Paying for College

By Bob Giannino-Racine
Executive Director of ACCESS

Congratulations, you've been accepted to college! Now comes the hard part of figuring out how much college is going to cost and how to pay for it. Below are some tips to help you understand your financial aid package and make the decision about how to pay.

Understanding Award Letters. When analyzing your award letters, consider two key categories of information – Gift Aid vs. Self-Help Aid and the Full Cost of Attendance.
Click here to learn the difference between Gift Aid vs. Self-Help Aid and what is included in Full Cost of Attendance.

Calculating Need. After figuring out how much school will cost and how much financial aid you’ll receive, you can determine the unmet need or gap that will have to pay.
Click here to learn how to calculate unmet need.

Making a Decision. Finances are the number one reason cited by students for not finishing college, so it's very important that you carefully consider cost when choosing a school. Be mindful of how much debt you'll have at graduation because it can impact major life decisions like buying a home or what jobs you can accept. Once you've decided which school is the right fit academically and financially – in the short and long term – then you're ready to decide.

For more tips on paying for college and to read the full article, click here.

Check out the Opportunity Scholars Blog

Read posts from our ten dynamic Opportunity Scholarship winners as they blog about their college experience and share how they became the first in their family to go to college.

Opportunity Scholar Blogger Spotlight:

Khadijah Williams

College:
Harvard University

Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA

Never having had a stable place to live, Khadijah has made education her anchor and is thrilled to have achieved her dream of leaving Skid Row and attending Harvard. As a homeless student, she has a unique perspective on education and hopes to contribute to the improvement of urban schools.

"Because my mentors have shown kindness to me, I am committed to giving back in the same way. As an individual who has been through many setbacks and has succeeded despite obstacles, I understand what it takes to succeed. I am committed to passing on the knowledge and the tools for success to tomorrow's youth."

From Blog Post 4/11/10
The most intense 3 hours of my life

"At exactly 2:01 (5:01pm eastern time) on March 31, 2009, I refresh Gmail. In very generic typ e- Harvard College: Your Admissions Decision.

"I can't open this!" I yell to Trisha London, co-founder of South Central Scholars, and Randy Winston, the director of SCS. "Open it," they say. I click. It loads. Sloooooooowly.

"…We are delighted-"

I stop there!! I can't read anymore! I scream! I shout! I GOT INTO HARVARD! I GOT INTO HARVARD! I GOT INTO HARVARD! I play the melodic classical music video given to admits. It seems so Harvard-y.

Then, I call my mom. I tell her the news. She was staying at a shelter in downtown at the time.

The relief, the happiness in her voice. Yes mom, you didn't mess up. Our trials, our tribulations, the pain, it's ok now. Because mom, your daughter, your daughter, got into Harvard."

To read more from Khadijah, check out her posts on the Opportunity Scholar blog.

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