Making College A Little More Affordable

College is expensive. It's just a fact, and it's not going to change anytime soon, but there are some things you can do to make it a little cheaper. There are a ton of financial aid options out there, and a lot of it goes unused, because people don't know about it, or don't apply for it. There might just be a scholarship or grant that you could apply for. Here are some ways to find these grants and scholarships.

1. Fill out a FAFSA form. You can find the form at https://fafsa.ed.gov/ It may not get you a lot, but it's worth trying for even if you only get a little bit from it.
2. Decide where you want to go for school. If you don't decide where you want to go, you can't expect to get any financial aid from the school.
3. Don't have your heart set on the expensive Ivy league school if you know you can't afford it. Starting at a smaller school or even a community college will help you get your general education requirements out of the way, with a lower cost than a bigger school.
4. Apply for scholarships from the college or university you plan on attending. You will have a better chance at getting a scholarship award from the college or university than the national scholarship contests, or committees.
5. Apply for every scholarship you can. You won't get any that you don't apply for, so why not give it a try. You might not get all you apply for, but you might get a little something from it, so just try.
6. Find scholarships that have a  more selective niche. Find things that not everyone can apply for such as a height requirement (Tallmans or Little person's scholarships) or being a twin. Fewer people will be applying for these, because of the selective niche, so your chances of getting it are higher.
7. Don't underestimate smaller sized awards. I was disappointed when I got a small award when I first started college, and that little award helped me more than I thought it could when I saw the amount. If you get more than one small award, they can add up, and be very helpful in paying for college.
8. Look at all of the housing options available. On campus housing can be nice, but it is usually not cheap, so look at your options. Sometimes there are some pretty decent housing options that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg.
9. Be willing to have a roommate. If you have a roommate, the price of your rent is literally cut in half.
10. Save what you can, and be willing to work while in school. Having a little money saved up, and working will help with college costs.

College isn't cheap, but if you work the system a little bit, and jump through the hoops, college won't seem as daunting to pay for. If you have any questions about finding ways to pay for school, feel free to leave a comment below.

#LifeHacks #ShortStories #PayingForCollege #PoorCollegeKidStatus

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