5 great ways to help pay for college - TutorNerds

5 great ways to help pay for college - TutorNerds Tips From a Private Los Angeles College Tutor: 5 great ways to help pay for college A university education gets more expensive with each passing year, and so every student could use some help. Some students will be responsible for their entire tuition and living expenses while other students will have an education subsidized by their parents. Regardless, students can always use the extra money, and there are lots of great ways to help pay for college. However, students will need to do a lot of research ahead of time, fill out ample paperwork, and make sure that any financial aid they receive is entirely organized. Students also need to find out what their repayment schedule will be for student loans, so they dont end up in a bad situation upon graduation. 1. Government loans Government loans, such as FAFSA, are some of the most popular but not every student will qualify. Students are encouraged to research these programs well in advance of starting college or even before they fill out applications to see if they might qualify. Most government loans are based on the student’s household income and they will have to gather a ton of information before they can complete the forms. 2.   Private student loans Students who dont qualify for government loans, or who need to subsidize their education further, may be able to take out a private loan from a bank or credit union. Its essential that students shop around and make sure theyre getting the best rates so they are able to make their payments once they graduate. Students who get a bad rate will find themselves paying off interest-only payments before they can even touch the principal and too much debt can stop them from buying a car or home later on. 3.   Financial aid directly from the university Many universities, especially private institutions, offer financial aid directly to the student. This will also be based on the student’s household income so they will need to keep all that information they gathered to fill out their FAFSA form. Each university will have a slightly different system as to who will qualify and for how much. Its a good idea for students to talk to the university they decide to attend to see if theyre likely to qualify for financial aid at any point during their education. 4.   Scholarships There are tons of scholarships available to college students, perhaps more than most students imagine, but they need to do a lot of research. There are larger scholarships in amounts of $5K to $10K or more, which are extremely competitive but there are also smaller scholarships that start at $250 and go up to around $2,000. Students might be able to write an essay and get enough money to pay for a semester of textbooks or get several scholarships and pay for part of their tuition. There is a lot of information available online but students need to be extremely organized to make sure they’re meeting each deadline and that their application qualifies before they put in too much work writing essays and filling out endless forms. 5.   Part-time work Its also a great idea for students to have a part-time job on campus. On-campus, employers are going to be more flexible than any other when it comes to a student’s schedule, and students can work more or less depending on whether not they have midterms or finals. Additionally, some students will be able to work as a residence hall assistant or a research assistant depending on what year theyre currently in. Part-time jobs can make a huge difference in a student’s ability to pay for college. Still applying to college? Our experienced Los Angeles college admissions consultants are here to help. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.