Dottie, I think this needs to be cut

It's a lot of good information, but the rule of thumb for writing for the web is to take out half of the words you would use for print. Or would could turn this into a PDF brochure for kids to download.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms are available in the college Counseling Office in the fall, but they cannot be completed without full-year tax information. Some schools also require a profile form. Each college has its own deadline for receipt of these forms.

Visit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Website for detailed information about the program, and instructions for completing the application.

You may have heard rumors about the millions of dollars in financial aid that go unused every year. Financial aid officers will tell you that these rumors are not true. Most money comes through the campus-based Office of Financial Aid. Most financial assistance is based on need, not merit.

If you need financial aid, check the financial aid guides, scholarship guides, and indexes in the college Counseling Offices. Parents and students are encouraged to use these materials. Scholarships are announced and posted. When investigating schools, you should ask about scholarships and other sources of financial assistance which may be available.

Like college admissions, scholarship competition can be very competitive. Plan ahead. You will need excellent grades, a strong GPA, class rank, community and school activities, and recommendations. Leadership, scholarship, and involvement are extremely important if you want to compete for major scholarships.

You may be eligible for financial assistance because of need; achievement; athletic or artistic accomplishment; your parents' employee benefits, military service, trade union, civic or fraternal association membership; social security benefits, church affiliation, etc.

Special scholarships are offered for intended careers such as teaching, nursing, engineering, math, art, military (ROTC), etc.

Monies are also available through federal programs such as Pell grants, Stafford Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), College Work Study, and Perkins Loans. Additional funds are available through lending institutions. Ask your college counselor about Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) and PLUS loans for parents.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms are used for most scholarships, grants, and loans to obtain a standard and consistent evaluation of a family's ability to contribute to college costs.

Next: Types of Financial Aid