College and Sports

by Allison Deutschman
(Mohawk, New York, United States)

Ivy League or Community College - Applying to college is like trying out for a sports team in school. Some people get picked first, some people get picked last, and some people don't get picked at all. Some people don't even get the opportunity to play because they have to work, because they need the money and don't have the time.

There are different ranking sports teams, and there are many different levels of colleges. There are the Ivy League schools, like the Division 1 Sports teams, and there are the Community Colleges, like the inter-mural sports. It's your choice as to which school or sports team you think you are capable of attending and will give you the most out of it, but the question is will you make the cut?
For me, I made the cut at Savannah College of Art and Design. It is not an Ivy League institution, but it is not a Community College either. The problem is, I don't have the money to support this academic venture.

They don't tell you before you apply for financial aid, how depressing and stressful it will be if the verdict comes back and you don't qualify for enough. They don't tell you that getting good grades, or going back to the sports analogy, being a good player, won't be enough. Before you start this process, make sure you are not delusional about where you may be attending next year. I wish somebody told me that.

Now I am sitting with 30 days until May 1st and I have to make a decision. The practical decision would be to go to Community College. The place I can afford, but knowing I can mentally do better academically and even socially at another school is extremely heart wrenching. Apply for as many scholarships as you can, but don’t become overly optimistic. Money is power, and in this world money has the power to get you into the school of your dreams, more than your intelligence does.

Read more College Financial Aid Advice from other students and parents who have been through process.

---

Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Allison for sharing your challenge on whether to attend an Ivy League or Community College. Best of luck to you on your decision.

---

Submit your Scholarship Essay Samples in our Scholarship Essay Contests:

Apply Online Scholarship

---

Scholarship Money for College | FAFSA | Tuition Assistance Programs | Federal Student Loans | Consolidating Student Loans | College Tax Credit | Student Jobs | Student Summer Jobs | Student Travel Deals

Hard Work Pays

by Hayley Marohl
(Pataskala, Ohio, United States)

All college students face the same problem - student loans. Most college students want to experience the college life, which means leaving home, staying in the dorms, having a sense of freedom and last but not least, partying. Some do not think about the money that goes along with going to a big university, they know that they can take out loans and they will worry about the money after college. At the time, it may seem like the right thing to do, but then reality sets in and they are left with more debt than they can handle.

Growing up, I saw my parents go through the struggle with money, having to make car payments, house payment, buying all the necessities that my brothers and I needed and my father’s student loans from college. My parents worked their absolute best to pay off their debt, and 17 years later are still paying on my father’s student loans.

My senior year of high school my parents sat me down and told me that if I did not go away to a university and went to a community college that I could live at home, they would let me live at home for free. The only catch was that I would have to be working part time and going to school full time. It was a no brainer for me; I got a job working at Kohl’s Department Store. I work 20 – 25 hours a week plus go to school Monday – Thursday. I just recently finished out my freshman year of college and I am DEBT FREE!

I opened a savings account and every paycheck I get goes directly into my account and I have paid over $4,000 dollars myself! It is not easy; there are times where I feel like giving up, but knowing that I will graduate college and not have any debt is my motivation every time I go to work. I feel so accomplished knowing that I am doing it all on my own and it is worth every hour I put in at work. I will continue to work and pay off school every semester until I graduate.

The advice that I would give to any college student or future college student is that making sacrifices now will benefit you in the long run, not only with having no money to pay back but also the self - satisfaction of paying college by yourself. It is a big accomplishment that takes a lot of hard work and determination, but it can be done if you put in the time and effort.

Read more tips on Paying off my Student Loan from other students and parents who have been through the student loan process.

---

Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Hayley for sharing how hard work pays off for getting a debt free college education. You will not regret it. Best of luck. Be sure to check out some of our pages on Scholarship Money for College too to help you stay debt free.

---

Student Loan Information

Student Loan Debt Forgiveness | Student Loan Calculator | FAFSA | Federal Student Loans | Federal Plus Loan | Federal Pell Grants | Perkins Student Loans | Paying off Student Loans

Submit your entry in our College Essay Contest:

To share your entry in our scholarship contest, just click here.

Easy Money

by Yvette Hind
(Jacksonville, Florida, USA)

Easy money tips to save money at college - The best type of college to go to for your A.A. would be a community college. The only difference between a university and community college (at least for the first 2 years) are the prices in tuition and cost of attendance.

If you can get a student job at the school it would probably be best since the will work around your school schedule. Also government jobs are very good with working around your classes and at times helping you out by paying for some of it.

The best way I have saved money is through renting my textbooks. www.collegebookrentals.com is by far the best place to rent your books. They pay for shipping both ways, and if you type in their name followed by coupons you can get an extra 10%-20% off. Books usually arrive in 3 to 5 days and they contain all of the pages (as long as it's not a workbook, for workbooks please buy from your school).

If you need supplies you can go to Wal-Mart or Target even the dollar store and in the clearance section and many times they have note pads and sticky notes and pens on sale for .99 cents.

Car pool occasionally as well will save money on gas. If you get your classes on one day it will help you as well. The work-load may seem to be a lot but you still have a week to do it whether it’s spaced out but this way you can save gas by making only on trip. When school starts for little kids, is a good time to buy supplies as well because its tax free and on sale. Sign up for coupons for any of the places you usually shop at that carry supplies because you'd be surprised how much more you could save.

Don't buy lunch at school make it at home. All of this money that you save now and any grants, or scholarship money you don't use for your classes or books that is left over; use it to pay for you loans. The quicker you get them paid off the better.

Read more College Financial Aid Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.

---

Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Yvette for sharing some of your easy money tips for saving money at college. Attending a community college is an excellent choice. I like you tip to get your classes on the same days to save on gas. Good luck to you.

---

More Easy Money and Ways to Save Money at College

Scholarship Money for College | FAFSA | Tuition Assistance Programs | Federal Student Loans | Consolidating Student Loans | College Tax Credit | Student Jobs | Student Summer Jobs | Student Travel Deals

Submit your entry in our College Essay Contest:

To share your entry in our scholarship contest, just click here.