The different types of federal financial aid available to students include grants, loans, and work-

study funds. To apply for federal financial aid, you have to fill out the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid, or FASFA. Financial Aid helps to cover the costs of tuition, room and
board, and supplies for students.

The different types of state aid available to students vary for different circumstances. For
example, there is aid available to foster youth, undergraduates planning to pursue a teaching
career, etc. The aid for these scholarships range from $1,000 per year to $50,000 per year. To
obtain state aid, separate applications must be completed. These applications can be found on
various websites.

I researched Gonzaga University and the University of Utah to find school-specific financial aid.
There are many scholarships available to students applying to Gonzaga, but one that stood out
to me was the Honors College Program scholarship. Students can apply to the Honors College,
and if they are accepted, money will be given to help cover tuition. Students have to organize
and create a presentation to submit to the school. For the University of Utah, students who
apply are automatically considered for the President’s Scholarship, whether they are a resident
or non-resident (there are separate scholarships regarding residency). A student’s grade point
average and course rigor are considered during the admission process. A student can earn up
to $20,000 per year and if they decide to live on campus, the aid is increased. The money that is
awarded to students is very beneficial to cover their tuition.

For private scholarships, I discovered the Pete Wilson Journalist Scholarship and the
123Writing Scholarship Writing Contest. The Pete Wilson Journalist Scholarship provides
education support for students who aspire to be electronic journalists. This scholarship awards a
student up to $2,000 per year. The 123Writing Scholarship is awarded to students who submit
an essay to the writing contest, where they can become one of three winners. These three
students can earn a minimum of $1,500 per year and a maximum of $2,500 per year. The
money that is granted through these scholarships can provide money for tuition, supplies, and
possible housing.

To cover the costs of college, I have already applied to Gonzaga University’s Honors Program
and am waiting for a response from admissions. I plan to search even more scholarships and
apply to those that accept my GPA and major. The total cost I will pay depends on the school.
When all students get replies from admissions, around March, there will be a preview of the
costs that will need to be covered for each school. For some schools I applied to, I am
automatically considered for aid, while other schools require separate applications. I plan to
finish all scholarship/grant applications for the schools that provide them by their March and
April deadlines.