Getting into College is One Thing, Paying for it is Another

As the college admissions process becomes more competitive with each passing year, the cost of attending these universities is becoming increasingly prohibitive for families.  For Juniors, it is not too early to start researching scholarships. It is also important to determine whether you qualify for needs-based financial aid, which you will apply for through FAFSA and/or CSS in early Fall. For Seniors, it is not too late to apply for merit-based scholarships through outside organizations.   

For need-based assistance, it is important to submit your FAFSA application by October 15 here.  Check out College Board’s The Big Future for information about how to fill out the FAFSA correctly on their Financial Aid 101 page.  Some schools might require the CSS profile for need-based aid.

For scholarships from outside organizations not affiliated with universities, we recommend creating accounts on Scholarships.com and College Board’s The Big Future. 
 
The sites above will help you search for scholarships that match your demographic profile. When it comes time to start thinking about financial assistance, we also highly recommend looking on these sites for smaller, niche scholarships.  It is much easier to receive smaller merit-based scholarships because less people apply for them. Also, check with the counseling offices at your high schools for local opportunities that often receive few applicants. 

Once you are admitted to schools, scholarships awarded by the universities are usually based on the strength of the application and do not require additional applications or essays. However, some may offer scholarship opportunities that require additional writing. Check with every school you have been admitted to for these processes. 

Seniors, if you applied for need-based financial aid through FAFSA and believe that you may or should qualify for additional aid, please contact the financial aid office at the college directly. They are there to help and can discuss submitting additional information that can be used to recalculate your family’s expected contribution. 

Whether you are seeking needs-based aid through FAFSA or merit-based aid through an outside organization’s scholarship fund, every little bit of assistance helps and it is never too early to start thinking about paying for college.