A How to Guide to Getting Free Money for College

You don't have to be top of your class or a great athlete to get free money for college. You also don't have to be a certain age or a minority. All you have to do is get organized, research, and apply... That's it I'll show you just how to do it.

First things first, let me put to rest the common myth that billions and billions of dollars in scholarship money gets awarded each year, because no one bothers to apply for any of them. If people applied for such scholarships or grants then money gets awarded.

Winning money for college is just the same as saying earning money for writing. It's vital to educate yourself about the process (just like you are doing here), complete applications properly, and follow up on a timely basis.

Rule number one in the winning money for college process: Apply If you don't apply then that's like not asking, if you don't ask, then how are you suppose to get an answer? Applying for scholarships doesn't cost you anything except a little of your time and maybe a postage stamp. As long as you meet the requirements and qualifications, you don't have a good reason no to apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible.

So now you are asking what exactly am I apply for? Not a problem, free money is generally divided into the following categories:

Scholarships: If you are awarded a scholarship, a person or organization gives you money for something you've done or for something you are capable of doing.

Grants: These types of awards are easy and simple because you are basically getting free money for just being who you are. For example: The Czech son of a firefighter who has the grades to get into college but only half the money to pay for it.

Low-Interest or Interest-Free Loans: The money must be paid back, as with any loan, but you get to use the money while you are going to school, so the money is free for now.

Other Stuff: Sometimes you are awarded via free stuff instead of money. Such "stuff" includes free books, housing, or other necessities of college life.

Two other types of financial aid terms are merit-based and need-based awards.

Merit-Based awards are given to whichever applicant is the best at the subject of the scholarship. You or your family's wealth or income have nothing to do with making you eligible for these awards.

Need-Based awards are just that, based on need. Need-based awards are primarily grants that are offered on the basis of financial need.

Rule number two is to understand why people are giving away free money. After you learn why, then you can shape your application so that whomever is offering the scholarship will want to give you the money. So I guess now you're asking yourself why people give out scholarships and grants? The answer, the government does it as part of a larger education policy. Colleges and institutions give out a lot of need-based funds, but they usually have other criteria to make sure that the applicants are also meritorious.

There is no better time than now to start your applications. I'll cut to chase. Start by getting yourself one of those big accordion folders with a bunch of pockets inside, along with a folder on your computer. Divide and label your folders into these seven categories:

Personal Background: Keep your high school transcripts, awards, letters of recommendation and recognition, and your own personal history in this folder.

Family Background: In this folder keep a file on each member of your family. Include their work and education information, ethic and religious backgrounds, affiliations, past experiences, etc...

Financial Information: Store your tax records, bank statements and any other financial records in this folder. You will need this information for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASA) and other forms.

Merit-Based Award Search: Keep all information you've gathered on merit-based awards in this folder.

Need-Based Award Search: Do the same thing with this folder for need-based awards.

Applications: Keep a copy of all the applications you've filled out for awards in this folder. You can use the information over again for other applications.

Schedules and Deadlines: This is an important folder, some scholarships have specific deadlines, so as you can imagine, you'll want to stay organized so you will have the best chance of being the first to apply.

Tip: Send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with each of your applications so that the organization can return your material to you.

Tips for Applying

* Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you can.

* Always put yourself in the position of the person who is giving out the money.

* Be organized.

* Never lie or give any misleading information on a scholarship or grant application.

* Whether or not you win the award, be sure to send thank you cards or emails to the people offering the money and to all those people who helped you out along the way.

What to do and when to do it:

Freshman Year (9th Grade)

- Create your college applications folder

- Take the most challenging subjects you can. Don't forget to study hard

- Meet with your high school guidance counselor, he or she can help you plan for your future.

- Get involved in school and the community. Keep a paper log of completed community service hours, you may need them to meet the criteria for some scholarships.

Sophomore Year (10th Grade)

- Request college brochures and create a college wish list.

- Start your serious scholarship research.

- Take the PSAT or PLAN. Utilize books and the internet to help raise your SAT and ACT scores.

Junior Year (11th Grade)
(Fall)
- Apply for Advanced Placement courses.

- Visit schools and go to college fairs.

- Collect scholarship applications.

(Spring)
-Register and take the SAT and ACTs. If you don't do well, you can always re-take the tests at a later time.

- If you don't have a Social Security Number (SSN), (you'll need one to apply to college) you can obtain one through this website: www.ssa.gov
- Request college application packages and financial aid forms.

(Summer)
- Create scholarship application materials: bio, resume, various essays, cover letters, applications, sample letters of recommendation, documentation proving your ethnic heritage or disability.

- Attend camps and clinics for athletes if you plan on getting these types of scholarships.

- Confirm your residency if you are planning on applying to an in-state college. Most colleges are required by law to demand at least one year of residency for an applicant to qualify as an in-state student.

Senior Year (12th Grade)(Fall)
-Take Advanced Placement courses and if necessary re-take the SAT and ACT.

- Obtain recommendation letters

- During October and November, begin applying to colleges. Also request financial aid.

- Begin preparing income taxes for FASA.
(Spring)

- Send in your FASA as soon as possible.

- Correct any errors on your Student Aid Report (SAR)

- Take your Advanced Placement exams and College Level Examination (CLEP) exam.
(Summer)

- Mail thank you notes to all those who helped you in your scholarship search and to those organizations or people who gave you awards. Send thank you emails to all the organizations who did not give you any awards.

Work to Get College Paid For

Work-Study Programs: These are jobs for the undergraduate and graduate students with financial need to help pay expenses.

U.S. Armed Forces ROTC Service: ROTC or Reserved Officers' Training Corps is only one way to attend college at reduced or free cost in exchange for active service military duty after you leave college. Students are also paid a small amount of money (stipend) every month while they are students Employee Tuition Discounts: Working as an employee for the college.

Tuition Assistance or Reimbursement From Your Employer: Many employers will offer such benefits to help reimburse your college expenses or subsidize costs.

Avoiding Scholarship Scams
"You may have won a $50,000 College Scholarship," is a common line among scholarship scam artists.

Be careful of any unsolicited scholarship offers, especially the one's you've never heard of before.

Scholarships NEVER cost fees to apply, NEVER pay any type of fees in association with applying for a scholarship.

False Promises:
"Our results are guaranteed."
No one can guarantee you will win a scholarship

"Our service will reduce the costs of getting scholarships."
Like I said before, scholarships don't cost anything.

"We do all the work for you."
What!? Scholarships are work but most real scholarships are only a simple form.

"Limited time offer."
Yeah, that's common in selling anything.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information consult these sites:
The U.S. Department of Education - www.ed.gov
The Federal Trade Commission - www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/

Both of the above references publish lists of known scams.

Places to Look For Free Money!

Your school guidance counselor
National Honor Society (NHS)
Miss America Pageant - www.missamerica.org/scholarships
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.htm
Bill Gates (The Gates Millennium Scholars - GMS) - www.gmsp.org
Hispanic Scholarship Fund - www.hsf.net
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People -www.naacp.org/work/education/scholarship.shtml
National Urban League - www.nul.org
Organization of Chinese Americans - www.ocanatl.org
American Indian Graduate Center - www.aigc.com
Fast Web - www.fastweb.com
Sign up for Upromise (It's Free!) - www.upromise.com
FASA - www.FASA.com