You must research, research, research to find the graduate school scholarships that are right for you and your situation. Do your homework and start early (it's recommended that you give yourself at least 12 months to research and apply for scholarships - so start your junior year). Check for scholarships in your area of study, or based on where you live, your culture, your socio-economic background, if you're an adult returning student, etc. Check with the community organizations in your city or with your church and see if they offer any scholarships. Most graduate schools award financial aid to students in the form of scholarships, fellowships and research or teaching assistantships. It is a good idea to contact and communicate with your program of interest at several universities and let them know you are interested in all forms of financial aid. In other words, shop around and see who can offer you the best deal.

The internet is a rich source of graduate school scholarships, use it! There are many wonderful free scholarship databases available. Please be wary of any site that guarantees a scholarship or asks you to pay a large application fee. Look for scholarships at the local, state and federal levels. If you are in the work force, see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. If you are still in school, be sure to utilize your academic advisors and financial aid office. Your public library is another great resource when looking for graduate school scholarships. Don't be discouraged by thinking that all scholarships are reserved for students with incredible academic, athletic or artistic abilities. You don't have to have a 4.0 GPA or be the equivalent of an opera singing Michael Jordan to get money. Awards are also available for students who are members of underrepresented groups, who live in certain areas of the country or who demonstrate financial need. Students with average GPAs who have outstanding leadership abilities or a history of community service are also eligible for many awards.

Getting your graduate school scholarship application in before the deadline in crucial! It is one of the easiest ways for grantees to weed out who will get scholarships. Everyone is prone to procrastination, but in this case procrastinating can cost you thousands of dollars. One trick is to make your personal deadline two weeks before the actual deadline. Allow individuals writing letters of reference or recommendation for you plenty of time, you want them to do a good job and not be rushed. Give teachers and professors even more time to write these letters since they will probably be writing them for other students too. You can do this! Spend time, not money. It will be worth it later when you aren't chained to a hefty student loan.