With the total costs of many private colleges now exceeding $40,000 to $75,000 per year, financial aid is a topic on the minds of an increasing number of people. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind regarding financial aid is this: You will not know whether or not you qualify for assistance, and you will not receive any aid, if you do not apply. It is not uncommon for more than half of the students at some very well known schools to be receiving some type of financial assistance (grants, scholarships, loans or work-study).

Every school will require that you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov in order to be considered for aid. The FAFSA is currently available. Many schools will also ask you to complete the CSS Profile, https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/, a second form, available in the early fall, with which you must send a processing fee. Both forms are submitted to processors who then calculate your expected family contribution and forward that information to you and to any schools you have indicated on the application. The FAFSA calculations are based on federally legislated methodology. The CSS Profile calculations take additional discretionary information into account, as requested by the various schools to which you are applying. A step by step walk through the financial aid process is available at MEFA, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Association.

Click Here for a Quick Presentation on Financial Aid and Scholarships

Scholarships can be a helpful way to fund your college education. They provide you with free money that can go towards tuition or other educational expenses. There are many national scholarships to apply to as well as some local scholarships within Andover.

We have created a group in Schoology for all current and future scholarships. Please refer to the "Resources" tab in Schoology for the listing of active scholarships.
Make sure you join the Class of 2022 Scholarships Group using the code: HQJW-BVJQ-43NR9. This list will be updated often but, it does not represent a complete list of all scholarships that are offered to graduating seniors. Please check back as often as you can to see any new scholarships that have been added.

There are also online scholarships sites like GoMerry. By using this site and creating an account, you can apply to many different scholarships that match your criteria by only filling out one application! In addition, Andover Dollars for Scholars is similar to GoMerry where you can create a profile and apply using one application only. Scholarships won't be available for Andover Dollars for Scholars to apply to until January 1, 2022 but you can still log on and create your profile. Be aware some online sites are not always legitimate. Be sure to do your research before clicking.

If scholarships require a transcript and/or a counselor recommendation, you must fill out a Scholarship Transcript Release form located in the Guidance office (pink sheet) or you can download a copy from the Resources tab. If you download a copy, please fill it out and either bring it to Ms. Lenzi in the Guidance office or, scan it, and email it to Deborah.Lenzi@andoverma.us

Please note: If the scholarship requires the transcript and/or Counselor Recommendation Letters to be sent in the same envelope as the application, you must provide an addressed manila envelope with 4 stamps on it to Ms. Lenzi when submitting the Scholarship Transcript Release form.  AHS will not not provide Counselor Recommendation letters to students.