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Scholarships and Aid Management Before the First College Term

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from Federal Student Aid. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Get Scholarship Help With These Basics and Tips

College is expensive, but before you take out any loans, find out if you qualify for awards and scholarships. You might find scholarships at the school, local, state, and/or national levels.

By following a few tips—such as looking for scholarships everywhere, understanding their criteria, and staying organized—you could be awarded thousands of dollars for school. Though there’s no guarantee you’ll be awarded any money, the effort may be worth it if you’re willing to put in the time.

Look for scholarships anywhere and everywhere.

You can’t apply for scholarships if you don’t know where to find them. Here’s a handy list of resources you can use:

  • A college’s financial aid office (offers scholarships just for that specific college)
  • Community and religious organizations, local businesses, and community foundations, which may increase your chances of obtaining scholarships because each has a smaller pool of applicants
  • Your employer or your parents’ employer(s)
  • The U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool
  • Your high school counselor’s office
  • Your state’s higher education agency
  • Organizations related to your interests (give it a quick Google search)

You might find scholarships at your school, local, state, and/or national government levels.

Learn who can apply.

Anyone who is going to be attending college next year can apply for scholarships. This includes current high school seniors and current college students. Different scholarships have different eligibility requirements, so check and make sure you meet all the requirements for a scholarship before you apply.

Know when to apply.

The best time to apply is right now. It is never too early to look and apply for scholarships. Even if the due date is still months away, it’s good to get a head start. Late winter and early spring tend to be primetime scholarship seasons for the next academic year and the time frame when most scholarships will be offered.

Be ready to get started.

It’s good to be prepared. There are several common requirements for scholarship applications, so get your application materials ready early. In addition to requiring an essay, some scholarships will also require the following things:

  • Information about your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) application (so complete the FAFSA® form as soon as it becomes available!)
  • At least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or someone else familiar with your academic achievements
  • A professional picture of you—it doesn’t have to be an actual professional headshot, but it should be appropriate (senior pictures are good for this)
  • Your latest transcript

Put in the time on the essay.

A lot of scholarship essay assignments are similar and want you to answer questions like, “What is your biggest accomplishment in life?” You might be able to save time by reusing your responses.

Many scholarship applications will ask for rather dry and academic responses, but sometimes you can use your hobbies as material for your essays. That makes the writing easier. And fun essay prompts do exist (such as your best food experience or an impactful memory you’ve had while traveling).

Ask several people (preferably people who have recent experience with essay writing or reviewing) to look over your essay and give you feedback. And give yourself time to check your essay for typos before you send it in.

Organize your applications.

You’ll have the best chance at success if your applications are organized and turned in on time. Consider the following tips:

  • Sort your applications by due date and complete them in the order they’re due. Keep in mind that some require more work (letters of recommendation, a longer essay, etc.) and may take more time.
  • Make sure your essay follows the instructions and is within the word limit.
  • Try to submit your application at least a day ahead of the deadline. Right before the deadline, scholarship websites can experience a high influx of activity and get clogged up or even shut down.
  • Make sure you include all the required materials and submit everything properly.

With the right tools and preparation, you should have a great shot at a college scholarship. If you want to learn more, view our comprehensive, detailed guide to scholarships.

4 Ways to Manage Your Federal Student Aid (Grants, Loans, and Work-Study)

This blog article covers four free resources to help you track your financial aid (loans, grants, and more) during college or career school. Stay in the know with help from the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment (ASLA), College Scorecard, Dashboard, and your school’s financial aid office.

Use your Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment to better understand your borrowing.

While filling out the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment is not required, we recommend that you fill out one each year. When you complete it, you acknowledge that you will repay your loans. But your acknowledgment can also help you understand how student loans will affect your financial future.

For example, it provides info about the borrowing process and can help you understand your responsibilities as a borrower. The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment also shows you how much you owe and the terms for repayment of your loans. You’ll see your borrowing limit, too, so you can see how much more loan funding you can access.

Put your borrowing in context using College Scorecard.

College Scorecard can show you the financial outcomes for students at your school. When you plug in your school, you can find out how much debt alumni typically had when they graduated and how much their average monthly payment is. You’ll also find info on typical post-college earnings, loan repayment rates, and much more.

This context can help you see how your borrowing compares to others at your school. And the info about alumni can help you think about your own financial future and how you expect to pay off your loans.

Track your student aid through your Dashboard.

When you log in to StudentAid.gov, you’ll be taken to your Dashboard. Your Dashboard tracks info about your federal student aid, including how much you’ve borrowed and what kinds of aid you’ve received.

If you select “View Details” under the “My Aid” section, you’ll go to your “My Aid” page. Your “My Aid” page allows you to dive even deeper into your federal student aid history. Here you can find a breakdown of your loans and grants, with details such as interest rates, the date the funding was disbursed (paid out) to you, and more. You can also find info on the limits of your loan and grant funding. Watch this video intro to “My Aid” for a guided tour of the tool.

This Dashboard belongs to you, and you can use it after graduation to track your repayment progress for as long as you need it.

Get one-on-one help from your financial aid office.

Your school’s financial aid office should be your go-to contact to discuss your financial aid journey. They know about all elements of your financial aid package, and they can help you find new opportunities for funding. For example, your school’s financial aid office can help you find Federal Work-Study openings or new scholarships.

Plus, your school’s financial aid office may be able to adjust your financial aid and increase your award if your need has changed. If your situation changes significantly (for example, if a family member loses a job), your finances may not match what was on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. If this happens, contact your financial aid office to ask whether they can adjust your aid. They will review your new circumstances and determine how your aid might need to change.

Note: Adjustments are not required, but many schools are willing to consider special circumstances. Your school’s decision on your aid adjustment is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Don’t hesitate to go to your financial aid office with questions. They’ll give you answers and provide resources you can use throughout your academic career.

Congratulations on this new chapter in your life! With these tools, you can know where you stand financially every step of the way. Your future awaits!

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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