Paying for college can seem overwhelming. I have been asked many times how to get started with the process of paying for college.

There are many financial assistance programs out there: scholarships, state & federal grants, paid internships and low-interest student loans. In many cases, students qualify for a financial aid package that includes a mix of these options. Here is the scoop on the resources I used and how difficult or easy they were to access.

• FAFSA: The Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is how you can apply for federal financial aid. You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), via email from the federal government within 3-5 days of submitting your application if you provide an email address when you apply. If you do not provide an email address, a paper copy will be mailed to you within 7-10 days of completing your FAFSA. A copy will automatically be sent to your college. From there your financial aid advisor will be able to go over the programs that you qualify for.
• Pell Grants: All of the scholls that I have attended have each required students to apply for the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant program provides grants of up to $5,550 per year to undergraduate students. Eligibilty is based on the information contained in the FAFSA form and determined by the federal governement. If you are wondering what the difference between a grant and a student loan is, the way I try to remember is that a grant is money that you do not have to pay back after you graduate. Student loans are to be repaid starting six months after your graduate.
• The Post 9/11 GI Bill: As part of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, service members are given the opportunity to share their education benefits with immediate family members. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs' website is a great place to research more about this program and if your spouse qualifies to transfer some of his/her benefits to you. Here you can also learn what your spouse and you need to do in order to make that happen. Speaking from experience, the initial sign-up is a pain and time consuming. Does hurry up and wait sound familiar? But once you are in the system, it is a breeze after that. All I have to do now is certify my enrollment every quarter (or semester depending on your school), which consists of filling out one piece of paper. The VA Certifying official at your college will then submit it to the VA for you in order for you to receive your book stipend and for the college to receive the tuition. And in case you are wondering, yes you can use the Pell Grant and the GI Bill at the same time. I have for two years now.
• The MyCAA Program: The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program is an employment assistance program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance to eligible military spouses who are pursuing an education in a portable career field. This is a good program if you qualify and is limited to spouses of E-1 thru E-5, W1-W2 and O1 -O2. It does however, have limitations and only in certain career fields. But if you qualify for this program, and are interested in one of the careers offered, go for it!
• Scholarships: Did you know that you can recieve a scholarship just for being the spouse of a military service member? It's true! Scholarships are a great way to earn money to help pay for your tuition. Many require some sort of an essay to be considered. There are so many out there and some specific to certain branches,career fields and locations and many go unclaimed. It may seem a bit overwhelming, but it's worth it to research just what is available to you. The possiblities are endless! Here are some scholarships exlusively for military spouses:

1. Salute to Spouses Scholarship: Bryant & Stratton College Online created the Salute to Spouses scholarship after the US Government temporarily suspended MyCAA in 2010. Spouses of active duty military personnel and the National Guard are eligible to recieve $6,000 towards a Bryant & Stratton College Online degree. The mission of the Salute to Spouses scholarship program is to provide an opportunity for military spouses to advance their education and become more competitive in the modern job market.
2. National Military Family Association Military Spouse Scholarship: The Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse scholarships are awarded to spouses of all uniformed service members. Applications, when available, are posted on their website.
3. Navy Wives Clubs of America: The Navy Wives Clubs of America offers a scholarship program for spouses of enlisted Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members.

Hopefully these few sites will provide ample information and get you started in your search for school funding. Remember, it's worth it in the end!