Scholarships and Financial Aid  

There are several things students can do to increase their chances of securing funds for college.

 1.     Create a student profile in Dollars for Scholars.  DFS is for students who plan to pursue college (2-year or 4-year), trade school or the military.  DFS matches students to local and national scholarships.  Seniors should complete their profile in the fall and may be matched to scholarships beginning December 1.  At that time, students will be asked to submit additional documents.  Students can start their profile in ninth grade.  Click the link below for more information.

2.     Seniors should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in the fall of their senior year.  It can be completed before they have submitted their college application(s) as the college list on the FAFSA can be edited.  Some colleges have a FAFSA priority deadline date so be familiar with that date.  Filing late could negatively impact your aid package.  The FAFSA is the first step in determining what aid (grants and loans) you might be eligible for.  If you have questions about FAFSA, please call either the college's Financial Aid Office or 1-800-FED-AID.  Students should also complete NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) if they will be attending a college in NYS.  You will be linked to this site from the FAFSA application.

3.     Attend WHS/Marion's Financial Aid Night in the fall.  The program location alternates between WHS and Marion High School. 

4.     Some colleges want families to complete the CSS Profile.  It asks for more detailed information about your family's financial situation.  Go to www.collegeboard.com to get a listing of what colleges require the CSS Profile.

5.     Williamson High School publishes a Scholarship Newsletter several times throughout the year.  Students can access this newsletter through the Career Cruising link below, our website, and a paper copy is available in Counseling.  Students should read the Scholarship Newsletter and review the scholarship files in the Counseling Office to see scholarship amount, criteria, application process and deadlines.

6.     Some colleges automatically consider students for scholarships.  At other colleges, you may be required to do the research yourself.  With that said, students are encouraged to call their college's financial aid office to see if they have scholarships not automatically considered for, and apply if applicable.