How to Get Paid to Go to College

How to Get Paid to Go to College

College costs a lot of money. The price tag is often the scariest part of the decision to further your education, especially if you are taking on the task without the help of parents or a swiss bank account. However, you can go to a good school and earn your degree while, rather than piling up debt, actually getting paid. Compromise and hard work are essential, as well as getting started as early as possible, but fear not if you are getting started late or are a returning to college later in life; getting paid to go to college is still possible, only requires a little more work.

Steps

1. Get involved with as many programs that interest you at your school or in the community as you can while still in high school. Often clubs and organizations provide their own scholarships, and even at the very least they will look good on a scholarship application. Don't overload yourself; academics is also important on these applications. If you are out of high school already, you can skip this step as the time has already passed, though community/organization involvement is still something that is important and is never too late to start.
2. Apply for scholarships at the first opportunity. All of them. The worst thing that can happen is they say no (do read the warnings though). Apply for local scholarships as you have a higher chance of getting them. Fill out your FAFSA as early as possible for the year. Everyone should fill out a FAFSA. If you already have a school picked out, apply for their scholarships or check out their website. Often a college will have a general scholarship application. If you have not picked out a college...
3. Pick a college! You will need to compromise a little here. You are trying to get the most "bang for your buck" out of a college or university. You probably won't be able to get paid to attend Harvard or Caltech. Try to pick one in your state. This has many advantages. Schools often accept in state students first, and charge less for tuition. You may be able to stay where you live or live with your parents and not travel far or have to live in (and pay for) dorms etc. If you do look at out of state schools, find ones that have cheap tuition and a short period to wait before obtaining residency. Cheap tuition is one of the most important factors. Weigh your choices, and make your decision. Apply for that college or others on your list of choices, but keep in mind application fees add up.
4. Get accepted to your school. If you aren't accepted to one, you will have to start over. Don't get discouraged.
5. Consider federal aid or aid from the particular school, which can help even if you didn't get a scholarship.
6. Get a job at the university. Often universities will offer special jobs to students that may or may not pay well. Perhaps more importantly, many universities offer a discount to people who work for them. Land the right job at the right college and they might just pay for your schooling.


Tips

* Even if you don't end up making money, hopefully you have lessened the burden.
* There are many scholarship sites on the web such as fastweb.
* Talk to your college's financial aid advisor. They are often willing to help and can provide with job/scholarship info.
* File your FAFSA yearly and always be on the lookout for scholarship opportunities.
* Filing the FAFSA as independent often results in more aid if you meet the requirements. Make sure to carefully read everything you fill out.
* When choosing a college, cheap is good, but accredited is better. Make sure your degree will mean something when you graduate.
* It is not where you go to college, but what you get out of your schooling.

Warnings

* Avoid scholarships that require you to pay money or that don't seem legit. There are many scams out there that take advantage of already desperate people.
* A lot of surplus money you make you can't spend as you please. Often you are required to spend it on educational purposes. While this might be a car for "transportation", it is definitely not an iPod for "studying supplies" etc. Read the contracts.
* Don't lie on the FAFSA! They won't believe you made fifty bucks total last year and will verify you, thus taking away and delaying a lot of aid. It takes aid from people who did make fifty bucks last year, and it is illegal!
* This is meant as a guide only. You may or may not follow it, but be smart and use your best judgement. The author is not responsible for your decisions or any success, failure, emotional distress, frustration, or health effects from choosing to follow it.
* Military programs such as ROTC can pay for your education, but if you sign a contract with them, you will be required to serve in the armed forces for several years after you graduate.