| Whether you will be taking out student loans, | | | | graduation. The fewer loans you can manage to take |
| applying for scholarships or grants, or praying for | | | | out for your education the better. They are however |
| some sort of work study program to come along | | | | there for those who couldn't possibly afford an |
| there are a few things you need to know about | | | | education without them. |
| financial aid at the college level. | | | | If you don't find the scholarships you are hoping to |
| First of all, financial aid can be a tricky beast. For this | | | | at the local level, you should check with the county in |
| reason it is best to apply early and keep records of | | | | which you live, your state, and the school you plan to |
| everything you send to the financial aid office. The | | | | attend. There are excellent resources for each of |
| information age has made things easier on one level | | | | these when it comes to financial aid. Within the |
| and yet has eliminated the personal factor on other | | | | college you will be attending you should consult your |
| levels. However, if you own a personal computer you | | | | department head (for your chosen major) in order to |
| will find that Internet is an excellent source for | | | | see if there are any scholarships available. You will be |
| financial aid and scholarship information. While the | | | | surprised at the number of scholarships for which you |
| government offers a wide array of financial aid | | | | may qualify. Apply for all that you meet the |
| resources, there are many opportunities for you to | | | | requirements in order to apply. Competition for these |
| get an education that do not revolve around | | | | scholarships is often fierce but you never know |
| government funding. You simply need to spend the | | | | when your letter of application might spark the |
| time finding them. | | | | interest of one of the panel members or you simply |
| Your local community is an excellent resource and a | | | | might be the most impressive candidate. |
| good place to start when it comes to financial | | | | When applying for scholarships remember to read all |
| opportunities for those preparing to attend college. | | | | the instructions carefully, make sure you have all the |
| Civic organizations and local businesses like to give | | | | necessary documentation, and that you have |
| out scholarships to promising students. Many of these | | | | checked and rechecked everything for accuracy and |
| have very specific requirements and you should pay | | | | clarity. It takes time to make corrections and they |
| close attention that you meet the qualifications | | | | can often be the difference in your being awarded a |
| before applying. There is no sense in wasting your | | | | scholarship and the honor going to another student. |
| time and that of the scholarship committee by | | | | Scholarships are by far the best route to go when it |
| applying for scholarships for which you do not qualify. | | | | comes to applying for financial aid but you should be |
| Scholarships are preferable to student loans, as they | | | | careful that you aren't placing all your eggs in one |
| do not need to be repaid. This is one of the most | | | | basket. Try for multiple scholarships, work-study |
| important things you need to understand when | | | | programs, grants, and if necessary loans in order to |
| seeking financial aid for college. Loans are killers to | | | | achieve your educational goals. |
| your income for the first several years after | | | | |