When I was just starting college, fresh out of high school (oh so many moons ago), I really wish I would have taken more time to look for scholarships.  I didn’t take the traditional route through college and finish in 4-5 years.  I took a couple years off after my first three semesters and then decided to go back to school again.  I still didn’t apply for scholarships at that time because to be honest, it seemed like so daunting of a task to not only find the scholarships, but then fill out all the information you needed to apply.  Well I am here to tell you, IT IS WORTH IT!

In 2010 the average student loan debt for only four years of college was $25,250.  This has surely only increased since then, and if you expect to attend college for more than four years expect that number to rise (most degrees will have you in school longer than four years from what I have witnessed).  My student loan, due to the irregular path I took to achieve it, and now that I am taking graduate courses, has amassed $50,000!  That is a lot of money to pay back!  Unless you are in a career making $100,000 or more, you can bet it will feel like a huge mountain to climb to pay this back.  If I had been a little smarter back when I was 18 (who is at that age?), or had parents who had gone to college and could advise me on such things, perhaps I would not have such a high loan amount right now.

Be that what it may, I am here to tell you as parents, or as students, or potential students; seek out scholarships anywhere you can, apply for grants, and only take the minimum amount of loan you possibly can in order to attend college.  Make a loan your last resort, and try all means necessary to get funding in other ways first.  Even if you don’t think your grades are good enough, still apply.  Sometimes the scholarship committee is not just looking at grades, they are looking for a certain demographic, or a nicely written essay.  I have been applying for grants the last couple of years and am kicking myself for not doing it sooner.  Don’t make my mistakes!

 

Written by Jesica.

 

Data Source:  http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/?p=3864825

 

Disclosure:  This was a sponsored post in which The Mommy Bunch received compensation, however, all opinions are strictly our own.