"Mom, Dad, I got accepted into FILL IN THE COLLEGE NAME HERE!" Congratulations, now how are you going to pay for it? Are you a high school senior? Does the above scenario apply to you? In this article, we'll tell you how to get into college for FREE! Pay close attention and follow these steps:
1. Fill Out the FAFSA Early!
What is a FAFSA? A FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a financial aid application form that you will need to apply for the following 3 things:
a. Federal & State Student Grants
b. Work-Study
c. Loans
January 1st is the first day that high school seniors are eligible to file their FAFSA. You should try to file as close to this day as possible. The competition for financial aid is fierce during tough economic times, so it's important to plan ahead rather than procrastinate
2. Apply for Scholarships
So here's a little secret about scholarships, you can start researching them as early as Sophomore year. Why you ask? Because a lot of them are standard and recurring. Starting early will allow you to get a jump on the application and essay requirements.
What if it's too late for that and I'm already a Senior? No worries, get start right away! You can do this by using a free scholarship search service. Below are a few websites for you to start with:
Fastweb
SallieMae
College Board
3. Research Merit Based Scholarships
Many colleges will offer full or partial merit-based scholarships to their top admitted students. These are primarily based upon your GPA and standardized test scores. These type of scholarship are usually very competitive and availability and eligibility requirements vary from school to school.
Even though I just told you how to get into college for free, I'm sure you've realized by now that this is not an easy task. However, it can be done! If you follow these 3 steps and really aim for those scholarships, you'll have a shot at graduating from college debt free.
Good Luck!
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Candor
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