2 answers
John
Student
Abington, Pennsylvania
2
Questions
Asked
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How is the best way to get enough money to pay for my loans?
#financial-aid #money #scholarships
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2 answers
Olena Lytvynenko
11
Answers
Everett, Massachusetts
Updated
Olena’s Answer
There are tons of organizations that give out scholarships and grants and you can easily find them online! Of course, some scholarships are needs-based but there are PLENTY of others that are based on things like merit, community involvement, major, location, race, religion, interests, participation in the military, having been affected by a natural disaster and many more! Here are some resources to help you in your search:
https://yescollege.com/post/scholarship-databases
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
https://www.scholarships.com/
https://www.fastweb.com/
Good luck!!
Angie Barber
Paralegal
2
Answers
Martinez, California
Updated
Angie’s Answer
The first thing to do is to try to not have large loans to begin with. There are a lot of things you should consider when thinking about the cost of college:
1. You can apply for federal student aid through the FAFSA program: https://studentaid.gov/. Depending on your parents' income, you might be eligible to receive a significant amount of financial aid in the form of federal grants or loans.
2. You should also look into applying to state schools and universities in your state, which are typically cheaper for state residents. Some schools also offer their own financial aid packages, so compare schools and see who offers the best packages.
3. Also think about going to a junior college for 2 years and then transferring to a 4 year. Many junior colleges have excellent programs and are MUCH less expensive than universities. You'll still get your degree from whatever university you graduate from, so it's a great way to save money.
4. In addition, take into consideration the location of the college and the cost of living in that area. Is rent high? Are there other schools you can go to where the cost of living is lower?
5. Make sure you prioritize taking the classes that you need to graduate. Find out what courses/units are required in order to graduate for your major, and plan your classes around that from the start. A lot of students do not plan ahead and ended up staying an extra year because they just weren't thinking about class requirements ahead of time and wasted time and money taking things that they didn't need. Be as efficient as possible with your class scheduling and it will save you time and money in the end.
If you already have student loans, there are some job programs that will forgive and/or help you pay off your student loans in exchange for working for them, and even some traditional employers will help payoff student loan debt. Here are some links with more information on those programs:
https://studentloanhero.com/featured/student-loan-forgiveness-jobs/
https://www.thesimpledollar.com/loans/student/student-loan-forgiveness-jobs-that-pay-off-your-debt/
1. You can apply for federal student aid through the FAFSA program: https://studentaid.gov/. Depending on your parents' income, you might be eligible to receive a significant amount of financial aid in the form of federal grants or loans.
2. You should also look into applying to state schools and universities in your state, which are typically cheaper for state residents. Some schools also offer their own financial aid packages, so compare schools and see who offers the best packages.
3. Also think about going to a junior college for 2 years and then transferring to a 4 year. Many junior colleges have excellent programs and are MUCH less expensive than universities. You'll still get your degree from whatever university you graduate from, so it's a great way to save money.
4. In addition, take into consideration the location of the college and the cost of living in that area. Is rent high? Are there other schools you can go to where the cost of living is lower?
5. Make sure you prioritize taking the classes that you need to graduate. Find out what courses/units are required in order to graduate for your major, and plan your classes around that from the start. A lot of students do not plan ahead and ended up staying an extra year because they just weren't thinking about class requirements ahead of time and wasted time and money taking things that they didn't need. Be as efficient as possible with your class scheduling and it will save you time and money in the end.
If you already have student loans, there are some job programs that will forgive and/or help you pay off your student loans in exchange for working for them, and even some traditional employers will help payoff student loan debt. Here are some links with more information on those programs:
https://studentloanhero.com/featured/student-loan-forgiveness-jobs/
https://www.thesimpledollar.com/loans/student/student-loan-forgiveness-jobs-that-pay-off-your-debt/