| These tips apply to anyone who plans to attend | | | | savings would be much greater. Be very careful to |
| college or who is already enrolled. At least two-thirds | | | | make sure that the credits you earn will be |
| of college students need to take out college loans to | | | | transferrable to the school you ultimately wish to |
| finance their education, and these loans take many | | | | attend. Don't put yourself in a position to be surprised |
| years to pay off, anywhere from 10-30 years in most | | | | and find out the credits you took end up being |
| cases. If you can cut the amount you need to borrow, | | | | worthless. |
| your lower student loan balance will be easier to pay | | | | 16. If your parents can afford to purchase a house in |
| off. | | | | or near the town where you attend college, they can |
| 1. Check with the education office of your state | | | | rent out rooms to other students. Often the rent will |
| government to see what sorts of scholarships, grants, | | | | pay the mortgage and the value of the home will |
| or loans are available from your state. Many states | | | | increase during your college years. This strategy has |
| have programs like these. | | | | obvious risks when housing prices fluctuate. |
| 2. Have your parents check to see if the companies | | | | 17. You might be able to get credits for life |
| they work for offer tuition assistance to children of | | | | experiences and thus validate some classes. Write to |
| employees. | | | | the Distance Education and Training Council at 1601 |
| 3. If you are a good athlete you might qualify for an | | | | 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, or call (202) |
| athletic scholarship. Ask your high school coach and/or | | | | 234-5100. |
| guidance councilor for help if you think you might | | | | 18. Some schools charge the same price for a certain |
| qualify. | | | | amount of credits taken each semester. If you can |
| 4. If you live close enough to your school to commute | | | | handle the study load, try to take the maximum |
| there from home you can save a lot of money. Living | | | | number of credits in this case, as it will reduce the |
| costs can be a major portion of college expense. | | | | amount of time you need to spend at school. |
| 5. If you are going to borrow money via student loans | | | | 19. Sometimes you can take summer classes at a |
| to finance most or all of your college education, try to | | | | community college or a junior college, and these could |
| graduate in three years instead of four years or | | | | be less expensive than your regular school, especially |
| longer. If will be a lot of work, but your debt burden will | | | | if you are living at home in the summer. Just make |
| be significantly reduced. Ask your academic advisor | | | | sure the classes you take are transferrable. |
| up-front about this type of program. | | | | 20. Check into employment opportunities offered at |
| 6. Check with the schools you are interested in to see | | | | your school. Most schools have placement offices to |
| what merit scholarships are available. These are not | | | | help students find part-time employment on campus. |
| need based and anyone can qualify regardless of | | | | 21. If one of your parents is employed at a college or |
| parental income. | | | | university you may be in luck. Many institutions allow |
| 7. While in high school be sure to take exams to qualify | | | | children of employees to attend the school at greatly |
| for the National Merit Scholarship Program scholarship | | | | reduced tuition, sometimes even at no cost. These |
| awards. Ask your school counselor about how to do | | | | types of programs are not need based so they are |
| this if you don't know. | | | | open to everyone who qualifies. |
| 8. If you are a musician or are planning on studying | | | | 22. Look for work as an RA (Resident Advisor). Older |
| drama or journalism for example, you might qualify for | | | | students can get reduced or even free room and |
| some financial assistance at many schools. Ask your | | | | board for supervising younger students. Room and |
| department head if any help like this is available and if | | | | board is a major college expense, so thousands of |
| your might qualify. | | | | dollars per year can be saved in this way. |
| 9. Purchase only used textbooks. Do a google search | | | | 23. If you are open to serving in the military after |
| for "cheap college textbooks". You will see a lot sites | | | | graduation, look into ROTC scholarships or an |
| offering deals. You can also sell used textbooks | | | | appointment to one of the military academies such as |
| although you may need to keep those textbooks that | | | | West Pt., Annapolis, the Air Force Academy, U.S. |
| pertain to your major field of study. | | | | Merchant Marine Academy, or the U.S. Coast Guard |
| 10. In-state residents get better tuition fees than do out | | | | Academy. You need to be looking into these types of |
| of state students at state colleges and universities. | | | | scholarships early, even in your junior year of high |
| Consider staying in your own state for school, at least | | | | school. There are lots of tests to be taken, as these |
| for your first two years. | | | | appointments are highly sought after and are |
| 11. Check with the schools you are interested in to see | | | | competitive. |
| what merit scholarships are available. These are not | | | | 24. Look for a low cost school. Periodically there are |
| need based and anyone can qualify regardless of | | | | lists published of schools that provide good value, that |
| parental income. | | | | is, they have a good reputation and are lower priced |
| 12. Working part-time can be a huge help with paying | | | | than other schools. Try a search for "high quality |
| college expenses. Don't overdo it, however. Your top | | | | affordable college" and start your research there. |
| priority needs to be getting the most out of your | | | | 25. If you are thinking about attending a school of |
| studies. Some campuses offer work in exchange for | | | | which one of your parents is an alumnus, you may be |
| room and board, so look for these types of | | | | able to get a lower tuition. |
| opportunities. Do this as early as possible since | | | | 26. If you have a sibling who attends the same school |
| sometimes these opportunities are first-come | | | | as you, you might be entitled to lower tuition. |
| first-served. | | | | 27. If you are enrolled in a school and you can get |
| 13. Taking fewer classes can reduce the amount of | | | | credit for recruiting another student, you might be |
| time you need to be in school. Sometimes you can | | | | entitled to a discount. Check into whether your school |
| take an examination in a particular subject and get | | | | offers such benefits. |
| credit for having taken that class. Ask about programs | | | | 28. Find out if your school offers tuition discounts to |
| like the Advanced Placement Program (APP), the | | | | student government participants or to people who |
| College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the | | | | work of school newspapers and yearbooks. |
| Provenience Examination Program (PEP). | | | | 29. Some schools offer tuition discounts to older |
| 14. While in high school be sure to take exams to | | | | students. |
| qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program | | | | 30. Some colleges will convert non-federal loans into |
| scholarship awards. Ask your school counselor about | | | | non-federal grants to students who stay in school and |
| how to do this if you don't know. | | | | graduate. |
| 15. If you aren't going to get much help covering college | | | | 31. Some schools will offer lower tuition if the main |
| costs from your parents, you might want to consider | | | | income earner in a student's family is unemployed. |
| going to a community college or a junior college for | | | | 32. Some schools have special funds for families who |
| your first one or two years. If you lived at home your | | | | do not qualify for state or federal funding. |