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PrintMore Bang for Your Buck: Tuition Tips
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Producer:
Laura Garrigan
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For kids, it can be the best four years of your life. For parents, it can be the most expensive. If you're struggling to send your child to college, consider all your options. In tonight's more bang for the buck, we found financial aid can be available for every student.
WSVN -- Unless you can dunk a ball or score a touchdown, a free ride may be out of the question.
But if you're planning on going to college next fall, now is the time to start applying for aid.
Amanda Harper: "Its important because you can get so much money."
Amanda Harper is hoping to enroll at Wake Forest University.
But unfortunately for her, going to a private school will require more than good grades.
Amanda: "My family is not the type of family who can write a check for $30,000 a year just randomly."
That's why Amanda is studying all her choices.
She knows if she wants aid, many schools set a deadline for mid-February.
Director of Finacial Aid Dart Humeston: "A lot of schools have priority deadlines for aid. Not all types of financial aid is unlimited. Some of them will run out so the quicker you apply, the more opportunities you will have."
Dart Humeston from Barry University suggests filling out what's called a FAFSA form.
It will immediately make you eligible for federal and state money.
Plus if you're in a crunch, you can fill out the enrollment form online.
Dart: "There are millions of dollars from the federal government, the state of Florida, outside organizations and even the institution."
Also keep in mind, FASFA is not just for the underprivileged.
It is based on a number of factors including how many siblings you have in college, the cost of tuition, and whether you've taken out any other loans.
Dart: "Anyone can get a guaranteed student loan with the interest rates being as low as they have ever been in history."
Plus if you're going to a state school, make sure to apply for a Florida access grant.
It is virtually a given for any student regardless of your income.
Dart: "Need is different for different students."
If all goes well, Amanda's financial needs will soon be fulfilled.
As a future pre-med student, she hopes she won't have to doctor with her financial plan once she gets on campus.
Amanda: "There's people just wanting to give away money as long as you’re willing to apply for.
As for a full ride, check out the www.scholarshipcoach.com and www.fastweb.com. They list thousands of sources for funding.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: lgarrigan@wsvn.com
Scholarship websites:
www.scholarshipcoach.com
www.fastweb.com
www.fafsa.com