- Before you move into your dorm room, sit down with your high school guidance counselor to discuss potential scholarship opportunities. Counselors are an invaluable resource because they are familiar with the scholarships offered at local and state colleges as well as any private scholarships for which you might be eligible. Once the counselor helps identify the available scholarships, she can provide information about the application process and deadlines.
- Once you decide where you're going to study, contact the financial aid office at your college. This office can provide information about any school- or state-specific scholarships that incoming students can apply for. At some schools, students with a high academic standing might automatically qualify for a scholarship. Contact this office long before your first semester begins, as many scholarship applications might have deadlines in the spring or summer before your freshman year.
- Many private foundations and professional organizations offer scholarships for students studying at a particular school or in a certain field. If you or your parents are members of an organization like the American Legion, check with your local chapter about any scholarship opportunities. If you've chosen to study journalism in college, check with your local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists or even local media outlets in your area about any scholarships for journalism students.
- Perhaps the easiest way to research scholarship information is by logging onto the web. A number of websites allow you to search for scholarship information specific to your state or field of study. For example, the U.S Department of Education offers Student Aid on the Web, where you can research ways to fund your education. Fast Web connects students to more than $3.4 billion in available scholarship money. (see Resources)