Question of the Day: If you had to take out student loans to pay for college, do you know how much debt would be affordable? As a first-generation college student, learning how to pay for college was almost like trying to learn another language. I heard about scholarships, grants, and student loans in passing but never enough where I felt like I could create a solid plan on how to fund my education. The Answer: It’s extremely important that students know how to earn scholarships and grants, but another huge part of not being overburdened with debt is understanding how to navigate student loa ..read more

First-generation college students are students whose parents have not obtained a bachelor’s degree in the US. They often face difficulty in the college process because they lack a strong support system that can guide them through unfamiliar territory. This is why there’s such a push to provide scholarships for first-generation college students! If you’re a student that will be the first in their family to attend college, then pop into these opportunities below and see what you qualify for! — 01. Title: McCutcheon | Nikitin First-Generation Scholarship Amount: $500 Deadline: Mar 31, 2022 For ..read more

College expenses are no joke. When I first started my scholarship journey, I was 16 with no idea how I would begin to cover college tuition. I saw scholarships as my only way out. Very quickly my mantra became “somebody is going to pay my tuition, and it’s not going to be me” So I got to WORK on those applications. After a full year of struggling to get my scholarship game together, I found that the secret to winning scholarships was finding applications that fit my unique traits, interests, and strengths.  So if you’re already thinking about how to find scholarships that fit your uni ..read more

Sharing my secrets to earning over $65,000 in scholarships and graduating debt-free! This blog post was inspired by a Pace University student that asked for scholarship help on TikTok. I’ll be using their background for an example on how you can make this advice work for YOU! Here are 6 Ways YOU can Pay for Tuition with Scholarships and Grants! Step 1: Understand Scholarship Strategy Scholarship strategy is a fancy way of saying “How to create a plan that will give you the highest chance of winning." Most students don’t win scholarships because they’re focused on the wrong types. You need to ..read more

1 in 5 students make a HUGE mistake by not filling out the FASFA! If you have no idea how to complete the FASFA or you’re not even sure what it is then please continue reading about why this is such a crucial step in the college process. “Wait, what’s the FAFSA?” FASFA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. By submitting this FREE form you can access potential grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. “When do I fill out the FAFSA?” The application opens on October 1st of every year. You submit your first application during your senior year of High ..read more

What would you do if you went back in time and you were 15 again? This tweet was stolen and recycled quite a few times on my twitter timeline so I thought I’d weigh in. 01. What I WOULD do at 15: Let me tell you right now, you truly could not pay me to be 15 again. It’s such a confusing, awkward, and scary time. Now, if I HAD TO DO It—here’s what I’d do: Stop caring about what people at school think. We’re all dumb teenagers. Nothing matters. Pick up as many hobbies and skills as I can, like: Learning an instrument Learning how to code Starting design/media skills earlier Basical ..read more

01. Controversial Opinion Time (Fun!) When Kim Kardashian fixed her lips to tell people to “get their ass up and work” the world told her to take her advice and shove it up hers. The immediate uproar from the internet wasn't surprising. Not only was Miss Kimberly's delivery insanely harsh, but her rise to fame and wealth was not what many consider to be hard work. The Kardashian clan was the worst group of people to deliver this message, but I do believe that there is a bit of truth to it. Now before we prep the guillotine for my head, give me a second to explain. My most controversial opi ..read more

A collection of scholarship resources for undocumented students: Scholarship websites where you can search by citizenship status: Fastweb.com Cappex.com Niche.com Scholarships.com Unigo.com Links to pre-sorted list of scholarships for undocumented students JLV College Counseling: From their website “The following scholarships are open to students who are undocumented, DACA-eligible, or hold DACA status. Some of the scholarships are specifically for undocumented students, while others are open to all students, no matter their citizenship. Learn more / Apply More background information + resou ..read more

Scam 01: “The Small Fee” What is the scam:  Scholarship organization or donor requests that you pay a small fee in exchange for an opportunity to win big! Woohoo..wait, aren’t scholarships supposed to be free money!? Why it’s a scam: Scholarships ARE free money, meaning you never have to pay them back nor should you be spending money to apply to them. How to not be scammed: Never pay money to apply for a scholarship. Even if it’s “just a small fee”. Scam 02: “Personal Info” What is the scam:  Scholarship organization or donor requests that you send in your credit card number, banking ..read more

How to get Letters of Recommendation in college: The Shy Students Guide— A guide for the silent educational baddies who are still out here trying to accomplish their goals. I’m going to keep it real with you, you’re going to HAVE to push out of your comfort zone to achieve academic success. Even beyond school, learning how to put yourself out there is an essential skill. Being an introvert in a world full of extroverts can feel like a setup, but there are tactics you can learn to help ease the stress of having to burst your comfort bubble.  Here’s the shy student's guide to being able ..read more