Getting into college is one thing. Paying for college is another. Here are some links to help you get started:
www.collegeboard.org
www.collegenet.com
www.usnews.com
For U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, it's important to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (www.fafsa.ed.gov) early. This form should be submitted around the same time as the college application. FAFSA allows U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for need-based scholarships and grants, work study and government loans.
It is important to consider the cost of tuition when deciding on a school. However, some schools offer
merit-based
scholarships not to only U.S. citizens and
eligible non-citizens, but also to international
students. These scholarships can often make a
very expensive school the cheapest choice. For
example, one community college student from Poland
was getting ready to transfer to a 4-year college.
She applied to a prestigious private university
and a well-respected public school. She was accepted
at both schools, but it turned out that the private
university offered her a significant scholarship.
In fact, the scholarship was so generous that
it was less expensive for the student to attend
the pricier private university! Check individual
schools to see what kinds of scholarship opportunities
they offer. Applying early for scholarships
is also suggested.
At LaGuardia Community College and
CUNY we offer these need-based scholarships and merit-based
scholarships, to find information visit: www.lagcc.cuny.edu/sfs/nycprograms.aspx.
Transferring credits can also help decrease the cost of college. Have you been to college before? If yes, be sure to include a transcript from your previous college to ensure that as many credits transfer as possible. This means that you may get credit for courses you've already taken, thus decreasing the amount of time you'll need to study to complete your degree. For information about transferring credits from one CUNY college to another, please visit: www.tipps.cuny.edu.
Scholarship information is also available at the Career & Transfer Center, C-266, or call 1-718-482-5185.
New York City Colleges Comparative Tuition and Fees |
