Hola bellas! Did your parents ever tell you that you need to go to college “para que no vatalles como nosotros” (so you don’t struggle as much as we’ve struggled)? Many parents encourage their children to pursue a college education to earn more money and live a better life than they did. So, you’ve listened to your parents and you’re on your way to college, but now, how do you pay for your education? Let’s talk about how to pay your own way through college!
How to pay your own way through college:
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for financial aid (for example: grants and assistance given by schools and the state).
• Apply for grants and scholarships. Grants are usually need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based. There are plenty of scholarships being offered by many different types of organizations, you just have to do some research and apply for them online. Also, don’t forget about the resources you have at your current school and ask if there are any scholarships available that you can apply for.
• Work a job while going to school. In addition, you can ask your employer if they offer tuition reimbursement. This is where the company you work for reimburses you for tuition or other college expenses. Many companies do!
• Keep a close eye on your living expenses. To save some money, instead of having a gym membership, you can exercise outdoors or workout at home.
Realistically, almost everyone will have to use student loans to pay for a portion of their college expenses. If you do get a student loan, make sure you apply for federal student loans, versus private loans, because federal loans offer lower interest rates.
The reason you want to keep your student debt low is because when you graduate from college, you don’t want a big chunk of your paycheck going to pay off the student loans. Instead, you will want to be able to enjoy the money you earn, along with using your money for bigger goals you may have! The life you want is at your fingertips, you just have to work hard towards it, have a plan, save, and make some sacrifices that will get you there.