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Each year many students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams. provides excellent tips on how to identify and avoid scholarship scams.

There is never a good reason to pay for a scholarship search. The information you will need is available for free. Just remember, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

The financial aid office will always recommend that you complete a each year. Many scholarship programs also require that you complete a FAFSA to demonstrate need or to show that you are pursuing all avenues of financial assistance. Remember, the FAFSA website begins accepting applications in October of each year. 

Take advantage of the websites offering free personalized scholarship searches. Scholarship Universe is a university tool admitted students can use to match to both internal and external scholarship opportunities.

Check your own contacts and affiliations. Many organizations offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. Check with your high school counselor, your employer, your parents' employer, clubs, fraternal organizations, your church, your academic department, and your financial aid office.

It is a good idea to look in multiple places for information in order to maximize your chances for scholarships. Try community organizations, local businesses, corporations, bookstores, and the Internet. Don't forget the library. While there are scholarship guidebooks in the library, the library can also provide access to research databases and reference books that can be extremely useful in your search for scholarship opportunities.

Organizations usually do not extend deadlines (even if you have a good reason), so it is important to complete your application on time.