By mid-winter of your senior year in high school, you’ve written so many essays, resumes and checks for application fees that you temporarily lost feeling in your fingers. You’ve missed a few too many days from school for college visits. You’ve picked through enough college catalogs and view books to save a forest. You’ve filled out application after application online and on paper. You’ve surfed the net to check out more colleges than you could ever visit in person in one lifetime. You’ve celebrated acceptance letters with family and friends. Now all you have to do is decide which school to go to next fall, right? Well, you’re really not finished with the process until you figure out how you’ll afford this wonderful new experience.

No worries, we’re here to help.

How to pay

Most families don’t pay for college outright, but use a combination of savings, current earnings and financial aid to cover the expenses. Keep in mind that all families are eligible for some aid. The financial aid you’d receive from colleges is primarily based on your need. To meet the costs of education after high school, families should plan to save, contribute from current earnings and borrow to some extent. Remember that every student is expected to contribute from savings and summer earnings when possible. Yup, they expect you to come up with some funds as well.

Every bit helps

If you aren’t a high school senior but have some time to plan, try to save now. When you start early, you can save smaller amounts over a longer period of time, which will be easier on your budget. Any amount you save will add up over time and lessen the amount you and your parents will have to borrow. Keep in mind that saving doesn’t necessarily impact eligibility for financial aid. Your parents may decide to meet with a financial planner, accountant, banker or investment counselor to discuss their goals and investment strategies.

As they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way! College is possible.

Make the grade

Keeping your grades up not only helps you to get accepted into colleges but may help with the cost as well. Colleges and universities offer scholarship and grant money (gift money) for being a good student or having good merit. There may also be money awarded to students for talents in the arts, athletics, community service, leadership and much more. Be sure that the schools you apply to know all the great activities you’re involved in.

Check out these links to learn more about scholarships you may be eligible for!
www.collegeboard.com/pay
www.collegenet.com
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.srnexpress.com

Additional sites for New Hampshire residents-

http://www.state.nh.us/postsecondary
The Postsecondary Education Commission is the state agency responsible for awarding grants and loans to students.

http://www.nhcf.org
Check out the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for more information about the statewide scholarship program.