1. Start early!  There are many, many scholarship opportunities for students as young as 9th grade.  

Register with scholarships.com or fastweb.com to find some.

2. Estimate what you can afford.  Most families put this last in the sequence of the process.  At College Matters, we put it first.

3. Research the financial aid policy for each school you are considering—they vary widely.  Do they meet 100% of demonstrated need? What type of methodology do they use—federal or institutional? How do they allocate outside scholarships?

4. Beware of scams.  You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or for someone to file your FAFSA for you.  

5. Research merit awards.  Some colleges will automatically consider you for a merit scholarship when you apply, but others have separate applications.

6. Create a FSA ID. In order to file your FAFSA electronically, both the student and the parent need one.  And save it —you will need it to file in subsequent years.

7. Know all of the deadlines.  Many colleges have very early deadlines for priority consideration.  You do not need to wait for your taxes to be filed.  Estimate!

8. Know which forms to file.  All colleges require the FAFSA to be submitted, but some also require the CSS/Profile or their own forms.

9. Appeal.  If you truly can't afford what the institution is offering, appeal. The worst thing that they can say is no.

10. Compare and contrast awards.  Understand the cost of attendance, how much debt you will incur over your four years, and whether or not the components of your package are renewable.