Making it Through High School: How to Make College More Affordable
High school is full of choices and deciding which one will save you money for college can be a bit overwhelming. Luckily, we have compiled some of the best tips and tricks to help you make your college more affordable without having to miss out on all the fun of being a teenager!
First and foremost, focus on academics. That means doing your homework and taking advantage of every opportunity to challenge yourself in school – this could be by joining an AP class or getting involved with a few extracurriculars like theater, debate, robotics, or any other after-school activity that sparks your interest. Good grades can open doors to scholarships and grants which can save you thousands in tuition. Plus, those activities look great on resumes!
Second, stay in-state. Although attending college out of state might sound appealing at first, staying within your home state may be the most cost effective choice. You may also want to consider community college if you plan on transferring to a 4-year university after two years since they typically offer much lower tuition rates than universities. And if all else fails, think about looking into free online classes through reputable sites like Coursera or edX – who knows, you may end up learning something really cool!
Finally, there’s no need to forget about enjoying life during high school either! Doing things like starting a side hustle (Uber driver perhaps?), becoming a tutor for students in need of extra help (you get paid AND you look good on paper!), and participating in fundraising events or bake sales can be great ways to make extra cash while keeping busy and productive. This extra money can come in handy when it comes time to paying off those student loans!
So take a deep breath, focus on your studies and extra curriculars now – but don’t forget about living life too! Who knows? Maybe by following these steps you won’t need that loan shark… I mean loan officer later down the line.
