Financial aid

There are so many factors to consider when choosing a college. How much it will cost and how to pay for it are probably among the top concerns for students and parents.

Two common criteria for receiving funds towards your college education are need and merit. Need-based scholarships rely on your (and your parents’) financial situation. Merit- or talent-based scholarships are given because of your skills and often require an audition or interview. Technical theatre students usually need to present a portfolio for evaluation. Ask the departments of the schools you’re looking at what scholarships they offer and how they determine recipients. (And check out the Thespian scholarships page for information about EdTA’s award program.)

You also should check out work-study programs offered at the schools you’re interested in. It’s another way to help pay for your education, and they often give you basic experience in marketable employment skills.

Other resources
To help you find answers—and maybe even dollars—check out the following resources. For more college-related websites, see the college links page.

www.ed.gov/index.jsp
The U.S. Department of Education’s website, which also offers information about federal student aid programs.

www.fafsa.ed.gov
You’ve heard about the FAFSA, now download it. The basic government student aid application form is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s website (see above).

www.finaid.org
Loans, scholarships, military aid, and financial aid applications are all explained on this comprehensive site. Find out about interest rates, repayment plans, loan consolidation, common scholarship scams, and other types of aid. There’s also a link to their partner, FastWeb, which offers a customized scholarship search service.

www.collegenet.com
CollegeNET, the official web-based admissions application for more than five hundred colleges and universities, includes a scholarship search feature. The site does not sell student data to third parties; user information remains private.

www.review.com
The Princeton Review’s website includes scholarship information.