Does anyone know how to get a full scholarship to US college?

Can I get money for college from local businesses?

• I'm a high school senior from NY and I've been accepted to all the colleges I applied to. I've been trying to apply for scholarships and everything, but I seriously need as much money as possible- I reallllllly don't want to take out loans, and I really want to make my education affordable- I'm taking college very serious - no messing around. So anyway, I just wanted to find out if anyone has gone to local businesses before to raise money for college, like, sort of a scholarship from a local business- if you write to them, and like, talk to them about your college plans- could they give you money? So, is it possible to do that? Or even from a legal stand-point, can a business even endow money to a personal student (like me)? Or would they have to go through a whole process to create a scholarship that would be available to several people if they apply? And I'm not talking about like, $15,000 a year from a business, I'm talking about like, 3 or 4,000 maybe from a few different businesses... (and once I'm IN college, I could like, show them my grades/accomplishments at the end of each year and see if they want to give me money again for the next year). Because I figured these businesses would like to be able to say "Oh look, we're so great, we gave money to this good student to go to college"... OH, and I got the idea of asking businesses for money because I know that in middle school and now in high school, they send students out to local businesses to ask them if they'll contribute some money to help us put together our yearbook. So, I figured I could apply that same money raising process towards getting college money? Please, only positive/helpful answers- I'm just trying to exhaust ALL options when thinking of how to get money for college. Thanks to any and all answers! :)

• Answer:

  I've never heard of a local business giving out money for college. I live in New York, too. First, you can fill out a FAFSA. It is an application for federal student aid. You don't have to pay it back. It is based on your ability to pay for college. Your family's income will be a big factor in determining how much you can get. You can also look into TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). This also gives you money that you don't have to pay back, but it is also based on your family's income. You can apply for a lot of different scholarships. Many of them require you to write an essay. Whoever gives in the best essay will receive some money. I am working on two right now. Each can get me 1000 dollars each. The pool of applicants just so happened to be very small for these two scholarships, and my guidance counselor said that I will most likely win both. You have to look for these types of opportunities to get money for college. Consider going to a community college for your first two years and then transferring into a SUNY school to get your Bachelor's degree. This will save you a tremendous amount of money in tuition. Room and board is also a huge part of college expenses, so if transportation is possible, live at home. Get a part time job and save as much as you can. A business most likely wouldn't be interested in that proposal. Smaller businesses most likely won't be able to afford it. Larger businesses could afford it, but would most likely send money to a charity that helps kids go to college.