College, Quicker: 24 Practical Ways to Save Money and Get Your Degree Faster - Softcover

Stephens, Kate

Softcover

ISBN 10: 149261338X ISBN 13: 9781492613381

Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2015

Synopsis

You can save time and money on your college education. And you can have an unforgettable adventure along the way. Step-by-step, College, Quicker shows you how!

On her first day of college, Kate Stephens had no government aid, no private scholarships, no significant savings―and no idea how she was going to pay for her education. But she graduated with zero debt in just two years. Her secret? Finding faster, less expensive ways to earn credits toward her degree.

In College, Quicker, Stephens guides you to an affordable education, sharing practical tips on how to:

Design your graduation plan. Are you still in high school? Already in college? Get the lowdown on how colleges' transfer credit policies work and sample schedules to organize your plan.

Choose the credit-earning options that work best for you. Are you a good test taker? Do you feel cooped up in classrooms? Basics, benefits, and bottom-line financial savings help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Get started now! Hit the ground running with step-by-step instructions plus insider tips, common mistakes to avoid, and bonus opportunities.

24 Money-Saving Options for ANY Kind of Student:

AP and IB exams
Dual enrollment
CLEP, DSST, TECEP
Internships
Military transcripts
Prior learning portfolios
Alternative spring breaks
And more!

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

LIFE. During childhood, I played this game incessantly. I delighted in the virtually endless combinations. I could work as a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant; live in a mansion, log cabin, or Tudor style; and drive a purple, yellow, or green car. But while I often chose different occupations, residences, and automobiles, I almost always selected the college before career path. Even as young as five, I understood the value of a bachelor's degree. You'd have more career options and could earn more money. So without much thought, I asked the banker for $100k in loan slips to cover my education costs. Even with the interest, I would accumulate enough to settle my debt after a couple PAY DAYs.

Although this decision was easy in the game, it was much harder in the real world. As I grew older, I discovered the truth about the price of college. It didn't cost one or two PAY DAYs; it cost 10 years of barely scraping by. Not wanting this life, I decided to create my own path. I would still graduate with a college diploma but without student loans. Obviously, this was easier said than done. I didn't have an Education Savings Account, a 529 Plan, or a trust fund. Just a few hundred dollars at a local bank. Nearly broke, I would need to roll up my sleeves and bring in the money myself.

I first tried the government aid route. While I didn't live on skid row, I didn't reside on Park Avenue either. I came from a middle-class family. And due to our income bracket, I expected some state or federal grants. To attain this money, I filed the FAFSA and patiently waited for my official financial aid award letters. In the spring, they arrived from the colleges I'd been accepted to. Most of the schools awarded me a small amount of scholarship money, but Uncle Sam offered me only loans. The land of the free didn't give me a penny free. Yet even though the state and federal financial aid systems had failed me, I wasn't ready to quit. I had a couple other moneymaking options. One down, two to go.

Next, I tried the private scholarships route. Like thousands of other high school students, I searched Fastweb for scholarships offered by organizations other than colleges. Unfortunately, I wasn't eligible for many. But the few I did qualify for, I applied to over the next several weeks. I spent hours on the computer; I wrote essay after essay after essay. Yet my valiant effort was all for naught. I didn't win one. That's right, not even one. And with schoolwork continuing to mount, I decided to move on to the most reliable moneymaking venture. Two down, only one to go.

For my last attempt, I tried the job route. Although I started babysitting at age 12, I never worked more than a few hours a week. And $50 wouldn't pay for a textbook, let alone tuition. I needed steady employment. Since an espresso shop exists on literally every corner in Seattle, I applied for a barista position. Within a month, I was manning the cash register and the coffeemaker. But between serving and studying, I had little free time. And with my minimum-wage paycheck, I couldn't tuck much away. By the time I gave my two-weeks' notice, I had stashed only around $2,000 in savings. A far cry from the $120K college sticker price. Three down, none left.

At this point, I wanted to throw in the towel, wave the white flag. Maybe my goal wasn't achievable. Just when I was ready to surrender, I remembered a line from a late-night infomercial. "There's got to be a better way." Cliché as it might sound, the TV host was right. I had tried the traditional routes: government aid, private scholarships, and part-time work. And they left me tired and tapped out. I needed an alternative. I racked my brain but came up with nothing. What was this "better way?"

Unbeknownst to me, the answer sat right under my nose. During high school, I participated in a summer scholars program and a dual enrollment program. I desired college academics as well as college experiences. In addition to fulfilling both of these wants, the programs also helped me earn almost a semester of college credit. But since I was too focused on winning essay scholarships and working extra shifts my senior year, I forgot about this perk. However, I was quickly reminded during a visit to the registrar's office at my university. After looking over my college transcripts from the high school programs, the transcript analyst made an astute observation. Because of my previously earned credit, I could possibly graduate early.

It was my "aha!" moment. I had at last discovered the "better way." And it had nothing to do with making more money. It dealt with the root of the problem: time. Instead of attending my university for four years, I would go for only two years and complete the remaining 60 credits elsewhere. That meant having to pay just two years' worth of high tuition, room, and board costs, instead of four. But once again, a question lingered in my mind. How would I obtain these credits?

Compared to the first one, this question didn't have a single answer. I could earn credits through many different kinds of courses, exams, and activities. But as there was no universal list or comprehensive resource explaining all of these opportunities, I'd have to find them myself. I sought out suggestions from counselors, teachers, peers, and online forums. And if an idea seemed plausible and affordable, I gave it a go. Fortunately, my hard work paid off. At age 20, I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree. But my 4.0 GPA wasn't even the best part. Because college ended up costing nearly half my original estimate, I had just enough funds from university scholarships and part-time work to cover it and walk away with my diploma debt-free.

Like me, you might have tried to pay for college through the traditional routes. But as you've come to realize, four or more years of college aren't often easily paid for by government aid, private scholarships, and minimumwage paychecks. However, by following my "better way," you can achieve an affordable education through an early graduation. Yet, unlike me, you don't have to go down this road alone. Since I've already done the research, you can forgo muddling through questionable suggestions from school counselors or confusing information on online forums. This book will serve as a clear road map, showing you exactly how to graduate in less time. While there is no surefire guarantee, my tried and tested strategies should help you earn college credits quickly and fly through your degree.

But I didn't write this book merely so you can graduate early. I wrote it so you can experience the benefits of an early graduation. And whether you shave off one semester or two years from the typical four (or more common nowadays, five or six), you'll reap these rewards. First and foremost, you'll save money. By not spending as much on tuition, room, and board, you'll reduce or even eliminate the need for student loans. Second, but no less important, you'll save time. By not spending as many terms relearning material you previously acquired in high school or taking courses that don't interest you to fulfill graduation requirements, you'll have the ability to chase after your dreams sooner. Ultimately, graduating early isn't a carefree, free ride, but it can give you the freedom from paying loans and the freedom to pursue your dreams.

Review

"I am very impressed with the practical, applicable information in College, Quicker. Kate writes in a style that is easy to relate to, with anecdotal examples that should make students-and parents-see that the steps are doable. I seriously think that every student should get a copy in 8th or 9th grade. Even if students only choose a few of the options, the opportunity to save time, money, and stress during college is huge. Having had a daughter in college a couple of years ago, I wish that she had attempted a few CLEP exams, if for no other reason than she could have skipped some lower-level classes and progressed to major-related courses sooner. She was an honors and AP student in high school and undoubtedly could have benefitted from this book." - Roger Wilson, Director for Financial Aid Services, Northwest University

"As a graduating high school senior, looking at the cost of my next four years in college can be daunting. Reading about smart and efficient ways to stay on track (and even get ahead!) with college credits has been so valuable. I highly recommend College, Quicker to anyone trying to sort through the challenge of paying for college!" - Emily Jane Hanaway, incoming freshman, Texas Christian University

"College, Quicker is jam-packed with college information, including credits, finances, and even covering resources for those in the military. As the mother of four boys, with two in college and one in the military, I will use this book to help guide their next steps. This is a must-read for new and returning students of all levels, as well as parents. If you ever wanted a compact, easy-to-read resource covering the ins-and-outs of options in college, this is it! By covering what questions to ask, distance learning, standardized exams, and a 'do-it-yourself' section, this book is paramount to success. Save immense time, money, and frustration with just one book!" - Mollie Sharp, BSN, RN, and ARNP student, military wife, and mother of four

"My husband and I are planning to help our three teenagers pay for college within the next six years. When we added up the cost, that dream seemed daunting. I wish I had all the resources Kate Stephens compiled in College, Quicker when we began planning. It would have saved us so much time and second guessing. As it turned out, we found a public high school with a dual-enrollment program, offering 40 college credits during four years of high school with no cost to us. That's a cost and time savings of a year-and-a-half of college for each kid. This is just one of the many types of cost-cutting examples called 'Fast-Track Opportunities' in College, Quicker. Think of this as a book of college discounts where you can save tons of money without sacrificing the quality of education. Kate's research about exams, dual-enrollment programs, and other nontraditional forms of education is extensive. Her personal experiences provide insight and entertaining information. I would highly recommend this book for parents and students with their sights set on a college education." - Stephanie Ivan, mother of a first-year college student, a high school junior, and a high school freshman

"Clear, concise, and conversational, while also practical, informative, and motivating! I wish a one-stop guide such as this was available when I first forayed into college classes; I earned my bachelor's degree by taking nine years of night classes while working a day job, paying along the way. Talk about the slow boat to a degree! Kate has outlined how to bypass that slow boat by taking advantage of practical and realistic ways to engage in systems already in place. This is a must-read for anyone embarking on a college education, or for anyone who has already started in college and needs some guidance on creating a realistic and attainable graduation plan." - Cynthia Reese, NW Marketing Manager, Environmental Science Associates

"I never knew there were ways to get college credits quicker! Kate's book is very informative and easy-to-read. The chapter about CLEP exams is of particular interest to me since I fall into the category of a nontraditional student. Having step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and take this test is extremely helpful! I'll be using this book in the near future." - Alla Karpenko, student

"This book is a treasure map to your life's success! Not only does Kate show you how to make college quicker and less expensive, but she also gives you steps that are the cornerstones to a successful life: research, plan, execute, and follow up, then do it all again. Every student about to enter high school should have this book in their must-read and study plan. Parents should be reading this with their students to help them see the possibilities and integrate the steps into a lifetime practice. I am getting this book as a gift to my nieces and nephews for their kids!" - John C. Erdman, President and CEO, Ideal Companies

"This book will be a great asset to any teen already looking ahead to college or in need of guidance when it comes to making these important choices. Stephens has crafted a book that gives real insight into the confusing and often frustrating process that paying for college can be. " - VOYA

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 149261338X
• ISBN 13: 9781492613381
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288