Can Unclaimed Scholarships Help You Attend College This Year?- Student Research Foundation

Have you seen stories online and on the evening news about students who are dropping out of college already this year? It’s happening to unfortunate students. For example, we just read a story about a young woman who dropped out of her community college because she could not afford Internet service.

If you are short of funds and thinking about taking a gap year, you might consider changing your mind, because financial aid could be available to help you.

Fill Out the FAFSA If You Haven’t Already

According to statistics compiled by Education Week, only 52% of students who graduated from secondary schools in 2020 have filled out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) this year.

Incidentally, if you think that people who fill out the FAFSA can only get a PELL or other government-funded grant, think again. A number of grantors use the FAFSA as a tool to evaluate potential recipients of funding. They include colleges, state scholarship programs, and private organizations that give scholarships to deserving students.

So if you haven’t done so already and you could use money for college fill out the FAFSA. Visit the application site HERE

Talk to Your College’s Financial Aid Office Again

Even if you applied for financial aid before, have another conversation and explain that you need money to attend. The fact is, things are changing quickly at many colleges as they adjust to staying open during the pandemic. Students are dropping out or taking gap years, and many colleges are placing a higher value on maintaining large incoming classes.

Your enrollment could be quite a valuable commodity at many schools. So don’t be shy about knocking on the same doors two or three times, or about asking for money repeatedly. And another thing. If you were accepted by colleges that didn’t offer you enough aid to attend, talk to them again, even if you informed them you are going elsewhere. Those schools could now have a greater need of you.

And Distance Learners Can Apply for Scholarships Too

Not all scholarships are earmarked for students who physically attend classes. In fact, some scholarships are available for students who attend college online.

To explore some of your options in this specialized area, visit The Online Schools Center online.

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