2. Financial aid is money provided to a student
to cover the cost of tuition, room & board,
food, books and more. It includes:
 Loans
 Grants
 Scholarships
 Work-Study Programs

3. First, complete the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
 Available January 1st
 File Fast Online!
 Less Than an Hour to Complete
 File Every Year
 Who Should Complete It? – EVERYONE!

4. What are scholarships?
- Scholarships are ‘free money’ for college.
There are many types of scholarships
available, including:
 National, State & Local
 Need-Based
 Merit-Based
 Major Specific
 Institution Specific & more!

5. ALMOST EVERYONE!
Never assume you are not eligible for aid.
Programs vary widely. It just takes a little
effort and a solid plan.
To solve the scholarship puzzle, follow these
simple steps…

6. Start your scholarship search as soon as
possible.
Early Start = More Opportunities
Begin at age 13 and keep going!
Earn Money Now & Later
Less Stress

7. Finding scholarships is a lot like completing a
puzzle; if you jump in without a plan, it may
seem impossible or overwhelming. Yikes!
Organize
Schedule Time
Commit to Winning!

8. The Internet is your best resource! Use
several FREE online scholarship search
services. One of the best is
ScholarshipExperts.com (rated ‘Best of the
Web’ by Forbes.com since 2003).
Never Pay for a Service
Be Careful About Sharing Your SS #
More Detailed = Better Results!

9. Students should not rely entirely on the
Internet for scholarship opportunities. Other
good resources include:
High School Counselors
Local Clubs/Organizations
Employers
College Financial Aid & Departments

10. After locating scholarship opportunities, you
will need to get organized. Plan to apply for
5-10 awards each month, and follow these
steps:
Choose Programs
Prioritize by Deadlines
Schedule Time for Essays
Request Letters (if applicable)
Recruit Proofreaders

11. Once you have narrowed down your list of
scholarships, it’s time to tackle the essays.
But, where do you start?
What’s my
Brainstorm superpower?
Make it Personal
Tell a Story
Think Outside the Box!

12. Example Question
‘Tell us which fairytale story is your favorite
and why.”
Answer 1: ‘My favorite fairytale story is
Rapunzel. I loved her long hair and fantasized
about being trapped in a castle…
Answer 2: ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your
long hair.” I heard this quite a bit growing up. I
had this crazy fascination with long hair, which is
much harder than the story lets on…

13. Things to Remember:
Grab the Reader From the Start!
Stay on Topic
Be Concise
Things to Avoid:
Using the essay question in your first sentence
Laundry Lists
Controversial Subjects
Turning in Your First Draft

14. After you complete your scholarship
applications, double-check the program
guidelines to ensure you have included all
necessary elements.
Are You Within Formatting Rules?
Did You Include All Required Documentation?
Make a Copy of Everything
Consider Adding a Cover Letter
Follow-up With the Provider

15. Think smarter, not harder. Use previous
work, such as poems, stories and history
papers.
Send ‘Thank You’ cards to everyone who
helped with your scholarship application.
If you win, always send a ‘Thank You’ note to
the provider, both when you receive the
award and upon completion of your program.

16. Do not rely on scholarships to cover
everything. Be sure to explore other financial
aid options, such as grants, loans and work-
study programs.
Learn more about these programs at:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/
http://wisechoice.com (Plan & Pay)
http://www.finaid.org/loans/

17.  Are scholarships taxable?
 Possibly.
 Do scholarships affect my financial aid
awarded through my college?
 Sometimes.
Are scholarships automatically renewable?
 Sometimes.

18.  Can a parent apply for a child?
 Maybe.
 Can I submit the FAFSA before senior year?
 No.
When should I stop applying for aid?
 When you graduate.

19. www.ScholarshipExperts.com
Expert advice on scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
www.WiseChoice.com
Advice on the college admission and application process, paying for
college and more.
www.FAFSA.ed.gov
Access to FAFSA forms, IRS Retrieval Tool and FAFSA4caster.

20. If you need more information, please feel
free to contact us at:
ScholarshipExperts.com
3020 Hartley Rd. #220
Jacksonville, FL 32257
904-483-2930
info@scholarshipexperts.com