What are Scholarships?

• Merit-Based Aid is given to students who have a special characteristic, skill, talent, or ability (ACT score, athletic ability…).

• Need-Based Aid is given to students who can show they have a financial need. There are three types of need-based aid: grants, loans, and work-study. If you think your educational expenses are more than you or your family can afford, you should always apply for need-based financial aid.

Types of Scholarships

• Federal Aid Programs – Check with your school counselor

• Campus Based Scholarships – Check with your prospective schools if they have any school-specific scholarships you could be eligible to apply for.

• Departmental Scholarships – Check with the departments you may study with at your prospective schools if they have any scholarships you could be eligible to apply for.

• ROTC Scholarships - http://www.montanaguard.net/ROTC.php

• NCAA Scholarships – Check with your high school or athletic team coach and visit http://www.ncaa.org

Private Loans

• Contact your bank, or shop for loans with other regional financial institutions

These 11 Tips will help you get scholarships to pay for college:

1. Start ASAP and apply early—There are many scholarships that have early application deadlines, so don't miss out on these opportunities.

2. Search locally—A local scholarship is probably your best chance for getting a scholarship. There are many special scholarships just for locals. This means it will be less competitive as there are less applicants. Local banks, clubs, grocery stores, businesses, organizations, and churches are all potential sources for local community scholarships. You should also check state-funded scholarships. States have a lot of money to disperse when it comes to providing education.

3. Read the requirements carefully— Make sure you are eligible right from the start, so you are not wasting your time. Also, never pay to apply for a scholarship; these are usually scams

4. Follow instructions carefully—Any initial errors can get your scholarship application easily denied. Proofread it. Have someone else proofread it!

5. Ask questions—Make sure the application is completed right. If you are not sure about something in the scholarship application, do not hesitate to ask.

6. Neatly presentable, neatly packaged—Send the scholarship application via certified mail or, better yet, FedEx, which will make your application look professional and stand out from others.

7. Visit the college/financial counselor at your School—The counselor may be able to lead you to scholarships you don't know about or are not listed on the web. You want to find scholarships that are less competitive. These are typically scholarships not heavily advertised.

8. Check School Specific Scholarships—Check with the college/university you would like to attend. Usually there are many school-specific scholarships available. This may also help you in deciding what school/college to attend.

9. Be Active, Stay Active—Being in a sports team, club, or some type of community service will always better your chances at receiving a college scholarship.

10. Maintain your GPA—Keep your grades up. A higher GPA will make you eligible for more scholarships, thus increasing your chances of receiving additional funds.

11. Apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ASAP! http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
    
    (Source: http://www.usscholarshipguide.org/misc/scholarship_tips.html)

1. If you must pay money to get money, it is probably a scam.

2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Spend the time, not money, looking for scholarships.

4. Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships.

(Source: http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtm)

The U.S. Government assists students with financial need by providing grants and low-interest loans. If you think you may qualify, file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA opens on October 1 the year before the year you are planning to use the aid. Your individual university or college may also have its own FAFSA deadline. Check with your financial aid/scholarship office to make sure you don’t miss it.

Federal financial aid programs are offered through your school’s financial aid/scholarship office. Financial aid officers decide how much money you need depending on the information you report in your FAFSA. You can choose to accept as much as you want or need.

APPLY: Free Application for Federal Aid

Montana provides state-supported programs to assist their students. Only institutions in the Montana University System, public community colleges, and tribal colleges are eligible for Montana state grants.

APPLY: Montana State Grants

Montana Indian Student Tuition Waiver
The Montana Tuition waiver is open to eligible Montana resident freshman and transfer students. You must demonstrate financial need and be at least ¼ or more Indian blood. To apply for the Indian Fee Waiver students will need to contact the Financial Aid Office at the school they are attending. Here are their websites:

• Montana State University – Office of Admissions
  

• University of Montana – Division of Student Affairs; American Indian Student Services