Weekly Topic Inspiration: Paying for College

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   Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

   September is right around the corner, which means that millions of people will be entering college campuses. With a college education comes credentials, connections, and knowledge- but many also college campuses with a hefty pile of debt.
   
   How have you or your family members addressed the (ever-rising) costs of a college education? What tips can you give about paying tuition, getting scholarships, applying for student loans, or choosing less expensive alternatives? Share your know-how as part of this week’s Weekly Topic Inspiration challenge.
   
   Don’t have a particular Hub in mind? Here are some search-friendly titles to consider using:
   Five Great Nursing Scholarships
   Cost Effective College Majors
   Five Fantastic Scholarships for Hispanics
   How to Begin Your Scholarship Search
   Ten Easy Scholarships
   Free Scholarships
   Five Great Scholarship School Scholarships
   Scholarship Applications: Tips and Tricks
   Student Loan Interest Rates
   How to Find Scholarships for College
   Grants for College
   How Community College Can Lead to a Debt-Free Future
   How to Factor Money into the College Search Process
   Private Student Loans 101
   The 10 Best Scholarships for Women
   Scholarships for High School Seniors
   How to Apply for Federal Student Aid
   Budget-Friendly Colleges in California
   Is Navy College a Budget-Friendly Educational Option?
   
   To create search-friendly titles of your own, follow the steps outlined in this Learning Center guide.
   
   If you'd like to join in on this week's topic by writing a Hub, follow these steps:
   
   1)    Stop by this week's Weekly Topic Inspiration Question.
   2)    Click the green button "answer this question".
   3)    Click the gray button below the box (leave that empty) that says "make a Hub about it."
   4)    Give your Hub a very specific title, like Easy Summer Gardening Projects for Kids or Challenging Summer Activities for Teens
   5)    Create good quality original content that hasn't been covered before.
   6)    After you publish your Weekly Topic Inspiration Hub, come back to this forum thread and post a link to your Hub with a brief description of what you wrote about and why.
   
   For more information on the Weekly Topic Inspiration program, check out the Learning Center guide.
   
   Oh, and do you want your WTI Hub to have a shot at becoming a Hub of the Day? Make sure the images are legally used and properly attributed!

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   1. 0

      KDuBarry03posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Here is my hub for this week's topic: "Helping a son or daughter in college.
      
      http://kdubarry03.hubpages.com/hub/Help … in-College
      
      In this hub, I covered financial aid, how to apply for financial aid, cost effective ways to help your son/daughter in college, and how meal plans at school can save money. I chose this topic because I wished to share how financial aid works if they are applying for college and wish to pay for the tuition via different means. Adding to this, I decided to add in information on meal plans and beneficial items (such as a laptop, fridge, and staple items) because purchasing meal plans can help the parent save hundreds of dollars and investing in a laptop and/or fridge would help save some more money on paper, food on campus, etc.

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      1. 88

         Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         SUCH a good Hub- and so thorough! I wished the same thing after applying for financial aid (and doing a bunch of other things for the first time in college)- and feel silly for not sharing my lessons learned with others. I'm so glad YOU are!

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      2. 83

         mary615posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Congrats to Keith for HOTD on this one!  Great Hub.

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   2. 69

      Patty Kenyonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have never done a weekly topic before and just updated links, added pictures, and other information for a Hub that I originally published towards the end of July...The Hub has to do with Adults Returning to School (based on my personal experience) and does go through the process of affording college including FAFSA, along with other information...Would that be eligible for the weekly topic?

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      1. 88

         Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Hey Patty! WTI is designed to give people ideas of new Hubs to write, so Hubs that have already been published don't count, but that sounds like a fantastically useful Hub, and it totally matches with our theme!

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         1. 69

            Patty Kenyonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Simone, Thank-you so much for taking time to answer my question!!  I will be sure to look next week!!  Thanks Again!!

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   3. 89

      yougotmeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I might try this out as soon as I get some free time from my academics. )

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      1. 88

         Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Cool beans!

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   4. 72

      Ruchiraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My offering
      
      http://ruchira.hubpages.com/hub/Ways-to … lege-Loans

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      1. 88

         Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You've shared some great resources here! One thing you might do to add polish to the Hub is to share those URLs in a Links Capsule, complete with custom descriptions sharing your short take on each particular site. The Links Capsule is a great tool for sharing things like this!

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         1. 72

            Ruchiraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Simone for your feedback. 'have done the needful...cheers!

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               KDuBarry03posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You did an excellent job with this hub, Ruchira!

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   amos316posted 11 years ago

   My two cents.
   
   http://amos316.hubpages.com/hub/How-to- … nder-5-000

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   1. 88

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great overview of the alternatives- and my my... so many acronyms!! Thanks for explaining them.

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   chatroomsposted 11 years ago

   OMG speaking of college I start Monday!! I'm a nervous wreck. Those are all interesting topics by the way and would provide something of value to others.

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4. 83

   mary615posted 11 years ago

   Here is my Hub about how my Daughter paid for college with scholarships:
   http://mary615.hubpages.com/hub/How-My- … -Committee

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      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, good for your daughter! You've provided an inspiring example and roadmap with this Hub.

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         mary615posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks!

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5. 78

   g-girl11posted 11 years ago

   I just dropped off my son at college two days ago an am very familiar with the process (and fear) involved with college tuition, financial aid and facing the bill.   I wrote about how my son is able to go to an expensive private school without taking out a loan (despite our modest income and lack of savings) and give practical do's and don'ts about the whole process.
   http://g-girl11.hubpages.com/hub/Colleg … g-the-Bill

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   1. 88

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah, the classic tradition!
      
      This is a super useful Hub. I love the "dos" and "don'ts" format, and the fact that you're leveraging your personal expertise and that you included photos of your son only make your advice more compelling. Nicely done!

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      1. 78

         g-girl11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Simone!!!  Glad you enjoyed it!  Never did a "WTI" before---glad I gave it a whirl!! 

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6. 0

   mts1098posted 11 years ago

   PASSHE-The-Pennsylvania-State-System-of-Higher-Education
   
   I wrote about the PA state schools because they provide an affordable higher education alternative

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   1. 88

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Heya mts1098! That link doesn't seem to work and I can't find any Hub fitting that description via your profile. Is it indeed published?

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         mts1098posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         please try again
         
         http://mts1098.hubpages.com/hub/PASSHE- … -Education

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7. 79

   Lipnancyposted 11 years ago

   What started out to be a very specific hub about single mother scholarships to school, grew into a hub that anyone can use.  Maybe I should have changed the title. You tell me!
   http://lipnancy.hubpages.com/hub/Top-Si … holarships

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8. 83

   kathleenkatposted 11 years ago

   This has inspired me to write a Hub about how I graduated college, debt-free:
   http://kathleenkat.hubpages.com/hub/Debt-Free-College

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9. 60

   TheSingularityposted 11 years ago

   Great topic! A college education is the greatest investment you can make. Here is how I put myself through college with minimal debt: http://thesingularity.hubpages.com/hub/ … rd-College . This method has been wonderful for me, and I have never been more satisfied with my life. Moving forward is a beautiful thing after years of stagnation in the work force.

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10. 85

    tamarawilhiteposted 11 years ago

    I've started "Alternative Sources of College Credit and Continuing Education Classes" and begun researching free sources of classes. Most of what I've found is simply free online classes that prepare you for the CLEP and AP exams, but this is still cheaper than attending a college course.

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11. 60

    Kevin Peterposted 11 years ago

    Give your feedback about my new hubmob hub
    
    Finding Money For College - Earn Your College Degree at Affordable Cost
    http://kevin-peter.hubpages.com/hub/Ear … dable-Cost

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12. 77

    cashmereposted 11 years ago

    College in India is very different from the US. Most students don't pay for their own education by working part time jobs. It is seen as the parents duty to pay for the degree that the child will use to get a job. After the child has the professional qualification he is expected to work and eventually take on the responsibility of running the house from the parents. Different culture, different system I suppose.

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    1. 83

       kathleenkatposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Could you see that as being a problem, say, keeping the poor, poor, and the rich, rich? Poor parents can't afford to send their children to college, so their children remain poor. Rich parents can, so their children remain rich.
       
       But, like you said, different system, different country. In the States, at least in my particular region, it is embarassing to say that your parents pay for your education, and you are looked down upon for 'not working as hard,' and so on.

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13. 0

    Elizabeth Dorssomposted 11 years ago

    A list of the top, budget friendly colleges in California
    
    
    
    
    http://elizabethdorssom.hubpages.com/hu … California

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14. 85

    Denise Handlonposted 11 years ago

    Did I miss something, or is this week's WTI a continuation of last week's WTI?   Thanks 

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    1. 83

       Danette Wattposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I think it just hasn't changed yet.  I think Tues we'll see a new topic.

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          Denise Handlonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Gee sis, I thought I was going to see a link to a 'college' hub you wrote. 

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15. 88

    Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

    Great Hubs, y'all. And quite timely!!!
    
    The new theme for the week is now live. The focus: home furnishings! It might seem like a bland subject, but there's a LOT to be shared, and everyone has SOME experience with this subject!
    
    I hope you'll join in.

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    1. 85

       Denise Handlonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks Simone,

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