Scholarships

Getting a solid education and creating a future full of success and financial stability is enough to be anxious about without having to worry about how to pay for higher instruction. There is a vast amount of school scholarships, grants and government aid available for advancing students, but wading through the genuine offers and the fraudulent ones can pose a challenge.

After selecting the instructional institution of your choice, the best course of action is to climb online and fill out the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Beware of imitation websites that offer to assist with the FAFSA form for a fee; this application can be found directly on the Department of Education website with all the tools, help and assistance a filing student may need…and it is all offered free. Once the FAFSA application has been filed, the student will be issued an EFC number, or an Estimated Family Contribution number, ranging from 0 on up. A zero EFC number means that the student qualifies for the maximum amount of Federal Pell Grant, which in the 2010 – 2011 year is $5550.00. This is money that will go directly to school tuition, books and other fees. In the event that there is money left-over, a check will be cut directly to the student to help them with any additional expenses they may incur because of school costs. This can include rent, electric bills, gas for a vehicle, or any other number of items.

Aside from the Federal Pell Grant there are many other scholarships and school aid available. Many locations offer state specific grants. One can get additional information for their specific state and the grants and scholarships available by contacting the local state higher education agency. Additionally, there are special funding options for veterans an their families, students who are receiving training in different medical professions, students who are interested in trading community services sessions for funding, and specialty grants for those interested in teaching for lower-income schools. The Department of Education website offers various links to other federal agencies who may offer additional aid to students looking for scholarships and additional funding.

The Department of Education also gives specific amounts of money to state education agencies to give scholarships and grants to graduating high school seniors under the Robert C Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. Each state has a specific deadline and application process and www.ed.gov offers a link that separates each state and offers a toll free number and additional information for scholarships and grant offers.

Another truly great resource of find money for school is to contact the financial aid office at the school you are planning on attending. These financial aid professionals are highly trained to know about and understand the best sources of scholarships and grants available, and may know about special forms of aid that are specific to that individual school. Most financial aid professionals have a lengthy list of opportunities available to students that can offer financial assistance.

Be aware that there are scams out there! If you find a scholarship or grant offer that seems too good to be true, check it out. Be informed. Look up additional information online, check with a financial aid professional and ensure the scholarship is legitimate. There should NEVER be a charge for a scholarship or grant opportunity.
Furthermore, there are great tax breaks offered to students, including: The American Opportunity, and the Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. More about these particular tax breaks can be found in the IRS Publication 970 titled “Tax Benefits for Education”.

Getting good grades, making new friends and creating wonderful memories should be the most important thing on a new student’s mind. Worrying about how to make one’s educational dreams come true should not.