Newswise — Figuring out how to pay for college can sometimes seem as burdensome as getting accepted to it (if not more). As students sort their options and seek financial aid, scholarships can help fill gaps to avoid taking on unwieldy levels of college debt.
“After you do your FAFSA, I’d be looking for scholarships,” said Temple’s Assistant Vice President and Bursar David R. Glezerman. “Every dollar in scholarship may help prevent you from having to take out a loan.”
But where to begin? Temple experts explain.
1. Understand scholarships.Technically speaking, scholarships are awards to help students pay for college that don’t need to be repaid. In simple terms, they’re pretty fantastic funds that can help save you significant money on college.
Some scholarships are need-based (need calculated by the FAFSA, that is), while others are merit-based. Temple will match qualifying incoming students with a number of scholarships, including academic merit scholarships, during the admissions process. Individual departments and outside groups offer many additional opportunities. Consider the work in securing scholarships to be in your proverbial court; consider the search on.
2. Cast a wide net.Leave no rock unturned, Temple Student Financial Services Director Craig Fennell recommends. “Ask about scholarships everywhere you can think of,” he said. That can include hometowns, employers, high schools, civic groups and religious organizations.
Glezerman added: “Some can be because you’re a left-footed soccer player.” In all seriousness, there are plenty of specific examples out there, he said, and some funds may go untapped if eligible candidates don’t apply.
The web is a good place to start, Fennell said. Try applying through scholarship search sites such as College Board, Peterson’s College Search and Fast Web.
3. Start now—and don’t stop.Your undergraduate education will often last four years, and so too should your search for scholarships. In fact, some scholarships are designed specifically for upperclassmen so keep your eyes peeled for potential awards throughout college.
“Start early,” Fennell said. “Right now is always the best time. Apply through the online search sites every year.”
4. A new email account wouldn’t hurt.“Create a new personal email account and direct all your scholarship traffic to it,” Fennell suggested. “This protects your other email accounts from any spam or advertisements you might get and provides a single account to check regularly for follow-ups they ask you to do.”
5. Scholarships = free money. Keep it that way.Applying for free money should be free, Fennell said, so those asking for fees likely aren’t legitimate. Simply put, he said: “Skip those.”
Glezerman suggests a more sensible approach: “By searching Google, you’ll be able to find as many, if not more, than paying a company to do it for you. Never pay for that type of service.”
6. All hail the deadline.Yes, the dreaded D word. You’re going to have to get used to deadlines in your college classes and at work, so learn how to conquer them now.
For more information, see Temple's ongoing series explaining student financial matters.
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