2) Take the college entrance exams as often as possible. Scores on your children’s ACT and SAT tests may have a direct bearing on their eligibility for academic scholarship money. We have learned that it makes sense to take these tests several times during the high school years. Often, the first time or two a child takes one of these tests she is unnerved, anxious—not at her best.  By taking it several times, generally the scores go up and improve the possibility of getting a better academic scholarship.

3) Be a good student—make good grades. Remember, the occupation of a high school student is high school. It behooves that student to make the best possible grades since they will impact scholarship awards.

4) Hunt for scholarships like bears hunt for honey! I have been surprised to learn how many scholarships are available—and, how many go unclaimed each year! I like to see young people apply for every scholarship they can find. Check with the college, scour the internet, visit your local bookstore, and talk with your minister about scholarships for religious studies.

5) Take some of the basic college courses early at a local junior college. Some students have found that they can save a lot of money (compared to costs at more expensive private colleges and universities) by taking some of the required courses at hometown junior colleges during their senior year in high school, or during the summer after graduation. This has been a real cost saver in our family.

6) CLEP out of as many courses as you can. Many colleges allow students to take special tests to see if they understand course work well enough to be credited for, or CLEP, out of those classes. By clepping out of one 3-hour course in a college that charges $400 per semester hour a student can save $1,200 of tuition costs plus books! Also, this can help a student get out of college a little faster.   

7) Consider starting college a year later. This has helped lots of young people save (instead of borrowing) money for there college education. In some situations, this is especially helpful in that it gives the young person another year to mature and prepare for the college experience.

8)  Stay at home—save the cash. You may have heard the old story about the boy that wrote his father from college, “No mon, no fun, your son.”

To which his dad wrote back, “Too bad, so sad, your dad.”

Sometimes the hard facts of life close in on a young person. This happened with our oldest daughter. Megan saved money for college—but, not enough. Later, when I asked her why she hadn’t planned better, she said, “Well, Daddy, college seemed so far away—I guess I never thought I’d live to be that old.”