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Health & Fitness

Sure, I Can Get into College, But How Do I Pay for It?

Combating the cost of college isn't always obvious, but very achievable

So we've talked about getting through the college admissions process with a shred of your sanity intact.  But, what next?  You've gotten the acceptance letter in the mail, gotten the information about freshman orientation, and this bright, shiny envelope comes from .  You open it, and your jaw hits the floor.  After a few minutes of unintelligible umm-ing, you realize the reality of college: it's expensive! 

Sticker shock is something you expect when you're car shopping; it's often encountered when you begin house hunting.  But sticker shock is also something that many experience when hunting for (and paying for) the perfect college, one that they often don't expect.   

Paying for college can be a challenge, particularly in today's economy.  On average, college can cost anywhere from $10,000 to upwards of $50,000 a year.  That's a number that can really make you gasp (particularly when I flash back to buying my first car--$500 seemed like a ridiculous sum at that point in my life.  Now it's a semester's worth of books).  Many of the families I work with are frazzled at the prospect of paying for college without ending up in debt until their kids reach their 80th birthdays.  The reality is that college IS expensive; but, it is worth the investment. 

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So, how do you afford it?  You could start searching the couch cushions for change now, and stashing it away, but that won't do the trick.  You could beg Grandma and Grandpa to foot the bill, but that's a lot of work and doesn't always yield a reward.  I could ramble off the list of commonly known sites to find scholarships, but those are out there and easy to find.  Instead, let's talk about some of the less commonly known sources to find money (and who doesn't like free money?) for school. 

Get to know your child's guidance counselor 

I mentioned in my last post that you should become good buddies with your child's guidance counselor.  Let me take the time to mention it again.  Many businesses and community organizations (mine included) approach them first with scholarship opportunities.  And in a conversation with a guidance counselor buddy of mine recently, she mentioned that she gets hundreds of scholarship opportunities a year, and immediately passes them on to the kids she knows who qualify.  The key word: KNOWS.  Your chances are stronger of getting the opportunities if your child's counselor knows your child.  If not, your child is another number.  Why take the chance? 

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On that note, if your child attends an Anne Arundel County Public Schools high school and you don't know what Naviance is, get an email out to your child's counselor now.  This site is an amazing tool (one I wish was around when I was on the college search...back in the dark ages when you had to rely on--gasp--library books and snail mail for the college search)!  It will give you very keen insight as to scholarships for your child that you may not have known were out there. 

Volunteer

There are tons of scholarships out there for kids who simply give their time for others.  Whether the scholarship is available through the particular organization that your child volunteers through, or is a bit more general (one of my favorites is the Coca Cola Scholars program, and another the Gates Foundation scholarship), there are lots of dollars out there for kids who give their time and effort for others.  Though I know volunteering isn't meant to have a tangible reward, it's nice to know there are a few benefits other than the emotional ones.  Check out an organization's website to see if any scholarship opportunities exist. 

Essay Contests 

There are hundreds of contests out there, stemming from hundreds of different sources, that require a mere essay to enter.  My personal favorite is the Ayn Rand Institute's contest (www.aynrand.org), but there are so many more out there.  Start surfing the sites of magazines, authors, companies that are in the field which your child plans to pursue, even your own company, to see what's out there. 

Your Local Chamber of Commerce 

Some of these organizations have scholarship opportunities posted from local businesses.  Surf the sites.  See if you can't find a few opportunities that are very localized.  Sometimes there will be links to other local organizations (Rotary clubs, American Legions, etc.) that have scholarships as well. Dig down to see what you can find.  

Your Child's Employer 

If your child works for a national chain or corporation, or a large local business, there may be scholarship opportunities available.  How do you find out?  Have your child ask his or her employer.  The worst you can have happen is that they say no.  And in the best case, you get the opportunity to offset a few more of those higher education dollars. 

Watch Out For Scams

Scholarship applications ask for a lot of close and personal information from  you and your child.  But how do you know that the information you're transmitting is safe?  Sure, some of the organizations you'll see are a given, but some others can be sketchy.  If you're unsure, go to www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams before you dish out any personal information.  It's sad, but there are people out there who use this emotional time and subject to make a personal gain.   

I'd love for others to share their scholarship stores or sources.  Feel free to comment on this post to pass on any pearls of wisdom you might have.

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