Did you know earning too much money over the summer can actually cost your student valuable college financial aid? Or that how she spends summer vacation could actually be more important than her ACT or SAT scores?
“Getting into and paying for college is more competitive than ever,” says college funding advisor Ben Barber. “Many colleges are placing as much or more emphasis on a student’s community service record or ability to write a meaningful essay as on test scores or grade point averages.”
Barber is a featured speaker at seminars that focus on ways to make paying for college more affordable. He shares key strategies for reducing the overall cost of a college education, including maximizing your financial aid eligibility, targeting the right colleges for merit-based scholarships, and finding powerful ways to pay for college even when you don’t qualify for need-based aid.
According to Barber, schools are placing a growing emphasis on extracurricular activities and leadership skills as a way of differentiating applicants competing for limited scholarships and aid awards. In addition to a well rounded curriculum and good grades, students should use every opportunity to enhance their “high school resume” with an eye toward getting the best aid offer. That means putting some extra thought into how they spend their summer vacations.
“What many students don’t realize is that there are ways to use your summer job, community service project or even your vacation to develop skills and experiences that college admissions officers love to see,” says Barber. “The sooner you start, the greater your chances of getting into your top choice school or capturing assistance awarded based on special skills and interests.”
Here are some top tips recommended by experts for making the summer count:
Read a book
Spending the summer reading may seem like the last way a student would like to spend the precious days of summer. However, local public libraries are loaded with great resources for preparing for the college search. Spending a week or two reading up on what different schools have to offer and how to make the most of campus visits and college interviews can pay off in a big way, particularly during the sophomore or junior summers.
Hit the road
For those fortunate enough to squeeze a short trip in before returning to school, using the opportunity to explore colleges, museums or fairs can enhance a student's cultural experience. Students who spend part of the summer with step-parents or relatives might learn a lot by working a day or two of job shadowing into their visit to explore new career directions.
Make a difference
Service learning hours are quickly becoming a requirement on many college campuses. Volunteering and community service are a great way to gain experience or explore a hobby while making a contribution to the community.
Write a story
Making a few simple journal entries about a significant summer experience–good or bad–could provide excellent material for college entrance essays. Not only does it reflect a student's interests and ability to learn from life experience, journaling helps develop valuable writing and communication skills. And don't forget the video essay–many creative types are using them to supplement the college application.
Get an edge
Taking a summer course to catch up, brush up or get ahead is a great investment. Test prep courses, honors programs or summer college courses help set a student apart from the competition. If accepted by the college, the credits earned also help reduce tuition or open space for additional electives during the college years.
Grab some cash
Don't discount the value of a good summer job to stash a few dollars for coming expenses. A good job develops valuable job skills and a sense of responsibilty that serve a lifetime.
As college costs continue to rise, student debt is approaching record levels. The Project on Student Debt recently reported that the average graduate carried $24,000 in debt along with his diploma in 2009, up 6% from 2008. Illinois graduates faired slightly better at just over $22,000–with 60% of students borrowing to pay for school.
Barber is Co-Founder and Partner at College Planning Partners (www.MyCollegePlanningPartner.com) and presents community education workshops in conjunction with the American College Funding Association.
