Education
Paying for College? Work the Web
By
Aug 20, 2005, 19:00

(ARA) - You need money for college so you sold your prized baseball card collection in an online auction. Now you’re scouring the house for the next item to put up on the block. Fortunately, you can get money for college online without hawking heirlooms to the highest bidder.
Scholarships and financial aid are available to offset the cost of a college education. The information you need to get started is readily available on the Internet. Familiarize yourself with these online resources to find money for college.

File your FAFSA online

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important step you can take in finding money for college. The U.S. Department of Education provided more than $60 billion in student financial aid last year, but you have to submit a FAFSA to get your share.

Lori Johnston, a counselor at Hastings High School in Hastings, Mich., advises students to submit their FAFSA online. Thanks to an online error checker “there isn’t a chance for human error and you get a quicker response,” she says.

Lists of frequently asked questions and other resources are also available on the FAFSA Web site to help students learn more ways to pay for college. Visit FAFSA on the Web at: www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Search for Scholarships

Web sites that specialize in helping students find scholarships for college are a good way to find more money. FastWeb (www.fastweb.com) “is the most reliable and most accurate,” Johnston says.

FastWeb uses a detailed profile to match students to awards in its database. It’s free to use and “it’s a quick process,” Johnston says.

The Web site helps students like Vicky Liang, a high school senior at North Quincy High in Quincy, Mass., stay on top of deadlines. “The calendar feature is so convenient,” she says. “I used to mark scholarship deadlines on my personal calendar but now that isn't needed.” Currently Liang is working on an art piece to submit for a scholarship she found on FastWeb.

Conduct Your Own Research

Organizations with scholarship money to award typically post the details on their Web sites. Visit the Web sites of organizations you’re already affiliated with. For example:

* Employers: Your parents’ employers may offer scholarships for children of employees. Students with part-time jobs should check the Web site of their employer for awards.

* Religious Organizations: Your local church is a good place to start, and if you were involved with a youth group or charity through your church that is part of a national organization you’ll want to check out their Web site too.

* Civic Groups: Your town’s Rotary club, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce or other civic organizations may offer a scholarship.

* Schools: The financial aid office at your college (or the one you hope to attend) may list school-specific scholarships on their Web site. Go one step further and check the site of the department that houses your major.

* Professional Associations: Most professions have organizations for those working in the field. These groups often offer scholarships to students with an interest in related careers.

Use Caution

Beware of Web sites that offer access to “exclusive” awards for a fee or emails that invite you to financial aid seminars that cost money to attend.

Your best bets for financial aid advice are available online, for free. Courtesy of ARA Content

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