No One Is Too Poor To Attend College
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Does money seem tight and the option of a college education seem out of reach? It's not! Whether you're a parent hopeful for your kids or whether you're in high school wanting to attend college yourself or whether you're anyone else who thought you were too poor, you're not too late.
Budgets may be tight but there are many ways to finance an education.
Before we get to the different ways, the first thing that needs to be done is to fill out a FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a form that asks questions about you and your finances and it will award you free money (that's right free!) for college based on your income. This money you do not have to pay back and it's even free to fill out.
Now after there are different and even multiple routes that can be taken.
Scholarships are free money awarded for writing essays. Sometimes scholarships are specific based on school, area of study, etc so be sure to choose the scholarships that suit your needs. This money does not have to be paid back.
Grants are free money awarded for various things. Many of them are local and can be signed up for easily. This money does not have to be paid back either.
Loans are free to borrow but have to be paid back. The saying is to make loans your very last option after you've done everything else and are still lacking funds. There are 3 different types of student loans. There are PLUS loans in which the parents are the borrowers. With PLUS loans parents have to pay them back more sooner than later. There are federal student loans in which the student is the borrower and pays nothing back until 6 months after graduation. The interest rates are generally lower with federal student loans and it is not based on your income or credit score so everyone qualifies. Finally we have private student loans which can be based on credit and do have higher interest rates. However, the amount of money borrowed is gnerally higher and the student borrower pays nothing until 6 months after graduation..
These options are available so that everyone, no matter who you are, can have a chance to step on the cobblestone pathway that leads to the american dream. Happy studying!
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This is true Christina L, in the U.S. the less money you have, the more money the federal government will give to you to go to school. If an education is what a person really wants, finances will not stop him/her.
Great Hub.
Yes... I have a friend who chose not to go, although accepted, simply because of the cost - when he really should have been able to take out a loan for the remainder of costs, or asked the school to reconsider him for additional aid. (which many schools do, I'm at RPI and know plenty of people who got THOUSANDS of additional aid just by asking for more consideration.)
On the other hand, I would like to point out that private student loans are not as easy to get as you would think. Also, the banks do not care about you as a student, or your family... you're just a number. I am a freshman @ RPI, and my father had to cosign on my student loan for this year. He suddenly passed away a month ago, and so the bank is not dispersing the second half of the loan, so I have to scrape the money to get my next semester paid. luckily, RPI was extremely kind and gave me additional aid which will relieve that load quite a bit. So honestly, the better the school you are at, the more likely they will give you aid if you are worth it.
jobsforfelons 5 months ago
Great hub....and, yes, I agree. NO one is too poor to attend school. If you want to go to school, there is always a way to get financial help.