Getting the best education doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Here’s how you can reduce your out-of-pocket college costs.
When applying to colleges, we all want to get the best education we can with our time.
Fact is, the educational opportunities presented seniors are basically equal, once you’ve corrected for academic achievement. But, while your opportunities are similar, the amount you pay for those opportunities can vary wildly.
Some students feel like they can’t afford the best… while others simply are overpaying.
The truth is, if you put in the time to learn all the best strategies, college can be affordable. And, once you’re in a school, it doesn’t matter if you’re paying $40,000 or $4,000 to attend.
With that in mind – let’s take a look at the best ways to lower your costs. In Part I, we’ll focus on scholarships.
Scholarships – When, Where, and How
The Earlier The Better
The simplest part of the scholarship process is figuring out when to apply.
That’s easy – the earlier the better. Some scholarships have deadlines in October – don’t be scared to apply without a school in mind.
The money follows wherever you go. Don’t worry about where you’ll be spending it.
Waiting until the last minute hurts you in two ways:
It gives you no wiggle room to correct errors in the application
It throws you into the largest pool of applicants with the least amount of money left
Most scholarships are first-come, first-served. So waiting until the last second means you’re competing against everyone who’s applied, for whatever crumbs remain.
Applying early, however, means you’re competing against only a few candidates, while the coffers are still full.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY…
You won’t find this anywhere else in the college planning space…
It’s an “inside look” at your college funding situation – over the phone, with one of our education consultants… absolutely FREE.
They’ll help you figure out where you stand… including whether or not you can lower your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – and maximize your eligibility for financial aid.
What’s more – YOU set the date and time for the call.
Sign up for your Free Analysis today by following this link.
_____________________________________________
Applying for Scholarships
Scholarships are about seeking matches – and that means it has to be a two-way street.
You can’t simply want the most lucrative offer – they have to want you too.
That means making a list of your best attributes – be they academic, extracurricular, cultural, or athletic.
Once you know what makes you unique, search for scholarships that fit your skills or attributes best. Then, focus all your attention on them.
The scattershot method does you no good – and pits you up against plenty of other students better qualified for different scholarships.
Only choose the grants for which you are best qualified – and then pursue them doggedly.
Know the Rules
Once you’ve got a scholarship, find out how that money will be applied at your chosen school.
Some will let you take the scholarship money off of your expected family contribution – while others will just subtract it from the amount you get in loans. Little differences like that – or the many variations therein – can mean a swing of thousands of dollars for you and your family. Know the rules – and, if you are choosing between a few schools, don’t be afraid to let differences like that sway your decision (or help you put pressure on a favored school for a better deal).