North Kingstown High School Guidance

Planning For College Costs

Financial Planning
Paying for a college education is usually the second biggest financial decision a family makes, next to buying a house. Although paying for college is a big commitment, most people recognize the benefits in greater future earnings and improved quality of life. Few families can pay for a college education without any assistance, but by planning early, using all the resources available, and choosing a college wisely, virtually everyone can afford a college education.

Consider the following strategies to reduce your college costs:

Earning college credit in high school by enrolling in a Tech-Prep program
Taking AP courses. By passing the AP exam, you can earn college credit
Getting education benefits by serving in the armed forces
Taking your first two years at a community college
Working for a company that provides tuition benefits and attending college part time
Participating in The New England Regional Student Program (RSP), which allows students in the six New England states to study in approved programs not offered by public institutions in their home states and to pay reduced out-of-state tuition at public institutions in the region.
Getting credit for prior learning. If you have training through work, the armed forces, or life experiences, you may be eligible for credit. Ask for information about the CLEP exam in the college office that evaluates prior learning.

Saving for College
Developing a savings plan early will help to make a college education affordable. The earlier that families develop a savings plan for college expenses, the smaller the amount to be saved each year. For information on how much a college education will cost and to figure out how much you need to save, use one of the financial aid calculators in the Financial Aid section of this Web site. When you are thinking about the total costs of going to college, include books, room and board, and travel expenses, as well as tuition. Many states have special savings plans for college costs. Rhode Island residents should visit the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority (RIHEAA) and CollegeBoundfund sites for information on state-sponsored savings plans.

Financial Aid
Most students rely on some financial aid available through the state or federal government and from the colleges they attend. The federal government provides most of the financial aid through Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Stafford Loans, Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students Loans (PLUS), Perkins Loans, and work-study programs. Information on federal financial aid and links to free publications such as Funding Your Education and The Student Guide are available from the U.S. Department of Education's Web site. Financial aid information is also available at students.gov, which is an interagency project of the U.S. government that provides postsecondary students with easy access to all kinds of federal government information and services. You can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center for information at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243), TTY 1-800-730-8913, or 1-319-337-5665. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight EST) and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (EST). The first step to receiving federal financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Information and online application forms in English and Spanish are available on the FAFSA Web site. Many high schools and public libraries also have the forms and sponsor financial aid information nights.

Speak with your school counselor and school librarian who can tell you about federal, state, local, and other financial aid. Your state may also have grant and loan programs (check the Rhode Island Postsecondary Education Resources section of this Web site for resources in RI). Community, civic, religious, and professional/corporate organizations also sponsor scholarships that you might qualify for. Ask your family members to inquire at their places of work if scholarhips or tuition assistance are available to children of employees.

Many local agencies, such as the College Planning Center, can help you understand and fill out the financial aid paperwork. See also two sections on this site: RI Postsecondary Education Resources and RI Opportunity Programs.

Many valuable resources can be found on the Internet. However, not all scholarhip search sites are free, and you will probably have equally good results by consulting the resources listed above and by using only free online services. For links to more information on scholarships, loans, and grants, see the section on Financial Aid.

Financial aid awards often vary greatly, and comparing them can be difficult. This spreadsheet will help you calculate your out-of-pocket costs for each college. Enter the cost of attendance, expected family contribution, and aid amounts that are listed in your award letters. Then figure your family's total cost for each school, taking into account your future student loan debt. You may find that the college with the lowest tuition is not the least costly to your family. You can download a previously filled out sample here.

PLANNING FOR COLLEGE: OTHER RESOURCES

College is Possible
Sponsored by the Coalition of American Colleges and Universities, this site has information on preparing for college, including recommendations for junior and senior high school students. It has sections on choosing the right college and on how to pay for college. There are good links to other sites with information on preparing for and applying to college and on paying for a college education.

Getting Ready for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle School Years
Written for parents as an introduction to preparing for their children's college education, this site includes recommendations for steps to be taken during the junior and senior high school years. A Spanish language version is also available.

Guide to Postsecondary Education Information
More and more students with learning disabilities are enrolling in colleges and universities. And, more and more institutions of higher education are offering support programs for students with learning disabilities. LDOnLine has assembled a comprehensive guide to assist in the planning and selection process, plus lots of advice on creating a successful educational experience.

GrO/Going Right On
GrO is a free downloadable multimedia program from the College Board designed to encourage middle school students to start thinking about college. GrO was designed for early teens who may be uncertain about their future prospects for college or unsure about how to get on the college-bound track.

Hard Work Pays: What you have to do in high school to get the life you want
This booklet, prepared by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), provides middle school students with informaiton about what they need to do in high school to turn their aspirations for college or a good job into reality.

Mapping Your Future
This site, from the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, contains helpful information and useful links. Guided tours of the site are designed for middle and high school students, non-traditional students, student borrowers, and s. A Spanish language version of the site is available. See Careership for interactive career activity. The site has scheduled “chat nights” around admissions and financial aid questions. Students can access online applications, get financial aid information, check the status of student loans, and use loan and budget calculators.

Parent Connection
A college planning newsletter with information directed toward questions from parents.

The Path from Home School to College
Home schooled students face special challenges when it comes to planning for and applying to college. Their distinct school situation demands a unique approach to the college admission process. This site provides information and links to help.

Planting the Seeds of Success: Advising College Students with Disabilities
This brief guide for students provides general information for empowering students with disabilities to access their full potentials and function effectively as independent members of any university community.

Post Secondary Guide
This site, sponsored by the Pacer Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights), provides recommendations for college preparation and lists, publications, and resource links for parents and students with disabilities.

Preparing Your Child for College. A Resource Book for Parents.
A comprehensive guide for parents, this online publication provides answers to general questions and information on preparing students academically, financing a college education, and the importance of long range planning. Helpful checklists for parents and children are included. This 1996-1997 edition is the most recent online version.

Ready, Set, Go
This online newsletter for middle school students provides information on planning academically and financially for college.

Students.gov
This mission of this Web site is to give college students and students planning on going to college easy access to the informaiton and sercies available from the U.S. government. The site also includes links to other educational and some commercial sites. The site was developed as a cooperative effort of the federal government, higher education and students to reflect what students and families say is the information they need.

Summer programs to help prepare students with learning disabilities for college
This directory provides information on summer programs that prepare high school juniors and seniors with LD and/or ADD for the challenges of college-level work. Topics addressed include time management, organizational skills, mnemonic strategies for effective reading and note taking, and test preparation. Students learn how to approach and request services from disability support services staff. Considerations for choosing the right college and self-advocacy skills are also discussed.

Think College
This U.S. Department of Education Web site has information for pre-high school, high school, returning adult students and families. There are links to financial aid and college planning Web sites.

Think College Early
This handbook for students in middle and junior high school school shows students how a college education will improve their lives. The importance of early planning, choosing the right courses and financing an education are stressed.

North Kingstown High School

Home of the Skippers

150 Fairway Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Guidance Phone: 401-268-6240

Timothy S. Chace

No unauthorized copying is allowed without prior written permission.