Get the facts about scholarships, grants and financial aid.
For free, reliable information about scholarships and financial aid, contact a high school counselor or financial aid office at your local college or technology center.
Fiction |
Fact |
|---|---|
| “We ‘guarantee’ we’ll find you a scholarship!” | No one can guarantee you’ll receive a scholarship. Scholarships are based on merit, talent and/or need. Read the fine print before signing anything! |
| “We’ll take care of all the paperwork for you!” | No one can actually apply for financial aid for you. |
| “We’re the only ones who have information about unknown scholarships!” | There are many free resources for financial aid information. Your school's financial aid office has information and links to legitimate resources. |
| “We need a credit card to ‘hold’ your scholarship!” | Never give out your credit card or bank account number. |
| “All we need is your checking account number, driver’s license and a credit card; we’ll do the rest!” | You bet they’ll do the rest! A legitimate organization only needs information such as hobbies, past grades or other demographic information. |
| “Free financial aid research at local hotel … results guaranteed!” | Try attending a seminar sponsored by your high school or a local college. |
| “You’re required to pay an up-front fee to get an educational loan.” | Fees are deducted from the proceeds of the loan. Don’t pay fees up front! |
| “Paying a fee will increase your eligibility for more loans and grant money. Millions of dollars go unclaimed each year!” | Financial aid eligibility is determined the same way for all students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most of the unclaimed dollars are employer-paid benefits which are unavailable to many students. |
If you think you’ve already been scammed by a financial aid or scholarship search firm, here are some steps you can take.
Oklahoma Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Oklahoma Lender Advisory Council
© 2003-2010 | Disclaimer
Get File Plug-ins & Viewers 
Advanced Search