 TITLE: How to Avoid Student Loans CONTENT: Seek Out Scholarships, Grants, Fellowships and Assistantships\n-------------------------------------------------------------\nThere are many ways to find scholarships and other assistance for college. Your school may offer scholarships based on merit or financial need. Additionally, certain programs may offer additional scholarships that are only available to students in a given area of study.\nReview your school's financial aid website and your program's page to get an idea of what's available to you and whether you qualify.\nYou can also search websites like Scholarships.com and Fastweb. These websites host databases of millions of scholarship opportunities from private organizations. While you won't qualify for every one, you may find several for which you're an excellent fit.\nAlso, make sure you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. If you qualify based on your family and financial situation, you may receive Pell Grants, which you don't have to repay.\nFinally, if you're planning to attend graduate school, you may also be able to obtain a fellowship or assistantship.\nA fellowship functions similarly to a scholarship and may be available for a few months up to several years based on merit. The program also typically provides the student with unique opportunities in their field of study, which could help their careers after graduation.\nIn contrast, an assistantship provides funds in exchange for part-time work in a student's field of study, typically on campus. END