What is the primary method for getting scholarships/financial aid?

Archive Toyota Community Scholarship
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<p>Hello! I am a high school senior who is determined to start college this fall semester, and, as such, have worked on improving a current GPA of 3.8 while I remain in the top 20 of my graduating class. However, I find myself in the troubling position of not being able to afford college expenses for the semester. Being born in a household where my parents have either never attended college or have just recently graduated from local colleges with walk-in admission, I have been ill-informed about how the college process works. </p>

<p>Since elementary school, my parents (now divorced) have enforced upon me the notion that getting excellent grades was necessary in order to get the scholarships I would require for entry. They (and I as a result) were never aware of the requirement to apply for scholarships and similar methods of financial aid, as opposed to scholarships simply being offered to me through my high school or through phone calls. My high school counselors also did little to inform me of such. I only found out about the need to apply for scholarships through one of my friends late December of last year! Because of my state of being ill-prepared, I missed the scholarship deadline for one of the colleges (which I had managed to successfully apply for and be accepted into on time). Although I have been wait-listed by my first-choice college (Georgia Tech) and have filled out the supplemental form asked by the university, I realize that I should always be prepared for the worst. However, missing the scholarship deadline for the other university that accepted me will likely lead me having to pay a over $8,000 my first year! Now, even though I did fill out the scholarship application for Georgia Tech, if I get accepted from the waitlist I feel I will likely be subject to receiving much less financial aid than that of my peers, simply because there may be little left at that time.</p>

<p>Despite having saved a good portion of money throughout the years, I underwent a series of surgeries years ago that wiped away such savings. My father now lives on disability after having filed for bankruptcy and being forced to retire from work due to suffering from onset of a degenerative disease. My mother makes just enough to live off of at her job.</p>

<p>I have consistently heard of students getting full-ride scholarships. Taking AP courses and having participated in a variety of academic and volunteer organizations while, as previously mentioned, maintaining an academic career that meets many of the qualities of students who commonly receive such scholarship offers, I have yet to hear anything about a full-ride scholarship to the school that accepted me and suspect that this is due to me missing that deadline. I have already attempted to earn a variety of scholarships, but have not received any as of today. I made this thread hoping to find others who can inform me of their similar situations and/or offer me insight and advice for receiving financial aid. Searching for ways to pay for college has been stressful thus far and I know that this is the place to refer to for subjects of this matter. Thank you!</p>

<p>P.S. I'm new to this site and I can't seem to add tags. The site says "You may add 25 tag(s) to this thread." However, I had to delete all but two upon completion.</p>

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<p>Bumpity Bump Bump.</p>

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<p>Mr.<br>
Most students begin the scholarship process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA) on Jan 1st of each year. This is a SERVICE that provides financial information from you to the colleges and the government. If you qualify for FEDERAL aid, then the FAFSA form is a necessity, and it gives you an EFC (expected family contribution) number as well as informing you if you qualify for federal funds. The universities access this information to give you any additional funding (loans, scholarships, grants, AKA: full rides). The application was due in March. You may want to try to still apply. Go to the FAFSA website and see if you can still submit a form. You need your parents’ 1040 tax forms. </p>

<p>The reason you are not receiving any private scholarships is because thousands of students apply for these and the money isn’t very good. Your best chance of funding your education is by using the FAFSA service. At this point, many of the universities have distributed their financial aid, but you can still try.</p>

<p>It is very unusual and unfortunate that your high school didn’t give you this information. Most high schools have parent and student “nights” that discuss FAFSA repeatedly and, they constantly reinforce the March deadline every year. </p>

<p>You need to get on this, YESTERDAY! GO TO THE FAFSA website now.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for the reply aunt bea. I had indeed, before the end of the month of January, filled out all of the information required in the FAFSA and have successfully received a substantial amount from the Pell Grant associated. </p>

<p>Yes, I have been told, similar to your response, that my school has already provided their own scholarships since their deadline has since past. However, I have been very fortunate to have become involved with local, external scholarship committees and have received annual scholarships for my previous work. </p>

<p>I am sorry that I did not previously state the actions that I had taken prior to making this post, but I wanted to hear a step by step account by which I had never received from my high school. It is indeed unfortunate by which my high school would not provide students like me with such information, but they did prove more helpful in matters that required more immediate attention, and for that I am thankful.</p>

<p>I would speak to anyone reading this post for answers to their own questions that may mimic my own that I have found great assistance in private scholarships, but have only, thus far, received such aid through localized foundations. I encourage all to take full advantage of their community and seek out local scholarships AFTER applying for federal grants and certain state scholarships through the FAFSA and applying to your college’s offered scholarships. While it is best, as aunt bea stated, to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after its initial introduction, I also agree that any who have neglected to fill it out do so NOW. It will hurt you if you’ve waited until June, or even April or May, to do so, but less money is ultimately better than no money. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I entered the game not knowing how and when to apply for scholarships and ultimately missed out on at least a $2,000 scholarship provided my school. I have learned from this experience and will be applying earlier next year. Also, I will be continuing to seek out and apply to new scholarships, such as several I am filling out the applications for this week. </p>

<p>I do feel inclined to continue requesting any further insight that any one who crosses this forum can offer, whether it be on their own experiences or on tips for coming out on top. It is frustrating to enter in a play not knowing what to expect or what, really, to do, but know that you can still have your turn at getting a heads up on the competition no matter what your situation may be. It is a big world after all.</p>