About 85 percent of college students spend some time researching grants, scholarships, and loans.

Parents need to make sure they either file their taxes on time or have the data to make a close estimate when approaching the single point of entry to federal grants, loans, and work study, which is housed under federal student aid (FAFSA). By March 15 of senior year, complete this form at FAFSA.ed.gov.

By this time, your top five choices have either accepted or rejected you (hopefully in the kindest way possible). There’s a place in the FAFSA application where you specify where to send your Student Aid Report (SAR). It should go to any university you are still considering.

The best kind of money for college is free money. The State of Texas offers a variety of grant programs for Texas universities. Some are based solely on needs, while others are based on need and merit. And yes, homeschoolers are eligible! Learn more at My TX Future.

Federal grants are based solely on need, and need is assessed through the FAFSA. When completed on time, you will automatically be considered for the Pell grant and other federal programs.

The universities that have accepted you and received your SAR will automatically add federal funds for which you qualify to your financial aid package.

You’ve met with coaches and choir directors and consulted the financial aid office at your top tier schools about competitive scholarships, right? Now you want to search off the beaten path for sources of scholarships like church funds, civic organizations, essay or art contests, and special scholarships like THSC’s own Patrick Henry Scholarship. Learn more about THSC’s scholarships.

Make a spreadsheet to track scholarship deadlines and requirements so you only have to ask your references once for the number of signed original letters you’ll need for all the applications (among other reasons).

If several scholarships require a general topic essay, write one essay, then adapt as needed. Prove you’re smart by having the best writer or editor you know edit your essay. Then, meet the deadlines.

No one likes going this direction, but it’s often the most expedient route.

Your SAR will include your eligibility for federal loan programs. Most will qualify for something, but if you don’t, call local banks to inquire about student loans if they are absolutely necessary.

Also determined by the FAFSA process, students with need are guaranteed part-time employment, the wages of which can be applied to the tuition bill. This is an optional program with limited hours weekly and limited job opportunities.

It may make more sense to get a regular part-time job and set up an automatic debit to pay on tuition.

At this point, you should know how much financial aid you’re getting, so it’s time to figure out how much more you will need for tuition, living, transportation, mad pizza money, etc. And, where will that money come from?

Plan on a full-time summer job and part-time employment during the school year. This added responsibility has actually proven to enhance academic performance.

In keeping with its mission to serve the homeschoolers of Texas, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) has established a scholarship fund for Texas homeschool graduates who attend Patrick Henry College (PHC).

The following information must be completed in order to be considered for scholarship money from this fund. The deadline each year for submission of an application is in mid-March.

At this time, the following scholarships are available annually:

• 1st Place: $3,000
• 2nd Place: $2,000
• 3rd Place: $1,000

The requirements for participation in this application process are as follows:

1. The scholarship applicant must have applied for admission to PHC, and PHC must affirm receipt of application.
2. The scholarship applicant must have been homeschooled the last two (2) years, and parent(s) must have taught at least 51 percent of classes.
3. The scholarship applicant must be entering college as a freshman.

Applicants will be notified around the end of March of year applied, as to whether they have been awarded a scholarship and the amount.

Please understand that this is only an application process and that applicants are not guaranteed any scholarship money by merely completing the application. In considering each application, THSC’s policy is to not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origins, sex, age or disability. However, THSC will maintain its constitutional and statutory right to discriminate on the basis of religion in order to help PHC accomplish the religious mission of the college.

The scholarship will be for one year, and the money will be forwarded directly to PHC to be credited to the recipient’s tuition account for that year only. If the chosen recipient does not register that year, the money will be returned to THSC to be re-deposited into the scholarship fund, and the student must re-apply to be considered for future years.

The award will be in the form of a scholarship tuition credit to PHC on the recipient’s behalf, and under no circumstances will the money ever be considered to have been awarded directly to the recipient. The recipient must actually attend PHC for one year to receive the full credit and take advantage of the scholarship money.

The Board of Directors is proud of each applicant for the decision he or she has made to become a part of PHC with the vision it will further in America. The college was named for a man who loved liberty, who loved his country, who loved his fellow countryman and, most importantly, loved God. May each applicant embrace with the same passion and the same commitment as did the great patriot, Patrick Henry.