Securing College Funding with Scholarships and Grants

Unlock the secrets to financing your college education without the burden of debt. Join me, Cleopatra, as we unravel the often-confusing world of scholarships and grants, revealing how to effectively secure free money for college. Ever wondered about the key differences that could significantly impact your financial aid package? Discover why scholarships tend to reward merit, while grants are a lifeline for those in financial need. We’ll walk you through the crucial steps to access federal aid via the FAFSA and highlight state-specific programs that cater to East Coast students, offering a lifeline for those planning to study in states like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome back to another episode of the East
Coast College Admissions Podcast.
I'm Cleopatra, and today we arediving into one of the most
exciting and essential parts ofthe college application process
finding free money.
Yes, that's right, I'm talkingabout scholarships and grants,
two of the best ways to help payfor college without having to
repay a penny.

(00:31):
But here's the catch Manystudents aren't fully aware of
the reasons available to them,especially when it comes to
finding scholarships and grantsspecific to East Coast colleges.
Whether you are aiming for anIvy League school, a public
university or a small liberalarts college, there are
countless opportunities outthere, and today I'm going to

(00:53):
walk you through exactly how tofind them.
Let's jump right into it.
So now let's learn about thedifference between scholarships
and grants.
While they are both free moneyfor college, scholarships and
grants work a little differently.
Scholarships are typicallymerit-based, meaning they are
awarded based on your academicperformance, athletic abilities,
talent or even your communityinvolvement.

(01:14):
Some scholarships are highlycompetitive, while others are
more accessible, depending onthe criteria.
On the other hand, grants areoften need-based.
These are awarded based on yourfinancial situation, and the
amount of money you receivedepends on your family's income
and the school's cost ofattendance.
Grants can also be provided bythe federal or state government,

(01:34):
and there are specific grantsfor students attending e-school
schools, which we'll discuss ina minute.
The good news is that there's awealth of both scholarships and
grants out there, so, no matterwhat your background is or what
your skills are, there's likelya perfect opportunity waiting
for you.
So let's start with federal andstate grants, if you haven't

(01:54):
already.
Start by filling out the freeapplication for Federal Student
Aid, the FAFSA.
The FAFSA is essential fordetermining your eligibility for
federal grants, such as thePell Grant, which is need-based
and can provide significantfunds.
But here's a key point for EastCoast students.
State-based grants are just asimportant, and many East Coast

(02:14):
states have their own programsspecifically designed to help
students attending collegeswithin their state.
For example, new York Stateoffers the TAP Tuition
Assistance Program grant, whichhelps in-state students attend
any college in New York.
Massachusetts has aMassachusetts State Grant
program which providesneed-based aid to state
residents.

(02:35):
Pennsylvania offers the PEAState Grant program, which also
supports students attendingschools within the state.
Maryland provides the Howard PRollins Guaranteed Access Grant
for low-income students.
State grants like these canmake a huge difference in your
overall financial aid package,so be sure to research the
programs in your state and getyour FAFSA submitted as soon as

(02:58):
possible.
Next up, let's talk aboutschool-specific scholarships and
grants.
These are often some of themost generous forms of aid
available, and many e-schoolscolleges offer a variety of
opportunities for both incomingand current students.
Start by visiting the financialaid section of each e-school
school's website.
There you will usually find alist of scholarships and grants

(03:20):
offered specifically by thatcollege.
Some schools even havescholarships that are
automatically considered whenyou apply for admission, while
others require a separateapplication.
Here are a few examples ofschools on the East Coast that
offer excellent school-specificfunding Harvard University,
which offers need-basedfinancial aid with a very
generous policy If your familyearns less than $75,000 a year,

(03:44):
your cost of attendance is fullycovered.
Columbia University, known forits strong financial aid
programs, columbia offersscholarships that meet 100% of
demonstrated need for allstudents, regardless of
citizenship.
University of Pennsylvaniaoffers a range of merit-based
and need-based scholarships,including the Penn Undergraduate
Humanities Fellowships, whichare for students with an

(04:06):
interest in humanities.
Duke University has severalmerit-based scholarships,
including the Robertson ScholarsLeadership Program, which
covers full tuition fees and aliving stipend.
These awards can be significant, so don't overlook them.
Explore your options, check foreligibility requirements and
apply early.
Another great way to find freemoney is through private

(04:29):
scholarships and outsideorganizations.
These awards are offered byvarious organizations,
businesses, non-profits and evenlocal community groups.
The East Coast has a wealth oforganizations that offer
scholarships specifically forstudents attending schools in
this region.
Some notable sources of privatescholarships include the
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
They offer significantscholarships to students across

(04:52):
the US, including East Coaststudents who demonstrate
leadership in community service.
The Jack Kent Cook Foundationprovides merit-based
scholarships for highlyachieving students with
financial need.
The New Jersey Association forCollege Admissions Counseling
offers scholarships for NewJersey residents applying to
eSchool schools.
The National Merit-BasedScholarships.

(05:13):
Although not specific toeSchool schools, many eSchool
colleges recognize NationalMerit Scholars and offer
additional funding.
You can find thousands ofprivate scholarships through
websites like Scholarshipscom,fastweb and CapEx.
These platforms allow you tosearch for scholarships based on
your location, field of study,interest and other factors.

(05:37):
Now that we've covered where tofind scholarships and grants,
let's talk about some importanttips for applying successfully.
Number one start early.
The earlier you beginresearching and applying, the
better.
Deadlines for scholarships canbe months in advance, and
applying early increases yourchances of receiving funds.
Number two stay organized.
With many scholarships to applyfor, it's easy to lose track.

(06:00):
Create a spreadsheet to trackdeadlines, eligibility
requirements and applicationstatuses for each scholarship.
3.
Write strong essays.
Many scholarships requireessays.
Take your time to writethoughtful, clear essays that
reflect who you are and why youdeserve the scholarship.
Write thoughtful, clear essaysthat reflect who you are and why

(06:21):
you deserve the scholarship.
Customize each essay for thespecific scholarship and don't
reuse the same one for differentapplications.
Point number four seekrecommendations.
Some scholarships requireletters of recommendation.
Make sure to ask teachers,mentors or supervisors early
enough to give them time towrite meaningful letters on your
behalf.

(06:46):
My last but not the least pointapply to many scholarships,
don't just settle for one or twoopportunities.
The more you apply to, thehigher your chances of receiving
awards.
Even smaller scholarships canadd up and help cover tuition,
books and other college expenses.
Lastly, don't forget aboutresources at your high school
and local community.
High school counselors are agreat resource for finding
scholarships, as they often haveinformation on local awards and

(07:09):
opportunities.
Additionally, you can reach outto the financial aid office at
the schools you are applying tofor advice on how to maximize
your financial aid package,finding scholarships and grants
for East Coast colleges is anincredible way to ease the
financial burden of college.
With the right strategy andplenty of research, you can

(07:29):
uncover significant sources offree money to help you pay for
your education.
Be sure to start early, stayorganized and apply to as many
opportunities as you can.
For more tips on navigatingcollege admissions and financial
aid, check out our website atwwweastcoastadmissionscom.
Thanks for tuning in to today'sepisode.

(07:49):
I'll be back soon with moreexpert advice to help you on
your college journey.
You.