College costs, need help

Ok all you college enrollees. I've got a high schoold Sr. who's picked his college. St. Thomas University her in St. Paul, MN. Well it's going to cost about $33,000 year! Anyone got any good tips to scholarships? We've been to a seminar and I'm sure he'll get a chunk from the school itself, but every dime is going to count on this one! Btw, I have to brag and say he has a 3.9 GPA and a 27 on his ACT!

Congratulations to your son! You might be suprised at what kinds of scholarships his college can offer after he fills out a FAFSA. Otherwise, I'm not really sure what kinds of scholarships he can get. My grad school offered several and so does the undergraduate college it's associated with.

Congratulations to you and your son!

I haven't been to college in many years, but definitely use the internet to search for scholarships! There are a million out there, so any situation you can think of. There may be one for the town he was born in, the town you live in, heritage of your family, for pursuing a specific major, for being named "Adam"...no, really (OK, I don't actually know if there is an Adam scholarship, but the point is that anyone can put any criteria they want on a scholarship, but it's up to you to find them and match up ). There are all kinds out there, it just takes some searching.

Try looking around for grants - they've got them for everything out there. There's lots of people out there looking to just give money away, so check them out! There's lots of scholarship/grant websites out there, I think http://www.fastweb.com is the one I use. Good luck!

I always fill out the FAFSA too. He could join the Guard, they'll pay for his college, and he'll actually be able to go.

I know a lot of people used www.fastweb.com too as well as www.studentawards.com.

Also look for subject scholarships rather than general ones.

Another good place to look (especially with such good grades) is at places he may want to work after college. Some friends of mine were lucky enough to have guaranteed jobs for the summers and after school as well have their tuition paid and a living allowance for term time by agreeing to work for the company for at least 3 years (with a good guaranteed starting salary) when they finished university.

Definately fill out the FAFSA. That will let him know what he qualifies for. There are grants, student loans, PLUS loans, (loans that the parent takes out) and such. If you have any questions about student or PLUS loans, send me a private message. I work for a student loan company and can let you know the advantages and disadvanages for student loans.

Can I ask a question .. what the heck does " Btw, he has a 3.9 GPA and a 27 on his ACT" mean?
I am in the UK and whatever it means - is it to do with miles to the gallon of petrol- mpg? as am totally lost????? :-)
Absolutely no idea and have to assume its something in the US that means nothing to me however, would like an inkling please

GPA stands for Grade Point Average. A 4.0 (straight A's) is the highest you can get, 3.0 is straight B's, etc. That 3.9 is almost as high as you can get.

I don't know about the ACT score--I took the Scholastic Aptitude Test instead, and that seems to have been before recorded history.

Lndscpsam, you have every right to be proud of your son! Good luck in your search for financial aid!!!

Originally Posted by foxfire

GPA stands for Grade Point Average. A 4.0 (straight A's) is the highest you can get, 3.0 is straight B's, etc. That 3.9 is almost as high as you can get.

Lndscpsam, you have every right to be proud of your son! Good luck in your search for financial aid!!!

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Well, in that case, I extend my congrats from over here as well, even if am still a little confused, then again, am a yorkshireman.... strong in arm, thick in ead ..........thee messes wi us, tha winds up .....

kev

Thank you all for the well wishes and congratulations. We are VERY proud of him! He's even going to spend a semester studying in London, lucky kid. We'll be sure to check out all the avenues you folks have listed. Thank you!!!! By the way (Btw) Kev, ACT's are the same as the SAT's, it's just the preferred test in the midwest.

Deffinatley start with the FASFA. As far as I remember and what I'm seeing with my husband going to school next year also, most college financial aid offices wont even help you unless you've submitted the FASFA. I almost worked in a financial aid office about a year ago. Too bad I didn't get that job or I'd be more help to you now! (But I really like my job now and I wasn't so keen on a particularly strong personality person who ran my 2nd interview.)