Throughout this site, we've suggested certain steps or resources to help you reach your educational goals.
But if your school doesn't have those resources, or circumstances make it difficult to follow that advice, you're not alone.
The good news is there are many people and organizations willing to help you. The information here can point you in the right direction.
Get Someone on Your Side
Find an adult who wants to help you pursue your educational goals. It may take some looking, but they are out there.
So talk to someone if not a parent or school counselor, then talk to other family members, a guardian, teacher, coach, someone at your place of worship, a businessperson or simply someone you know who went to college. Let them know you want to go to college and ask if they can offer any advice, help or support.
Find Help in Your Community
Sometimes help is right down the street. Look to resources within your community. You may discover supportive mentors, local scholarship opportunities, new ideas and information.
The Library. If you have limited Internet access or prefer books and brochures to the Web, this is the place to go. Librarians can also help you find answers to your college questions. Find your local library.
The Local College. Even if you don't plan to go to a local school, its admissions staff will be able to answer many of your college questions. So reach out to four-year and community colleges and career, trade and technical schools in your area for college information. Most schools have a financial aid office that offers guidance on how to pay for school. Use the College Navigator to find college locations, Web sites and phone numbers of schools near you.
Social and Community Organizations. Many after-school programs have mentors available to help you with your college questions. Don't be afraid to ask! Here are a couple of examples:
YMCA: The YMCA is dedicated to supporting men, women and children of all ages, races, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. With over 2,600 locations across the country, there's likely to be one near you. Look online for the YMCA location nearest you, or call 1-800-872-9622.
Boys and Girls Club: The Boys and Girls Club is a safe place for young people to learn and grow after school with adult mentors. There are over 4,000 clubs all over the country, so find the Boys and Girls Club near you, or call 1-800-854-2582.
In addition, many foundations, religious organizations, fraternities or sororities, and town or city clubs offer financial aid to students.
State Resources. How much help you get to go to college can depend on the state you live in. Visit the Going 2 College State Selection Page and click on your state to find all the resources available to help you prepare for college and a career, including information on college savings and financial aid.
Get Help from the Federal Government
Phone-based Financial Aid Help. Want to talk to a real person? Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to ask about federal student aid programs, funding your education or applying for financial aid with the FAFSA. TTY users can call 1-800-730-8913.
Help for Students with Disabilities. Don't let anything hold you back! Students with disabilities, as well as their parents and educators can visit the Education Page at DisabilityInfo.gov for resources to help make the transition to post-secondary education, including preparing and paying for college. And make sure you know your rights. Federal laws protect students with disabilities from discrimination. Get complete details from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Help for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and Youth in Foster Care. Even if you don't have parents or a permanent family to speak of, or even if you don't have a home, you can still go to college. The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth has tips to help you.
There are a number of organizations that want to help you go to college. There are scholarship opportunities, free test preparation, advice and more. Some examples:
Number2.com.This site offers free online prep courses for the SAT or ACT.
Scholarship and Grant Resources: Visit the Scholarships & grants page. There you'll find links to an extensive list of financial aid resources, including a comprehensive directory of private scholarship and government grant programs. Keep in mind that many students have told
us that they found money to help pay for college simply by applying for every scholarship and grant for which they qualified.
Offer Help to Others
This page is just a small sampling of available resources. If you would like to recommend an organization for this page, please use the to provide us with the information.
