Starting timeline for college grants and scholarships?

I'm trying to figure out when to apply for college grants and scholarships. Is there a specific timeline or strategy you recommend for getting the best financial aid packages during college applications?

One recommended strategy is to start as early as your junior year in high school. As you start making your college list, you should also begin investigating scholarships and financial aid opportunities. There are many private scholarships with deadlines in the late junior year or early senior year in high school. This timeline allows the funds to be disbursed in time for your freshman year of college.

Most scholarships have deadlines in the winter and spring of your senior year, though it varies by scholarship. Some scholarships have deadlines as early as October, so it's important to start researching early and be aware of these deadlines.

In terms of more institutional aid, starting October 1st of your senior year you can fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal aid. Filling it out early is crucial as some kinds of federal aid, like the FSEOG and Work-Study, are first-come, first-served. On the same day, you can submit the CSS Profile for aid from private schools and some state schools.

Next, keep in mind that many colleges have their own institutional scholarships, some of which require separate applications. These deadlines usually coincide with college application deadlines, but you should check each college's financial aid website to be sure.

Lastly, keep in mind that some scholarships are renewable, meaning you can apply for them each year, and some scholarship opportunities only become available once you're already enrolled in college, so the search for scholarships continues even after you start college.