| Once you have made the decision to attend college, | | | | the options, the mortgage, the insurance, the taxes, the |
| the next question is how are you going to pay for? | | | | neighborhood, the schools in the area the potential |
| There are numerous ways to pay for college | | | | resale value as well as other factors pertaining to the |
| education. You can take out a loan or use loans with | | | | house. But with education we tend to choose a |
| interest deductions. You can use UTMA accounts. | | | | school based on likes and dislikes. We tend not to |
| You can invest in 529 plans for prepaid tuition. You | | | | think about the cost of attending college until the time |
| can use tax credits towards you education. You can | | | | comes for us to have to pay. While we may look it |
| get your grandparents or other sponsors pay for your | | | | houses years before we purchase, rarely do we start |
| education. You can use education savings bonds. | | | | to study the attributes of a good academic institution |
| You can make use of a college savings plan. You | | | | prior to attending. Why is it that we spend so little |
| can see if you qualify student financial aid. You can | | | | time evaluating someplace where we may spend four |
| use IRAs or 401 K plans rr you can look for other | | | | plus of the most formative years of our lives? We |
| ways to pay for your college education. | | | | need to evaluate educational institutions the same way |
| What you may be asking how can I attend for free? | | | | we evaluate other the other factors pertaining to life |
| The simple answer is you have to plan. Start to plan | | | | decisions. But we don't. That's why we start |
| what you want to do with your life. Start to plan how | | | | searching for money to attend college once we |
| much money you want to earn throughout your | | | | complete high school or wait until we're at the point of |
| lifetime. Start to think about what you want to do this | | | | attempting to gain acceptance to a college. |
| year, next year, 10 years from now, 20 years from | | | | There are numerous things that you should consider |
| now. Start asking questions like about the career you | | | | as you prepare to attend college. If you are of high |
| are about to embark on. Ask question like will my | | | | school age, you should consider type of courses are |
| profession require continuing education units? Will I | | | | you taking? Are you taking advanced placement or |
| have to go to school beyond the associate, bachelors, | | | | international baccalaureate courses? Does your high |
| or masters levels to reach your academic or financial | | | | school have a high number of students that gain |
| goals? | | | | acceptance into Ivy League or private institutions? |
| With preparation being one of the main requirements | | | | Does the high school you attend have a high number |
| of attending college for free, when should you start | | | | of graduates that receive a full or partial college |
| preparing? During your senior year in high school? | | | | scholarships? Does the high school you attend rank |
| During their junior year in high school? The best time | | | | in the top 10 academically in your state, county or |
| to begin preparing and seeking resources to attend | | | | region? |
| college is during your middle school years. This is a | | | | What types of activities are you involved in when you |
| good time to start looking into vocational requirement | | | | are not attending high school? Are you involved in |
| as well as academic institutional requirements. It is also | | | | any extra curricular or community service activities? |
| a good time to start focusing on your professional | | | | Are you involved in any social networking groups? |
| goals. But if you're beyond your middle school years | | | | Do you volunteer with any organizations in your |
| can you still acquire the resources to attend college for | | | | community or could you volunteer with any |
| free? Most definitely! Though the longer you wait | | | | organizations in your community? How do you spend |
| to start your preparation process the more | | | | your leisure time when you are not in the classroom? |
| competitive and challenging it becomes to acquire | | | | Are you involved in sports? Are you involved in |
| resources, anyone who has the ability to do a bit or | | | | church for civic work? |
| research and a bit of networking can attend the | | | | If you have involvement in organizations or groups |
| college of their chose for free. | | | | outside of your general high school curriculum you are |
| You see, one of the areas that we are the least | | | | more likely to find and receive scholarships towards |
| educated in is education. And just like any other area | | | | your college education. If you are involved in church |
| you have to do a bit of studying before you | | | | or community work you are more likely to find and |
| understand how the education process works. If | | | | receive scholarship toward your college education. If |
| you're going to buy a car you research the price, the | | | | you volunteer or can show that you have experience |
| mileage, the options and other factors pertaining to the | | | | beyond the general high school curriculum you can and |
| vehicle prior to the purchase. If you're going to | | | | will find scholarship towards your college and or |
| purchase a house you look at the number of rooms, | | | | professional education. |