Author: Going Merry

If you’re new to the scholarship application process, there’s a lot of uncharted territory and even the most organized aspiring college students could use a little parental assistance. To help students win awards and offset the rising cost of college education, we’ve put together a few tips on how parents can reduce their child’s workload, unspool the complexities of financial aid, and avoid stepping on any toes.

While earning a bachelor’s degree is a step toward establishing a fulfilling and financially stable future, choosing a career path in an ever-evolving job market is just as, if not more, important. As a graduate entering a competitive workforce or a current college student trying to decide which major to choose, you might wonder which career paths are in high demand. To set you up for success, we’ve compiled a list of the 17 most in-demand, high-paying jobs of the future.

As you prepare to declare a field of study, carefully consider your major. Ask yourself important questions. For example, what are you passionate about? Is your university known for a specific major? And, of course, how important is future earning potential? Particularly if you’re taking on student loans to afford your degree, seeking a high-paying job after college could be important to you. No matter your financial situation, we’ve put together a ranking of the highest-paying college majors to add more data to your decision.

With the cost of college rising by about 7% annually, the days when students could work a part-time job to cover all their college expenses may be gone for good. Still, for many families, the question remains: should parents pay for college? Some parents would like to support their child’s college education but aren’t sure whether or not they can afford to chip in. Others might not be convinced that higher education is totally necessary, and therefore struggle to justify the astronomical cost. If you’re not sure how that affects your personal situation, read on to find out what solution might be right for your family.

Scholarships are one of the best ways to help fund your college education. But unlike financial aid or grants, which award funding based on financial need, scholarships require a bit more work than just filling out a FAFSA. Most awards are merit-based, so even if you meet the eligibility requirements, you’ll still have to put in a bit of elbow grease to win over the selection committee. Fortunately, there are many ways to demonstrate merit. You don’t necessarily have to be at the top of your class to win big. All you need is to think strategically, work hard, and be persistent. To help you do just that, we compiled this list of 20 strategies for how to win college scholarships.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Department of Education accredited nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in 2020. With so many options, picking a school can be daunting — especially when you consider how much your choice of alma mater could impact your future. The best way to make this process easier is to break it down into bite-sized steps. So, before you make your list of schools, ask yourself these 17 questions to narrow down your options and determine which college is right for you.

Scholarships are an incredible source of financial assistance for college students. Unlike loans, scholarship funds are free money. That means you don’t have to pay them back over time — an assurance that can vastly reduce financial stress and help you focus more on your studies. In fact, recent reporting from Forbes has shown that private scholarship recipients are more likely to graduate from college than those with just student loans. Financial aid and student loans are excellent sources of support, but college scholarships are one of the best ways to reduce the debt burden associated with pursuing higher education. If you’re on the fence about applying, here are a few more reasons to make scholarships part of your financial aid strategy.