jcabelleta

Also, I heard many colleges offer scholarships for their students based on their grades. I'm not quite sure how it works. Do I have to apply for it manually? Or do colleges see my overall SAT score and average and offer me a scholarship? I'm still relatively new to this, so bear with me guys. Any information about scholarships will help! Please try to be specific

ThatOneCoolNerd

i am a senior too and from the info that i have gathered, it seems to depend on the type of scholarship. some schools offer merit scholarships in which there isnt a separate app needed so they would look at test scores, gpa and ec from ur admissions app. However, some schools have certain scholarships that require a separate app.

pinkbubbletea

They do offer scholarships, but they're tough to get; they're all different for different schools, so you should check the websites of the ones you're applying to. You can also get need-based aid, which is money the school gives you based on your income.

There are tons of website for scholarships like but I only use Fastweb since I believe it's the most widespread. However, a book like "The Ultimate Scholarship Book" will offer ones that it claims that websites overlook.

amarkov

There do exist things like Fastweb, and you can get scholarships from them. But those kind of external scholarships are rare, not that large, and usually only last for freshman year. So you should treat them as a nice bonus to reduce the amount of loans you need, rather than part of how you're going to pay for college.

If you need scholarships to pay for college, you need scholarships offered by universities. With these, you're often automatically put into the applicant pool by applying to the university; when this is not the case, they will let you know.

KatMT

"you're often automatically put into the applicant pool by applying to the university; when this is not the case, they will let you know."

True... BUT a college lets you know on their website, not necessarily through sending a letter or email. So, it is important to check the specifics of each school to which you are applying. If you have questions, contact the school directly. Some schools do require a separate application (and/ or early application) for consideration.

mom2collegekids

Schools that offer scholarships usually give them for high TEST scores and high GPAs.

What are your test scores and GPA?

cball3394

Do it ASAP.. If I could redo high school again I would start applying for every scholarship available.. I'm serious ask your guidance counselor every week if there are new community ones and use fast web and the college board website
To find school based and national scholarships! Apply, apply, apply!! Also make sure you find a school you can afford even without a TON of scholarships that was extra ones are just extra help..

dodgersmom

Let's break this down a bit. There are TWO kinds of aid: need-based aid and merit-based aid. Which is it that you need?

Go to Finaid.org to calculate your estimated EFC (expected family contribution). If it's quite low, then you should be looking for schools that offer generous need-based aid. These tend to be the more competitive private colleges and universities. You can look at the Princeton Review website to see the financial aid rankings of different schools. You'll be looking for schools with very high FA rankings - as close to 100 as possible.

If your family income is too high for you to qualify for need-based aid, then you need to apply to schools that offer merit-based aid. And, to find the right schools, you just have to look at schools where your GPA and ACT/SAT scores would be above average (preferably way above average!) for that school. Again, look at Princeton Review - and this time you're looking at the admissions rankings of each school. Look for private schools that you can easily get into - and then check the school websites to see what kind of merit aid they offer.

Keep in mind that if you need merit-based aid, there's no point in looking at schools where your GPA and test scores are just average for that school. You have to focus on schools where you would really be the exceptional candidate - that's what it's going to take to get the best merit awards!

If you have very strong stat's (high GPA and test scores), then you can also look at schools that offer guaranteed merit scholarships. In other words, if your ACT score is above "X", the scholarship is guaranteed! These are often state schools, and you can find them listed here and here.

If you did well enough on the PSAT to qualify as a National Merit Finalist, that gives you other scholarship options as well.

All of these will serve you better than a one-time independent scholarship award that will only be good for one year. Unless you only want to go to school for one year . . .

guitars101

make sure that you find scholarships that reduce the students portion of the equation and not the schools portion. some scholarships are sent directly to the school and then the school reduces the amount of aid they provide for you. we ran into this with my son who attended Harvard. we did find some where the money went directly to him to use for school expenses. good luck

jcabelleta

thank you so much for the information everyone
my test scores and gpa arent very high so ill prob be looking at need-based

dodgersmom

Just be aware that the schools that offer the best need-based aid are also the most competitive schools. Other than at the very tippy-top schools, full aid is harder to come by, and you're more likely to get a package with lots of loans . . . so it may not end up being affordable for you.

You might want to try retaking the SAT . . . or maybe trying the ACT, to see if you can get a better score. And do take a good long look at the Princeton Review site. Maybe you can find a less well known, less competitive school where you would be eligible for merit aid. It might not end up being a school you'd ever thought you'd go to, but it'll be way better than ending up with a bunch of loans you have to pay back.