Before applying for financial aid, immerse yourself in research

As seniors in high school are finishing their first semester, many are starting to apply for college. With tuition costs on the rise, many are searching for all the financial help available.

There are thousands of scholarships, but some may not be as real as they sound. In fact, an estimated 350,000 students and parents fall victim to scholarship scams every year, according to FinAid.org, costing them more than $5 million.

Paying for college can be difficult and unfortunately there are people who want to make it harder for you and your family.

The thing to do first is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which can be found at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. Ohio students can also check out www. OhioHigherEd.org. You’ll need to check with the college you have chosen to see if it has a deadline. There are also deadlines for federal and state applications.

Better Business Bureau offers these tips to help you find legitimate ways to fund your education:

■ Search the web for scholarship and grant opportunities.

■ Check with local government and community organizations to see what’s available.

■ Inquire with your high school guidance counselor and the college or university of your choice regarding financial help.

■ Check with your employer to see if they offer aid for school.

■ Protect your personal information, such as your Social Security number and banking information.

■ Research scholarship companies before applying. Some scammers will use a mail drop for a return address and many will not include a telephone number.

■ Use caution if you have to pay an application fee for a scholarship or grant.

■ Be wary of college aid seminars. These scammers use high-pressure sales tactics and offer to shelter your assets so you will qualify for more aid. If they claim to have better information than high school guidance counselors or college financial aid professionals, it’s a red flag.

For more information on scholarship scams and ways to avoid them or to report a scam you’ve encountered, turn to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting www.consumer.ftc. gov.

You can also contact the BBB by visiting www.bbb. org or calling (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301 for a list of BBB accredited businesses and business profiles on ones you’re considering. You can also report any scams you come across to the BBB ScamTracker at www.bbb.org/ scamtracker.