Admissions officials at Ancilla College say December is prime time for students to begin applying for scholarships to pay their tuition next year.
Vice President for Enrollment Eric Wignall says the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA . It determines whether a student qualifies for need-based assistance like grants and low-interest loans from government.
However, he says those are not the only sources of funds to offset the cost of a college education. Many community groups, foundations, companies and individuals have set aside funds for scholarships. Wignall encourages students to begin researching scholarships and their application requirements now. He says deadlines vary but many are coming up at the end of the year or in early January.
Wignall adds Ancilla College’s four favorite search databases are all free. Applicants will need to complete an online form, and information may be sold to colleges and universities that will send you promotional information. However, he says it might be worth it.
These sites have their own listings and search engines that allow you to dig around looking for scholarships in your region, state, degree interest, and other criteria.
FastWeb, maybe the biggest of these sites, with over a billion dollars in scholarships listed. Fastweb is an acronym for Financial Aid Search Through the WEB.
Chegg, began as a student job and textbook-trading website but today has great student resources and loads of scholarship resources to search though.
Big Future from College Board is the same company that produces the SAT.
CollegeNet, a developer of web technology for higher education and non-profit institutions, is another great resource-
Start by searching for scholarships in the subject matter or degree field you want. Use your interests, and geographic location, to narrow the search.
