In part one of the early college planning discussion I discussed the courses to take to impress college admissions officers. In part two I discussed standardized tests that should be considered early in the college admissions process. Part three reviewed the importance of extra curricular activities in the college process. Part four discussed why working at a job may help you in the admissions process. In part five I talked about early college visits. Let’s end this series with some thoughts on paying for college.
With the cost of some private colleges now exceeding $200,000 for four years, everyone should be concerned about paying for college. The biggest issue before spending that kind of money should be whether you are getting the best college for your needs. By reading this series, you have started the process of finding the best college for you.
If financial aid may be needed to pay for the cost of college then there is additional work you must do. First, you should understand the basics of college financial aid. Second, I would strongly urge you to read the book “Paying for College Without Going Broke.” This book provides a number of strategies to consider for planning on how to pay for college. Even if financial aid is not a concern, this book provides varies options to minimize the ultimate cost of college.
With early planning you also have time to consider other options to minimize the cost of college. Time to plan and consider options is the ultimate advantage of starting the college admissions process early. This allows you more time to find the best college for your needs.
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