Collecting college cash
Email | Print Adam Rudnick | The Argus
April 07, 2008 - 05:36 PM

B-EHS presentation helps parents and students plan for higher ed

Saving for college can be a tough road to travel.

But parents and students learned that there are many options available to them during a financial planning session at Burlington-Edison High School last month.

The workshop — Making College Financial Planning Work — outlined the available funding for parents and gave tips to attendees about how to best endure the ever-rising costs of higher education.

During the presentation, lecturer Duffy Hudson, a motivational speaker and Hollywood actor, told the audience of more than 100 parents and students that more than $135 billion was awarded in financial aid last year.

Using a road map called a College FundPath, Hudson navigated the audience through six funding strategies that can help alleviate the financial burden of college.

The single most important thing families can do to help ease monetary stresses is to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form. The form must be filled out annually.

“The form is long and complicated, but this is the single most important form if you want to receive any of that $135 billion,” Hudson said. “Many don’t even fill it out.”

“I want everybody to face the fact that you will have to slug it out with that form.”

Once that document is complete, potential college students have a shot at knocking off a substantial amount off tuition costs if they qualify for grants or assistance.

“I would encourage your ‘intern’ to fill out the form,” said Hudson, referring to students applying for college.

Once the FAFSA form is complete, parents should calculate their expected family contribution to college. These include assets, income, household size, number of students in college and age of the parents — basically anything that would affect how much money can be contributed toward college.

After those numbers are crunched, subtract those contributions from the cost of college and parents will have their financial need. Hudson said most colleges use a percentage of a particular students’ financial need, which varies from school to school.

A common misconception also exists among high school students that they likely won’t receive any scholarship funds. But in fact, need-based and merit-based scholarships are generally a good way to knock anywhere from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars off college costs, Hudson said.

“They all add up,” he said. “Most assume they would never qualify for scholarships, but there are scholarships for all kinds of things.”

Other options to help students pay for college are to liquidate items that parents already own, such as real estate, stocks and bonds or collectibles. Selling personal items will often save one money in the long run, as opposed to applying for either federal or private loans, Hudson said.

“The majority of students will still have to take out loans, though,” he said.
The hour-long presentation was attended by parents of eighth graders up to high school seniors. Burlington-Edison career center’s Lindsay Fiker said the earlier parents and students get involved with college planning, the better.

“You can’t wait until you’re a senior to figure this out,” Fiker said. “I’m thrilled because these people will tell their friends and the word will spread. It will eliminate a lot of the myths.”

For more information about preparing for college, contact your high school students’ career center.


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