by James
(Stockton, NJ)
From upfront the price of college looks like a big bulky number. Once you get around that number you see universities break it up into smaller categories: housing, tuition, meal plans, books… You can use common sense and frugality to cut back on most of them, shop around for apartments, food, and books. But since no one can teach you common sense, much less in a 300 word article, or how to save, I will tell you a few tactics I have seen people use to get inside the college’s head and force them to lower the biggest cost of all: tuition.
by Patricia Miller
(Port Orange, FL, USA)
I'm scared. I have never entered the world of pursuing a higher education before. I am a mother to a soon to be high school graduate. I don't know where to begin to help her achieve her dreams of going off to college.
The conversation seemed so far off topic four years ago when she first began talking about wanting to be a "Gator" at the University of Florida in our home state. But, today has come to a reality with the truth of me facing my fears.
She will be the first to go to college in our family. My husband and I didn't have that opportunity when we were her age. This is a devastating fear of unknown because I don't fully understand how to help her. I've attended college preparedness seminars, communicated with her guidance counselor at her school, and searched the internet every day and night. My anxiety becomes quiet overwhelming.
We are struggling to make ends meet. While I bravely help direct her in the path to make college a reality for her. Encouraging her to apply for scholarships between her part-time job as she maintains her grades while finishing her last year of high school. This by far is the most scary venture I have ever encountered.
My fear is she will not get into her dream school for lack of funding, test scores, or whatever obstacles that are lurking around the corner in this venture to make her dreams of becoming a college student. As a parent I don't want to fail her. I've saved for her to attend to go to college but, by far not enough. Time and circumstances and life just got in the way.
My biggest disappointment was having to cash out of her 529 plan after falling in default for payment. Due to a devastating diagnosis of lupus. I wish I can turn back time and take the money I was putting into childcare and put it in that plan but, life again dictates what one is to do when you are making a living to survive and raise a family.
I knew this day would come and I wanted to be prepared. I'm not. I don't want to fail her as a parent, mother, and biggest cheerleader in life because it was I who constantly supported her conversations at the dinner table when she talked of the day she wants to be a "Gator" now, that time has come.
Read more Compare College Tuition Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.
by Kathryn K
(Shawnee, KS)
When I first applied to Law School, I was entirely overwhelmed. I had spent months preparing for the LSAT. I paid for a prep class, attended the classes faithfully, completed all the homework, engaged within the class, asked questions, and studied studied studied. Test day came and I arrived an hour early, brought too many pencils, and ultimately psyched myself out. Then I waited a few painful weeks for my test result to come back with the deciding factor on which law school I would get into and what, if any, financial aid, I would be eligible for. I was convinced I wouldn't be good enough for any school admissions. I finally received my score and was pleased. I wasn't going to Harvard or Yale, but that was never my goal. And something dawned on me.
When you first decide to go to college or graduate school, the rules are the same. You take a test and apply to see if you're "good enough to get in." This is what THEY teach you in school. But what they don't teach you, what they won't tell you, is that what it takes to get into school is the right attitude.
First - figure out where you want to go to school. Make a few selections. It doesn't matter if you know what you want to do yet. It helps, but it isn't a must. Decide, do you want to go to school close to home? Far away? Have you always dreamed of going to a certain school? Have you always wanted to pursue a career in a certain field?
After you narrow down your options, apply with the attitude, "Why wouldn't they want me?" And keep that can do attitude in mind as you write your admissions essays. Defeatist attitudes won't help you get in anywhere. Schools want the best and the brightest - show them why you are the best. Perhaps your scores are top, perhaps you weren't the most involved in high school, perhaps you grew up average? It doesn't matter. Your past doesn't matter. Prove now why you are the best and why they want you.
Next, learn to play the game. You may not get into all of the schools you apply. And that's okay. But the schools you do get into, you must know that its okay to make them aware that they now must compete for you. You are already know you're capable of academic excellence and they know it too. If one school offers you a scholarship, write to the other schools you get into and see if they will either match the scholarship or top it. This can help bring down the cost of a college education.
When I applied to Law School, I was fortunate enough to get into all of the schools I applied. When I had to choose between schools, I let the admissions departments know that I had a choice to make and that was when the financial scholarship offers came through. When one school pulled out, and the other school made it clear that they wanted me more, my decision was easy. And the cost of my tuition was much lower than it was when I started out. And suddenly, that feeling of being overwhelmed started to go away. Yours can, too.
Read more Compare College Tuition Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.
Scholarships for 2024 - It is never too early or too late to work on your scholarship searches. If you are part of the high school class of 2024, you should work on your scholarship and college search now. See our list of Scholarships for High School Seniors
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