SPRING 2009

<< Back to Contents

10 Steps to Free Money for College
(Especially Embry-Riddle)

by Robert Ross

With student loans for college harder to get and families under economic pressure, scholarships and loans are more important than ever.

But the very thought of how to find and get that free money can be overwhelming.

The good news is: the money’s out there. But you do need a plan and persistence.

And while the tried-and-true search methods are still required, the Internet can help you find even more opportunities than ever before.

We asked several students and financial aid experts at Embry-Riddle’s campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., for their advice on how to develop a successful plan for getting financial aid. Here’s what they say:

  1. Start early. “We get parents and students who walk in the door just before classes start, not knowing what to do or where to go to get financial help,” says Barbara Dryden, financial aid director at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach. On the flip side, she was recently contacted by the parents of an 11 year old. “I was impressed they were starting to think about financial aid so early.” The bottom line, says freshman Daniel Wickham, is don’t wait. “I waited until my senior year, because my junior year was hectic. I had a difficult senior year because of that. The sooner you start the easier it is.”
  2. Get involved with organizations and clubs in your junior year or earlier. “Build a resume of your accomplishments, both inside and outside the classroom,” says Dan Lupin, financial aid director at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus. “You have to separate yourself from those who only have high GPAs. You’re putting yourself into the best position for applying for scholarships.”
  3. Put in time, effort, and persistence. Look past the first one or two pages on Google. “It’s hard to find free money,” Lupin says, “but your effort sets the stage for your academic work in college. If you spend one hour searching for and getting a $500 scholarship, you’ve earned $500 an hour.” “It’s a long process and can be disheartening at times,” says student Matt Komma. “The most important thing is: have your goal in mind and make it your responsibility to get there. No other person can step in for you. Be relentless.”
  4. Search in stages. First, look close at hand and local. Investigate all the connections you and your family have. It could be an employer, the military, a church, a fraternal group like the Lions Club or Knights of Columbus, an ethnic organization, the local fire department, or grocery chain. Next, move to the career you’re planning – in aviation, engineering, business, or another field – and search for organizations and people that support that career with scholarships. “Work with your high school guidance counselors to identify private money that is available. They have binders with all of that information,” says Karen Williams, director of financial aid operations at the Daytona Beach campus. “And keep going back to check, because deadlines change. So do the criteria used by the businesses and foundations that fund private scholarships.”
  5. Get with FAFSA fast. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (at FAFSA.ed.gov), which you fill out in your senior year, is important because it determines your eligibility for government money based on income level. Embry-Riddle and other colleges also use it to see whether you qualify for their financial need-based grants. If you’re still a junior, you can use a new service, FAFSA4caster.ed.gov, to learn about the financial aid process and get an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid.
  6. Search for free. Use the government’s website (FAFSA.ed.gov), free search engines like Fastweb.com or Finaid.org, your library’s reference section, and your high school guidance office. Don’t pay someone else for free information. Beware of rip-off scam sites like Fafsa.com. “They’ll charge you at least $150 just for the application you can get free from the official U.S. government website, FAFSA.ed.gov,” Williams says. “I’ve worked in financial aid for 19 years, and I haven’t seen one of these commercial sites that was beneficial.”
  7. Ask for help. Reach out to your high school counselors, Embry-Riddle’s financial aid specialists, a librarian, family members, and friends. FAFSA.ed.gov even has a chat page where you can get your questions answered.
  8. Not sure? Apply anyway. “If your qualifications for a scholarship are limited – for example, you meet only three of five criteria – apply anyway,” Lupin says. “You might be the only applicant.” Komma agrees. “Many scholarships in your home state receive only a few applicants,” he says. “Sometimes they’ll make concessions because donors want to help the next generation succeed.” Freshman Kassandra Kluge adds: “There’s a lot of money in the pot for anyone who makes it known they are interested and qualified for the award. Don’t just sit back and let your peers prosper while you think about the debt you’ll have after college.” Kluge, who snagged 13 awards, including seven from Embry-Riddle, applied for 50 scholarships and grants.
  9. Write generic essays, advises Dryden. “You can tweak, modify, and pull from them when writing your essay for each individual scholarship application.”
  10. Fill in every blank. Scholarship applications ask lots of questions about you and your family. For example, was your grandfather a veteran? Take the time to answer them all. “You want to connect yourself to things people want to pay money for,” Lupin says. “It’s your answers that will get you the scholarship, not the blanks.” And while you’re at it, make sure you answer questions correctly and don’t overlook anything. Ask someone with a good eye to proofread and fact-check your applications when you’re done.