They can be harder to locate and apply for. If you are a non-traditional student or have special projects you wish to pursue in college, a grant can be the way to go for you. I have heard of graduate students and professors applying for grants for special research projects. Teachers, private companies and individuals may also apply for grants. There are some grants listed on the bottom part of this web page, in the links section.

ABOUT THESE SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT LINKS (BELOW):

These scholarship links are the result of months of research for the non-traditional student group I was in at Western Kentucky University. I found many good sites to explore. You can find these links by scrolling down this page to the bottom.

Not only are these good scholarship sites, but these sites are also FREE sites, which always helps the budget.

Some of these companies will email you with custom applications before each deadline. One example of this is the Fastweb site. I like the Fastweb site because so much on the site is automated. Fastweb sends you a notice when deadline is approaching for a scholarship, and they find what you qualify for by what you fill out on their application.

HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR?

Apply for as many scholarships as you think you qualify for. Of course, pick the ones that offer the most money that you don't have to pay back. You can always turn one scholarship down if you get two and they are for different areas or schools.

OTHER IDEAS FOR FINANCIAL AID:

Contact the Financial Aid office of the school you want to attend - either in person on online. They will be able to tell you about special scholarships or grants that are available only locally or just for that school.

Also, you can check for any "Work to School" or "School to Work" programs that your local Employment Office has in your city or town. Call them and ask about it. I did that, and found out that I qualifed for one! They helped me get training for an education job after that. It's definitely worth a phone call.