A college education typically costs a lot of money and education costs have risen faster than inflation. As such, most parents need all the financial assistance they can get to help put their kids through college. Besides seeking financial assistance from student loan programs and grants programs, you can also help your children by encouraging them to take financial responsibility for their college education. Here are some good ways of getting them to contribute towards their college fees or funds.
Getting Part-Time Jobs While Still in High School
In the current economy, you need to start saving for your children’s college education as early as possible. By getting part-time jobs while still in high school, your children can save some money that can go towards their college funds. Even though such jobs do not pay much, any little savings may be useful in the future to pay for out-of-pocket expenses once they join college. Furthermore, a part-time job looks good on your child’s college applications and it may actually improve your child’s chances of getting into a good college. Plus a part-time job during High School is an excellent indicator of future success. By working part-time, children can also gain a little financial independence, which is likely to come in handy when they need to manage any financial aid they get to pay for their college education.
Commuting to College
If you are fortunate enough to live near some good colleges, your child can join such colleges and commute to and from school. This would help drastically reduce their college expenses including boarding fees. Admittedly, one of the reasons why children long to join college is to enjoy the independence that comes with the college experience. As such, your child may not want to live at home while in college. However, If you are able to convince your children to get their college priorities right, they may be able to see things from your point of view.
Applying for Grants and Scholarships
While there are literally thousands of scholarships and grant programs that offer financial assistance to deserving college students, most of them require applicants to meet certain requirements. Therefore, your child should be proactive and find out which colleges offer scholarships and establish what one needs to do in order to qualify for such scholarships. Even if your child does not get a scholarship before joining college, your child can still apply for other scholarships while still in college. So, putting considerable effort into scholarship applications is a highly beneficial use of your child’s time since one does not have to pay back scholarship money and the hourly rate of filling out applications can exceed hundreds of dollars an hour!
Enroll in a Federal Work-Study Program
One of the most common ways in which college students use to pay for their education is by working part-time while in college. However, finding a job without any tertiary qualifications can be difficult. By joining a federal work problem, your children can earn a decent salary that they can use to subsidize the money you give them to cater for their college expenses. Students who enroll in these programs often perform community service work related to what they are studying in college. On the other hand, the compensation one receives depends on the type of job and one’s skill level. One major advantage of enrolling in a federal work program instead of looking for other part-time jobs is that they do not affect the academic schedules of students. This is because administrators of these programs ensure they take into account the class schedules of students when assigning them work hours.
Overall, even though your children may not be able to pay for the total cost of their college education, any help that they can provide is likely to ease your financial burden. Plus, giving your children a financial stake in their college education is one of the best ways to make them feel more invested in their education, thereby they are more likely to work hard once they are in college.
See Also:
- Sky Rocketing College Costs
- The Benefits of Community College
- Five Unusual College Scholarships
- Study Tips for Serious Students
- Teaching Your Kids Money Management Skills
Recommended by Amazon:
- College Trap, The: Web-based Financial Guide for Students and Parents
- A Is for Admission: The Insider’s Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
- The Insiders Guide to a Free Ride: Winning $500,000 of scholarships for college was easy, learn how
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