College application fees are really adding up! Are there specific scholarships or programs that help cover these costs? I've heard some exist but don't know where to start looking. Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated!
There are indeed a few ways to cover the costs of college applications. One of the most common methods includes fee waivers granted by the colleges themselves or through standardized testing organizations.
The College Board, for instance, offers SAT fee waivers for students in financial need. If a student is eligible for the SAT fee waiver, they are also eligible for college application fee waivers from many institutions. Similar waivers are also available through ACT, in case you've taken the ACT exam.
Certain colleges also offer fee waivers directly. You would need to reach out to the admissions office of the colleges you're interested in to inquire about the process.
There's also an organization known as the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) that offers fee waivers to students who demonstrate financial need. They have a form that you need to fill and it works for over 300 colleges.
Another strategy you can employ is to apply to colleges that don't have an application fee. There're quite a few colleges in the U.S that have a no application fee policy. For instance, Loyola University Chicago doesn't charge an application fee.
Lastly, consider doing some research on Appily. Appily lists a variety of scholarships that can be applied to different aspects of the college admissions process, including application fees.
While these aren't traditional scholarships that provide you with funding to cover the costs, they're resources that can help alleviate the financial burden of the college application process.
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