Need Financial Aid for College?
Don’t Miss the FAFSA Priority Deadline
With the rising cost of college tuition at both public and private institutions, it is important to fully understand all the financial aid options available to students. No matter your eligibility for need-based aid, there are plentiful opportunities to pursue merit-based scholarships and other awards. Today, we’ll discuss two important steps you can take to ensure your future education is more affordable and accessible: filling out the FAFSA and applying for additional scholarships.
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an online form that determines a student’s eligibility for federal and state financial aid in the form of grants, loans, work study funds, and scholarships. Colleges use the personal financial information provided by students in their FAFSA to award scholarship monies and prepare financial aid packages. In fact, some colleges will not offer financial aid (including merit-based scholarships) unless that student has filled out the FAFSA—this includes schools like Texas A&M and Rice University.
The updated FAFSA application process should take no more than an hour to complete, and you can fill-out the form here. For more information on how to fill out the new FAFSA, check out this blog post.
When is the FAFSA due?
The deadline to fill out the FAFSA varies by state. For example, the Priority Deadline for Texas schools is February 15th. Submitting your FAFSA by the Priority Deadline ensures you are considered for the most comprehensive financial aid possible, allowing you to maximize your overall financial aid package. Additionally, individual schools often have their own deadlines for students to submit (UT Austin encourages students to submit their FAFSA by March 15th).
*Don’t forget that you need to fill out a FAFSA each year to receive financial aid.
Applying for additional scholarships
If you are interested in pursuing additional financial aid after filling out your FAFSA, there are countless need- and merit-based scholarships available from colleges, corporations, foundations, charities, and other clubs and organizations. Many of these scholarships help support students from specific communities or groups, students with particular passions or hobbies, and students invested in certain majors or future careers.
Where can I find additional scholarship opportunities?
A great place to start your scholarship search is by setting up a meeting with your school counselor to learn about local and regional scholarships available to students from your high school. For example, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awards four-year, $20,000 scholarships annually to 79 students graduating from public school districts participating in the Area Go Texan program. Not bad, ya’ll!
Colleges will also offer scholarships for current and prospective students. Check out LASSO, UT Austin’s scholarship and awards portal.
Outside of school, see if any of your extracurricular activities (including service organizations you volunteer with) offer scholarships. This can include groups like 4-H, Scouts, American Red Cross, FFA, Key Club, and SkillsUSA.
Ask your parents and family if they know of any scholarships available through their work.
Utilize websites and resources dedicated to helping students find scholarships. Here are a few to get you started:
Need help with scholarships and financial aid?
Our experienced B2A college admissions counselors can assist you in the scholarship application process—helping you find scholarships and providing feedback on your application materials, including essays!
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors!
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