Student Planner Subjects
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The Shepherd’s Calendar And Other Poems – Spenser $7.91 |
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Official Pink A3 Calendar 2012 $15.01 |
Five Ways to Cut the Cost of College by Mark Maiewski
College acceptance letters should be hitting the mailboxes of anxious high
school seniors any time now. Once students choose their institution of higher
learning comes the hard part: paying for it.
Financial aid, ranging from need-based federal Pell grants and student loans
to privately-funded merit scholarships, can cover a big chunk of tuition
bills. But filling in the gaps not covered by aid is equally crucial.
To keep a lid on expenses, Dan Landau decided to only apply to colleges close
to his Bridgewater, N.J. home. By commuting to Fairleigh Dickinson
University, holding down a part-time job, and graduating in three years, he
saved over $20,000 on his bachelor’s degree while accruing no student debt.
“The path I took to save money on college is not for everyone, but there
are ways to get a quality college education on the cheap,’’ says Landau.
In that spirit of frugality, here are five strategies for cutting your
college bills.
1. Graduate ahead of schedule
With tuition alone averaging $7,020 at in-state public colleges and $26,273
at private schools, knocking a year or more off the traditional four-year
degree is a sure way to shave costs. Here are a few ways.
Advanced Placement credits. High school students can get a head start by
taking advanced courses or college-level curricula. At the University of
Virginia, two-thirds of the 2010-2011 freshman class earned Advanced
Placement credits, with recipients qualifying for an average of 19 credit
hours. Existing undergrads, meanwhile, can cut short their time on campus by
studying over summer school or adding online courses.
Advanced Placement exams. AP credits earned in high school often reduce the
number of credits needed to graduate. Qualification standards vary by
university, but students must typically score a 4 or 5 on each AP exam. To
ensure college credit, students should list their desired colleges as
test-result recipients when they register for exams. Courses offered by the
International Baccalaureate program, a college prep curriculum offered in
over 700 U.S. high schools, may also qualify for college credit.
CLEP tests. Students of any age can earn college credit in 33 subjects by
taking College Level Examination Program, CLEP, tests given by the College
Board. College senior Luke Macias of San Antonio said he credits CLEP tests
for enabling him to stay debt free and on track for a degree in economics
this spring from Thomas Edison State College.
Dual Enrollment: Students can enroll in college-level courses at community or
four-year colleges through dual enrollment/credit programs that fulfill both
high school and college requirements. Seventy-one percent of high schools
offered these programs in 2002-2003, according to the most recent data from
the National Center for Education Statistics. Dual enrollment courses are
typically offered at reduced rates or at no cost.
Online Courses: The number of for-profit colleges offering online courses and
degree programs has boomed over the last several years, making it vital for
students to verify that supplementary courses will qualify for credit.
College admissions officers recommend students vet online courses with their
general or departmental adviser.
Summer School: Attending summer school can also boost credit hours. At
schools like UCLA and the University of Virginia, out-of-state students save
on summer classes by paying in-state tuition rates.
2. Earn income in college
Many students take on jobs in college to bridge expense gaps.
Divya Bahl lived rent-free her last two years at Boston University by serving
as a resident adviser in a student dorm. Manuel Fabriquer, a college
counselor in San Jose, Calif., says RA positions save students at Santa Clara
University $15,000 a year.
Professional schools and academic departments can provide leads on education
and research-related jobs. Carnegie Mellon University’s Academic
Development Office, for example, employs 140 students in tutoring programs.
Career services and alumni associations, meanwhile, are a good resource for
off-campus employment.
Brooke Kamenoff, a freshman at Northeastern University, plans to utilize her
school’s co-op program to take time off to work and earn income for her
five-year degree program.
3. Lean on Uncle Sam
The American Opportunity Credit, a tax credit for college tuition and fees,
has been extended through 2012. Formerly known as the Hope Credit, it can
reduce your tax bill by up to $2,500 per undergraduate.
Alternately, you can deduct up to $4,000 in education expenses per student
from your taxable income. You must choose the credit or the deduction—tax
credits are always more valuable than deductions.
To maximize tax credits, financial planners recommend paying for tuition and
fees out of pocket and using 529 college savings accounts to cover other
expenses ineligible for tax savings. Five twenty-nine distributions are
tax-free when used for college expenses such as room and board.
Having a child in college can also extend the years he or she qualifies for a
dependent exemption on your tax return. Exemptions normally phase out at age
19 but extend up to 24 for full-time students.
4. Stay close to home
Tuition rates for in-state residents at state universities are often higher
than the cost of room and board. For students matriculating close to home,
commuting to school can generate significant savings. If commuting is not an
option, consider off-campus housing.
“We have found that the best way for us to cut costs was to have the kids
move off campus,’’ says Corinne Connor of Montclair, N.J., who has one
child in law school and another in college. “The combined rent and food
costs are considerable lower than dorm and cafeteria costs.”
Community colleges have also become a popular destination for cash-strapped
students. Annual tuition at a two-year community college averages $2,544,
nearly two-thirds less than tuition at a residential four-year state school.
5. Borrow responsibly
After all other forms of financial aid are exhausted, students must turn to
loans.
Today’s low initial interest rates for private student loans may look
attractive, but you can avoid extra costs later by thoroughly researching
your loan options.
Experts agree that families should max out federal Stafford and Perkins
student loans, which feature low, fixed rates and flexible repayment
features, before tapping private loans that tend to carry variable rates.
If you must take out a private student loan, shop around, as interest rates
vary widely across providers. Based on recently quoted rates, Student Lending
Analytics, a Palo Alto, Calif., lending consultant, calculates that students
choosing the low rate over the high rate for a $10,000 student loan could
save nearly $6,000 over 15 years. Paying loans off faster can also
significantly reduce total cost.
Getting creative with your savings strategies can make paying for college
less intimidating and allow your kids to attend their No. 1 choice,
regardless of cost.
Manuel Fabriquer of www.colleplannngabc.com has spent the last 5 years
helping families of collegebound students cut the cost of college. He has
been qutoted in CNBC.com article of 5 ways to cut the cost of college.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Five-Ways-to-Cut-the-Cost-of-College/1032114
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TEACHER’S LESSON PLANNER~SUBJECT~PERIOD~STUDENT INFO $9.48 |
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Student Planner, Grades 4 – 8: Second Edition (Notebook Reference) $1.66 -The Notebook Reference Student Planner offers students everything they need to organize their school year right at their fingertips! In addition to recording their class schedule, they can keep track of daily assignments, homework notes, activities and events, emergency information, and important birthdays and phone numbers. They will also find study success tips and a section of reference lists … |
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Lesson Plan and Record Book $6.78 This one book has it all–weekly lesson plan pages and class record sheets that cover 7 different subjects for two 20-week semesters. The class record section is set up so that a student’s record for an entire quarter of 10 weeks can be read on facing pages. Plus helpful ideas and handy reference materials…. |
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