College Scholarships and Financial Aid Guidance

With experienced help, students might save thousands of dollars. This will allow you to attend your chosen school without having to worry so much about the cost.

Getting accepted to the college of your choice is one hurdle that you likely feel relieved when you cross over it. After your acceptance, however, you may then be faced with the prospect of a high annual tuition charge if your school is a private college or a more elite public university in a state you don’t have residency in. Annual tuition costs at some of the most exclusive universities and colleges are staggering. Harvard, for example, states that its estimated total bills and costs for the 2017/2018 school year range from $69,600 to $73,600. When faced with such high tuition, you might worry that you will be unable to afford to attend school, and you might not even want to apply. With scholarships and financial aid, attending may be within your reach if you know where to look.

Going Ivy Can Help

The experienced educational experts at Going Ivy graduated from the top schools in the U.S., and we understand the worries that many students have about how they will pay the tuition and costs for their top schools. We have helped many students in Phoenix and across the Valley to identify and secure the most appropriate scholarship opportunities for them. With our help, you might save thousands of dollars, allowing you to attend your chosen school without having to worry about money. Here are some things that you can do as you start your scholarship and financial aid search.

Finding Aid Through Your School

Because most students who attend Ivy League and other prestigious institutions are well-qualified academically, which means you should not expect to receive an academic scholarship if you are attending one of those exclusive colleges. Most do, however, have generous financial aid packages for their students based on need, and you may qualify even if you are from a middle-class family. At Harvard, the school guarantees that all of its students will graduate debt free. It does not expect families making under $65,000 per year to contribute anything. Families making up to $150,000 per year are expected to contribute an amount ranging from zero to 10 percent of the total bill, and those making more than $150,000 may still qualify for some aid and will have varying amounts that they will be expected to contribute. There is a net price calculator on Harvard’s and every other college’s website that prospective students can use to estimate how much attending will cost them based on their financial assets and, for schools that offer merit-based aid, their academic and extracurricular distinctions.

Working Your Way from Inside to Outside

The next thing that you can do is to take a personal inventory about your attributes, background, religion, parents and interests. Many of these different areas may be mined for scholarships. There are free scholarship search sites online such as Finaid that you might be able to use to narrow the scholarships down to ones that fit who you are, which might increase the chances that you will be awarded money. You can also search locally for scholarships. Some companies and organizations offer scholarships to students in the area or to their employees’ children.

Sign Up

You will likely have several opportunities to sign up for free scholarship matching services, including if you take the SAT. When you sign up for the SAT, you have the option to opt in for the SSS, which matches scholarships to students. This may help you to identify added opportunities that you might otherwise not find.

Search Traditional Sources

While the internet places the world at your fingertips, the vast amount of information can be overwhelming. You might have some luck finding scholarships by heading to the library or your guidance counselor’s office. Librarians and counselors often have access to scholarship opportunities that might be good matches for you.

Grants and Loans

Need-based grants and loans might also be able to you if you are eligible. In order to find out if you qualify for federal grants and loans, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In order to determine what you might qualify for, you will need your parents’ income and tax information. You and your school will be sent award letters detailing the types and amounts of grants and loans that you are eligible to receive. Acceptance is not mandatory. You may choose to turn down student loans if you want to avoid debt, for instance. In addition to the federal government, don’t forget to check your state and your college for any grants that they might also offer. The great thing about grants is that you do not have to repay them, making them as equally beneficial as scholarships for college attendance. Finally, if you want to enter the military, there may be options available through the armed services to pay for your college.

Going Ivy’s Expert Assistance

In order to better help our students, Going Ivy has access to a vast network of scholarship opportunities, and we are able to match students with the scholarships that best fit them. We also can help you with completing your application, and we can make suggestions about your scholarship essays so that you can edit them to make them stand out. The expert consultants at Going Ivy also are able to explain how to complete the FAFSA form, and we can tell your parents what information is needed and what their expected family contribution means. Contact Going Ivy today to schedule your appointment. We will work hard to save you thousands of dollars on your tuition bill so that enrolling and attending your dream school is financially possible.