After (or even before!) the Acceptance Letter

For high school seniors this time of year may be floating in mid-air. I remember my own experience as a second semester senior-- I had already gotten accepted into colleges, I was still busy taking classes, and most of all, I was waiting for my financial aid package to arrive in the mail. I had struggled with the application, as I filled it out all on my own. I filled out the FAFSA form, as well as other financial aid documents. As a senior, they were time-consuming, confusing and frustrating to fill out, but I knew I really wanted to go to MIT.  With its tuition nearing $40K, though, it was still up in the air--  it was a decision that I could only really make until the big, white envelope came in the mail and I was able to sit down and have a talk with my parents about whether or not I could afford to go.

Until it came, though, I went through my other options, and in retrospect, I could have had more options, and possibly better options had I taken the time to consider other scholarships and schools. Luckily for me, the financial aid package that came in the mail bore good news for my family and I. I would be able to go to my top choice of college. However, that didn't necessarily need to be the case. Now as I look back, I think about what I would have done if I hadn't been able to afford college? These are things I should have given more thought, and there are a wealth of resources you could use if you find yourself in this situation. Your educational and career goals should not have to suffer as a consequence of not being able to afford college. 

The trouble is that as a college applicant, the main concern is getting into schools, not being able to afford them. Sometimes this results in a bittersweet decision-- although you're accepted you might have to go to another school based solely on financial considerations. To prevent this, I'll say what I have said before about other topics related to college education: start early! Start looking for scholarships, grants, loans, programs, do research-- find out what requirements they have. It's up to you to make it happen. 

You don't have to start from scratch, though. There is a wide world of resources on the web that you could use to learn about how you could finance your education, and to learn about all of the possible options you have. One of these, for example, is Affordable Schools Online. Simply do a google search depending on your situation, talk to counselors and your parents. The earlier you start, the better. And if you've missed the deadlines and think that you're too late to realize your educational goals, look for other options-- you'll have to start eventually. If you're not proactive about your education and about how you'll finance and plan where you want to be in the future, no one else will!