We’ve Moved!

 

Hello debt-free degree seekers!

I’ve made some hosting changes with the blog, so check out my new location, Loan-Free Degree, if you are looking for more great information about going to college without debt.  You’ll find the same encouragement and helpful advice you need. See you there!

The Basics: FAFSA

 

What is it? FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. After you fill it out, a Student Aid Report (SAR) is sent to applicable schools or aid organizations stating what you should be expected to contribute to your own college education.

Why fill it out? It will let you know if you qualify for some grants, scholarships, federal student aid (a.k.a loans – boo!), or work-study programs.

How do you apply? Submit it as early as January 1st of the year you need aid. Go here to find the various options for filing your FAFSA. But be careful; these papers don’t truly take every bit of your financial capability into consideration, so sometimes they can be a little skewed one way or another.

More to come on FAFSA.

The Basics: Essay Contests

Essay contests are an incredibly broad topic, but I’ve found some general characteristics to look for as you consider this option to help pay for college.

Why go for them? You don’t repay anyone, though there may be entry fees (see note below).

What are they? Schools, foundations, organizations, and more put on these contests to give teenagers the opportunity to earn money for their futures.

How do you find them? A quick Google search will unearth far too many contests to even consider. It’s best to narrow it down to your areas of interest. Aspiring journalists can type “journalism essay contests,” future science majors can type “science essay contests,” and so on.

How do you apply? Each contest will have its own set of directions. Be careful about paying much for entry fees, as the point is to make money from this.  Do your research. A few minutes to check the background info on a contest to see where the money comes from and what kind of company/organization it is can go a long way in avoiding a scam.

More to come on avoiding contest scams.

Basics: Scholarships

 

Grants and scholarships are closely related; sometimes their names are used interchangeably. Therefore, some facts about the grants will show up in this Basics segment as well. This can get confusing, but the bottom line is, they are both used to help pay for college, and that’s all that matters in the end.

Why go for them? Like grants, you do not repay scholarships.

What are they? Scholarships are free money awarded to a student, often coming from donations, not necessarily the government.

How do you qualify? Scholarships are often based on merit – academic achievement, sports, or some other talent. Others are based on minority or marital status, or intended field of study. But there are others that are only based on financial need.

How do you apply? Generally, filling out the FAFSA is still a good idea. Since scholarships can come from so many sources, you will need to do a little digging. Look into any group, club, or association you are connected with in any way. Churches, youth programs, your parents’ companies, may all have scholarship opportunities.

For scholarships your college offers, start with the financial aid office, your academic department, admissions office (of you are a new student), and specific programs at school if they apply to you, like athletics department, Honors, etc.

Other sources, like Scholarships.com, give instructions on who to contact and what is required, i.e. essays to write, application details, and eligibility.