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College Debt – How To Avoid It, and How To Get Out Of ItVanessa McHooley Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, the debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this the price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in the first place The secret to avoiding college debt is to plan wisely and take advantage of the many opportunities to reduce college costs before and during your college years. Planning ahead You can avoid college debt by making wise high school decisions: Take advanced placement classes Take all the advanced placement classes you can in high school--every AP exam you pass means one less class you need to take in college. Keep your grades up Scholarships can be competitive, and even the grades you make early in your high school years can mean the difference in winning or losing. Dont make the mistake of thinking you can save the hard work for your junior and senior years! Stay involved Scholarships also may depend on community and school involvement. Search for scholarships and grants Scholarships and grants are the best money source for college because it is money that doesnt have to be repaid. To find out about grants and scholarships, visit your high school career counselor and the Financial Aid Office of your intended college. You can also search the internet for scholarships and grants. Investigate public service options The United States Military, National Health Service Corps, and Americorps will give you money for your education in exchange for your signing up for a “tour of duty.” The time commitment ranges from 10-12 months to 8 years. Living wisely The chances to make wise decisions and avoid debt continue into your college years. Start out in a community college Most towns and cities have two-year community colleges where you can take your basic courses at less cost than at a four-year college or university. Just investigate to make sure your community college credits will transfer. Take advantage of Work-Study programs If you qualify for the federal work-study program, take advantage of it! You will have an on-campus job, possibly in your field of study. Or work for the school Many colleges give discounted or free tuition to employees and their family members. There are lots of non-teaching jobs on campus that you can apply for. Live frugally Live at home or get a roommate. Avoid expensive spring break trips. Buy used textbooks, and sell your books at the end of the semester. I already have a loan. Now what If you have a federal student loan, it is possible to have your loan debt discharged canceled or reduced, under certain specific circumstances: You die or become totally and permanently disabled Your school closed before you could complete your program You work in certain designated public school service professions such as teaching in a low-income school You file for bankruptcy only if the bankruptcy court rules that repayment would cause undue hardship. As you can see, there are many steps to avoiding or relieving college debt. To best manage your debt it is wise to implement a combination of the strategies listed above that work best for you. This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and were dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to avoid college debt at www.NextStudent.com.
| | | | RELATED ARTICLES Inexpensive Dating Ideas Dating and saving money. For many, the two concepts dont equate. Theres an automatic reaction for most when suggesting the two together that the person paying is trying to be "cheap" and the resulting date will naturally have the same feel. Contrary to popular belief, however, dating doesnt have to be expensive to be fun, entertaining and memorable. It doesnt even have to take a whole lot of extra preparation time. What it does take is a little imagination and breaking from the typical date routine. You have to be willing to think beyond dinner and a movie and be willing to try something new for a change. Here are 15 inexpensive dating ideas: 10 for anyone plus 5 for the adventurous. Gaining a Childs Trust My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks ago. They were having a blast playing in the freezing cold water as I tiptoed around the waves, trying to keep my feet from becoming frost bitten. Next to us in the water was a mother with her daughter who was no more than 18 months old. This woman was holding her frightened little girl hostage in the ocean as the bitter cold waves crashed into her and rushed back with a fierce undertow. The poor child was screaming and crying, begging to be rescued from the torture. Her mother thought this was amusing. She laughed at her baby’s fear and grinned at everyone around her. I was disgusted and horrified. I finally told the mother that I didn’t find the situation at all funny. I have no idea if my words had any impact. By then, my own kids had finally remembered they had nerve endings and were shivering uncontrollably, begging for the warmth of their dry towels and warm sweatshirts. We left the water’s edge and the sickening site of mother traumatizing baby. Jump off the Stress Express--Bring Back the Holiday Spirit with Family Christmas Traditions Twas the week before Christmas and all though the house everything was in shambles. Too much to do and not enough time. More shopping to be done, presents to wrap, cookies to bake and decorating await. Oh the hustle and bustle, the extra work and the stress. Is it any wonder you feel like the Kranks Breaking the Mold - Creative Boys Bedrooms Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option.While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result. Children Who Talk to Angels What do you do when your child begins talking to some unseen entityHow do you determine if its a psychic event, an imaginary playmate, or some sign of a mental health issueYou want to handle things in a way that is best for your child and of course in a way that isnt going to harm them in any way.You also want to make sure that you speak from a spiritual belief system that you can believe in.Your child will know if you are uncomfortable with the topic or if you dont believe in what you are saying.Theyll also be able to tell if you are scared or threatened by the subject matter.You will want to fully research the concepts and choices before saying something that you might later regret.The first response should probably be no response.After all, it may just be a fabrication to gain attention.Kids do that. Struggling With Addictions What kind of bad habits do you struggle with Most people think that when they come to Christ that their bad habits will magically disappear. And some church people act like if you have any bad habits in your life that you must not truly be saved, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Christians or not, we are all people, and people make mistakes. People have bad habits. 10 Tips for Better Grades in Math Pass these on to your high school math student: Music: Uniting Nations, Dividing Generations Cultures around the world since the beginning of time have appreciated, enjoyed, and incorporated some form of music in their everyday lives. However, just as one mans trash is another mans treasure, one mans music can often be another mans noise, and vice versa. Still, certain universal aspects of music can serve as a means of communication between two people who have little else in common. To Do or Not To Do: Behavioral Books for Kids If you deal with children on a regular basis, then you know that a great kid with a not-so-great behavior can disrupt activities. As a mother of three children, I understand. However, I didnt always. The Ugly Discipline Mommy Monster had to show up more than she wanted to, and usually during the most inconvenient times. Needing a new approach to dealing with my children, I had to find childrens books to help my children and me with their not-so-great behavioral problems. Borderline Division 1 How To Make It As a former NCAA Division 1 Athlete, I have parents ask me quite often what their son or daughter needs to do in order to make it to the highest level of college athletics. Be Serious With Your Child Future As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your child for the future , physically emotionally and mentally. Ten Careers For High School Seniors Who Hate School Let’s face it…not everybody likes going to school and high school can be a terrible experience for many students. Whether you’re the hands on type who preferred Shop class to English class, or an athlete who liked working as a team more than studying alone, or even someone who liked schoolwork more than schoolmates; the idea of four more years of school is unbearable. If you identify with any of these types, but still want to secure a good future, there are some great options out there for you. How to Cope With Colic When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor night and day, rocking and swaddling, singing and even crying...anything to make my new little miracle stop her endless crying.Well, everyone told me she just had colic and that it would pass.And, alas, pass it did, however I wish that I would have known then what I know now. I Just Love It! You know the scenario. Youre sitting at the family Christmas gathering and your ten-year-old opens one of Aunt Marthas itchy homemade sweaters. Or Uncle Bobby, whos been swearing to lose twenty pounds for years, opens an exercise cycle. Of course, if Uncle Bobby follows the politeness rule, hell say, "Thank you, its just what I wanted." Then hell conveniently "forget" about it in the basement or storage closet. your ten-year-old may not be as skilled at pretending as Uncle Bobby, but kids know enough to know that any answer other than "Thank you, Aunt Martha, I love it" will raise the roof. Teach Me: Fun Books for Kids with the Purpose of Learning Learning is a wonderful thing. My mother always told me that childrenare like spongesyou can teach them just about anything, and they usually remember it. Here are a few books your children can absorb. A Child Can Make a Difference Sometimes dreams really can come true! May 8th - 11th, 2000, my daughter and I traveled to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, because of a dream my daughter, Amanda, has to make a difference in this world. Amanda then a 6th grader entered McDonalds Millennium Dreamer contest and told them about her contributions to the humane society and her dream of making the world a better place for animals. Amandas dream is to help homeless pets find homes, and she makes this dream a reality by writing a newsletter and donating all her profits to the humane society. Her entry won her and a parent an all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World to meet with other Millennium Dreamers from all over the world. 2,000 kids were chosen in all--1,000 from the U.S., and 1,000 from 90 other countries. The kids accomplishments were recognized in an awards ceremony where Christopher Reeves and the CEO of McDonalds corporation were among the key note speakers. Each congratulated the kids on all they have done and encouraged them to continue their efforts, emphasizing the fact that their contributions are the key to our future. One of the most exciting parts of the trip was trading pins with the kids from other countries. Amanda came home with pins from Germany, South Africa, Israel, Korea, U.K., and Indonesia, just to name a few. The kids were given free passes to all the theme parks and treated to firework shows, parties, and lots of other entertainment. It was quite an event! Fun as well as inspirational. Ericksons Theory of Human Development I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Identity Crisis” before. It’s thought of as a conflict of self and society and its introduction came from one of the most famous psychoanalyst of the 20th century. Bully Victims Need a Healthy Relationship with an Adult "Boys will be boys" and "Girls just do that" is what we hear from so many people.As a kid myself, I remembergetting teased and no one came to help or told me what to do.And, you know whatIt hurt me then as much as it hurts kids today.As a school counselor for 10 years, I have developed and tested various techniques for helping students in dealing with bullying. These programs will help the bullies too! Is The World of Fiction Good for Kids... Fiction- Good or Bad for Children Making Science Less Abstract for Preschoolers A simple experiment that can help preschoolers discover and enjoy the wonders of science. |
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