One can become frustrated while working with one of the national scholarship searches. Completing applications and writing essays along with thousands of other hopeful students can be a daunting task. Another approach would be to apply for local scholarships and no-interest loans. These local scholarships and loans limit the applicants to residents of a certain town, graduates of a specific high school, or members of a designated organization or church group. Your chance of receiving a local scholarship is greater than receiving one from the national searches.

Local scholarships and no-interest loans are usually handled by an agency or foundation. For the local foundation in your area, contact the guidance department at your local high school or the financial aid office at a local community college.

For residents of western Massachusetts, your local scholarship foundation is the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Contact this foundation if you are a resident of Franklin, Hampden, or Hampshire counties.