[grey_whiskers]

Cheers!

[pnh102]

One thing you may want to consider is the use of a community college for completing your general education credits, or even a 4 year degree if they offer it in your field. Most respectable community colleges offer general education credits that transfer into higher level colleges and universities.

You may be able to save a ton of money by using this approach.

[mad_as_he$$]

You might be surprised how much goobermint $$$ is available even to “rich” folks. The school should have a scholarship office and there is tons on the web. The Military is a good way to go for many professions. They pay for a large part of school and the hitch afterwards is not bad in an uncertain economic world.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The guidance counselors at the local high school are supposed to have this kind of info available for parents and students. Now that the kids are on summer vaca, the school staff should have plenty of time to assist you, the taxpayer.

[luckystarmom]

Do you have a school counselor? School counselors have that kind of info.

Then, you should google. There are all sorts of websites that have scholarship info.

Lots of private schools are giving scholarships to men because they have more girls then boys.

My son will be a junior in high school, so we are starting to look into the whole college thing.

[Hawk720]

This is a great site for scholarship info (it has links to several free scholarship search options), plus loans and other types of financial aid:

http://www.finaid.org/

Also, as others mentioned - talk to the schools that your kids are interested in. Quite often the more expensive private schools have a lot of money available that can make them more affordable than the state schools. Not always, but sometimes.

[TSgt]

I’m not sure how old you are but the military paid for mine.

[Chode]

absolutely what pnh102 says in post2... get your first two years and or two year degree at your local CC and you will save a ton of money.

also look into challenging as many classes as you think you can, simply put, if you think you can pass the final test, take it and you don't have to sit through the class

good luck

[McLynnan]

First step is to fill out the FAFSA for the Pell and other grant awards along with information about subsidized student loan eligibility. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

[lack-of-trust]

ask the counselor at school if they know of a good matching service.

try fastweb.com

First, set up a “scholarship” email account so your main email won’t be clogged with spam and opportunites won’t get lost in the shuffle.

Check with your community service orgs, like Rotary, Lions Club, the Optimists, JC’s etc.
Trade groups based on the students career goals.
Ethnic clubs (if you are Irish, German, Polish).
Your employer, industry trade group.

It’s not just the regulars, Reserves and National Guards offer Scholarships while you serve.

Good Luck.

[RebelTXRose]

Target your passion FIRST and seek colleges that teach it.
Community college is great for all the “required” courses.
Seek out every scholarship (PTA, local law firms, your parents’ employers, newspapers). Last year at my son’s high school, the PTA awarded scholarships to all the kids who applied - because ONLY FIVE applied!

Good luck with your education. If you can do it without loans, do it!

[momtothree]

The VFW offers some money for an essay contest. It is limited but may help with book money. I agree with the person who said community college. In my state (not sure of all) the two years at a community college directly transfers to the state college. No more cut credits like the years in the past. Plus, the classes are smaller and a part time job can help save up for the future two state years. Hope this helps. My neighbor is an eagle scout, went to Oxford, stayed on the honor roll for his four years in college. He got only one acceptance to a college for his masters. He is a white, male. Hate to say it but you know what I am thinking.

[TokuMei]

Get as many GenEd req’s out of the way as quickly as possible via pass/no-pass basis at the super cheap local Junior College —the only things that REALLY count are:

1. where you GRADUATED from
2. your major
3. Your grades for the classes FOR YOUR MAJOR

OK so if you paid to take GE classes at Stanford then you are not smart enough to really be there..

So at the JC if you get a waiver you CAN take 22 units per semester —some take even more.

Who cares if you get C’s? Perhaps you’ll disapppoint your lesbo English teacher that claims the outside world is actually just INSIDE of us —that’s its all IMAGINARY...?

OK so these C’s rank as a PASS and it written as PASS on the transcripts.

Get that stuff out of the way, study up for the ASVAB; if you’re smart it will take just 4 days to earn a score of 99%; I think in principle they do not award a perfect score...If you score high you can chose your job. Chose wisely, finding out via internet the minimum hitch for each speciality.

THEN see a recruiter and do the stupid ASVAB simulation (that’s to confirm you’re not super stupid) and then sit for the ASVAB, then chose your job (if applicable, as some services don’t promise you a specific job), then do basic (not hard), AIT (advanced training, where they sort of teach you your job), then your minimum hitch, and get discharged honorably —maybe stay in the reserves, since you have 3 or so years in anyway.

Helps not to have tattoos, be super fat, or any arrests.

Congrats, your college is **paid for**, and you have just 2 years to go. Also now you have real experience, and won’t suffer nearly the brain-washing you otherwise would have.