The Counselor's
Office
Financial Aid
for College
There are three primary sources of financial aid.
1) colleges
2) private donors
3) direct loans to you from banks and lenders
How do I go about getting money from colleges?
Your child must first apply to the college (or colleges) of his choice during his senior year in high school.
You and your child should fill out a FAFSA form either on-line or on paper in January of his senior year in high school. You must know and use your current year's tax data to complete the form. FAFSA forms are available from your child's high school counselor or go on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov .
Once this is received by the government, a calculation is made to determine how much money the family can be expected to contribute (EFC) to the child's educational expenses. This information is then sent to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA form so that they may use this to make you a financial aid package offer. These financial aid packages are based on, not only your expected family contribution, but also on how expensive it is to go that particular college. For that reason, I encourage all families, regardless of income level, to fill out a FAFSA form as soon as possible. Financial aid packages can consist of a combination of scholarships, loans, grants, and work study. These offers are normally mailed out in the Spring Semester and can be accepted or rejected by your child by a specified deadline.
Colleges also offer scholarship money to students who meet certain qualifying standards. These usually involve certain grade point averages, ACT/SAT scores, and extra-curricular and leadership activities in high school that are usually communicated through the Admission application or their high school transcript. There is often a seperate Scholarship application form to be filled out by the student at the time the Admissions application form is completed. Scholarship offers are also made in the spring of their senior year.
How do I go about getting money from private donors?
Private donors can include everyone from local sorieties and fraternities, alumni organizations, service clubs and organizations, private individuals, local school clubs and parent organizations, local and national businesses, etc. The list is endless.
Private donors contact high school counselors throughout the school year in search of students who meet their scholarship requirements. Students should visit their counselor's office, check the counseling bulletin board, listen to announcements, read their Senior Newsletter, and check out this website (Link to Scholarship Listing) for a current list of available scholarships.
In addition there are numerous websites throughout the Internet that offer more scholarship opportunities. Parents should also check with their employers for scholarships being offered by their business. Many times children of employees are given preferential status in scholarship competitions. Also, be aware that scholarship opportunities are everywhere, i.e. drug stores, retail stores, groceries, etc. Anytime you walk past a bulletin board or display look at it carefully for postings of scholarships. Many times all it takes is for the student to fill out a 4 x 6 card and mail it in.
Link to Home Page Link to More Financial Aid Info