![](images/unlock-banner.gif) ![](images/Bluenot1.gif) Try for
Athletic Student Aid. We aren't talking about the "Body by
Nautilus, Mind by Mattel" tackle who can do the 40
in 4 seconds. Husky U. will find that person. We're
talking about students who are better than average in a
variety of sports, ranging from tennis to golf to
lacrosse. A great many colleges seek people who can be
developed into varsity material. The rewards come in two
forms: outright scholarships or an "improved"
financial aid package.
See The
Winning Edge.
Try for an Academic
Scholarship. Over 1200 colleges offer academic
scholarships to students with a B average and SAT scores
of 900 or more. Middle income folks take notice: Most of
these scholarships are not based on financial need. If
you are just outside the SAT eligibility range for one of
these awards, take a good SAT preparation course. It may
raise your scores enough to enter the winner's circle.
See The
A's and B's of Academic Scholarships.
Don't Pass Up the Entitlement
Programs.
Billions in low-interest, subsidized federal student loan
money goes unused each year simply because students think
they are ineligible, don't bother to go through the paper
work hassle, or just don't know about the program.
See Loans
and Grants From Uncle Sam
Go the Cooperative Education
Route. Over 900
colleges offer cooperative education programs. Alternate
formal study with periods of career-related work. Earn up
to $8,000 per year during the work phase. It may take an
extra year to win the degree, but it will be easier on
your pocketbook.
See Majoring in
Success
In Looking for the Perfect
College, Worry More About Fitting in than Getting in. Most colleges accept over
50% of their applicants, so unless youre applying
to one of the countrys few truly
"selective" schools, chances are, youll
be admitted. Whats most important to your future,
then, is choosing a college where youll be happy
and successful.
See Behind
The Scenes,
Do It-Write, Campus
Pursuit, Campus
Daze, and
College Match
Dont Waste Money on
Scholarship Searches. Scholarships dont always reduce the
amount you have to pay for college. Learn the truth about
financial aid packaging. Then, if you still want to spend
time looking for that big prize, do it yourself, for
free! The information you need is floating around in
cyberspace and is yours for the taking. Several companies
(with very large, up-to-date databases) offer free
scholarship searches. Others just give you lots of
valuable information!
See College.edu
Visit With the Financial Aid
Officer. The
college financial aid officer will present you with a
package of assistance that should, in theory, cover the
difference between what college costs and what your
family can contribute. If you feel the college really
wants you, because you are a brain or an athlete or the
child of an alumnus or can help with meeting other
diversity goals, you may be able to get the school to
improve the composition of the package. Your objective:
To increase the grant component (money that doesn't have
to be repaid) and reduce the loan component (money you
must repay).
See Financial
Aid Officers
Understand How Financial Aid
Works. By
knowing the rules and the formulas, parents and students
can plan ahead to maximize their eligibility for
financial aid. This isn't unlike the method used for
presenting one's financial picture to the IRS so as to
qualify for the smallest possible tax liability.
See Don't
Miss Out
and use our Financial Aid Software
Apply for Financial Aid No
Matter What. You
won't be considered for any other need-based aid unless
you do. And many schools won't consider you for eligible
for their own scholarships until they're certain you
don't qualify for any of Uncle Sam's money. So Apply,
apply, apply.
See Loans
and Grants From Uncle Sam
Be An Accurate, Early Bird. Be as accurate as possible in
filling out financial aid forms. Submit them as early as
you can. When resources are tight, it's first-come,
first-served. Those who must resubmit their forms and
those who are slow in applying come in at the end of the
line. By then, all the money is gone.
See Financial
Aid FinAncer
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