<p>I am a white male living in Georgia. I am entering my senior year at high school. My dad works at a white collar job and he’ll retire soon with a pension. My mom stays at home. The house is paid off and there’s some money in the bank. I have one younger sibling.</p>
<p>I will apply to the University of Georgia and Warren Wilson next year. I plan to study ecology and sustainable agriculture.</p>
<p>My grades (4.2 GPA, 1420 SAT) will be high enough to provide full tuition to the University of Georgia through the Zell Miller scholarship. Are there any other scholarships I can apply for to help with fees, books, and living costs? How do I go about applying for these scholarships? What about FAFSA?</p>
<p>Warren Wilson is my dream college, but the total cost is $32,826 per year (tuition and fees, plus room and board, minus the work compensation). They claim to give generous amounts of financial aid and scholarship money, but I assume there’s no way to know the amount until I’m accepted.</p>
<p>Be the prettiest, nicest girl at the party. That means you’ll talk to everyone and be politely interested, but you won’t give your heart away too fast. Wait to be impressed. </p>
<p>So apply to both colleges. Apply to a couple more too. Don’t give your heart away until April of your senior year because that, dear one, is when you will know the true cost of attendance for you to attend each college. Between now and then each college will give big hints of sweeping you off your feet – but no ring (ie, no promises or commitments). </p>
<p>The April acceptance letters are the “commitments”. It doesn’t matter what your neighbor or buddy or your uncle got ten years ago. Every year, every student is a unique situation and you have to wait and see what your situation looks like. </p>
<p>You’ll have from early April to May 1 to decide. Make sure you start talking to your parents about filling out the FAFSA on time (that is how you get in line for college money). Get a copy of “How to pay for college without going broke” and start working thorough it with them. </p>
<p>You’re on the right track to be looking and asking questions early. Keep it up – talk to your guidance counselor about local scholarships where you might shine as an applicant (Garden Club? Organic food coop? Audubon chapter?). </p>
<p>Just remember that this is a customized job. You have to tailor your path to fit you. Don’t be afraid to sit out a few crazy dances and skip the crazy punch bowl that everyone else is slurping – you are a strong student,so keep your wits about you and play interested but nobody’s doormat. Make yourself irresistable.</p>