Excited about getting into grad school but not sure how to pay for it? Receiving financial aid is not uncommon these days. At least 40% of graduate students borrow money. Here are six easy steps to getting free money for grad school…
1) Create a bidding war for yourself by applying to several graduate schools, including at least a couple for which your grades, test scores, or other qualifications are above average. Schools are more likely to add a financial lure for applicants who bring up the school’s statistics, rankings, and prestige.
2) Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
3) Ask your university department or grad school adviser for help in finding aid.
4) Track down and apply to charities and government agencies that fund graduate study in their fields. This is a great option for those in the sciences, education, and languages.
5) Get your employer to contribute to your education. This is a great option: At least half of all workers receive education benefits from their employers.
6) Even if you don’t get free money, you can lower your out-of-pocket costs by taking advantage of tax benfits, loan repayment programs, jobs, or grad school bargains.
