College Help

College Admissions and Financial Aid

This free resource, created by College Board, offers information on finding a college, financing one’s education, and exploring careers. Most of the website can be accessed without creating a personal account, although some tools require that users set up a login.

FAFSA

Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, you should always submit the free application for Federal Student Aid. $150 billion is given out each year in loans, grants, and work-study funds.

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education – Office of Student Financial Assistance

Listings of state financial aid programs including grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, loans, and tuition reimbursements.

Mass.gov

More info about grants, loans, scholarships, etc.

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority

Some great tips and timelines on applying, planning, saving, and paying for college.

Collegewise

The Newton location offers counselors to help guide you to a more successful college admissions process, including essay help. These counselors also periodically host FREE seminars at the library; check our Events page to see if one is coming up!

Scholarships

Tips for locating and applying to scholarships:

Start early
- Make a list
- Create a deadline calendar
Reach out to your guidance counselor, financial aid department, workplace, or local businesses
Narrow down your search (by state, major, program, sports, activities, etc)
Read all eligibility information and application requirements carefully
Keep track of upcoming deadlines
Check back for old scholarships, they may reopen
Follow through
Save school essays, they may be reworked into application essays
Never pay to apply to a scholarship
Use one of the following databases or the table below to get started:

List of Scholarships:

Name	$ Available	Eligibility Requirements	More Info
Doodle for Google	$30,000	-U.S. citizen or permanent legal U.S. resident -Enrolled in K-12 U.S. school -If younger than 18, need written parental consent	–Doodle for Google – FAQ –Doodle for Google – How it Works? –Doodle for Google – Contest Rules
The Voyager Scholarship	$50,000	-Junior at an U.S. accredited four-year college/university -Minimum GPA of 3.0 -Demonstrates a commitment to public service -Plans to pursue a career in public service upon graduation -U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients	Voyager Scholarship – FAQ
Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program	Varies (based on institution and full vs part-time enrollment)	-Permanent legal resident of MA (min 1 year) -U.S. citizen or non citizen eligible under Title IV -Has applied to FAFSA -Enrolled in eligible program of study in designated high need field at a public institution -Not have received a prior bachelor’s degree or equivalent -3.0 college-level GPA	Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program
Discover Student Loan Scholarship Award Sweepstakes	$5,000	-U.S. residents 16 years or older -High school or college students, or graduates -Parents of high school students, undergraduates or graduates	–Discover Student Loan Scholarship – FAQ –Discover Student Loan Scholarship – Official rules –Discover Student Loan Scholarship – Schools
Burger King Scholars Program	Varies	-High school seniors in mentioned locations -At least 2.0 GPA -Demonstrate community involvements through volunteering, sports, clubs, religious organization -Plan to enroll full-time in 2024-25 at an accredited two or four year college	Burger King Scholars Program
Chick-fil-A Community Scholars	Varies	-U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada residents -Undergraduate, graduate student -Recommended by a teacher, coach, mentor addressing applicant’s personal and/or professional achievement -Community service in the 12 months prior to the application -At least 3.0 GPA -Demonstrated financial need -Not be employed at Chick-fil-A at the time of application (nor dependent or spouse)	Chick-fil-A Community Scholars
Courage to Grow	$500	-U.S. citizens -Junior or senior in high school; college student with at least 2.5 GPA	Courage To Grow Scholarship
Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship	$1,000	-High school, college, or graduate students -US residents, DACA and undocumented students, and international students currently studying in the U.S.	Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship
Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship	$10,000	-Full or part-time enrollment graduate or upper level undergraduate students -Courses of study: Public administration, accounting, finance, political science, economics, business administration (with specific focus on government or nonprofit management) -Letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to your commitment to the public sector	Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
SmarterCollege Scholarship	$2,500	-High school seniors, college students, or college graduates paying back student loans	SmarterCollege Scholarship
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship	$1,000	-High school and college students	Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship	$20,000 (distributed over 4 years) or $2,500 (one time)	-U.S. based high school senior of African descent attending 4-year college or university in the U.S. in the fall following their high school graduation -Pursue bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer info systems, or selected business programs -Demonstrated passion for technology -Demonstrated leadership at school or in the community -Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher -Financial assistance needed to attend college -Letter of recommendation	Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship
Dell Scholars Program	$20,000 (as well as a laptop, textbook credits, teletherapy, and more)	-Participate in program-approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 -Demonstrated need for financial assistance -Eligible to receive a federal pell grant in the first year of college -Pursue bachelor’s degree in the fall following their high school graduation -Minimum of 2.4 GPA	Dells Scholars – FAQ
Global Perspectives Scholarship	$1,000	-High school or college student attending an accredited college or university in 2023	Global Perspectives Scholarship (through Rustic Pathways)
Leon M. Poe Scholarship	Varies	-Full-time student in a 4-year accredited college/uni as of Sept 2023 -Minimum GPA of 3.0 -STEM field major -Student must be considered in minority	Leon M. Poe Scholarship
Because College is Expensive Scholarship	$500	-High school sophomores, college students, graduate school students	Because College is Expensive Scholarship
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship	$25,000	-Legal resident of the U.S. -High school students, college student -Not an employee of Taco Bell	Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship – FAQ
Fund for Education Abroad	$5,000	-Legal U.S. citizen -Enrolled in undergraduate college or university -Study abroad program must be eligible at the student’s home institution -Prioritization for students of color, first gen, community college students	Fund for Education Abroad
Wheaton Refugee Scholarship	Varies	-First-time undergraduate applying for liberal arts and sciences bachelor’s degree -Legally entered the U.S. as refugees -Demonstrated financial need -Are able to obtain a visa or already have one	Wheaton Refugee Scholarship

Resources @ the Library

Vocations and Career Collection Database

This database provides access to journals and magazines that aid users in researching a vocation, finding an appropriate institution of learning, job-searching, and maintaining a career.