The Money Menu
This type of aid is "free money" usually based on financial need and doesn't require repayment.
What is a Grant?
You have to share a bathroom with 20 people in every dorm.
(Many modern dorms are "suite-style" with only 2–4 people sharing a bathroom).
This specific person at your high school is a goldmine for local scholarship info.
This is the #1 priority in the "Order of Operations" because it never has to be paid back.
$100: What is Gift Aid (Free Money)?
30-second summary of who you are and what you do is called this kind of "pitch."
What is an Elevator Pitch?
These are "earned" funds where you work a part-time job on campus to help pay for school.
What is Work-Study?
Common name for the 15 lbs students supposedly gain from unlimited dining hall food.
What is the Freshman 15?
These awards have the lowest competition and are your "best chance" of winning.
What are Local Scholarships?
Before taking out a private bank loan, you should always exhaust these types of loans first.
What are Federal Student Loans?
This document is a one-page summary of your education, skills, and experience.
What is a Resume?
Unlike grants, these are often "merit-based," meaning they are awarded for grades, sports, or talents.
What are Scholarships?
True/False: Your college professors will drop you from the class if you are late.
What is False? (Unlike high school, many professors don't take attendance, but you'll fail the exams if you aren't there!).
These scholarships are specific to your heritage, hobbies, or intended major.
What are Niche/Identity Scholarships?
Money from a "529 Plan" falls into this second-tier category of the Order of Operations.
What is Earned/Saved Money?
These are "soft skills" like teamwork and communication that employers value as much as "hard skills."
What are Employability Skills?
This is "borrowed money" that must be paid back with interest after you graduate.
What are Loans?
This "Office" on campus is where you go if you need a tutor or help with a hard essay.
What is the Writing Center or Student Success Center?
This is the URL for the HHS Counseling site provided for your scholarship links.
What is HHS.washk12.org/counseling
This is the "last resort" in the Order of Operations due to higher interest rates and fewer protections.
What are Private Loans?
This is the term for a "concentration of study" you choose to earn your degree in.
What is a Major?
This is the "real" price you pay for college after all your grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price.
What is the Net Price?
Every college is required by law to have a Net Price Calculator on their website so students can see their personalized estimate.
Most colleges have one of these "Legends," like "Don't step on the seal or you won't graduate."
What is a Campus Superstition?
Sites like BigFuture and Fastweb fall into this which category (high, medium low competition) of scholarships?
What is "High Competition"
Federal Work-Study is unique because even though it's "earned," it's still considered this.
What is Financial Aid?
This is the number of credit hours a student usually needs to be considered "Full-Time."
What is 12 credit hours?