Seniors have been checking their e-mails all across the state to find what
percentage of Bright Futures money they’ve earned. Some of the seniors who
benefit from this scholarship include Mandarin High students. Although
college is accessible to students who have recently received letters from
universities such as Florida State University or the University of Florida,
they are finding it hard to come up with the cash that Bright Futures
doesn’t cover. Not only that, but other students plan to attend private
colleges or go out-of-state for their post-secondary education. Certain
students find that they will not have enough money to pay, as Bright Futures
covers all but room-and-board, and Florida Pre-Paid comes with a Dormitory
Plan, but it is extra.
Money is a big issue for college,
but this should not be a reason why seniors sell themselves out to a cheaper
university or going into dire panic. There are many scholarships and grants
available, FAFSA gives grants as well as scholarships, but many websites are
out there to assist seniors and even juniors with making plans for their
futures. Even if these methods do not satisfy enough money so that students
can live on-campus, there is solution, although the least popular, but
plenty effective: the loan. In economics, students learn that taking out a
loan is a way of establishing credit. When these seniors become twenty-five
they will need to already have a credit report, and preferably one that
shows good credit.
Taking out a low-interest student loan with help from
their parents is the best way to go in these situations. This also helps
them establish a credit history because they are sharing the payments with
their parents. After this, they will be able to take out loans by themselves
on their need basis. Some students and parents might not understand that
loans are not such terrible things. Paying off the loans gradually as
students work through their curriculum is a good way for them to experience
first hand on what paying off bills when they become adults will be like.
Another way to pay for college is through work-study
programs. Work-study programs, at many colleges and universities, allow the
students to earn wages that go straight to their tuition, instead of in
their pocket or bank accounts. This is advisable because not only will the
student work at their school or university and gain better appreciation for
their school that way, they will be paying for their schooling.
Through it all, one can easily see that although there
are many ways to pay for college, some more daunting than others, there is
no excuse why any student who got accepted into a state university or
college who received their Bright Futures or FAFSA acceptance notification
should turn down receiving their post-secondary education due to not being
able to afford the school completely. It is who of all seniors to take time
out and look for scholarships and grants that they are eligible for, and
look into work-study programs. Although it is too late to get Florida
Pre-Paid, they should encourage their parents to start saving for younger
siblings, if they have any. Juniors should be mindful while they boast their
SAT and ACT scores with each other, that paying for college is the biggest
step of all and that waiting until March of 2010 will not help them in the
long run.
For the Record, Mandarin High 2009 seniors have been
accepted into these universities, among others:
Brandeis University
Citadel
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FCCJ)
Florida State University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Tech University
Indiana University
Jacksonville University
New York University
Stetson University
Tallahassee Community College
Tulane University
University of Alabama
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina
University of North Florida
University of Central Florida
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
