Roll up your sleeves, here are some tips to finding scholarships, financial aid and Pell and Stafford loans to pay for college.
Hit the Net! There are countless resources online to help you find and obtain financial aid, but there are just as many scams. A rule of thumb is if they are asking you to pay for information, it’s probably a scam. Here are a few bonafide links for free searches: fastweb.com, srnexpress.com, brokescholar.com, petersons.com and collegeboard.com.
Hit The High Rollers! More and more large companies are making scholarships available, so it’s worth looking at the big companies in your city. Here are a few to start: Coca Cola, Target, Pfizer, Wendy’s and Kellogg’s.
Don’t forget the financial aid for the Department of Education and Pell and Stafford loans!
Do your best to find scholarship dollars, but if you are still coming up short, remember there are tried and true resources that can provide you loans and grants. The Department of Education will pay $83 billion this year in student aid. There are also Pell and Stafford loans. Unlike scholarships, these monies have to be paid back after your graduate, but you’ll be gainfully employed by then. Go the Extra Mile! Paying for college is one of the most important steps in preparing for college, so give it your best effort. Apply for as many scholarships as possible. Make sure you follow the application guidelines, and whatever you do, don’t blow an opportunity over something like missing the deadline!
