Don't leave free money on the table
FAFSA, aid letters, scholarship apps — track them here so the deadline never sneaks up.
Free Scholarship Search Engines
These platforms match you with thousands of scholarships. Set up a profile, get alerts, and never miss a deadline.
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
A strong essay can be the difference between getting passed over and getting funded. Here is what works — and what typical prompts look like.
Best practices
- Start early — don't wait until the deadline.
- Read the prompt carefully and answer exactly what is asked.
- Tell a personal story, not just a list of achievements.
- Be specific with examples and vivid details.
- Get feedback from a teacher, mentor, or peer.
- Proofread multiple times and stay within word limits.
Typical prompts
- Describe a challenge you overcame and what you learned.
- Why do you deserve this scholarship?
- How will your education help you achieve your goals?
- Describe someone who has influenced your life.
- What is a meaningful volunteer experience you've had?
- How will you give back to your community?
Need help polishing your essay? Visit PNW's Writing Center for free feedback and coaching.
FAFSA opens October 1st each year and has a deadline of April 15 in Indiana. Submit early — some aid is first-come, first-served.
How to Complete the FAFSA
The FAFSA unlocks federal grants, loans, and work-study. Follow these steps to file correctly and maximize your aid.
- Create your FSA ID at least a few days before you start — both you and a parent need one.
- Gather documents: tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, and records of untaxed income.
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info and reduce errors.
- List every school you are considering — you can add up to 20 and it costs nothing.
- Submit early. Some aid is first-come, first-served, and state deadlines can be earlier than federal ones.
- Don't leave fields blank — enter $0 if a question does not apply.
- Review everything before signing, and save a copy for your records.
Start or renew your FAFSA at studentaid.gov
FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students have about filing the FAFSA — and clear answers to help you move forward with confidence.
When does the FAFSA open and what is the deadline?
FAFSA opens October 1st each year. The federal deadline is usually June 30 of the award year, but many states and schools have much earlier deadlines. In Indiana, the deadline is April 15. File as early as possible — some aid is first-come, first-served.
Do I have to fill out the FAFSA every year?
Yes. You must submit a FAFSA for every academic year you want to receive federal aid. Renewal is faster because most of your info carries over.
What if my parents do not have a Social Security Number?
If your parent or spouse doesn't have an SSN and is a required contributor, they must create an account to contribute to a student's FAFSA form. When creating their account, they should leave the SSN field blank and select “What if I don't have a Social Security number?”If your parents are married and filed taxes jointly and only one parent has an SSN, that parent is the one who should create an account and join the student's form as a contributor.Need help creating the account? Learn how to create your studentaid.gov account
What if my parents won't provide their financial information?
If you are a dependent student and your parents refuse to provide information, you cannot get an official expected family contribution. However, you may still submit the FAFSA and should talk to your school's financial aid office about a dependency override or special circumstances appeal.
What documents do I need before I start?
Have ready: your Social Security number (or Alien Registration number), your driver's license if you have one, federal tax returns and W-2s for you and your parents (if dependent), records of untaxed income, and current bank statements.
Financial aid terminology
Aid letters are full of acronyms. Here's a plain-language cheat sheet of what they actually mean.
- FAFSA
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form that unlocks federal grants, loans, work-study, and most state and school aid.
- SAI (Student Aid Index)
- A number from your FAFSA that schools use to figure out how much aid you qualify for. It replaced the old EFC. Lower SAI = more need-based aid.
- COA (Cost of Attendance)
- The total estimated price of a year of school — tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transport, personal expenses.
- Financial Need
- Cost of Attendance minus your SAI. This is the gap that need-based aid (Pell Grant, subsidized loans, work-study) tries to fill.
- Pell Grant
- Free federal money for undergrads with high need — you don't pay it back. Up to ~$7,395/year (2024–25).
- Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loan
- Subsidized: the government pays the interest while you're in school. Unsubsidized: interest builds the whole time. Take subsidized first when offered.
- Work-Study
- A part-time job program funded by federal aid. The money usually comes as a paycheck to you, not a tuition credit.
- Award Letter / Financial Aid Offer
- The school's official breakdown of what aid you've been offered — grants, scholarships, loans, work-study. Compare offers before deciding.
- Refund (Aid Refund)
- Leftover aid after your tuition and fees are paid. The school refunds it to you to spend on books, rent, food, etc.
- Verification
- When the school asks for documents (tax returns, proof of income) to confirm what you put on the FAFSA. Respond fast — your aid can be held up.
- SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
- Minimum GPA and pace requirements you must keep to stay eligible for federal aid. Usually a 2.0 GPA and finishing ~67% of attempted credits.
- Dependency Status
- Whether the FAFSA counts you as a dependent of your parents. Most undergrads under 24 are dependent — parents' info is required even if they don't help pay.
- Appeal / Special Circumstances
- If your family's situation changed (job loss, medical bills, divorce), you can ask the financial aid office for a recalculation. It's allowed and common.