Financial Aid
School counselors offer assistance with scholarship and financial aid. There is one school counselor in each high school designated as the scholarship chair. The chair ensures that each scholarship information is updated on the school counseling website and publishes a scholarship newsletter. To access, visit the high school website and click on “School Counseling.” The internet is a valuable resource, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. However, when linked to the school counselor and other school and college resources, it can help to provide the most comprehensive scholarship and financial aid information currently available. Henrico County Public Schools, while seeking the best information available, cannot guarantee accuracy and timeliness of all sites. Students and families should remember that it is not necessary to pay for scholarship searches or assistance with financial aid. When assistance is needed, it is best to contact your school counselor or college financial aid office.
College-bound seniors and their parents are encouraged to explore financial aid through the federal government. To access information and to submit a Free Appplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), go to www.fafsa.ed.gov/. For information about scholarships and financial aid specific to a college/university, contact that college/university.
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP) is a non-profit organization specializing in helping students and their families, regardless of financial resources, to develop an educational plan for after high school. A GRASP representative works in each of our high schools one day a week from October through April. The representative meets with students and/or parents regarding the financial aid process, including completing the FAFSA. Appointments can be made by calling your local high school counseling office. http://www.grasp4va.com/
Deadlines
While on-line information may list deadlines for submitting scholarships, applicants must remember that the published deadlines refer to the date the application must be received by the scholarship office, not the local high school counseling office. In order for an application to be processed by the high school counseling office, it must be submitted well in advance of the scholarship date, often 2-3 weeks in advance. Contact your local high school counselor for the preferred local school deadline.
Internet Searches
Often the best way to search the internet is to simply type in key words and hit the "search" button. Multiple listings will result. A quick ”click” on any link will allow you to get detailed information.
When searching for Virginia information, it may be necessary to narrow the search by region or college name. By entering the name of any college or university, you can access the college or university homepage and from there click on financial aid and scholarship links. Most schools maintain current scholarship and financial aid information on their websites. Remember, it is not necessary to have the specific internet address to reach most colleges and universities whether in Virginia or in other states.
In Virginia, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has created a new website, www.ExploreVirginiaColleges.com. This website provides parents, students, and educators easy access to Virginia college and financial aid information.
