I attend a university where total fees for in-state students add up to almost $27,000 a year. But by the time I started my freshman year in August, I had earned around $23,000 in scholarships. Half were merit awards from the university, and the other half were scholarships from outside sources (local businesses, county foundations, clubs, etc.) Paying for college is scary, whether your parents are paying for it or you are. Here are some things I learned that helped me pay for my first year!
Take the ACT seriously.
Although it may seem like the ACT isn't that important, it is. Many colleges guarantee minimum scholarships for certain ACT scores. These merit scholarships usually go directly towards tuition and can really cut back the amount that you pay every semester.
And no, you don't need to have a 35 just to earn any money. Most schools give different levels of aid as scores progress!
Apply for EVERY scholarship possible.
When I say every scholarship, I mean EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Read the lists of local scholarships that your counselors provide—that's where you'll find a lot of the easy, simple ones. It doesn't matter when you turn them in; take the completed form to your counselor the day it's due if that's when you finally have time. Also make sure that you thoroughly look into the requirements for each, because most aren't major-specific. These scholarships are your friends.
Look into Honors/Scholars programs for your university.
When applying to schools, see if any scholarships are given for Honors or Academic Scholars programs. By applying to the Scholars program, I earned an extra $1,000 a semester.
Get a job—one that you enjoy.
Summer jobs are important! You'll feel like you're incredibly busy getting ready for school, but finding a job that you can do part time will help you earn a little extra money. I bought a lot of my own dorm room stuff with money from my job.
Tip: Find a job that you actually enjoy. Having a bunch of jobs that you quit after a week won't earn you much money.
Do a room clean-out and sell what you don't want.
To be honest, I hadn't cleaned out my room in a good three years before I started to pack for college. When I had found enough clothes/shoes (especially stuff with my high school logo on it) that I was willing to part with, I posted to local selling walls. I also sold most of my cheerleading items to younger cheerleaders and their parents. Although you might not make a ton, an extra $20 here and there adds up.
These are just a few tips that I learned over the last year when it came time to pay for college. And these don't just apply to freshman year! Keep applying for scholarships, keep that summer job, and get rid of clutter that you don't need.
