April and May are the months when most college-bound high school graduates learn their fate: Did they get into the local school that they always wanted to attend, or did they get into a dream school hours away?
Either way, finding the money for that college education can be complicated. As parents and students await student aid information or looking at offers from colleges, here are a few things to consider.
College Tuition is Negotiable
You don’t have to accept the first offer you get from a college financial aid office. The amount you pay for college actually can be negotiated! When you ask (typically through a politely-worded email from the student, be sure you're prepared to answer questions about why you’re asking for a discount. Did your family’s financial situation change since you applied a few months ago? Do you have a specific reason for wanting to attend that special university instead of a less expensive one? Have you had great success since you submitted your application? Do an online search for “How to Negotiate College Tuition” to read relevant articles with advice.
A relevant online tool you can use: the Federal Student Aid calculator at /studentaid.gov/aid-estimator.
There’s Still Time to Look for Scholarships
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that scholarship season is behind you –or that they are only for first-year students. Lots of community organizations and local businesses have money to give. Search through scholarship sites, like Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com, to check out grants you may be eligible to receive.
Watch Out for Student Debt Scams
There are loads of scammers who really want to swindle you out of your money. Don’t believe every email you get or every ad you see that promises to forgive your loan or settle it for you, courtesy of the U.S. Government. More often than not, these are scams. If you want to contact the federal government to see if you can reduce your debt, do it on your own at studentaid.gov.
Get a Job! Many colleges offer a work-study program, or jobs on college campuses that can be related to your major or area of study. Working on campus is convenient, and your bosses are likely to understand that working may be more difficult during midterms or finals. Work-study jobs are a great way to build your resume while earning money to offset the cost of books, food and other needs for school. If work-study was not included in your financial aid offer, contact the student aid office and ask to be considered.
Consider Community College
In many states, students can complete their first two years of a four-year degree at a local community college. Community colleges tend to be significantly less expensive, and many of them have transfer agreements with in-state and regional four-year colleges. Keep your grades up high enough and you could get an automatic invitation to a four-year school –with a scholarship!
Keep Your Grades (and Credit Score) Up
This is a few years off, but it’s something to keep in mind now: It’s crucial that you when you start making college loan payments, you make all of them on time. This includes your student loan payments as well as any credit card bills, car payments or other outstanding loans you may be carrying. If you can do this, you could qualify for a refinance on your student loan after you graduate. A refinance can cut thousands of dollars off your student loan debt.
Have questions? CommonWealth One’s financial advisors and loan specialists can help you wade through the paperwork or find solutions to college costs. We’re here to help!
Be sure to join our free webinar this week on college financing! Sign up for the “How to Pay for College” webinar and make plans to jump online at noon this Wednesday, May 24.
