If you are a SENIOR, and you are applying to a four-year, two-year college or technical/vocational school,          make SURE you pay close attention to your SENIOR CALENDAR so that you do not miss any important upcoming financial aid dates.  Also, listen closely to Daily Announcements so that you will know about any upcoming financial aid workshops.

There are several ways to get enough financial support to pay for college, vocational/technical school, or whatever post-high school education you seek. Three of the most common sources include scholarships, grants, and loans. If you would like to educate yourself with a brief overview of the main differences between the types of aid, click HERE.

SCHOLARSHIPS    The BEST way to pay for college...because you do not have to pay them back!  Scholarships are usually offered for academic merit, athletic talent, or for some other specific skill or ability. Although you do not have to apply for grants or loans until your senior year, you can apply for scholarships as early as your freshmen year. Try the following links to begin searching!  Before you review these or any other scholarship links, always keep in mind that you should NEVER have to either pay ANY fee or provide your social security number or bank account information. Read the links below to educate yourself about scholarship scams:

Ouch! Students Getting Stung            Scholarship Scams

Search for scholarships by using NAVIANCE.

GRANTS     Grants are offered for students whose parents meet a specific "financial-need profile." To apply for a grant, students/parents must fill out the FAFSA. Start HERE to learn everything you need to know about grants. If you'd like to download a huge booklet with more information than you may ever need, try this.

LOANS      A loan is a financial package offered by a lending institution. Generally, loans should be considered a  last resort, because you not only have to pay them back but you also have to include interest.