HOW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE
Now that you know how to find the right college and how much college will cost, it’s time to figure out how to pay for it. We’ll walk you through the steps to apply for scholarships and financial aid.
CREATE AN FSA ID To begin the process of applying for financial aid, you and a parent must each create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov . Your account must be verified before you can complete the FAFSA. This can take 3-5 days, so be sure to apply early.
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APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Follow these tips for scholarship success: • Research potential awards by using free scholarship search resources, including your
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school counselor, the college you plan to attend, ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest.org , and other free internet-based scholarship searches. • Complete an Activities Resume at EducationQuest.org so you will have a list of your activities, honors, and awards handy when completing applications. • Create a list of scholarships you’re eligible to apply for. Tackle the most difficult applications first. Pay attention to deadlines; if you miss one, your application will not be considered. • Request letters of recommendation from adults who know you well. Give them plenty of notice, a deadline, information about the scholarship, and a copy of your Activities Resume .
If you receive offers for scholarship services, research them carefully if a fee is involved. How do you know if the offer is questionable? Watch for this type of language: • “You’ve been selected.” • “The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back.” • “May I have your credit card number?” SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES WARNING!
Ask your school counselor or EducationQuest about free resources that are available.
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