Graduation Time!

We've spent the month of July looking at how you can fulfill your dream of going back to school and getting your degree, did any of the ideas resonate with you? I know I learned so much just looking for Orange Roads for all of you. Congratulations on your education graduation!

I'm back in school and this information already has me investigating avenues or money to pay for classes beyond the obvious and easy to obtain. Hopefully all of you have visited the FAFSA web site and are getting your ducks in a row to start school soon!

Next month I have something a little different in mind. We usually look at dreams not come true and find ways to bring them to life. August will be a different spin on how to make our dreams come true. Join me, won't you?

Orange Road: Employer Pays!

This is a great way to get your education, work in your field and let your employer put you through school. There are still companies who do this and many different ways programs are structured - from you having to commit to a specific number of years that you will stay employed after your get your degree to no real commitment at all, you just have to stay employed to stay in school (on their dime).

Nursing is a field where this practice is common. With a basic education in nursing, hospitals hire their staff and them put them through the full fledged nursing program while on the job. The military is also great about paying for college while on active duty. This could be a dual win in that you could be learning one skill while active duty and studying for a completely different degree in college. The point here is that there are many different ways to get that degree, you just have to be willing to look at as many as you can find!

Education - Private Money

This is a less thought of Orange Road to financing your education. Private money could be family money, a personal loan, a gift or grants or scholarships offered through families or organizations.

There is more of this money out there than you think. you have to ask and you have to snoop around. Look into ethnic organizations, service clubs (I know I mentioned this already, but it's worth repeating), and community organizations. Finally, ask people you know, you will be surprised at how many resources are out there for the taking!

Education Orange Roads - Loans

Student loans are how most people think they will finance their education, and most do. I would encourage you to really play your journey if you take this Orange Road. There are so many other financial sources to go to school that I would say taking out loans would be my last resort.

You must first file with FAFSA. Most loan programs require you to do this, so don't get rejected, start here. Getting an education does not guarantee that high paying job you dream of, even if your school guarantees you a job when you graduate, what will you do if they don't perform on their promises? You can't discharge student loan debt in a personal bankruptcy so no matter what, you have to pay this money back. Click here to learn more about student loans and more!

Grants

Grants are distinctly different from both scholarships and student loans in that they are free gift money—so unlike student loans that must be repaid—and primarily need-based, compared to traditionally merit-based scholarships.

The funding sources for grants are:

• Federal
• State
• Popular Minority
• African American Students
• Hispanic Students
• Asian Students
• Grants for Women
• Popular Student-Specific Grants

You can learn more about Grants or "Free Money" by clicking here.

Orange Road: Government Financial Aid

Let me get right to the thing I think you are thinking about federal student aid, I bet you DO qualify financially. I thought that our family made too much money (heck, we're not wealthy, but we are certainly not living in poverty), when in fact I qualified for a Pell Grant - FREE Money!

This may seem like the obvious starting point to going back to school, but I didn't know how to apply. I suppose I just assumed I would qualify for any kind of financial aid, especially the kind that doesn't have to be paid back. The fact of the matter is there is TONS of money out there for the taking.

Visit FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) here. When I first googled FAFSA I got a site that looked legit and I went through the whole process (took almost an hour and you do need info from your tax returns - last two years) and at the end there was a request for my credit card to pay $70 to review and submit the application. I thought that was weird for Free Application for Federal Student Aid - turns out it is a company that reviews applications - I was on the wrong site. It was free and between FAFSA and the financial aid office at your school, you will have all the help you need. You can get to the correct site by clicking my link above or you can type in www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Paying - Orange Road - More Scholarships!

There are way too many scholarships out there for me to cover them all here, but look in the town where you live, check out the service clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Lyons and others for scholarship opportunities. It is my understanding that though there may be some parameters about how scholarships are awarded, I know that there is room for case-by-case evaluation of specific situations. When I was a member of Alameda Rotary, I was on the scholarship committee and we didn't have applications from anyone outside of high school. If you reach out to your Chamber of Commerce, you can get a list of all the service clubs in your area. Contact them and see what they offer for educational benefits and scholarships. If it doesn't say you have to be a certain age, apply! Every couple hundred (or thousand) dollars helps. I say contact your local service clubs and inquire, I know I'm going to!