How are you going to pay for college?
This is a difficult question that you will have to work on with your family.
You want to go to the college of your dreams... one that is a great fit for
you. Your parents want that too, but without having to sell the ranch just to
finance your education.
I have a few recommendations and thoughts that I believe can make the process
easier.
1) Have a very honest conversation with your parents about EXACTLY how much
they are willing to pay for your education. You need a specific number.
2) Be aware that if you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, you can
not qualify for Federal Financial Aid in the US. However, anyone can qualify
for institutional money. The college that you are applying to has its own
funds that it can distribute as they choose, according to their own methods
(it's called IM, or institutional methodology). Fill out the paperwork, and
they will tell you if you've qualified for institutional money.
3) As I've said in #2, getting financial aid is going to be more difficult if
you aren't a US citizen or permanent resident. However, please do not think
of the number your parents come up with as the maximum tuition/fees/books/room
and board amount that you should look for when you're applying to schools.
What I mean is, if your parents can pay X, and you want to apply to a school
that costs X + $10,000... don't rule out the possibility of going to that
school! Financial aid is often available and you might be able to make it
work. It depends entirely on the school.
4) Be as honest and straightforward as possible when you are completing the
paperwork. Know that hiding assets can work against you. Also, know that
they aren't going to expect your family to contribute every available penny to
paying for college. (Colleges know that your parents have to continue paying
the bills, saving for retirement, saving for your little brother to go to
college, etc.)
5) I would not recommend that you pay for someone to assist you with the
financial aid process. You can do it yourself, for free. If you have
questions along the way, there are people available to answer your questions
and they are just a phone call away. It is not at all necessary to pay for
someone to do this for you.
Let me know if you have any questions, and I will do my best to help you.
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Internet Links
FAFSA on the Web
This is the official FAFSA website. FAFSA stands for Free Application for
Federal Student Aid. (Remember, only US citizens and permanent residents
qualify for federal aid.) Just a note - Make sure that you go to the
fafsa.ed.gov site. Do not be fooled by another site, fafsa.com - they are one
of the sites that wants you to pay to have someone else do this for you.
FAFSA on the web
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
The CSS/PROFILE is an online form, provided by the College Board. Many
schools ask applicants to complete the CSS/PROFILE as a part of their
financial aid application. Many of the member colleges, universities,
graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the
information collected on PROFILE to help them award nonfederal student aid funds.
CSS/PROFILE
EduPASS
This site provides information for international students who are thinking
about pursuing an education in the United States. There is also some
information for international students who are interested in studying in
countries other than the US, but the main focus is on higher education in the
US. This guide contains up-to-date information about everything an
international student needs to know about studying and living in the United
States. It covers every topic, from college admissions and financial aid to
culture shock and clothing sizes.
EduPASS
FinAid
This is from the same people who bring you EduPASS, but this site is for
American citizens and permanent residents. FinAid was established in the fall
of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site has grown into the most
comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools --
on or off the web. Access to FinAid is free for all users and there is no
charge to link to the site.
FinAid
FastWeb
This website is a free service that can help you find scholarships. Enter
some information about yourself to create a profile, and the site matches you
with scholarships that it thinks for which they think you might be qualified.
It takes some digging (not everything that pops up will be a good
match for you, really) but it's a good site!
FastWeb
Mapping Your Future's Student Loan Calculator
Thinking about taking a student loan? Use this tool to figure out how much
your payments will be after college.
Student Loan Calculator
Mapping Your Future's Debt/Salary Wizard
Use this tool to determine how much salary will be needed to make the payments
on student loan debt, and how much can be borrowed based on future expected
earnings. (You will need to do a bit of research first, to estimate how much
you think you might earn in your future job... Naviance has this data if you
need it!)
Debt/Salary Wizard
Questbridge
QuestBridge is a non-profit program that links bright, motivated low-income
students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the
nation's best colleges. QuestBridge is the provider of the National College
Match Program and the College Prep Scholarship.
Questbridge
International Scholarships
International Scholarships is the premier financial aid, college scholarship
and international scholarship resource for students wishing to study abroad.
At this site, you will find the most comprehensive listing of grants,
scholarships, loan programs, and other information to assist college and
university students in their pursuit to study abroad.
International Scholarships
Leo S. Rowe Pan-American Fund
The Leo S. Rowe Fund ('the Rowe Fund'), a student loan program of the
Organization of American States ('the OAS'), helps citizens from Latin America
and the Caribbean OAS Member countries finance their studies or research in
accredited universities across the United States. The Rowe Fund loans are
given to students on condition that upon completion of his or her studies, the
beneficiary must promise to repay the loan in full and return to his or her
country in order to further intercultural exchange and socioeconomic
development in the region.
Leo S. Rowe Pan-American Fund
International Students Financial Aid Page
There is a wealth of great information at internationalstudents.com, but in
particular, their financial aid page is great. There is information there
about loans, schools that award international financial aid, a scholarship
search tool, articles, a discussion forum, and a blog. Good stuff.
International Students Financial Aid Page
Don't be discouraged!
The forms can be difficult, but good, FREE help is available... and the money
is out there!