Skip to main content
3 answers
3
Asked 577 views

How can I pay for college?

Are there any other ways besides scholarships to pay for college? If I get a job will financial aid give me less money than if i didn't have a job?
#money #jobs #savings

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you

3

3 answers


0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

James Constantine’s Answer

Hello Clarissa!

Navigating College Financing

Embarking on your college journey can seem daunting, especially when considering the financial aspect. However, rest assured, there are numerous avenues to explore that can help you manage these expenses. Scholarships, grants, work-study programs, student loans, and personal savings are just a few examples of the resources available to you.

Scholarships: Scholarships are a fantastic way to fund your education as they don't need to be repaid. They come in various forms - merit-based, need-based, or even specific to certain talents or affiliations. Many institutions, including your own college or university, offer scholarships based on a range of criteria such as academic prowess, athletic skills, and more.

Grants: Grants, like scholarships, are a type of financial aid that doesn't require repayment. They are usually need-based and come from various sources such as the federal government, state governments, or colleges and universities. The Pell Grant, a well-known federal grant, is awarded based on financial need.

Work-Study Programs: Federal work-study programs offer part-time jobs to undergraduate and graduate students who need financial aid. This allows you to earn money to cover educational expenses. These jobs can be on or off-campus and are often related to your chosen field of study.

Student Loans: Student loans, whether from the federal government or private entities, need to be repaid with interest. However, they can significantly help in covering tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses. Federal student loans usually offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans.

Personal Savings: Many families use personal savings to help with college expenses. This can include funds from savings accounts, investments, or other assets specifically set aside for education.

Employment: Working while studying is a common way students offset their expenses. Whether it's a part-time job during the term or a full-time job during breaks, employment can provide a steady income to help manage tuition and living costs.

Remember, everyone's financial situation is unique. When considering financial aid and employment:

Financial Aid and Employment: Securing a job while studying may influence your financial aid package. Your income from employment could lead to adjustments in the amount of financial aid you receive. However, a job can also provide extra income to help cover expenses that may not be fully covered by financial aid.

In summary, there are numerous ways to fund your college education beyond scholarships. Exploring options like grants, work-study programs, student loans, personal savings, and employment can significantly ease the financial burden of higher education.

Top 3 Reference Publications or Domain Names Used in Answering this Question:

U.S. Department of Education
The College Board
Federal Student Aid

May you be blessed abundantly!
James.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Ken’s Answer

Too many people spend too much money on an education and end up with unnecessarily high debt. Here are some things to consider that will help : ##  http://www.educationplanner.org/students/paying-for-school/ways-to-pay/reduce-college-costs.shtml


It really does not matter what school you attend, as the most important factors are how well you do with the school work, which is an indication to an employer about what kind of employee you will be, and the effort that you put forth in your networking to set up networking connections that will help you throughout your education/career journey. Here is an important video for you to watch: ## http://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_over_parenting?utm_campaign=social&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=talk&utm_term=education ##

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The most important thing for you to do is to get to know yourself better to develop a career focus and then talk to people in person who are doing what you think that you want to do to see what they do, how they got there, and see what they might suggest for your education/career journey. Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .
The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Bethany’s Answer

Hi Clarissa,
In the short: Find out what you are passionate about and if it requires college. If it does then you can start applying for scholarships. first off, got to work and start a savings account; putting money away at an earlier age is best because you are living at home and can build a good nest egg. Secondly, I think you can pay a small fee for scholly app, https://myscholly.com/ and it literally has the links for various applications- If I remember correctly it is very inexpensive.

Keep in mind many career technical education careers may cost you less- tap into those programs in your high school, obtain skillsets, certifications and in some cases all you may need to do is attend is a two year tech school. BUT..... If you don't need college and have experience from the classroom many times your employer will pay for your college. Check out all your options- Be absolutely certain that you know what you are passionate about and do job shadows, tours, etc. This way you won't waste money, have student debt loan and then NOT work in that career field, like happens so many times. I hope this answers your question~ Best of Wishes to you as you continue seeking out your future. I believe you are getting off to a great start seeking advice!
0