Begin looking at college materials two years before it s time to apply. Your child usually must maintain a B grade average or better, score well on college entrance exams such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and excel in some extracurricular activity like music or athletics. Scholarships come in different packages Start by selecting a college that prizes academic excellence as much as you do. Not all scholarships come in the form of outright grants. Many schools do not offer aid packages to cover all of a student s recognized financial needs.
Colleges also offer specific scholarships for special achievements and general excellence.
Twenty percent of these types of grants come from the coffers of the individual colleges and universities. Both are based on scholastic excellence. Scholarships for music, art and athletics are clearly defined. Academic awards are based on a combination of a student s SAT score and his or her academic ranking as compared with classmates. Work with your child to achieve at least that goal.