dnbfirst
many seniors (and parents) may be wondering how they can pay for their next journey into education: college. It’s without a doubt that college can be quite costly but there are ways to offset the expense. Let’s take a look at five ways you pay for school after you open an online bank account!
First and foremost, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This program determines the eligibility for student financial aid where a student can accept federal loans to pay for school. Depending on the college you plan to attend, federal loans may be able to cover all the costs, however, you may need additional financial resources if your school is more costly.
College scholarships can provide you with significant help to pay for school and best of all, they don’t have to be paid back like a loan. Many organizations, businesses and colleges offer all kinds of scholarships that may be based on specific majors, high school grades and other criteria. There are many free websites that you can check out like Tuition Funding Sources, where students can search for available scholarships and apply. Some scholarships may require an essay but they are worth doing because you could get money for college!
As soon as you step on campus, start looking for campus jobs as they can provide you with some income to cover tuition. Some opportunities might include working in the campus library, recreation center or other places. If you want to work on campus, be sure to act quickly because campus jobs go very quickly as other students will be trying to snag a position.
If you are planning to live in a dormitory, you could apply to be a Resident Assistant (RA). Many colleges will offer some form of compensation as an RA like free or reduced housing, a meal plan, a stipend or some kind of tuition remission. While it tends to be a ‘24 hour’ job, you’ll foster valuable relationships with your dorm residents and learn new skills.
In high school, you probably are used to a full day of class every day during the week. But, when you attend college, your schedule structure changes dramatically – you might have one or two classes per day and you could even have a day off during the week. This means you’ll have more flexibility and could manage an off-campus job that fits your new schedule. Once you have your college classes in place, check out local job opportunities you can do in your free time.
