The world’s #1 Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid

16.6. Top 10 Tips for Securing Funding

Here’s the book’s best advice boiled down to 10 actionable steps:

1. Start Early: Hunt scholarships in high school; file the FAFSA October 1. Timing beats talent sometimes.

2. Cast a Wide Net: Apply to big nationals (e.g., Coca-Cola Scholars) and small locals (e.g., your library’s $500 award)—every bit helps.

3. Tell Your Story: Write essays that shine—specific, personal, tied to the scholarship’s goal. No generic fluff.

4. Maximize Free Money: Exhaust scholarships and grants before loans—check databases like Fastweb weekly.

5. File the FAFSA: It’s your key to federal aid, state aid, and more—don’t skip it, even if you think you won’t qualify.

6. Borrow Smart: Stick to federal loans; only take what you need—$5,000/year beats $20,000 in debt.

7. Budget Like a Pro: Live lean—cook, buy used books, use student discounts. Stretch aid to the last day.

8. Work Wisely: Use work-study or part-time jobs (10–15 hours/week)—earn cash without tanking grades.

9. Appeal When Needed: If aid’s low or life shifts, ask for more—schools can tweak offers.

10. Keep Going: Rejection stings, but one “yes” can change everything. Apply monthly—consistency wins.

Takeaway: These tips blend offense (chasing funds) and defense (managing them). Start with one today.