Tips to Get Money for College 11: Work with Financial Aid Counselors

Saturdays we share a tip or cautions to facilitate getting scholarships or avoiding problems

Sasha was born in the Ukraine and adopted with her brother by a young American family when she was 18 months old. She grew up in a happy family that cared for and loved her. She did well in school, but not an outstanding scholar. A good private university admitted her. They offered a scholarship for students born outside the United States. She won it and used it to help pay for her schooling. Part of the money allowed her to study abroad in Europe.

High School Guidance Counselors

We maintain the highest regard for high school guidance counselors. Most are overworked and underpaid. They mean well but have to allocate their limited time and resources to far too many students.

Most high school guidance counseling offices designate at least one of the counselors to specialize in scholarships, grants, and other sources of financial aid. This counselor is usually the one who maintains the scholarship section of the high school’s web site. You may find their name on the web page. We suggest that you work specifically with that counselor on financial aid, even though you have another guidance counselor assigned to you.

College Financial Aid Counselors

Almost all colleges and universities provide financial aid counselors to potential and current students. College financial aid counselors typically will only help you with financial aid offered through the government or college itself. Generally, this internal financial aid comes from bequests by donors, alumni, and others affiliated with the school.

Private, for-profit colleges typically help you get a few federal grants and lots of student debt.

You need to impress all financial aid counselors that you will seriously work hard to earn scholarships. We recommend you tell them “I will be applying for 100-150 scholarships and would like your help. Would you be willing to help me find sources of money and prepare my reusable materials so that they are as perfect as possible?”

Tuesday we share the federal TEACH grant as a source of funding for future educators

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