Back to School-How to Pay for Higher Education

It's time to go back to school! I love this time in the fall, with the trees just starting to turn, and the yellow school buses on the road. It's a nostalgic time for me--I often wish I was going back to school! (I'm probably the only one!) One thing, though, for high school seniors today, one of the major, major worries is not only getting good enough grades to qualify for some higher education, but--how to pay for it?

How to pay for school?

It's increasingly worrisome, not only for the high school seniors, but for their parents, as well. The rising cost of college is making higher education out of the reach of the middle class, here in America. It can cost $40,000 in tuition and fees, or MORE ! for the first year at a community college !

That simply outrageous, $80,000 and over, for two years at a community college, which may qualify you for a $30,000 to $40,000/year job, if you are lucky. You start out so deeply in debt that it takes oh, about fifteen years, before you've even started to break even.

How to pay for school?? Is it even worth it?

The bleak fact of the matter is, in the technologically advance society we live in, and in a business climate that's declining, there is very little room for jobs with no skills. So, some form of higher education seems to be a must for most people. It is a very rare instance, these days, to find a self-made man or woman, who can succeed in America's business environment with no higher education whatsoever. It is also common to find people who have made the investment of time and money in several years of higher education, and still have trouble getting a decent-paying job in their fields, right away, and are already over their heads in debt.

What's the answer? How to pay for school?

I have inserted several links to websites above that can help to find resources for college funding. They are all legitimate, and they are all free.

I'm not including any more particular information in this hub, because what's available depends on four factors, which vary with the individual:

• What is your or your parents' income level? The answer to this question qualifies you (or disqualifies you) for several basic Federal grants, including the Pell grant. Lower income levels qualify for more assistance.
• What is your major? The answer to this question qualifies you (or disqualifies you) for several opportunities for scholarships. Some hot scholarship fields at the present time include (but are not limited to): education, nursing, and environmental studies.
• What college to you want to attend? The more expensive private schools do help deserving students who have excellent grades and have performed well on the SAT's but even with half the costs covered, you may find the total bill to be prohibitive. However, those degrees are worth a lot more in the job market when you do graduate. They are tough schools, you really have to work to stay even, even though you were the star scholar of your local high school.
• Are you outstanding either as a scholar or in a particular sport? There are scholarships available for both.  Your SAT scores MATTER !!!!  Really MATTER !!!  Start preparing for your SAT's NOW !  There are several study guides and much online help; there is something similar to Cliff Notes for preparing for your SAT's at your local bookstore.  The better you do on your SAT's (Scholastic Aptitude Test) the better the chances you have, not only for admission to college, but financial help.

One thing I most desperately urge the high school senior--get started NOW ! Start looking for ways to pay for school, start thinking about what college you want to attend and what to major in, and then--do the research!! Find out what's available! And start working on it NOW !

It can take up to eight months to be awarded a scholarship. Get familiar with the process. Trim your goals according to what's available. And please--start thinking about this NOW !