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There are always a lot of questions that need to be asked before entering into any form of higher education. This is especially the case if you or your spouse was in the military and may have taken advantage of the G.I. Bill. It is important to note, although some of the things are going to be the same, there are some that do change from time to time and you need to be up-to-dated on those changes so that you can take full advantage of the opportunities that are available to you. For example, rules have really changed since the post 9-11 GI Bill changes went into effect in August of 2009.

Many of these changes are not only going to affect you as an individual but it is also going to affect your spouse or other members of your family who may be able to take advantage of these provisions. If you are a military mom, for example, you may have the opportunity to attend college and have it paid for under the G.I.Bill that was provided by your husband’s enrollment. Military spouse scholarships may also be available but there are going to be some specific terms which will be attached to any of those benefits. These could include a monthly housing allowance as well as additional help to pay for any school supplies and books that may be necessary so that you can attend college. By looking into these things in advance, you have a much better opportunity to fully benefit from everything that is available to you.

For those individuals that are preparing to graduate or for those that want to further their education later in life, the Internet provides you with the tools that are needed so that you can find a college that is going to serve you well. As a matter of fact, by simply filling out a few simple pieces of information, you can be well on your way to doing a professional grade college university search that will put many different options in front of you for you to consider. What are some of those options that may be available?

Many people consider college to be something that is attended in person but today, there are many choices for online education courses that should not be overlooked. These are not only ideal for those that are already in the workforce and would like to increase their education but it is perfect for those that are busy or who simply want to move through the educational process faster. If you make the right choice and go with an accredited online university, those credits are going to follow you throughout your entire educational career. It certainly can make a difference, not only in your ability to further your education but in the options that are available to you along the way.

Another thing that you would want to consider is using an online career finder to assist you in making some choices. By incorporating the career finder right in with the college university search, you have the opportunity to choose something that is going to guide you through the rest of your life.

What you need to know about financial aid BEFORE choosing a college.

With the high cost of a college education, no one wants to pay more than they must. Yet thousands of families pay too much for college every year because they don’t understand the basics of financial aid and don’t know the right questions to ask. So let’s learn what questions to ask.

Basics Part I

There are three types of financial aid for college: grants or scholarships, loans and work-study.

Grants and scholarships are free money that you do not need to pay back.

Most grants and scholarships come from the federal and state government or from the individual college.

Loans need to be paid back after college.

There are many loan programs available from the federal and state government. Most of these loans have fairly low interest rates. There are also private loans available although these generally have a higher interest rate.

Work-study is a job offered on the campus of the college.

Basics Part II

Need based aid vs Merit based aid

Need based aid is given by all colleges to students who have need. Anyone who can’t pay the full cost of the college has need.

A form called the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) determines the amount of need for federal grants and scholarships. Many highly selective colleges also require a form known as the Profile form The FAFSA form is filled out after January 1 of the year the student will first attend college.

If you are in college now or planning to attend college in the near future, the national recession is making the task of paying for a college education even more daunting. Perhaps you were counting on help from your parents, or as a parent, feel you should be providing the best education possible. Parents of students attending college or prospective college students have every right to be concerned. But you should also know that even with dire economic news, there are lots of ways to afford a college education.

As a father of five children I fully understand how difficult paying for college can be. My oldest son decided not to go to college and attended a police academy instead. The cost was modest compared to college, so it did allow me to devote more money to the other kids in the family. My second oldest son wanted to go to a small private college to learn a trade. While I was able to pay some of the costs from savings and current income, a parent Plus loan and student loans covered most of the cost. My daughter started at a private woman’s college with a scholarship for half the cost. She later transferred to a state university, and the cost of attending dropped by more than 50%. Again some savings, student loans, and paying for what we could from our current income has covered the costs.  

Not everyone can save money in advance and with today’s economic uncertainty, most of us are on edge when it comes to affording college. I started saving in mutual funds for each child and learned to move money from growth funds to more conservative money market funds as it got closer to time to pay for college.  This helps ensure that you are not taking too much risk with your money.

The format of education has changed over the past few years and so has the rules and way to think about your college experience. Years ago it was simple, you graduate from high school and go to college for four years, graduate and get a job. Now the job market is so thin and it is so difficult to get your foot in the door anywhere that a new concept has come up. Rather than go to college then get a job, get a job first and then go to college. The fact is that very few people know what they want to do at the age of eighteen, so spending time in school can be a bit of a waste should you change your mind down the road. By getting a job early you will build a resume, a work history, and then you can sign up for classes or even a career finder program that will help you figure out what you want to do with your life.

Once you have an idea of the career you want to pursue the next step is too do a college search. Not every college is the same so you need to take a look at what each one of them offers. For example, you may need to take online classes because you are working too many hours and do not have a set schedule. Well you would need a school that offers a large amount of classes online. Perhaps you’ve decided you earn a business degree and you already have a job with a good company. You will not only need a school with flexible class schedules, you will also need one with a strong business program.