It costs a lot to go to college or university and the increasing costs have many wondering if there is unaffected value to a college education. Is the cost of tuition, the time lost to full-conditions employment, and the thousands of dollars of debt worth the investment? Those are worth questions and the answers may lie in a review of the value of a college education and rates of earnings on investment to both the individual and to society.
On the financial side of the equation there is weighty data to suggest that on average and over time a college graduate will realize a great deal more than a high school graduate. The Joint States Census bureau estimates that over a lifetime a college graduate will pull down on average about $2.1 million dollars compared to an for the most part lifetime income of $1.2 million dollars for a tainted school graduate.
This video points out some best online resources for taking free college courses from accredited universities.
http://www.ocwc onsortium.org/
http://www.ocwf inder.com/
http://itunes.stanf ord.edu/
http://www.cmu.edu/ol i/
http://oyc.yale.edu/
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Hillsboro Argus - OregonLive.com, OR - Jan 03, 2009
Prepaid education option a new path to cut risk That's why state leaders worked together in 2001 to design the Oregon College Savings Plan. Now, we want to do even more to put a college education in the Prepaid college instruction proposed in Oregon
Find Scholarships to Fund Your College Education San Diego, California - As economic conditions willing consumers to cut back on spending, scholarships are an ever-more important way to help pay for college
Timeline for Getting Ready to Go to College
Expert Advice provided by ScholarshipExperts.com.
So you're planning to go to college once you finish high school, right? But are you really ready?
Planning for college is a two-year process. And unless a rich uncle is going to write that $30,000 check for you, it is going to involve acquiring and submitting financial aid forms, scholarship applications, and grant applications. But don't despair. By following the suggestions below, and by carefully monitoring the process, you should be buying college textbooks before you know it. Keep in mind, however, that this is a process; it isn't like taking one test and getting an A. It requires diligence, double-checking, and follow-up.
When you are a high school JUNIOR:
Take the SAT and/or ACT...this is a must.
Keep your grades up! Remember that colleges look at your entire high school academic record when making admissions decisions: what you do in 9th through 11th grade is just as important as what you do as a high school senior.
Consider college options. Decide what is important to you: Location? Curriculum? Size? Diversity? Athletics? Social life?
Keep an eye on your local papers and community bulletin boards for college nights and open houses; talking to representatives at college fairs is a great way to find out about the colleges you are considering.
Research your scholarship and grant options. Utilize the best customized scholarship search service available on the Internet, ScholarshipExperts.com. You just can't mimic their resources yourself; they will save you time and headaches, and help you avoid scams.
Send away for scholarship information and applications with early deadlines. It's never too soon to do so since some scholarship and grant applications need to be received in the fall of your senior year.
Make an effort to be involved in your community or in extra-curricular activities at school.
Join a club, do a service project, sign up for a committee at your church. Admissions officers and scholarship providers will want to see evidence of your leadership and commitment to service when they review your applications next year.
In the FALL of your SENIOR year:
Select the colleges that interest you most, as soon as you enter your high school homeroom. Don't delay. Send away for information and applications; be sure to check out web sites for information you can obtain online.
Sign up to re-take the SAT or ACT. Buy a study guide or sign up for a test prep course to take before the actual test date. Believe it or not, you CAN improve your test scores by taking them a second time, and better scores could affect your ability to get scholarships!
If possible, visit any colleges you can. Find out when there are prospective student activities or if you can sign up to "shadow" an existing college freshman.
In September (and then once each month thereafter), search for scholarship opportunities using the premiere online service, ScholarshipExperts.com. Take time to fill out the entire profile on the site, making sure to ask your parents about their work experiences and association/union memberships for optimal results.
Pay attention to early admission deadlines. By October or November, submit applications for early decision programs.
Attend a financial aid presentation. These are offered at schools, libraries, and college campuses.
Narrow your list of intended colleges, and make sure you have all the financial aid forms required by each school. Required documents may not be the same at each school, so pay close attention to what each requires.
Obtain a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This should be available in January, and it is very important. Call 1-800-4-fed-aid; the online address is http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA form can also be obtained from high schools, colleges, and local libraries.
Complete and submit the FAFSA immediately (it can be submitted anytime after January 1st in your senior year). Make a copy for yourself. Parents should compile income tax information and complete taxes early.
In the SPRING of your SENIOR year:
Verify that you have submitted all of your financial aid forms. The FAFSA must be filled out and sent in between January 1 and March 15 -- get it in early and file it correctly to avoid delays in funding decisions.
Be sure to send in your scholarship applications on time; several scholarships have spring deadlines. Check back regularly with ScholarshipExperts.com to find even more awards during the spring and summer months; you should update your profile each month to generate new, customized award lists.
Verify that you have received your Student Aid Report (SAR); it should arrive about 4 weeks after you have submitted your FAFSA.
Compare financial aid packages when you receive admissions notifications. Look for the best rather than the most.
Finalize your choice and notify the college.
Sign and return financial aid forms to the university you plan to attend.
Send your final transcript and student loan application.
Notify the schools whose enrollment offers you decline.
Now celebrate! You are about to enter one of the most amazing times of your life, and one that will change you forever. Make the most of your college experience, and remember to study. It is important to maintain your GPA so that you can maintain your scholarships throughout your college career.
Genuine Gehry's Strata Center at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts; this is another judge to add to the series that I uploaded a few months back; completed in 2004, this construction houses classrooms, labs and offices
NECNDoyle, other governors call for $1 trillion stimulus $250 billion to pay for education costs - from preschool through college - that are currently covered by states. • $250 billion for Medicaid, Patrick, govs call for $250B for education Patrick, other guvs shoulder for education $$$ in stimulus bill Governors seek $1 trillion let go free -
