Scholarships/Financial Aid

Paying for College:

To apply go to https://fafsa.ed.gov and click on the “Start A New FAFSA” button. You will need social security numbers and previous year tax information. Students and parents will need a pin number in order to sign and submit the application. To get a pin go to www.pin.ed.gov
A FINANCIAL AID NIGHT IS HELD EVERY OCTOBER AT PRAIRIE TO ASSIST SENIOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS WITH COMPLETING THEIR FAFSA.

Regional Scholarships

Local

Recommendation Letters

Begin Early
Finding and applying for scholarships takes time, energy, and persistence.
The larger scholarships are usually awarded by the college the student plans to attend. Contact the college financial aid office to learn about scholarship opportunities.
Private colleges are often more generous in awarding scholarships, making them competitive with public schools.
Apply for local scholarships. Although they may be smaller amounts, they are easier to obtain.
Be aware of deadlines. Scholarship applications become available throughout the senior year and are sometimes due only weeks after being publicized.
Network. Tell everyone, including your school counselor, that you are looking for scholarships. Check for scholarship opportunities with your place of employment, your church, organizations you belong to, ect... Also look for scholarship opportunities in the local newspapers.
Register for an e-mail account on www.fastweb.com.
Be organized. Make sure teachers and counselors are given plenty of time to prepare letters of recommendations.
Always check to see if financial aid and scholarship awards are renewable.

TIP: Scholarship searches that charge a fee are generally not worth the money.