Free Money Through Scholarships by Elise Fisher

If you are a high school graduate who is considering attending college, please do not think that loans are your only form of financing!

If you are in need of financial help there are more suitable methods to get it than applying for a private or federal student loan. Student loans are difficult to repay because of their always-increasing interest. Rather than take out a student loan, try a scholarship or a grant instead!

The great thing about scholarships and grants is that they never have to be repaid. However, you must set aside some time to search and apply for them.

Scholarships: There are plenty of businesses and organizations such as the Lions Club, Junior League, Chamber of Commerce and the Girls & Boys Club give scholarships to students. Scholarships are offered by the military, and certain churches and unions also.

The internet is vast and loaded with information. Hundreds and thousands of scholarships can be found on the web if you just look for them. Just search for "scholarships" on any search engine. Or you can try FastWeb.com. This website will help you locate scholarships that fit you!

Many of the scholarships you find will require an essay to be written. Do not worry about this! Just find one that matches you and then sit down and begin typing. Before sending it in, have a friend proofread it.

You might also wish to check with the university you will be enrolling in. Frequently they give scholarships to those with good GPA's or SAT scores. Colleges will award scholarships based upon athletic abilities as well.

If you are still in high school, ask your Financial Aid office if they know of any scholarships you could apply for. Asking your counselor is also a great idea since he or she will know your strengths and weaknesses a little better.

The most important thing to do is to begin immediately. Look and ask around for scholarships. Who knows, you just might run into a gold mine!

Grants, like scholarships, never have to be repaid. Grants are given depending your special interests, ethnicity, or financial need. You can apply for grants through private groups, educational institutions, and the federal government.

Federal government grants are given based on on the student's income. Applications can be found at FAFSA.com or you can get one from your financial aid office. Depending on which one you use, your Student Aid Report will be sent to you within three to six weeks.

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About the Author

Elise Fisher loves writing articles for her website About Student Loans. To learn more about Scholarships and Grants visit our Student Finance Options page.