appying for assitance with college tuition?

Question

my daughter, a high school junior, is about to go into college next year, i want to prepare and be ready for most of her needs, can i get some help with receivng any scholarship money, loans, tuition assistance, anyone know the best ways to get ahead start on these things.

Answer 1

The best way is to talk to your child's school counselor to determine what your daughter want to study in college. From there, the counselor can help you look at which college is best for her and put her in to the federal aplication for financial aid (FAFSA).

Here is the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAFSA

Good luck.

Answer 2

The time is now to start looking and applying for consideration for college scholarships. Apply for scholarships no matter how big or small because it means less money either paid by you or repaid back in student loans. Private scholarships have application deadlines throughout the calendar year. If you waited until a year from now, you would have missed many application deadlines. I will list some free resources that should help locate money for college.

First, the college's financial aid office and website has a list of private scholarships offered from outside organizations and companies. Sometimes a college major's website will list scholarships, too.

Second, the public library has a book listing scholarships with some not even listed on the web.

Third, the high school guidance office has a list of local scholarships for current high school students.

Fourth, fill out the FAFSA form. It will help tap into federal and state need based financial aid along with scholarship money from the college itself. It is based on the parents' income and savings along with your income and savings. The form becomes available on January 1 for the upcoming fall semester or quarter. It needs to be renewed each year until college graduation. This should be filled out in her senior year.

Finally, I recommend joining several free membership scholarship search websites. There are scholarships for a variety of things including ethnicity, clubs, hobbies, and even wearing duct tape to the high school prom. Most are updated on a regular basis. Most offer a customized search based on information entered onto a form on the website.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Once the student decides what school she's going to apply to, she should check out what exactly they need for financial aid. Some schools require more than just the FAFSA, and you don't want to be late because you didn't know what documents they needed. You should also make sure to keep track of all the deadlines.

As for scholarships, she should look at the many scholarship websites out there (her school probably already told her about some of them).

Once you know what school's she's going to apply to as well, you could find out which alternative loans they recommend. Most do the Sallie Mae Signature (which the student takes out) and the Parent PLUS loan (which the parent takes out). Any other loans they recommend will probably be good ones as most schools don't like to screw up their students' credit.

I would just suggest contacting the schools and making sure you keep on top of things.

Answer 4

Your daughter needs to fill out FAFSA http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. If she is starting college in Sep 2007 she has to do it immediately, if she is starting in Sep 2008 she has a while. After your daughter fills that out(most of it requires your income information) it will send it to the collleges she has applied to, it as well tell you how much they expect you to contribute to your childs education. Depending on your income your chikd may receive some grant aid(doesn't have to pay back), as well they may require that you take out loans. Once she has decided the school she wants to attend she should as well look on that schools website for scholarship information.

Some things to consider, is if your child is going to school in the state you live or out of state. If she is going out of state the cost will be higher, as well she will not be entitled to state aid, however a lot of schools do offer scholarships for students coming from out of state if they are low-income, students of color(depending on the college, usually private schools) or have good grades.

So I hope that helps.

Answer 5

http://www.csumentor.edu/

i goto csu school, and you can get all the information at that site. if she is planning on going to a UC campus, then file out a fafsa, and wait to see how much money she can get. if the school your daughter is planning on attending is about driving distance from your home, you should check out the financial aid office. one reason to visit the school's financial aid office is because scholarships are posted there, and they can answer any basic questions you might have. usually if you make more money than average, the school might ask you to contribute some of that money on your daughter's education. most schools have websites, where they offer more detailed information, like housing, average costs per quarter or semester, scholarships, work study programs in campus or off campus, and other stuffs.

there are also Community Colleges, most UC schools now allow students at their campus to attend community colleges to finish their general education program. General education program is the first 2 years of schooling of basic subjects. it will save you some money, and plus your daughter can still go to the school that she wanted to attend, since most community colleges have programs with most UC and CSU campuses. Community colleges have scholarships, loans, calgrants, and other stuff like work study. Usually community colleges pay for all classes for students going full time, so your daughter can pay for her books only, unless the community college also has a book voucher program. with the book voucher, the school pays for most of the book costs, since books for full time students cost up to almost 560 per quarter or semester, it will be a good thing to have a book voucher.

plus it's a good thing to know about community colleges, because some subjects are pretty hard, depending on her major, and sometimes students who can't pass a certain class, can take it at a community college to replace the grade. but the school also has limits for transferring certain classes. you can visit the website below to check out what classes are transferrable, and what classes aren't. and the website also provides details on UC campus and csu campus. good luck.

Answer 6

i dont know her interests, grades, needs or details, so i will just post all that i have found. some sites charge for this free info (to find it for people), so if you run across a site that does, avoid it. most are scams.

everything you need should be here. i know its a lot, but take your time and pick through them. start with FASTWEB first... she just fills in the questions and submits it. then they email her back with what they are able to find on their databases, that she would qualify for.

your right by starting early.... it'll give you a chance to get more help, or at least a list of help started.

pass on what your are able to find to others, so they can have help with schooling also.
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There are government loans & grants, and then there are private loans & scholarships.

try to aim for grants/scholarships more... they are not to be paid back. its confusing sometimes, but just keep applying. Scholarships usually have a 1 or 2 page application, and require an essay. Take your time with the essay, so yours stands out.

every big (and small) company you see (manufacturer, orgs, corps and groups also) all have grants and scholarships they hand out like candy. Walmart, Kmart, Target, Coke, computer companies etc etc etc

here are some links with a HUGE list of what is available. some you will need to copy and paste into a new window. also, fastweb (take the time to fill it in) will search databases and get back to you with a list of scholarships you qualify for.

Also contact all mens, womens associations in your state, they almost always have grants & scholarships. What ever field you are going into, contact the orgs, associations etc for them; Also check with professional organizations related to your career interests, such as the American Bar Association or the American Medical Association. they also always have scholarships. Research and dig, call then write. Its all worth it.

OVER apply; it doesnt hurt to have too many, and the extra funds can help with housing.

YOU WILL NEED ADOBE READER:
(yes, its free)
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

TESTING & PRACTICE TESTS
(SATs, PSATs, ACT, GRE LSAT, MCAT, GMAT,TOEFL, etc)
http://www.kaptest.com/college
http://collegeboard.com/splash/
http://act.org/
http://lsac.org
http://toefl.org
http://www.ets.org
http://www.gre.org
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat
http://www.gmac.org

TURNITIN
(don’t copy papers, teachers/professors
DO check your papers with this)
http://turnitin.com/static/home.html
http://plagiarism.org/

INFO
NACAC & COMMONAPP
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/
http://commonapp.org/
http://nsse.iub.edu/index.cfm

DVD TOURS OF COLLEGES
http://collegiatechoice.com/

CRIME STATS, DATA OF COLLEGES
http://ope.ed.gov/security/search.asp

SCHOLARSHIP LIST
http://scholarshipamerica.org/
http://www.lifebridge.org/gran-list-alph.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/njcomputerchick/school.html
http://www.chrome.org/scholarshiplist.html

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS, HELP & INFO:
http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/servlet/scholarshipsearchservlet?SS_ACTION=DB_SEARCH&pageIndex=1
https://www.collegedata.com/cs/search/scholar/scholar_search_tmpl.jhtml?Referrer=OvScholar
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-jobs.htm
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/other.phtml
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/
http://www.back2college.com/library/scholarships.htm
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/
http://www.findtuition.com/scholarships/
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/
http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/grants.asp
http://www.gmsp.org
http://www.gmsp.org/gmsp_web/(nb5ctd55gavpfi55bb3a3j45)/scholarships.aspx
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu:16080/scholarshipcafe/
http://www.edsf.org/scholarshipAwards.cfm
http://www.fafsaonline.com/
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
http://www.feea.org/
http://www.greenzone.org/
http://www.salliemae.com/
http://www.ed.gov/finaid/landing.jhtml
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/
http://www.educationplanner.com/ss/code/Profile1.asp?level=u®ion=s&mode=EDIT&sponsor=2859&volume=SS&e&h
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/Detailed/Scholarships/Meta_indexes_and_other_scholarship_directories/Women_s_and_Non-traditional_students_scholarships_meta-directory_126.php
http://www.akaeaf.org/programsandinitiatives/
http://www.schoolsoup.com/
http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm
http://www.dellscholars.org/
http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/
http://www.jackierobinson.org/
http://www.bpwusa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4212
http://www.wilsonfund.org/scholarships/scholarships.shtml
http://www.uncf.org/
http://www.socxfbi.org/login.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/cgi-alumni/adir2.dll&path_info=/search&sitename=FBI&scroll=10&p=1&S=scholarships&x=0&y=0
http://www.finaid.org/
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
http://www.act.org/recognition/clients.html
http://www.act.org/kfcscholars/index.html
http://www.kfcscholars.org/
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
http://www.collegedata.com/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=139
http://www.policylink.org/EDTK/AH101/Financing.html#4
http://www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm

MISC FIELDS OF STUDY
http://www.arts.ucla.edu/support_ucla/primary.htm
http://www.act.org/goldwater/yybull.html
http://www.act.org/recognition/clients.html
http://whereyouheaded.com/
http://luth.org/schools.htm
http://www.nwboatschool.org/
http://soloschools.com/
http://www.nols.edu/wmi/
http://etruscanfoundation.org/

NURSING / CNA
http://www.scholarships-ar-us.org/grants/nursing.htm
http://www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm
http://nursingworld.org/nursecareer/edfund.htm
http://www.medi-smart.com/finaid.htm
http://www.discovernursing.com/nursing-scholarship-search
http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/nsl.htm
http://www.nsna.org/foundation/
http://www.4cnas.com
http://www.choosenursing.com/
http://www.minoritynurse.com/
http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subptyschol.inc
http://www.straightforwardmedia.com/nursing/
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/scholarship/

BECOMING A TEACHER
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/TeacherScholarship/
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/becoming.htm
http://www.fseog.com/
http://www.childcareservices.org/ps/teach.html
http://www.act.org/recognition/clients.html

CHILDREN OF MILITARY
http://www.militaryscholar.org/about/about.shtml
http://www.mcsf.com/site/c.ivKVLaMTIuG/b.1677655/k.BEA8/Home.htm
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm <-do search for ‘scholarships’
http://www.milspouse.org/Educ/Fund/MilFScholar/
http://www.aerhq.org/education_dependentchildren.asp

INTERNSHIPS
http://www.fasttrackinternships.com/
http://www.internprograms.com/
http://www.brillstreet.com/
http://ceri.msu.edu/

DEPENDENCY or NOT
http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/apply_student_loan/understanding/financial_aid/dependency/

LOAN FORGIVENESS
http://www.pheaa.org/loanforgiveness/healthier_futures.shtml
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/loanforgiveness.htm
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelstaff.jsp?tab=repaying
http://www.finaid.org/loans/forgiveness.phtml
http://www.aessuccess.org/manage/cant_make_payment/Federal_Teacher_Loan_Forgiveness.shtml
http://www.staffordloan.com/repayment/forgiveness.shtml
http://www.educationplanner.com/ss/code/Profile1.asp?level=u®ion=s&mode=EDIT&sponsor=2859&volume=SS&e&h

STATUS OF LOAN OR AID
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/

IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR PIN yet (for your loan / aid status) apply for one:
http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

ESSAY HELP
http://essayedge.com/
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/
http://www.gradesaver.com/resources/scholarship.html
http://www.collegeadmissionsessays.com/
http://www.nataviguides.com/broke_essay.html
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/process/essayjump.asp
http://www.scholarshipessay.us/
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-brainstorming.php
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-topic.php
http://www.korepetycje.com/Essays_Articles/scholarshipessay.html

GRANT SCHOLARSHIP SCAM LIST
(if you find a scam report it here too)
http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer/media_psas_classads.html
http://www.actstudent.org/finaid/scholarshipscams.html

LOANS
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/index.html
http://www.acteducationloans.com/
http://www.finaid.org/loans/educationlenders.phtml
http://www.financialaid.com/plus/index.cfm?id=plusloans
http://www.alternativestudentloan.com/
http://www.parentplusloan.com/
http://www.financialaidpodcast.com/about/
http://www.myspace.com/financialaidpodcast
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

GRAD LOANS & SCHOLARSHIP
http://www.gradloans.com/graduate-plus-loan/
http://www.gfoa.org/services/scholarships.shtml
http://www.akaeaf.org/programsandinitiatives/

DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DCS/index.html

CONSOLIDATE LOANS
http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/
http://www.plusloanconsolidator.com/
http://www.salliemae.com/after_graduation/manage_your_loans/consolidate_student_loans/student_loan_consolidation.htm
http://www.salliemae.com/content/privateconsolidation/index.html


TEACHER / PROFESSORS reviews, rated by students
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp
http://teacherreviews.com/
http://pickaprof.com/

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/
http://www.irex.org/programs/grants.asp
http://ciee.org/
https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/home.html
http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html
http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/resources.html
http://www.iefa.org/
http://www.iefa.org/resources/
http://educationusa.state.gov/
http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.studyabroad.com/forum/financial_aid.html
http://www.internationalstudent.com/
http://www.internationalscholarships.com/
http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/
http://www.globalslc.com/
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/loans.phtml
http://www.abroadplanet.com/student-loans/the-global-student-loan-corporation/
http://www.salliemae.com/international/
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
http://fordfound.org/

HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.hsf.net/
http://www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org/
http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/hispanic.asp
http://www.hsfi.org/
http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/applications/
http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/scholarship.htm
http://www.bpwusa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4212
A lot of corporations want to be seen as "good neighbors" in the community. And they need a way to attract young workers. So some of them grant scholarships, usually from $1,500 to $10,000.

When visiting the websites of these companies, on the home page look for something like: ABOUT US or CORP INFO. Click on that, and then look for something like: COMMUNITY or COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

check out:
1. BestBuy (2 scholarships from each store for $1,500 and they enter you at their headquarters for a $10,000 scholarship).

2. Comcast (your high school principal must recommend you for a $1,000 scholarship. They also have paid internship at a limited number of locations nationwide.)

3. Cracker Barrel (www.cbrlgroup.com) for employees, or their children - $1,000

4. Kohls (each store awards $50 and a certificate; then submits their winners to the region. Regional winners receive $1,000 and are submitted to the corporate headquarters. Corporate level winners get a $5,000 scholarship and a $1,000 donation to their favorite charity.)

5. Wal-Mart (www.walmartfoundation.org) Each store awards $1,000 to 2 students at each school in their area. Or if you have been an employee for 12 months, you qualify to apply for a $2,500 scholarship.

6. McDonalds (as Ronald McDonald House Charities at: www.RMHC.ORG) varies by region of the county. But a typical award is $1,000. May be from the corporation or from an association of stores in your area.

Each of these companies have a simple application (1–2 pages) process.