Alternative Methods of Financing Higher Education

I was reading the Morning Call yesterday morning toLet's not forget the saving programs designed to
learn how many students are actually asking howencourage parents to save for their future
worthwhile it is to get a higher education. Someprofessional's education, the 529's. Those saving
experts speculate if a certain higher educationprograms have taken a hit along with almost
candidate is planning on going into a low paying careereverything else. Many are complaining that they have
(such as a nursery school teacher) they shouldlost up to nine percent of their initial investment in
reconsider even going to college. This is due to thethose saving ventures. The Morning Call admonishes
skyrocketing cost of college tuition. Many arethose that participate in that savings program to
experiencing the inability - not to pay the tuition, theycontinue saving because more than likely you will not
have loans for that; but the inability to repay theneed that money right away. Even if your child is
loans due to the extravagant tuition. Collegestarting college this very year you will still not have
graduates are now walking away having debt of oneto use all of it at once.
hundred thousand dollars or more. One young ladyWhy not move towards a non-traditional method of
portrayed in the article had plans to open her ownpaying for college? It is perfectly feasible to work
business after graduation and working for a companypart time, make full time pay and pay your tuition as
that was in her field of study. She quickly realizedyou go. Where can you get work like this? The
that the economy had hit the companies that are incollege students can also continue to work as such
that field the hardest and that they were not hiringduring the summer days off, holidays, weekends, and
right now. She is now working as a waitress, out ofwhen they go back home to visit with the parents.
her field, and with a tremendous amount of debt-This is the kind of work they can continue to do
sixty five thousand dollars to be exact. She now isafter they have graduated DEBT FREE (capitalization
considering bankruptcy to help her get back on heradded for emphasis). Everything needed for the
feet and "regroup."success of employment is provided and best of all, all
It is plain to the eye that the traditional methods thatof this is done in the privacy of the dorm room. The
applied just 5 years ago to help one with investing indanger here is that the student may become
his own education all of a sudden no longer apply.overwhelmed with the money he/she is earning and
Parents are barely able to make ends meet let alonedecide leave school. It is also possible to be paid
pay tuition. Government loans are still available.simply for referrals (that would make the referrer a
However with the rising cost of tuition, the collegerecruiter).
graduate, graduates already making a negativeReader, please do not hesitate to check this new
income. Working is an option however the amount ofwebsite below. Companies are waiting to hire now.
time taken to work can easily be used to study. Let'sLiterally lists of hundreds; yes we did write hundreds,
not forget the fatigue that makes it very difficult toof companies are waiting for your help. Some pay
concentrate. Hopefully the student worker will havemore than others of course, however you will be
an understanding boss that will allow for days offinstructed on how to apply with and work with those
when tests and final exams come around. Studentsthat pay the most. It is possible to make up to two
generally in this predicament find themselvesor three times the money you are earning right now.
struggling not to do well but to just pass the classWould that help with the rising cost of getting that
and move on. Some of the more prestigious schoolseducation you've been dreaming of? Would it not be
are making monumental moves to steer clear of thenice to graduate from college owing nothing? Most of
loans and provide more assistance in the form ofall the satisfaction of knowing that you did it all
grants and forgivable loans. This still leaves out theyourself cannot be matched by any other feeling.
average student that was not able to make it intoBest of luck.
the "Ivy Leagues."