TIPS FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS COUNSELORS FOR GETTING SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

Financial assistance is a major concern for most students who plan to continue their education beyond high school. Here are a few tips to help you get the financial aid that is available to you.

• The best source of financial aid is the college or university itself. You should search for financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants offered by the college or university to which you are applying.

• Scholarships fall into many categories: academic merit, special talents and abilities, employer scholarships (yours/your parents’), community organization and club scholarships.

• This Online Scholarship Guide contains scholarships announced through the Counseling Department of your high school. Scholarship name, discipline, value, eligibility criteria, approximate due date and contact are given for each scholarship. Review this information carefully. Not all applications will be available at the beginning of the school year since many of the sponsoring organizations wait until close to the deadline to send them. Also, sometimes scholarship providers will change application deadlines, so be sure to contact your school counselor about all scholarships in which you have an interest.

• You must be an active participant in the search for financial assistance. Please take advantage of this information and apply for all scholarships for which you qualify.

• It is always impressive to type applications and/or use black ink.

• Never open sealed envelopes containing transcripts or recommendations.  An official document that has been opened is no longer official.

• There is a wide range of scholarships available with many different types of eligibility requirements.  You probably are eligible for some type of assistance.  Don't miss this opportunity to receive it.