For those seeking financial aid, begin with the federal financial aid form known as FAFSA. Families can file the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov, or via mail. Completing federal income tax forms makes filling out the FAFSA form a lot easier, and makes it less likely that you will have to provide more information later. Note: Funds are more readily available for those who apply early!

Following are some often overlooked tips for those seeking financial aid for their college education:

* Consult your guidance counselor. Guidance counselors receive a lot of information about financial aid programs, scholarships, and deadlines, as well as information from schools. Some guidance counselors send out newsletters to parents and students, while others keep it for those who ask.
* Check within your community. Many scholarships are available based on where you live, who you are and what you do. Be sure to inquire at work, your place of worship, the local Rotary Club, American Legion and businesses.
* Meet with your school financial aid officer. Some college and trade school financial aid officers have some discretion on financial aid packages and can adjust awards based on the information you provide and extenuating circumstances.
* Verify student loans. Parents and students often feel compelled to accept whatever student loan package is offered by their school. Students should research interest rates and payment schedules to get the best deal and to understand what they are getting into.
* Meet with university department heads. Students already in college should get to know the department head of their major since many departments have dedicated financial aid and scholarship opportunities for deserving students. Also, they may have job opportunities within the department.
* Monitor your funds. Financial aid programs assume that you will live within your means. Many students learn the hard way that paying for what you need means waiting for what you want.
* Conduct online research. Following are good resources for beginning your online research: Federalstudentaid.ed.gov (federal financial assistance), FinAid.org (scholarship searches and other forms of financial aid), Scholarships.com (free scholarship search), nasfaa.org (educates parents and students on borrowing student loans), and Sallie Mae (the largest issuer of student loans).

Obtaining financial aid for a college education is toughest on those who need the most help, but there are people and organizations out there who value education and can help kids succeed once they take that first step.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find scholarships, grants and financial aid tips and resources for prospective and current college students at http://colleges.myguidesusa.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Basile

Following are common scholarship misconceptions that need to be debunked:

* Myth #1: Billions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed. In reality, the number of unused scholarships is diminutive.
* Myth #2: Scholarships are only available for the best students. The reality is that most scholarships are awarded based on elements other than academic achievement, such as the student’s major field of study, involvement, ethnicity and geographic origin. Don’t count yourself out just because you are not the valedictorian, class president, or star athlete. The more scholarships for which you apply, especially local and regional opportunities, the better your odds are to be selected.
* Myth #3: Scholarship searches are worth paying for. Be wary of scholarship search services that charge a fee since many turn out to be scams. Instead, find a wealth of free resources available on the Internet or in the print media.

Following are some scholarship search tips:

* Begin early. Begin your scholarship search early (in December or January for the next school year) or earlier. In fact, experts recommend college-bound students and their parents start looking as early as their freshman year in high school. By identifying potential awards, students can choose classes and activities that will increase their chances for a specific scholarship.
* Utilize local resources. Speak with your high school guidance counselor and local library for a list of possible resources. Check with your college financial aid office and inquire about scholarships since most states and colleges offer them.
* Use the Internet. Search the Internet and organizational web sites for scholarship information. Again, keep in mind that this information should always be free. Validate the information you find by checking it with at least two sources. Examples of free scholarship search sites include: ScholarshipAmerica.org, FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com.
* Seek smaller awards. Sometimes it pays to think small since competition can be tough for the larger scholarships. Smaller awards of $1,000 or less typically have less competition and are easier to obtain.

Scholarships come from many sources, but it may require some detective work to uncover them. Though the scholarship application process can be time consuming, the advantage is most awards require similar information, so once you complete your first application you can easily reuse the same information for several additional awards.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find scholarships, grants and financial aid tips and resources for prospective and current college students at http://colleges.myguidesusa.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Basile