Talk to high school and college financial aid officers about where to look for free scholarships and grants. It’s part of their job to help students find this money. However, they’re often overworked, and many students find they have more success finding scholarships on their own.
Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, often called the FAFSA. This document takes a student’s financial condition into account. And if the student is a dependent, the parents’ financial situation is also considered. Many scholarship applications require the same information that goes into a FAFSA, so save the information.
Check the website of the institution of higher learning you’re considering attending. Most provide useful information for finding free scholarship and grant money. You can often receive helpful advice by sending an email to the financial aid office and asking for scholarship information. Many scholarships are tied to a specific institution of higher learning.
Research any minority or special scholarships you might be qualified for. Search the Internet for scholarships for any specific qualities that you have. There are many scholarships and grants that are specifically for minorities.
Apply for specific scholarships and grants. Most applications can be found online. Be sure to fill out the applications in detail. Many people neglect to add information such as membership in the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. These details can add to your chances of getting free scholarships and grants, as many of them are partially based on character.
Practice writing answers to essay questions. Many scholarship applications require essays, and writing a good essay can be crucial to winning the scholarship or grant. Have a teacher or parent check your essay for grammatical and spelling errors.
Continue applying for scholarships and grants. The more applications you fill out, the better your chances of landing free scholarship and grant money. And when the scholarships come in, thank the people and organizations that award you scholarships and grants. Many of these awards can be renewed annually, so make sure you show proper gratitude. Besides, it’s good manners.