Applying for Scholarships
After applications have been submitted and a few letters of acceptance start rolling in, how much college will cost really starts to sink in. The average cost of just tuition and fees for only a year in 2013-2014 was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for in-state public colleges, and $22,203 at out-of-state public colleges, according to the College Board. That doesn’t even include the cost of textbooks, room and board.
Students should try to apply for as many scholarships as is possible. Even scholarships for a couple hundred dollars could help offset the cost of textbooks.
Students should make sure they are taking advantage of their school’s financial program. Most schools offer need and merit based scholarships to help their students afford college. Students can also take advantage of need-based aid, which is available to all students.
“You don’t know that you’re not going to qualify,” Samantha Veeder, financial aid director at Nazareth College, told The New York Times, “You could make six figures, and if you’re applying to a $50,000 college, you’re going to qualify for some aid.”
Also, students can take out loans, which are interest-free until after they graduate. However, most people cannot pay off these loans until they are much older.
Of course, many students get a job on or off campus to help pay for college. Not to long ago, students could simply have a full-time job over the summer and perhaps part-time during part of the school year and pay for college completely. Since 1980 college tuition has doubled, even tripled, in some cases. The average cost of a 4-year public school was only $2,100.
The increasingly high cost of college have led some to believe that college is not worth it because it puts a person in debt for such a long time. However, studies show that people will make more over the course of their life if they go to college. Plus, having a college degree give a person an advantage when applying for jobs.
Students should research their potential field wisely. Some degrees are more likely to give jobs than others. Degrees related to technology are very fruitful because so much of the world is turning to technology today.
Paying for college is difficult, but it can be worth it if students work hard and find creative ways to pay for it.
Students should try to apply for as many scholarships as is possible. Even scholarships for a couple hundred dollars could help offset the cost of textbooks.
Students should make sure they are taking advantage of their school’s financial program. Most schools offer need and merit based scholarships to help their students afford college. Students can also take advantage of need-based aid, which is available to all students.
“You don’t know that you’re not going to qualify,” Samantha Veeder, financial aid director at Nazareth College, told The New York Times, “You could make six figures, and if you’re applying to a $50,000 college, you’re going to qualify for some aid.”
Also, students can take out loans, which are interest-free until after they graduate. However, most people cannot pay off these loans until they are much older.
Of course, many students get a job on or off campus to help pay for college. Not to long ago, students could simply have a full-time job over the summer and perhaps part-time during part of the school year and pay for college completely. Since 1980 college tuition has doubled, even tripled, in some cases. The average cost of a 4-year public school was only $2,100.
The increasingly high cost of college have led some to believe that college is not worth it because it puts a person in debt for such a long time. However, studies show that people will make more over the course of their life if they go to college. Plus, having a college degree give a person an advantage when applying for jobs.
Students should research their potential field wisely. Some degrees are more likely to give jobs than others. Degrees related to technology are very fruitful because so much of the world is turning to technology today.
Paying for college is difficult, but it can be worth it if students work hard and find creative ways to pay for it.
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