Many people believe that it is only the bank statements which the financial aid offices use to determine whether or not you are eligible for the aid. This is nothing but a mere assumption.
Even if you can afford the college tuition you may still receive financial assistance as the aid offices also take into account factors like the number of dependents, commodities and mortgage. Since the FAFSA application is free of cost there is no reason why you should not avail the opportunity. Even if you think that you might not get the aid, apply for it anyway because the financial aid officers might surprise you.
Given the state of the economy, it is wise to always keep your fingers crossed. We have to give consideration to the fact that the government has limited funds, so the family of the student should at least contribute the money which is within it’s financial range instead of just relying on a hundred percent financial aid. Moreover, you should try to avoid private student loans as they may not be the best way to to cover for your college tuition. This is because there are a lot of strings attached to private loan when you get one, which you may never realize until it is the time to clear them off.
Nowadays, a lot of students have to take up many part time jobs to make up for their college tuition. However, the long hour of working is also affecting the academic performance of the students so it is somewhat pointless. The government needs to adopt better incentives so that the students who belong to the lower socioeconomic strata are not deprived off the college education. We have been hearing from the government that there will be increase in the education grants and financial aid, and though the future seems hopeful with all these promises, nothing can be validated yet.
In the meantime before an effective plan is implemented you should try to budget your expenses. Cut down on your additional expenses as much as you can so the money you can contribute towards your child’s education is sufficient enough even if a partial financial aid is granted.