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Nothing will cut back on your college costs like a little free money, which exists even in this economy.

"There's a lot of money out there for students going to college especially for students from New York City from inner city schools, there are a lot of scholarships," said Hettrick Martin Institute College Prep Coordinator Sam Stiegler.

The big question is how do you find them? Marty Forth works with teens through the YMCA of Greater New York. He says students can spend as many as 100 hours researching and applying for scholarships.

"You look everywhere. You lift every rock. You try everything," said Forth.

For starters, try FastWeb.com, a free online database that lists more than $3.4 billion of available scholarship money.

Next, look local. Many community groups offer smaller scholarships for area residents. These may require more legwork, but students say it's worth it.

"Every little bit counts. If it can pay for books for two semesters that helps," said Eric Petillo, a high school senior.

And finally, there are those who get to pay by playing, however sports scholarships are hardly a game. For one thing, they take years of dedication.

"It's a lot of hard work. We've been on the team for 10 years working towards this moment. To get a scholarship is very competitive, there's a lot of people out there fighting for that position as well," said Ariel Mandell, a high school senior.

To help give his players a leg up, Staten Island United Coach Mike Santarpia brings them to showcases where dozens of college coaches can assess their skills. Beyond that, he says, it's up to the student to take control of the ball.

"Notify that coach that they are interested in playing in his program. They want to hear from the kid. They want to hear from the recruit directly," said Santarpia.

It's also vital that young players continue to use their heads. Schools are looking for student athletes, the word student coming first. Two thirds of the players at St. John's University are on scholarships, which are tied to certain academic qualifications.

"The student athlete has to excel athletically obviously but they have to be strong students in the classroom," said Kevin Delaney, Senior Associate Athletic Director at St. John's University. "They should be looking to go to college to facilitate their academic careers, not necessarily their athletic careers."

It's also important to keep in mind that while there are companies out there who offer to help you find scholarships for a fee or a percentage, you never need to pay anyone for a scholarship search.

All of the information is available for free at your guidance counselor's office, your local library or on the web.