Where To Look For College Scholarships | Student Loans

When it comes to paying for college my biggest regret is not trying harder to get a free in-state scholarship. My second is not going all out in trying to get other scholarships.  I applied to a couple but didn't have a lot of options and wasn't chosen.

I didn't know where to look or the best strategy to get them so I'm here to help so you don't have the same problem I did. ​

1. Search Online
This is probably the most obvious way to go about looking for scholarships and I'm one step ahead of you and here is a whole post about where to look online! 
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2. Talk to Community Organizations
There are community organizations in your area like Kiwanis, Rotary, and Elks Club that you can reach out to see if they offer any scholarships. If you attend church check to see if they have anything. 

Lastly, find out if your community participates in Dollars for Scholars. Dollars for Scholars is a nonprofit charity that organizes local community-based scholarship organizations. Most of these scholarships are awarded by companies to their employees or their employees’ children, but some are open to the general public.

3. Visit Your Guidance Counselor Or Financial Aid Office
If you are still in High School stop by and talk to your guidance counselor or visit your college’s financial aid office. These are professionals who know grants and scholarships inside and out. They might know about local scholarships and grants that might aren't listed on larger online databases and have less competition.

Counselors are typically the first to be notified when new scholarships and grants are available. They might also offer to help guide you through the application process, proofread any essays, and help you submit every piece of required information.

4. Talk To Your Employer
If you’re an adult and want to go back to school there’s a chance your employer offers tuition reimbursement. This is actually how my brother got his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Talk to your company’s Human Resources department to learn if there is a program like this and if you’re eligible.

If there is a program make sure to get the details upfront like what courses are eligible. Some companies only offer tuition reimbursement for classes or programs directly related to your current role, while others have no limitations on eligible courses.

You'll want to figure out how they provide reimbursement also, do they pay up front, or will you have to pay first and then get reimbursed?

You can also ask your HR department if they offer any employer-sponsored scholarships for children of employees.
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​Summary

The most important thing about looking for scholarships is just taking action. Make sure you are looking online, talking to employers, and community organizations. Don't make the mistake I did and not look hard enough.

If you are looking for additional resources here are some books that can help!

​**This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you and allows me to keep the lights on around here. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ​​ ​​​​​​​​

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