If you�re a college or pre college student, please don�t believe for one second that loans are the only form of college financing! When you are in need of financial help, for whatever reason, there are better ways of getting it than applying for a loan. Student loans are difficult to repay because of the ever-increasing interest that comes with them. Rather than take out a loan, apply for a scholarship or a grant instead!

Scholarships and grants are free. Nevertheless, you must set aside some time to search and apply for them.

Scholarships: Various organizations and businesses like the Lions Club, Optimist, Chamber of Commerce and the Girls & Boys Club give scholarships to college students. There are military, church, and union scholarships as well.

The internet is great resource for finding scholarships. Merely search for �scholarships� on any search engine. Or check out FastWeb.com. This site can help you find scholarships that match you!

The majority of the scholarships found here require an essay to be written. Don�t stress about this! Find one that suites you and then sit down and start typing. Before sending it in, have a family member or friend proofread it.

You might also wish to check with the college or university you are enrolling in. Generally they give scholarships to students with high GPA�s or ACT scores. Colleges usually give out scholarships based upon athletic abilities as well.

If you are still in high school, ask your Financial Aid office if they know of any scholarships you could apply for. Your counselor would also be a great person to ask, as he or she will know your strengths and weaknesses a little better.

The most important thing you need to do is to start right now. Start looking around and asking around for scholarships.

Grants, like scholarships, are wonderful because you never have to pay them. Grants are awarded depending your special interests, ethnicity, or financial need. Private groups, educational institutions, and the federal government all give out grants.

Federal government grants are given based on financial need. In order to apply for one you must go to FAFSA.com and fill out an application or you can pick up an application from your financial aid office. Depending on whether you sent it in electronically or physically, your Student Aid Report will reach you in about three to six weeks.

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