FAFSA scholarships for 9th grader - starting early for 2029 college plans?

You're smart to start thinking about this early! For 9th graders, focus on building the resume now rather than actual scholarship applications. Most legitimate scholarships won't accept applications until 11th-12th grade. For now: 1. Check out free databases like FastWeb and Scholly (NOT the paid versions) 2. Look into your state's 529 plan - contributions can grow tax-free 3. Have him focus on maintaining a strong GPA and pursuing meaningful extracurriculars in math/debate 4. Start researching merit scholarships at potential colleges Regarding FAFSA: The year that will matter for aid calculations will be his sophomore year of college, so you have time. The new FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of EFC now, and assets are weighted differently. Just focus on academic/extracurricular excellence for now.

my kid got a bunch of scolarships for debate! look for local chamber of commerce ones and rotary club and stuff like that. they give them out to HS kids. also check if his school has a guidance dept that keeps a list of local ones. the local ones are WAYYY easier to get then the big national ones where like 10000 kids apply

A few practical things you can do now that many parents miss: 1. Start documenting ALL community service hours in a detailed log (dates, hours, supervisor contacts). Many scholarships require verification of service. 2. Create a separate email account just for scholarship-related communications. You'll thank me later when the flood begins junior year. 3. For math strengths, look into MATHCOUNTS competitions. Winners often get noticed by colleges offering math scholarships. 4. Have him start a simple LinkedIn profile to document activities. Many scholarship committees check these now. 5. For FAFSA planning, be careful about putting assets in your child's name - student assets are assessed at a higher rate (20%) than parent assets (5.64%) in the SAI calculation. The best legitimate free scholarship search engines are: - College Board's BigFuture - Fastweb - Going Merry Avoid anything asking for payment or social security numbers.

Both my kids are in college now and I wish someone had told me that applying for scholarships is basically a part-time job during junior/senior year! Start building a schedule NOW where your son spends 1-2 hours each weekend on scholarship-related activities (even just research at this stage). Getting in this habit early will pay off HUGE when application season actually hits.

I'm going against the grain here but... don't stress too much about scholarships for a 9th grader. The system changes CONSTANTLY. When my son was a freshman (2018), we got all worked up about preparation, and by the time he was a senior, the FAFSA formula had completely changed with the FAFSA Simplification Act! Same with scholarship platforms - some that were recommended when he was a freshman didn't even exist by senior year. Focus on academics, meaningful activities, and maybe put some money in a 529. But honestly, the intense scholarship search is more efficient in 11th grade. Just my two cents from someone who stressed WAY too early.

I work in college financial aid and want to add some FAFSA-specific advice: 1. The newest FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of EFC, which calculates need differently. 2. Your income during your son's sophomore year of HIGH SCHOOL will be what's evaluated for his freshman year of college (prior-prior year). 3. If you're planning any major financial moves (selling property, taking capital gains, etc), try to do them BEFORE that sophomore year or AFTER filing FAFSA senior year. 4. Don't bother with expensive FAFSA prep services - they can't improve your situation beyond what the formula allows. 5. Some assets aren't counted in the FAFSA formula (retirement accounts, life insurance, primary home equity). Start looking at net price calculators on college websites to get a rough idea of what your family contribution might be.

jsut make sure your kid doesnt have social media that could mess up scholorships!!! my neice lost a BIG one because they found her twitter with some bad language on it. they look at EVERYTHING these days just warning you

If your son is great at debate, definitely look into college parliamentary debate teams - many offer scholarships. My daughter got $8k/year from a school that wanted to build their debate program. They recruited her based on her high school debate record. Definitely have him stick with debate!

try calling the federal student aid number and asking about scholarships for 9th graders - they have a special database but it takes FOREVER to get through to them. i spent like 3 hrs on hold last month!!! but when i finally talked to someone they had great info about early planning

Make sure your son takes the PSAT in 10th AND 11th grade! 11th grade PSAT is what qualifies for National Merit, but taking it in 10th grade gives practice. National Merit can = huge scholarships at many schools. My son got half tuition just from being a National Merit Finalist!

One last suggestion - create a folder (physical or digital) with these categories: 1. Academic achievements (honor roll, awards, etc.) 2. Extracurricular participation proof (certificates, programs) 3. Community service documentation 4. Test scores 5. Notable projects or work samples Start collecting everything now, even if it seems minor. By senior year, you'll have a comprehensive portfolio to reference when filling out applications. The number one reason students struggle with applications is they can't remember or document their achievements from 9th-10th grade. Also, check if your state has any early commitment programs. Some states like Indiana, Oklahoma and Florida have programs where 7th-8th graders can commit to certain requirements and guarantee state aid later.

As a financial aid counselor, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - start teaching your son about financial literacy NOW. Many students get to college with no understanding of student loans, interest rates, or how debt impacts their future. Consider having him read books like "The Complete Guide to Paying for College" or even age-appropriate resources about budgeting and saving. When scholarship/aid decisions come up in a few years, he'll be equipped to make informed choices rather than just taking whatever is offered. Also, if he's strong in math, look into actuarial science or finance programs - many have excellent scholarship opportunities and high earning potential that can offset college costs through future income rather than just aid. One more thing - start visiting college campuses now, even casually. It helps kids understand what they're working toward and can motivate them to stay focused on academics. Plus, demonstrated interest at some schools can actually impact merit aid decisions later!