In case you’re one of those people who zone out during class meetings and are now in desperate need of scholarship money, or if you just need a refresher, here’s some tips to get the thousands of dollars you’ll need to attend a four-year college.

FAFSA – No matter what, make sure the fill out the FAFSA if you want the federal government to give you money. But DON’T fill it out until the year you plan to attend college (meaning between January and, preferably, March of your senior year for most of us). The FAFSA will not only give you free money based on your family’s income, but it will also determine if you have to pay interest on student loans and if you are eligible for a work-study! Most need-based scholarships also require you to fill this monstrosity out. Also, make sure to go to the correct website. fafsa.edu.gov is the real one. fafsa.org is a scam.

Kansas Regents – Are you planning to attend a Kansas university? Well, you’re in luck! Our counselors have been talking about Kansas Regents’ scholarships since freshman year! And it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! Basically, do what it takes to graduate from MHS, and then add on an extra year of math and science, and two semesters of foreign language. That’s it; that’s all you have to do to qualify!

Other Kansas Scholarships – If you need more money than that, well, it’s a good thing that the state of Kansas offers additional scholarships. Just google Kansas Regents scholarships and one of the first links will take you to a list of all the different scholarships Kansas offers.

Naviance and usd383.org – Let’s face it, college is super expensive, and the vast majority of us can’t afford it. So, make sure to check out the list of scholarships our wonderful college counselor, Katie Ball, has posted on Naviance and the school website! She also sends out emails. So, maybe it’d be a good idea to check your email everyone once in awhile.

Colleges – Look into scholarships at the schools you apply to and make sure you qualify for them. Yeah, you may have to pay an application fee, but that money pales in comparison to the amount they can give you.

Dual Credits/AP tests – Do you want to save money as well as make it? Well, it’s a good thing MHS offers dual credits and AP courses. If you decide to take a STEM dual credit and it falls under Senate Bill 155, then the class is free! Who doesn’t love free college classes? Then there’s the other dual credits that MATC offers for $300/semester! That’s less than you’d have to pay if you took the classes on MATC’s campus! Then there’s AP courses. Only take the test if you’re confident you’ll score high enough for it to apply at schools you want to attend. If you want to go to an Ivy League school, there’s a good chance they won’t accept any scores. Don’t waste your time or your money.

Google – And lastly, Google scholarships. It’s not that hard. People give out money to people who are left handed. There’s bound to be something you’ll qualify for. Also, don’t be lazy. Write those essays. You’re more likely to get those since no one likes writing essays. Just don’t fall for a scam. Remember, stuff from overseas is usually sketch. If the spelling and grammar is wonky, it’s probably not legit. You don’t have to send money to win any sort of lottery. If you’re not sure, just Google the organization to see what other people think about the site.

Are you confused on how scholarship stuff works? Talk to Ball in the counselor’s office or call up the financial aid office at the schools you plan on applying to. They are probably more than willing to help you out. I mean, it is their job.