Free College Can Happen for You

Full Scholarship – two words that could change your life.

Going to college for free can be like winning the lottery. Imagine throwing away several trash bags full of college scholarship offers. These can include a full ride, free room and board, graduate school money, etc. This is what happened to us, and I'll show you some important tips that can help you. Whether you're a student or a parent with college on your mind, read on to learn how you can minimize or completely obliterate your possible future college debt. This article will help make your college years much more affordable in the short and long term. Maybe something you read here will help you get free college. So, let's begin.

For some families, getting just one scholarship offer can be the difference between going to junior college and attending the perfect university.

There's no denying that it's getting harder and harder to afford college and launch yourself into the career of your dreams. The price of college tuition has increased by 600% in the last twenty-five years, and our nation is $2.1 trillion in college debt. The burden is being placed more and more on the students themselves as they have to pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees, transportation, and more. In fact, the median college debt is around $100,000, and it takes twenty years to pay off. College debt has become so crippling to many graduates that they are now often unable to afford a mortgage, get married, or have children.

As a parent of a pre-college child, you have spent the last nine to twelve years dedicating your time, money, and energy to your child's learning at school. Like most parents, higher education is your goal, and it's highly likely that you want your son or daughter to go to college.

Scholarships can still come your way even if you haven't managed to squirrel away enough money in a college fund. Guidance counselors may not have all the answers when it comes to finding the right scholarship opportunities. So, allow me to let you in on some information that may open a few doors and change your life.

Top Five ALPHA Secrets to Winning Scholarships and Free College

These little-known tips and secrets will help you stay ahead of the pack. It's surprising, but I have found that most public and private school students are either unaware of them or don't take the time to put these guidelines into practice.

1. Aim High. It's simple. Colleges love students with great test scores. Full scholarships are obtained by students who receive certain scores on their PSAT/NMSQT or SAT tests. There are usually several full-ride scholarships available in each department of most colleges. Colleges gladly help pay the way for students with the best scores. Colleges get their national rankings based on test scores, so aim high and attract the best colleges and their best offers.

2. Logic Rules. Did you know that the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, and ACT are tests of logic? They do not test exclusive knowledge or curriculum learned only at public or private schools. Many smart kids—from all academic and demographic backgrounds—do poorly on these tests because they don't understand the tests or how to look at the questions logically. Learn the logic and how to answer every question in 30 seconds or less, and then pass the tests with flying colors.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice! Succeeding on these standardized tests can simply be a matter of finding the numerous recurring patterns and learning and practicing test-taking techniques. You will find that the questions themselves very often point to the answers. Students can learn to answer them quickly once they discover the secret methods that many other successful test-takers have used.

4. Habit. Just decoding and knowing that there are repeated patterns within the tests is not enough. Now you have to make your progress undeniable. When you practice often enough, you'll create an automatic habit. Schedule twenty minutes a day or an hour or two a week to practice these techniques. If nothing else, it will stop you from having to cram at test time. You can find actual tests from the College Board.

5. Act! Big scholarship money starts to be thrown around in junior year. So, put time on your side. The earlier you take the PSAT/NMSQT, the better. It gives you plenty of time to work on your weaknesses. Generally, it's good to start preparing to take the tests in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade. Try not to wait until junior year for your first try. You may not know this, but students can start taking the SAT as early as seventh grade for talent searches, and there is no age limit.

The SAT and ACT are offered seven times a year, and every college accepts either one. Colleges usually take the highest scores from each section across different tests.

The SAT is used as an academic leveler. You see, because all schools weigh and calculate their scores differently, the SAT allows all students to be compared on the same playing field. This is why a 4.0 GPA may score differently from school to school. Your best bet for taking advantage of the many opportunities for free college is to aim for your desired test score.

Remember ALPHA: These are your most important keys to helping fund some or even all of your time at college!

Creative and Proven Ways to Pay for College

No family should have to be saddled with college loans! Your decision to go to college should be about choosing the best school for you. Here are some unique ways to get college money:

Pay for College with Milk Money!

Imagine getting money back on every dollar you spend and putting it away for college. And I mean anywhere from 1% to 35% that you could earn on everyday purchases, such as buying groceries, filling up your tank, eating out, booking travel, shopping online, and more. Upromise is a free service with over 12 million members.

Upromise allows you to:

• Shop with 600 participating retailers and get up to 35% back.
• Eat out using a participating credit card and get up to 8% back from more than 8,000 restaurants. Grocery and drug stores have thousands of eligible items, and when you scan a registered Upromise card at checkout, you could get up to 3% back. Make it a family effort. When your family and friends join, their purchases can also go toward your Upromise account and your child's education.

Be Low-Income!

Here's a priceless piece of information: Not making a lot of money can actually work to your advantage when it comes to paying for college. There are 72 colleges and universities that have replaced loans with grants and scholarships for low- or lower-income families. In some cases, colleges are counting lower income as less than $140,000. Visit FinAid for comprehensive information. Many of these are Ivy League institutions, and, in order to qualify, some of them assess only the income earned the year prior to your student applying to college.

There are also colleges that cap their loans, and for some, the figure is as low as $5,000 total for four years. Students with low GPAs are also eligible for scholarship money. Take a look at the organization called Colleges That Change Lives for more information on finding the right college for you.

Credit for Prior Learning

Entering college with credit for subjects previously studied can not only save you money but also allow students to skip what they already know, graduate early, or even pursue another degree. AP, Dual Credit, and CLEP/DSST are some of the ways that students can cut down the cost of college. Check out a program called "Freshman Year for Free." It is a free program that allows students to complete their first year at home. Students just pay for any tests associated with the classes. More information can be found at Modern States.

Working for Your Education

Students can receive a completely free education by working at the college throughout their school years. At this type of school, none of the students pay because everyone works. Some of these schools are:

• Ecclesia College, Arkansas
• Berea College, Kentucky
• College of the Ozarks, Missouri
• Blackburn College, Illinois

Free College Due to College Endowments

There are a good number of colleges that offer free education through grants or endowments provided by the colleges themselves. Each college will have its own selection criteria. Students who have military aspirations and the right SAT score can inquire with the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and so on.

Other colleges that fall into this category are:

• Webb Institute, New York
• Curtis Institute of Music, Pennsylvania
• Barclay College, Kansas

Higher education can be a life-changing experience, and students who get high test scores are usually the ones who receive incredible scholarships. For us, learning the test secrets was more than worth it. But, as you can see from everything I've written about today, a high test score is just the beginning! I hope I have helped you learn how to navigate the complex arrangements surrounding college funding so you can find it easier to follow your heart when it comes to studying for your dream life.

Besides, we earned free college, and so can you.