the chart above, getting a 3.5+ GPA and a 32-36 on the ACT could be worth $104,000 in scholarship money. That’s no joke. ACT preparation and tutoring can seem like an expensive and timely investment, but they can drastically lower your college costs.
With the Scholarship Hero Subscription,✨ you’ll get 55+ scholarships sent directly to your inbox each month. No more Googling “scholarships” 🔎 or scouring Google Scholar in your free time. Let us do the grunt work while you focus on what matters most – Your Education and Your Goals! For more information, please click here.
Those who review the fate of your scholarship applications often view things from a holistic perspective. Not only do they look at your grades, but they also look at your personal life, work experience, and extracurricular activities. If you have an array of activities that you do outside of school, you can stand out from other applicants.
However, this is not to say that you should participate in activities for the sole purpose of enhancing your probability of receiving a scholarship. Instead, partake in activities that you find genuinely interesting. This will lead to a more fulfilling high school experience, and you may find a new hobby or passion!
Here are 69 Fun Teenage Hobbies To Choose From
In turn, this can also help you submit authentic scholarship applications. Adding enriching extracurriculars to your application can also help you stand out from other applicants when applying to universities. In addition to standing out from the crowd on your scholarship application, you can also get scholarship money directly from your extracurricular!
All states offer state-specific college grants and scholarships.
Applying for state grants is another excellent way to receive money for higher education. These grants are often need-based as opposed to academic or achievement-based. Students can apply for these grants through FAFSA, which I discussed above. Submitting this application allows you to receive aid from government sources. Combining FAFSA with multiple other scholarships allows you to receive scholarship money from many different sources.
Read more: 17 Scholarship Tips You Need to Know!
Likely, there are more resources available to help you find scholarship opportunities than you think. Your high-school guidance counselors are a great, highly qualified source to assist in your scholarship search. They know about valuable resources and will help guide you through the scholarship process. Another valuable, but sometimes underused resource is the financial aid office at specific colleges. If there is a certain college you want to apply to, you can contact the financial aid apartment to learn more about the financial aid services available. They can inform you about the school’s different scholarships, and different application processes.
State grant agencies also offer information on scholarships. All of these resources are free of charge and will optimize your list of scholarship opportunities.
It's definitely worth it to apply for as many scholarships as you can! Oftentimes, they have scholarship money to distribute, and they are eagerly waiting for students to apply. The thought of college tuition can be quite daunting. By using the tips above, you will be more qualified to receive scholarship money. It is important to remember that if you work hard, and do your research, everything will work out in the end. Additionally, almost everyone qualifies for at least one scholarship! But you must learn how to locate the most appropriate ones for you, the ones that you have a genuine chance of winning.
To easily find them, or for them to find you, Subscribe to our Scholarship Hero (get access to 55+ scholarships sent to your inbox for $5 per month.) Check out our blog as well for tips on lowering college costs, filling the FAFSA, and other topics relating to financial aid for college.
If you are a parent who wants help planning for college, please feel free to contact Josh at Josh@collegefundinghero.com.
For Educational Purposes Only. No portion of this content should be construed as investment advice. No portion of this content should be construed as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. References to specific securities, investment programs or funds are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities. "If you're interested in an investment advisory or financial planning relationship - please consider Josh's affiliated company Vincere Wealth Management.
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