College is an exciting experience, but also a stressful one. Not only do you have to decide on a school, but also what scholarships, and how many, to apply for.

As a college student, I know first hand how frustrating it can get when applying for scholarships, grants, and loans. Sometimes you get a little, sometimes a lot, but you never really know for sure. Although I have been very blessed with a substantial amount of financial aid, I have many friends that get next to nothing.

This lack of aid they have received is not really their fault. Because their families appear pretty well off on their taxes, the government assumes that they will be able to provide most of the funding for a college education. However, just because the parents make a lot of money, doesn't mean the student does.

Because of this, I have listed some tips that students and parents should do and look for when applying for aid.

1. As I mentioned before, keep in mind that the more income the parent makes, the less aid the student will receive. The government just assumes that the higher the household income, the less the student needs to be supported by federal aid programs.

2. The best way to start out is by filling out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). In fact, all colleges recommend that you fill out a FAFSA because they are the ones who will distribute the aid so they must see how it will be done. The most common award given from filling out a FAFSA is the Pell Grant, which most students receiving aid will receive.

3. Check out your state's Board of Regents. The grants offered by the Board of Regents may vary, but many students find this beneficial. For example, in Ohio, the Board of Regents offers a War Orphans Scholarship. Any student who is a child of someone who is deceased or 100% disabled due to wartime conflict can receive their entire tuition paid for all of college, as long as they go to a public school in the state of Ohio. If they choose a private school, the scholarship will still pay, but it will be a smaller portion.

4. Look at scholarships and grants offered by your high school or college. High schools, especially, offer close guidance when it comes to applying for aid. Many also have financial aid night, where you can learn about how to fill out the FAFSA and what scholarships are offered by certain colleges and local organizations.

5. If you are a parent and you belong to an organization, such as the Elks, your student may be able to get aid through that club.

6. Search sites such as monstertrak.com and fastweb.com. Although these are national scholarship sites, you may be able to find something that you have a good chance of getting. Be careful on the internet, though, because there are just as many financial aid scams out there than ones that are legitimate. Talk to a guidance counselor or academic adviser if you are unsure about anything you are applying for.

7. Never apply for anything that asks for a social security number. Donors do not need to know that to know who you are. If something asks you for an SSN, its is without a doubt a scam.

8. Finally, if you do not get a sufficient amount of scholarships and grants, you can always take out loans. Be careful, though. Make sure you realize that loans must be paid off as soon as you get your degree so try to save money, not just spend, during college.

Learn more about this author, Margaret Stahl.
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