The delay in processing FAFSA forms has affected high school seniors nationwide.
As NPR reported, “The department won’t send students’ FAFSA data to schools until the first half of March. Previously, it had said it would start sending that data in late January.
For more than 17 million students, the FAFSA is the key to unlocking government dollars to help cover the cost of college, including federal student loans, work-study, and Pell Grants for low-income students.”
While thousands of students are left wondering what they’ll get for financial aid, scholarship expert James Lewis, co-founder of the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), says now is the time to laser focus on applying for scholarships that can greatly impact paying for college.
In fact, 1.7 million private scholarships and fellowships are available to students now, with a total value of more than $7.4 billion.
Lewis encourages students to apply early and often, not assume they are not eligible for awards, and to apply with intent.
Apply early and often
Looking for a scholarship requires research and time, so starting early, even before senior year in high school, kick-starts the process of identifying and applying for scholarships. Most students don’t know that once they are in college, they can continue to apply for grants and scholarships to help pay for their sophomore, junior, and senior years as well.
Don’t assume you are not eligible
Family income, ethnicity, and academic merit don’t have to be prerequisites for a scholarship. Countless are available for athletics, minorities, STEM & STEAM, community service, music, and those from government and large corporations. And there are off-beat ones: Tall Clubs International offers financial aid to women taller than 5-foot-10 and men taller than 6-foot-2!
Apply with intent
Many scholarships require a completed FAFSA form, so take the time to prepare that at the start of your search. Applying for a scholarship can be like applying for college or a job. Carefully read the stated eligibility and all the directions. Make your application distinctive and reflective of who you are and why you deserve it. Ask teachers and others to read and critique it. Make sure it is error-free.