Begin your search for grants and scholarships as soon as you start narrowing down the colleges that you're interested in attending. That's usually the junior year of high school. Talk to recruiters to find out the kinds of scholarships and grants that might be available to you. Read the school brochures, and go to the schools' websites. If a family member attended one of the schools you're looking at, find out if you're eligible for a legacy scholarship, which could cut your tuition costs significantly. Find out if you might qualify for a cultural diversity award if you or one of your parents is from another country.
If your high school has a particularly strong guidance office, meet with a counselor, who may be aware of scholarship and grant opportunities at various colleges.
Use websites such as FastWeb and CollegeWeb to search for scholarships. Search under many criteria, such as state of residence, intended major, high school accomplishments and parents' affiliations.
Look in your community for scholarship opportunities. Does your city's Rotary Club offer scholarships? Perhaps your parents' credit union awards an annual scholarship. Find out the criteria, the application process and the deadlines, and submit an application.
Review application requirements carefully after identifying the scholarships and grants for which you qualify. Note important deadlines on your calendar, and set to work on the application process.
Follow applications to the letter. Include every piece of information requested and pay close attention to the quality of your essays and writing, as these will set you apart from the crowd. Make sure your application is as close to perfect as it can be.
Ask a teacher, parent or guidance counselor to review your application. Based on that person's comments, you may decide to revise or add to your essay or entry.
Submit your completed application early or on time. Be sure every detail is correct.