So you’ve been accepted into the nearby junior college or to the University that you applied for. Well let me be the first to congratulate you. Let me also be the one to recommend ways to fund your tuition using scholarships and grants.

Some students who go off to college think about taking out student loans because they often have low interest rates and there is a myth that everyone graduates with student loans. Well that is not true; I graduated with my Masters degree without any student loans, so its possible.

What you want to do is apply for scholarships and grants wherever possible. Remember organizations are going to give you money if you just apply. Have some essays ready that you have written from the bottom of your heart and let your life flow through your writing.

Think of filling out scholarships as a part time job, if you do that you will not have to get a part time job while in college living on campus. The key to filling out applications for scholarships is to have your previous semester transcripts ready. If you just finished high school then have 5-10 transcripts that are original copies, some might have to have the registrar stamp across the back of the envelope. Also have 2-3 teachers that have written a recommendation on your behalf. Make 5 copies of the recommendations and have your teachers sign each one for you. I’m telling you if you do this you will be on your way to receiving some major dollars from organizations.

Be ready, meet the deadlines, and be neat about your approach. Once you receive a scholarship or grant, always write a thank you letter to the people who sent you the money.

So start by adding your info into the Fastweb database and write down names of Hispanic Grants that are available. My degree was paid for by Hispanic Scholarships and yours can as well.