Gather your financial documents, such as your last income tax return and W2 form. Because many colleges award scholarships based on need, filling out a financial application at the same time your child applies will automatically put her in the running for these awards. When she finds other scholarships that require your financial information, she'll already have the information handy.
Visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website, apply for a PIN and fill out the FAFSA application. Once completed, you can have your child's FAFSA automatically sent to any colleges to which she applies.
Purchase three to five folders where your child can keep hard copies of scholarship applications.
Organize the scholarship search by bookmarking scholarship websites and showing your child how to set up computer folders to keep his information easily available.
Use a scholarship search engine such as College Board or Sallie Mae to find scholarships that your child may qualify for.
Help your child read over the application and explain any terms he might not understand.
Encourage your child to set aside specific time each week to work on scholarship applications, and make sure you are available during that time to help her with any problems she might encounter.
Proofread your child's scholarship application for him, and try to offer help only when he asks. Remember, it's important that he take charge of the process.