Scholarships & Financial Aid
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid helps pay the cost of attending college. Depending on the type of college, costs may include:
- Tuition and fees
- Room and board
- Books and supplies
- Transportation
- Miscellaneous personal expenses
- Required loan fees
- Study abroad costs
- Dependent care expenses
- Expenses related to a student's disability
Financial aid is based either on a student's financial need or merit, such as high grades or ability in a particular subject or sport.
Financial aid comes in four different forms:
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Work Study
- Loans
Grants and scholarships are known as "free money" because the student does not need to pay this aid back. Work study and loans are "self-help aid" because in each case, the student either needs to work in order to receive the aid or to pay the funding back, plus interest, after graduation.
Financial aid comes from a variety of sources:
- Federal government
- New York State
- Colleges
- Community organizations, associations and other groups
Learn more about types of financial aid.
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
Some colleges, primarily private colleges, ask for additional financial information (in addition to FAFSA) to determine school-based aid through the CSS/Profile application. The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. A college’s financial aid page should let you know if this is part of their financial aid process, so be sure to check every website.
Navigating the Financial Aid Process
Please see this presentation developed by the SUNY system on successfully navigating the Financial Aid process.
Our college-bound students and their families should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the FAFSA.
2025 FAFSA Videos
Visit the Start Here, Get There site to help navigate the entire process
FAFSA Checklist - Gather what you need to complete the FAFSA
FAFSA Worksheet - Sample of questions you might be asked to complete to submit your application for Federal Financial Aid
FAFSA.gov - Online application and information on Federal Student Financial Aid
Apply for an "FSAID" - Parents and student apply for their own FSAID account to apply for, receive, and manage federal student aid
Estimate your eligibility for federal student aid
New York State Higher Education Services Corp (HESC)
Students can choose to apply for scholarships to help offset post-secondary education costs.
Many organizations contact the High School offering scholarships, seeking applicants and nominees. Come see us in the Counseling Office so we can help you!
Always check the financial aid website for each prospective college to determine their scholarship process and deadlines. Keep in mind that some colleges set earlier application deadlines for students who want to be considered for school-based scholarships.
Here are helpful links:
- Gananda Dollars for Scholars Resources
- GDFS Info Letter & Hours Log
- Upcoming GDFS activities
- Gananda Rotary Scholarship Application Link
- FastWeb for scholarship and internship searches
- Word of mouth for scholarships offered through local businesses, banks, clubs, etc.
- Counseling office and this webpage (see below & check often!)
- Bulletin boards outside cafeteria
- Call the Financial Aid offices and check websites of your colleges of interest
Here are helpful links:
| Name | Description | Name | Description |
| NYS Higher Education Services | Offers a variety of grants & scholarships for residents who plan to attend in-state colleges. | College-Scholarships.com | A national website to search for multiple scholarships. |
| Going Merry | A national website to apply for multiple scholarships. | Education Planner | College resource page. |
| Student Scholarships.org | A national scholarship database & search engine. | Fast Web | A national scholarship database & search engine. |
| Disabled Scholarship Opportunities | A national website with links to scholarship opportunities for disabled students. | Cappex | A national scholarship database & search engine. |
| Rochester Area Community Foundation Scholarships | A website to help search for scholarships in the Rochester area. | NY Colleges | Info on NY private colleges. |
| Scholarship guidance. com | A national scholarship database & search engine. | Scholarship America | A national scholarship database & search engine. |
| College Express | A national scholarship database & search engine. | Match College | A national college program database & search engine. |
| College Board | Info about ACT, SAT & paying for college. | Super College | A national website for info on planning for college and finding a college. |
| College savings. org | Info about paying for college. | Sallie Mae | Student loan provider. |
| College Covered | A national website for info on planning for college and finding a college. | Scholarships.com | A national college program database & search engine. |
| Unigo | A national college program database & search engine. | Quest Bridge .org | A national college program database & search engine. |
| Urban League of Rochester | Info for African American Students. | University HQ | College info webpage. |
| Name | Description | Deadline |
| Section V Scholarship |
Opportunity for Seniors. Section V offers a $250 scholarship for each sport each season to be used toward future academic endeavors. Winners are chosen based on a letter of recommendation from their coach, their high school transcript and activities sheet, as well as their responses to application questions. |
Dates vary by sports season
TBD
|
| College Xpress Scholarship |
A free, random drawing scholarship. No qualifications required except filling out a form. Drawn Monthly. (read details on personal info usage) |
No end date |
| No Essay Nitro Scholarship |
A free, random drawing scholarship. No qualifications required except filling out a form. Drawn Monthly. (read details on personal info usage) |
End of every month |
| No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship |
A free, random drawing scholarship. No qualifications required except filling out a form. Drawn Monthly. (read details on personal info usage) |
End of every month |
| Maida Brkanovic Memorial Scholarship |
To be eligible, you must be a recent immigrant and/or a first-generation high school or undergraduate student in any field of study. 2 winners, $500.00 each. |
November 16, 2023 |
| Ambition Scholarship |
Any female high school students in New York are eligible to apply if they have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have experience either in extracurriculars or volunteering.
1 winner; $550.00.
|
January 31, 2024 |
| Joanne Pransky Celebration of Women in Robotics |
Any female-identifying high school or two or four-year undergraduate student who is interested in working in robotics may apply for this scholarship. 3 winners; $1,000.00 each. |
February 29, 2024 |
| Hispanic Climb to Success Scholarship |
Any low-income Hispanic or Latinx high school senior in New York may apply for this scholarship. 2 winners; $1,000.00 each. |
April 15, 2024 |
| Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship |
High school, undergraduate, and graduate students in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, or Pennsylvania are eligible to apply if they have volunteer experience or have played sports. 5 winners; $5,000.00 each. |
May 18, 2024 |
| Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship |
Any student who is fighting through their own loss of a close family member, legal guardian or loved one, and is in need of financial support for their education as they move forward.
1 winner; $10,000.00
|
July 20, 2024 |