Finding college scholarships and grants for former foster children

I'm a former foster child getting ready to apply for college, and I'm interested in knowing about any scholarships or grants available for people like me. Where should I start looking for these types of financial aids?

Firstly, congratulations on reaching this milestone! Seeking higher education as a former foster child is a commendable step. The good news is, there are indeed resources dedicated to helping former foster children earn their college degrees.

College tuition can be daunting, so let's start with the federal financial aid programs. When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you'd fall under the independent student category as a former foster child. This means your grant and scholarship eligibility is calculated without taking parent income into account, often leading to more aid.

Secondly, there are grants and scholarships specifically for former foster youth. For instance, the Educational and Training Vouchers (ETV) program is a federally-funded, state-administered initiative offering financial aid to current and former foster youth to be used for post-secondary education or vocational training. You can access up to $5,000 a year through ETV.

Another great opportunity comes through the Foster Care to Success (FC2S) organization. FC2S administers a few different scholarships for foster youth, including the Casey Family Scholars Program, which awards scholarships of up to $10,000, and the Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) scholarships, which go up to $8,000 annually for undergraduates.

Great scholarship databases like Appily and Fastweb compile resources from a variety of locations, so you may want to explore those for more opportunities.

Remember, regardless of the financial aid path you take, be sure to meet all eligible deadlines and provide complete, honest information. Best of luck in your pursuit of higher education!