Paying for college

[kittysbecute]

How do you pay for college?


In 2009 I hope to transfer to a christian university... but I am curious about how others are able to pay for college, the ones whos parents aren't paying for them.

 

[LizShow]

I am one of those people who attended college without any financial help from parents. I had to use loans and working part time jobs to pay for my tuition.

 

[progressivegal]

At this point the Pell Grant covers all of my tuition. Which is nice. Of course it all depends on how much money you make. And I'm going to a state community college. A Pell Grant isn't going to cover tuition at a Christian (private) University. The College I plan on transferring to after I graduate this Spring is a Private one, and I know unlike CC, this won't be totally free, but I am applying for scholarships, and I guess I'll just have to put in even more hours at work to cover the rest of my tuition.
The best thing you can do is fill out Financial AID if you haven't already and see what you qualify for. Avoid loans if at all possible.
Look into scholarships.

 

[desert_island_1]

Scholarships and we have pretty good Student loans here (like you don't pay interest until you have been out of school for 6 months)

Kristy

 

[kittysbecute]

At this point the Pell Grant covers all of my tuition. Which is nice. Of course it all depends on how much money you make. And I'm going to a state community college. A Pell Grant isn't going to cover tuition at a Christian (private) University. The College I plan on transferring to after I graduate this Spring is a Private one, and I know unlike CC, this won't be totally free, but I am applying for scholarships, and I guess I'll just have to put in even more hours at work to cover the rest of my tuition.
The best thing you can do is fill out Financial AID if you haven't already and see what you qualify for. Avoid loans if at all possible.
Look into scholarships.

I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid loans.... But I am going to try to get as many schollarships as I can... and work for some of the time I'm there.

Scholarships and we have pretty good Student loans here (like you don't pay interest until you have been out of school for 6 months)

Kristy

The loans offered for people going to the school I would like to are also low interest loans that don't have to be paid until 6 months after being out of school... I don't remember when they start collecting interest though... maybe 6 months after as well...

 

[seamonster]

I did take a $2500 loan one semester but quickly paid it back and am graduating debt-free. I do not have scholarships and have completely worked my way through school. Generally, I've done 15-18 credits per semester and worked 40 hours each week. I'm really, really against graduating with debt because it usually takes people 10-20 years to pay them back

 

[progressivegal]

I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid loans.... But I am going to try to get as many schollarships as I can... and work for some of the time I'm there.



The loans offered for people going to the school I would like to are also low interest loans that don't have to be paid until 6 months after being out of school... I don't remember when they start collecting interest though... maybe 6 months after as well...

I recently did a paper on financial AID debt. From what I learned, I would encourage you to take out government loans and not ones from private lenders. Privately funded loans can be really ambiguous, have high interest rates, and deny protections guaranteed to other types of borrowers. With government loans you are more likely to know what you're getting. http://projectonstudentdebt.org/
has LOTS of info on borrowing for college.

 

[kittysbecute]

I did take a $2500 loan one semester but quickly paid it back and am graduating debt-free. I do not have scholarships and have completely worked my way through school. Generally, I've done 15-18 credits per semester and worked 40 hours each week. I'm really, really against graduating with debt because it usually takes people 10-20 years to pay them back

What was your major? I'm not sure I could handle working 40 hours a week.... I'll be doing 15-18 units a semester, also a double major, both very academic... I want to get good grades too....

I recently did a paper on financial AID debt. From what I learned, I would encourage you to take out government loans and not ones from private lenders. Privately funded loans can be really ambiguous, have high interest rates, and deny protections guaranteed to other types of borrowers. With government loans you are more likely to know what you're getting. http://projectonstudentdebt.org/
has LOTS of info on borrowing for college.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

 

[seamonster]

I did take a $2500 loan one semester but quickly paid it back and am graduating debt-free. I do not have scholarships and have completely worked my way through school. Generally, I've done 15-18 credits per semester and worked 40 hours each week. I'm really, really against graduating with debt because it usually takes people 10-20 years to pay them back
What was your major? I'm not sure I could handle working 40 hours a week.... I'll be doing 15-18 units a semester, also a double major, both very academic... I want to get good grades too....

English Literature & Chinese.
I am graduating in May with at least a 3.6GPA, possibly a 3.7...
It's all a matter of priorities. If you like lots of time to spend with friends or dating, it's going to be more difficult to work more and graduate debt-free. I had one "free" day each week where I hung out with friends and just relaxed, but the rest of the time I was studying or working.

 

[kittysbecute]

At my school today I picked up a pamphlet that gives information and tips for getting financial aid, also I think there are other ideas in there....

English Literature & Chinese.
I am graduating in May with at least a 3.6GPA, possibly a 3.7...
It's all a matter of priorities. If you like lots of time to spend with friends or dating, it's going to be more difficult to work more and graduate debt-free. I had one "free" day each week where I hung out with friends and just relaxed, but the rest of the time I was studying or working.

That's cool.
Sounds like you had some hard majors there.
Sounds quite fun though, english literature was one of the majors I considered.

 

[seamonster]

At my school today I picked up a pamphlet that gives information and tips for getting financial aid, also I think there are other ideas in there....

Spiffy! I really hope you can get some good scholarships or grants to ease the burden of working or loans Good luck with everything.

 

[Windmill]

Loans. In our country, students get interest free student loans for life, huzzah! they get paid back as an increased tax.

 

[jelvenko]

The only way we can afford my tuition and everything is because I'm getting the Pell Grant and also have the Florida Student Assist Grant. Without those we would not be able to afford for me to go to college. My husband works full time, and I go to school full time. We're struggling the way it is trying to pay off all our bills.

Also, depending on your major you might be able to get your future employer to pay for all your school bills. I know that with people who are going into teaching (what my major is) can sign a contract before graduation agreeing to work for a certain school for x number of years and they will reimburse your tuition. True it's not immediately that they do that, but it might be something to look in to. Depending on your major.

 

[rita727]

I did take a $2500 loan one semester but quickly paid it back and am graduating debt-free. I do not have scholarships and have completely worked my way through school. Generally, I've done 15-18 credits per semester and worked 40 hours each week. I'm really, really against graduating with debt because it usually takes people 10-20 years to pay them back

Full time student and worker? How in the world?

 

[kittysbecute]

Full time student and worker? How in the world?

hehe
It sounds scary....

 

[MrsSeptemberPenguin]

Try and get grants and scholarships, but I have to pay for mine with loans. I feel like I'm being buried in debt and I hate that.

 

[AndrewK788]

How do you pay for college?


In 2009 I hope to transfer to a christian university... but I am curious about how others are able to pay for college, the ones whos parents aren't paying for them.

Im doing all my generals at a community college. It's pretty easy to afford if you're working and then I would just work on keeping my GPA up and working full time to save money. I'm planning to transfer to a Christian university also so I'm in the same boat as you and that's just what I'm doing.

 

[seamonster]

I did take a $2500 loan one semester but quickly paid it back and am graduating debt-free. I do not have scholarships and have completely worked my way through school. Generally, I've done 15-18 credits per semester and worked 40 hours each week. I'm really, really against graduating with debt because it usually takes people 10-20 years to pay them back
Full time student and worker? How in the world?

It's really not that bad. You just learn to prioritize your time.

 

[kittysbecute]

It's really not that bad. You just learn to prioritize your time.

I think I need to learn to be better at that.

 

[Wren]

I'm paying for college right now with government loans, grants, and a small scholarship.