Seven Years Until College

Bethany is officially a middle school student, which means we have just seven short years to figure out how we're going to pay for college. In theory, that sounds like a long time. But the sad reality is that it sure doesn't feel like it's been six years since she started kindergarten, so I'm sure these next seven years are going to fly by just as quickly. I'm not anxious for any of my kids to grow up, but I suppose I should get my head out of the clouds and at least start thinking about the cold hard facts. College tuition has increased astronomically since I graduated, and I'm sure the situation will be even more dire by the time Bethany is heading off to the big house. And Connor, Lucy, and Mathilda will be following her in quick succession.

I'm pretty sure winning the lottery is not the most reliable plan for financing four college educations. A better bet would be for our kids to keep their grades up so they can qualify for scholarships. Especially now that Bethany is in middle school, we are really trying to emphasize the importance of good grades. I know it doesn't count that much until high school, but she needs to be setting the foundation for high school right now.

Thank goodness for the all-knowing internet. Without it, I'm sure I'd find it a whole lot more difficult to find information about scholarships and educational grants. No, I'm not putting the cart before the horse. But it's reassuring to know that when the time comes, I'll have resources at my fingertips for finding the best options for my kids.

 

Funding College

We have a bit of a "joke" in our family. Only, it's not really a joke because it's totally serious. It goes like this, and is said with a bit of a laugh - ha ha! As if we're trying to convince anyone listening that it's spoken in jest.

"These kids better get good grades in high school (ha ha) if they want to go to college, because if they don't get scholarships they'll be out of luck (ha ha ha)!"

The truth is, the kids better get good grades in high school so they earn decent scholarships. And they're going to college. End of story! College is not that far off, and at this point in time I can't envision saving enough for one semester, let alone for four years - times four.

When I was in high school, searching for scholarships was much more complicated than it is now. Of course there was no internet, so we pretty much relied on what the school counselor shared, or word of mouth. Now, the internet gives us an advantage. I will probably turn searching for scholarships into a full-time career, starting in about five years. Or, alternately, we can move to a state that offers free college. I wonder what the residency requirements are? At this point, I'm thinking finding scholarships is the more realistic option.

There are websites, like ScholarshipsOnline.org, dedicated to helping families find appropriate scholarships. You can search by category, deadline, or the name of the scholarship - in case you have a particular one you're looking into. Information is provided about each scholarship, including links to the website affiliated with the scholarship, and, when available, a link to apply. The website also has featured scholarships, a list of 100 scholarship tips, and a list of other resources that could prove to be useful as well.

While I'm glad that we have a few years yet before we need to start worrying full-force about college, I'm also glad to know that there will be resources available to us when the time comes. Are you better prepared than us for your child's college education, or do you plan on utilizing as many scholarships as you possibly can?