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I’m an 18-Year-Old New Jersey High School Student with a Part-time Job That Doesn’t Pay Very Well, and I Have No Money Saved for College Yet. What Can I Do?

By Elizabeth Kaminsky

Dear Future Student,

Congratulations! You have just taken the first step toward your college education by saying that you want to go! College may be expensive, but there are many ways to limit those expenses while getting a great education. How do I know? I did it. I was the first person in my family to go to college, because we just couldn't afford it. We lived in a rental-assistance apartment, and my mom was a single working parent who never finished high school. It was her dream for me to go to college, but most important, it was my dream, too. Here's how we did it:

1. I went to my guidance counselor at school. Thankfully, he was a pretty good guy, and he helped me fill out the financial-aid paperwork. Once I filled all that out, I found out that I could qualify for some grants for low-income families, and I could also qualify for student loans.

2. I worked hard to keep my grades up. That helped me apply for scholarships from my old elementary school and my church. I went to both of them in my senior year of high school and asked if they gave scholarships. I filled out some papers, gave them a copy of my report card, and. on graduation day, I got $500 from each of them. That paid for books and some fees.

Many community organizations give scholarships to kids from the neighborhood. Kiwanis, Rotary, Optimists, Elks, churches, synagogues, clubs and businesses often have scholarships that go unclaimed because no one applies for them. Your school should know about them, but if not, start asking the adults in your community. Tell everybody you know that you want to go to college and are looking for help. That's how I found out about the one from my church.

3. Taking core courses at the local community college is a great way to save money. In New Jersey, most community-college courses are about $70 per credit, or $210 per three-credit class, not including the fees. Many successful students take their required math, science, history and English classes at the community college, and then transfer to a four-year school to complete their degree. Rutgers, our state university, has agreements with many of the community colleges in New Jersey, so transferring credits is pretty easy. Most other schools do, too. Community colleges have great libraries and technology centers, and most even have athletic facilities and childcare. These schools are a great value and a great way to ease into college life.

4. If you want to start right up with a four-year school, your best bet is to stay in state and commute to school. That way, you don't have to pay for room, board and food on campus. New Jersey state colleges give a great tuition break for New Jersey residents.

5. Work-study programs or internships are great ways to get free education and even earn a little extra money, too. Some programs offer credit for working at an on-campus job—for instance, in the library or the admissions office. Other programs offer pay and could give you a break on other things like student fees. Work-study programs easily fit into the student's schedule. I did work-study during the school year and then worked at other jobs during holiday and summer breaks to earn even more money for school. The best part is, these jobs count as work experience and will help you build your resume for when you graduate.

6. Give it some hustle! I never stopped looking for ways to make extra money. And I kept re-applying for grants and scholarships every year, even if I got turned down. It paid off in my senior year, when I finally qualified for a small scholarship ($250) that paid for my books. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it was a great help, and it meant that I didn't have to find that money someplace else.

7. If you are a very motivated person and you have access to a computer, you could take some courses on-line. These courses cost money—some of them are very expensive—and the amount of financial aid may not be as much as you would find for a community college or four-year school. But, if the credits are transferable and you are the type of person who works well alone, this option might be for you.

Whatever you decide, know that there are ways to get a college education without going broke. And don't believe all the hype about "name" schools. State and community colleges provide high-quality educations that stack up with the best of them. In fact, several of our New Jersey colleges make the top lists every year. I have also learned that once you graduate, that’s really all that matters to employers. Where you went to school is never as important as the fact that you finished and got your degree.

Hang in there. You can do it!

______________________________

Elizabeth Kaminsky is the owner of Outburst Creations, a communications consulting company and artists’ cooperative. She has extensive experience in human resources, investor relations and adult education. Currently, she teaches continuing-education courses in personal finance and family issues for a New Jersey university.