Thursday, February 19, 2015

Easy College Financial Aid Advice That Will Help You Save Money

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By Olivia Cross


Many are aware that college tuition costs are on the rise. For this reason parents, non-traditional students, and individuals fresh out of high school have one thing in common - they are looking for a way to decrease the cost of their education. For those in search of lowered costs in Stamford, CT, this article will outline college financial aid advice that may help locate different forms of assistance.

The first, and most important step in this process is doing adequate research. While it may be tempting to pawn this off on parents, advisers, or for profit individuals, you will achieve the best results if you conduct the search yourself. The reason for this is simple - no one else is as aware of your qualifications and requirements as you are.

There are companies who claim to assist new students in searching out scholarships and grants. While this may be an easy option, they do not know you as well as you know yourself. In other words, the company may overlook points or information that could increase your odds of getting a scholarship or grant.

When you first begin researching, try going through basic search engines and the college websites. It is surprising how much information can be gathered from these sources alone. In fact, there are websites dedicated to scholarship searches that will match your interests to existing programs.

Do not forget to contact the school financial aid adviser or counselor as this person can be a fountain of knowledge. They have access to a variety of scholarships, and will help guide students to other forms of tuition assistance. Sitting down and spending thirty to sixty minutes with a counselor can help open many doors you may not have been aware of.

One recommendation that is often highlighted by counselors is the FAFSA application. This form collects information that checks if you can quality for grants, loans, scholarships. Make sure to fill this out early as funds for scholarships and grants can run out quickly. This can lead to other forms of assistance such as a private loan from a school in Stamford, CT.

Try not to procrastinate, as waiting until the last minute can make the difference between getting awarded a scholarship or being declined for one. Individuals who rush through the application process tend to overlook details or instructions that may lead to disqualification. Also, should one plan fall through, if you have given yourself enough time, you will be able to seek out alternate options.

Students often find it helpful to diversify the methods of covering tuition costs. It is not always possible to get enough scholarships to cover tuition, books, the cost of living, etc from one source alone. For this reason it is important not to overlook other routes such as reduced tuition through the college, federal based loans, need based aid, private scholarships, and specific grants.

Researching options allows students to gain a better understanding of what is available to them. Remember, different options translate into more opportunities to reduce tuition costs. By following this simple advice, you will be able to locate different types of financial assistance that will save you money and help reduce tuition costs.




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