Saturday, February 21, 2015

College Financial Aid Advice For Parents And Students

By Olivia Cross


College can be expensive. In fact, with rising tuition costs more individuals are seeking out resources to help lower their bill. Whether you are a returning student, single parent, or fresh out of high school you may be looking for sources that will make the college experience in Stamford, CT more affordable. Here are some easy tips and strategies on college financial aid advice for those seeking out a higher education.

Researching your options is the most important step in this process. Do not make the mistake of expecting other individuals to do this for you. They may not be aware of exactly what you need, your existing qualifications, and other minor details that can spell the difference between being awarded or declined a scholarship or grant.

Students may be tempted to pawn off research to companies that claim to do all the work for them. While this may sound tempting, these companies usually come with a hefty price tag, and give you the same results you would get by using free databases or college resources. Plus, as stated before companies may overlook details that could detract from your chances of getting approved for a scholarship.

When you first begin researching, try going through basic search engines and the college websites. It is surprising how much information can be gathered from these sources alone. In fact, there are websites dedicated to scholarship searches that will match your interests to existing programs.

Do not forget to contact the school financial aid adviser or counselor as this person can be a fountain of knowledge. They have access to a variety of scholarships, and will help guide students to other forms of tuition assistance. Sitting down and spending thirty to sixty minutes with a counselor can help open many doors you may not have been aware of.

One recommendation that is often highlighted by counselors is the FAFSA application. This form collects information that checks if you can quality for grants, loans, scholarships. Make sure to fill this out early as funds for scholarships and grants can run out quickly. This can lead to other forms of assistance such as a private loan from a school in Stamford, CT.

Starting the research process early means you will have better chances of obtaining financial assistance. This gives you more time to prepare, learn about the different options available, and increases the odds of getting the grant or scholarship. Plus, if one option falls through, you have time to consider other options.

Students often find it helpful to diversify the methods of covering tuition costs. It is not always possible to get enough scholarships to cover tuition, books, the cost of living, etc from one source alone. For this reason it is important not to overlook other routes such as reduced tuition through the college, federal based loans, need based aid, private scholarships, and specific grants.

It is crucial to spend time searching out available opportunities in the forms of loans, scholarships, and grants. By being aware of the different types of assistance, you will be able to find a variety of ways to reduce the costs of a higher education. Incorporating two or more of these methods will provide you with a good starting off point.




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