Graduation Time

Chances are you know someone who is graduating in the coming weeks.  A good time to think about your own planning for higher education.  Meet with your school counselor to map out a plan of what you need to do now to get started - things like knowing which classes to take, when to apply for scholarships and grants and the type of school you want to go to.  It has been estimated that a year of college costs about $30K.  Start a plan.  Go Team!  Brett Ellen, The Kids Finance Coach

College Bound

What Can You Do To Start Planning For College?


Most likely, your parents have already started saving for your college education. But how have you gotten involved in preparing for college? Working together with your parents to be part of the planning process can be very educational. Although you may not have the same amount of money as your parents do to save for college, there are other ways you can help your family plan for college.

Maintain good study habits which can help you achieve good grades. Academic scholarships are an excellent source of money to help pay for college.

Take college preparatory classes in high school and start thinking about possible career choices. What you want to be when you grow up may strongly influence your choice of college. Most colleges prefer to accept students who have taken more than the basic requires for high school graduation.

Set aside money from part-time jobs to save for college expenses. Tuition is just a part of the cost of going to college. You have to buy books, pay for room and board if you go away to school, travel costs and general living expenses, as well.



Parents: Start talking to your kids about college planning and get them involved with the process. This will help them take ownership of their educational goals. Read “How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?” to learn more about financial tactics for college planning.


Newer Post Older Post Home

What About Scholarships?

We’ve talked quite a bit about how to save money for college. But keep in mind that scholarships can also help pay for your college expenses. Although there are more options available for students with top grades, academic scholarships are not your only option. Scholarships are offered for a variety of factors in addition to academic performance, such as athletics, volunteer work, minority status, field of study, or even overcoming adversity. Typically, you do not have to repay scholarships and grants.

There are numerous Web sites with information about scholarships and financial aid. For example, fastweb.com and finaid.org contain information about thousands of scholarships. In addition, fafsa.ed.gov provides an overview of federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants, campus-based aid programs, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and others. Also, scholarshipexperts.com offers a free scholarship search targeted to the student's profile. Don’t forget, your local library and high school guidance office may have information about state-sponsored aid programs and scholarships sponsored by local organizations.
 

Parents: Financial aid can be a valuable source of funds to help finance your child’s college education. Don’t assume you won’t qualify. Read “What About Financial Aid for College?” to learn more.

What Can You Do To Start Planning For College?

Most likely, your parents have already started saving for your college education. But how have you gotten involved in preparing for college? Working together with your parents to be part of the planning process can be very educational. Although you may not have the same amount of money as your parents do to save for college, there are other ways you can help your family plan for college.

• Maintain good study habits which can help you achieve good grades. Academic scholarships are an excellent source of money to help pay for college.
• Take college preparatory classes in high school and start thinking about possible career choices. What you want to be when you grow up may strongly influence your choice of college. Most colleges prefer to accept students who have taken more than the basic requires for high school graduation.
• Set aside money from part-time jobs to save for college expenses. Tuition is just a part of the cost of going to college. You have to buy books, pay for room and board if you go away to school, travel costs and general living expenses, as well.

Parents: Start talking to your kids about college planning and get them involved with the process. This will help them take ownership of their educational goals. Read “How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?” to learn more about financial tactics for college planning.