News

There are an extremely large number of places on the Internet where you can obtain college scholarship and financial aid information, however the following lists are only a minute fraction of what may be available.  Therefore you must become comfortable with developing your own search methods.  Hopefully the following information will get you started if you have not already begun.  Also be sure to consult with teachers, guidance counselors, other parents and students, plus other knowledgeable folks regarding how such searches can be accomplished.

The links immediately listed below also contain information regarding the overall process of preparing for college, so be sure to visit other sections of the website beside those noted here.  The sites that follow this list are more specific to just scholarships and financial aid.

* College Board --- The same site that brings you the SAT

           Pay for College (for students) :  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/ 

           Pay for college (for parents) : http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/pay/ 

* Sallie Mae --- A federal agency that provides student loans : http://www.salliemae.com/  

* FASFA --- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  This is an on-line application that EVERY student applying for financial aid must eventually fill out, so get comfortable with it NOW.

           http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

* Financial Aid --- A commercial website with a variety of information : http://www.finaid.org/

* Student.gov --- Federal website which not only provides an overview of the college process but also contains links to many sources of government funded finanacial aid : http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public 

* Ready Set Go To College --- A website of the Massachusetts dept. of Education and the Board of Higher Education that provides a quick overview of the college preparation process (including testimonial videos).

          http://www.readysetgotocollege.com/

*  Organizations that provide face-to-face guidance to those families who are navigating the College Planning and Financial Aid Process.

           --- The Educational Resource Institute (TERI) [located in several Massachusetts cities]

                 http://174.133.199.34/college-planning/index.asp 

                 Also checkout their Scholarship Database:   http://www.localstudentfunding.org/content/index.php 

                 Boston:  877-332-4348

           ---  Colleges of Worcester Consortium (COWC)

                 http://www.cowc.org/  

                 Worcester:   508-754-6829

PLEASE VISIT OFTEN AS THIS ARTICLE MAY BE PERIODICALLY UPDATED

Also please note any deadlines!

Here is a list of websites geared to financial aid information 

* A number of federal agencies provide scholarship opportunities

* Pell Grants --- Grants from a federal agency, which means you are not required to pay these back,  that provides financial aid to elligible students from low income families.

           http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp

* NASA --- National Aeronautics & Space Administration

           --- Aeronatutics Scholarship Program: https://nasa.asee.org/ 

           --- MUST Program --- A partnership bewteen NASA and two minority organizations

           to provide financial aid and/or internships to elligible students

                     http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/education/NASAMUST_GRC.html

* NOAA --- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

           Graduate & Undergraduate opportunities : http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/scholarships_opps.html 

* Massachusetts Office for Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) scholarship programs : http://www.osfa.mass.edu/default.asp?page=aidPrograms 

* Black Excel --- List of 200 Scholarships for Minority students : http://www.blackexcel.org/200-Scholarships.html 

             Several Scholarships included on this list are:

             Gates Milenium Scholars program: : http://www.gmsp.org/ 

              Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship : http://www.jackierobinson.org/ 

              Microsoft Corporation Scholarship : http://www.microsoft.com/college/ss_reqs.mspx 

* Some highly selective colleges and universities have revamped their financial aid policies to reduce or eliminate the financial burden on low income families.  Students must still meet the entrance requirements and be accepted, but once this hurdle has been overcome, the remaining financial hurdle is significantly lowered.  For examples see the programs immediately below.  If necessary check to see if the colleges to which you apply have similar programs.

             Harvard University

                     Low Income : http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/03/30-finaid.html 

                      Middle Income : http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/12.13/99-finaid.html

             Dartmouth College : http://www.dartmouth.edu/apply/generalinfo/news/loanreductions.html 

             Yale University : http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=4856 

             Brown University : https://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=78#initiatives 

             Princeton University : http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/08/0204/aid/  

             Standford University :  http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/february21/aid-022107.html 

* Many colleges and universities have multiple financial programs focused on particular disciplines or areas of study.  Checkout some of the examples below.

           Washington University in St. Louis : http://admissions.wustl.edu/scholarships/programs/Pages/ArtsSciences.aspx 

           Howard University:  http://www.howard.edu/financialaid/grants_scholarships.htm  

           AAWCS Programs (African American Women in Computer Science)

                     University of Massachusetts:  http://www.massachusetts.edu/stem/african_american_women_in_comp_sci.html  

                      Florida A&M University: http://www.cis.famu.edu/~aawcs/ 

* Many professional organizations provide scholarships 

* NACME --- National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Scholars Program :  http://www.nacme.org/scholars/ 

* ASME --- American Society of Mechanical Engineers Scholarship Program : http://www.asme.org/Education/College/FinancialAid/Scholarships.cfm  

* ACS --- American Chemical Society Scholars Program : Click this link to visit this ACS program 

* AMA --- Americam Medical Association Scholarship : Click this link to view details.

* NABJ --- National Association of Black Journalists Scholarship : http://www.nabj.org/programs/scholarships/index.php