In writing The Gap According to Green, I have often stressed the importance of thinking about your future and pursuing college. This is especially true for students from lower-income backgrounds and students of color.

But for many of these young people, including many who would be the first in their family to attend college, an advanced education feels out of their reach. There’s no doubt, pursuing higher education in this country comes at a cost. But the cost of life without a college degree, is far more expensive.

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Many young people may not be aware of the variety of scholarship and grant programs offered by various universities and other organizations. Unlike loans, students do not have to “pay back” their scholarships or grants.

Scholarships are often paid to the Bursar’s Office, which will collect money for tuition. The remaining money, if there is any, may or may not be returned to the student for books and living expenses.

For many young people paying for their college education is difficult. For some, scholarships and grants are the only way. So what’s the problem?

In my opinion, the problem is that these young people simply don’t know where to find information about these scholarships, which scholarships they should apply for, or how to best prepare a scholarship application. Another barrier for some of these students is that they have little help at home, or at school. Often their parents do not have this kind of experience.

Whether or not you’re a first-timer, there are some important things to know before kicking-off your scholarship search.

Scholarships are often awarded based on academic and economic factors. Many college-sponsored scholarships are available to students who fit certain criteria and who are seriously underrepresented on college campuses. Two examples are low-income students and students of color. Some scholarships, on the other hand, may be specific to a chosen major, or offered students within specific programs. 

It’s also important to know that most scholarships are highly competitive. If you want to win one, you’ll need to put some hard work into your application. Read the application criteria, and carefully consider what the organization or university is looking for in a scholarship candidate. Most scholarship applications will ask for a personal statement or essay—use this to your advantage and try to explain why you fit their criteria.

Getting help preparing for college should not be a hard thing to do, but I think it is. We don’t all have parents or older siblings who have gone through this process. If you do, however, that is a great place to start. High school guidance counselors are also important resources. Go see yours early and often. The point is, it’s often helpful to talk to people who have already been through the process.

To help you get a head start on searching for scholarships, I recommend visiting www.fastweb.com. This is a website I have used to look at universities and explore scholarships opportunities. I also recommend browsing the websites of universities you are interested in attending. See what they offer.  They may be just as interested in you, as you are in them.

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There is one more quick point I would like to make. I started this column by pointing out that some young people see college as something that is out of reach. It seems intangible to kids who have no direct experience with the college application process,

Well, some advice here for my peers. Nothing makes your college dreams seem more tangible, practical, and reachable than looking at schools and for a few scholarships. It’s not as hard as you think and feels great. Try it. And if you need help, just ask. A little determination goes a long way in this whole get into college thing.

And I want to add one more thing. We write in this newspaper about a practical, local option available for kids in our area. MATC us an excellent school that offers a real and effective route to a high quality college experience. Whether you choose one of their associate degree programs, or their new automatic transfer option, you will not regret looking into what MATC has to offer. So, think big my friends. By following a few relatively simple steps, your college dreams might just become reality.