If you are interested in applying for scholarships, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.  First, it is free money for college or technical schools that does not have to be paid back.  Many scholarships will not come easy and do require time and energy.  Many colleges offer merit based (GPA, ACT, awards based) and scholarships based on financial need and other criteria.  Most scholarships also require that you complete the FAFSA to determine financial need.  When searching for scholarships you can use keywords to find them such as:  scholarships for specific majors such as nursing, teaching, etc; scholarships based on your religion; scholarships for first generation students (if you are the first in your family to go to college); scholarships for students of a specific heritage, and then just google for anything you can think of (left-hand student, red-head students, green eyes, etc).  Nothing is too crazy to search!  Apply to anything you qualify for!

http://www.affordablecolleges.com/resources/paying-for-college-without-parents/

https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov - great information on FAFSA

https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists