The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom

AAR42 - College Scholarships 101

Mar 24, 2026
Guest
Andrew Sather
Andrew Sather, frequent contributor on investing and personal finance, shares practical scholarship know-how and personal anecdotes. They explain differences between scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Filing the FAFSA is emphasized as the must-do starting point. They encourage applying widely, using GPA to qualify, and leveraging 529 accounts and smart loan evaluation.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Start By Filing The FAFSA

  • Do file the FAFSA as your first step to access hundreds of free financial aid opportunities.
  • Evan says FAFSA is quick, has no downside, and missing it cost a friend thousands in aid.
ADVICE

Apply Widely With A Spaghetti Strategy

  • Do apply to as many scholarships as possible and use a 'spaghetti on the wall' approach.
  • Evan and Andrew emphasize there's no downside: the worst response is 'no' and niche awards often go unclaimed.
ADVICE

Ask Counselors To Find Niche Scholarships

  • Do work with guidance counselors and mentors to find niche scholarships tied to your activities.
  • Evan advises counselors know niche grants (community service, specific majors) that few applicants discover and can be high-value.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app