local desi girls pics, Paying For College - Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Paying For College - Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Congratulations! You've decided to continue your education at a college or career school. Whether you are a traditional student seeking a certificate or an adult looking to earn a Ph.D., one big question you have is, "How am I going to pay for college?" The problem may seem even bigger if you have a job and a family; money is tight these days, and few people have the extra cash on hand to pay for tuition and the other costs associated with higher education.

There are four basic ways to pay for college:

1. write a check;
2. get gifts of money from other people;
3. borrow money;
4. earn money.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that option #2, "get gifts from other people," is a sweet deal. Many students are able to create a financial plan with elements of all three methods.

The U.S. Department of Education provides information about college funding options; here are a few highlights:

Scholarships

It is possible to get gifts in the form of scholarships. A scholarship is a gift of money from an organization or an individual to a deserving student. Examples of scholarships given to graduating high school seniors include scholarships from civic organizations such as the Rotary Club or the local Chamber of Commerce. Colleges also award scholarships to selected students; this is an example of institutional financial aid. Colleges determine scholarship awards when your annual financial aid package is determined, and at the end of the school year when academic scholarships are awarded to outstanding students.

Scholarships are generally merit-based. This means that the eligible student must have attained a certain grade point average. Scholarships can be awarded within defined academic areas, such as a scholarship for the outstanding chemistry student or for the top French student. There are also many athletic scholarships awarded to outstanding athletes.

Scholarship awards may also be based on other criteria including financial need, ethnicity, or even the geographic location of the student's home.

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