Started and finished, by this point. Alright, first, I would highly recommend that you attempt to interview a financial aid officer (or someone knowledgable about the aid policies of the school, at least) to see what they offer; there might be financial aid available that’s not easy to discover simply from a website or other online source. I discovered that my (now) alma mater had a policy of offering tuition-free enrollment to anyone who met certain qualifications and kept up a decent grade during their academic career; I was able to finish school without paying one cent in commission because of that initial interview.

Second, see what financial assistance you can get from working at the school; at my alma mater, you could stay in the dorms for free if you were an RA, and you could become an RA in your sophomore year. Had I been more willing to deal with other students as an RA, I could have gotten my entire education for the price of one year of room and board. Add in the money I had been earning as a TA, and my education might have paid for itself.

And finally, once you graduate, consolidate your student loan debt (assuming you have any, after those first two tips ;) ) and start paying it down, preferrably paying more than the minimum due. Besides cutting down on the interest you will pay, I know that American Educational Services (AES) will not require you to pay a minimum monthly amount if you’ve paid enough ahead of time; this can be a life saver if you suddenly lose your source of income.

Roger’s last blog post..Great Debates: Traditional vs. Roth IRAs

Any useful tips since you have started your college career?

MLR

What country are you from?

I find where we have FAFSA other countries more than make up for in subsidized pricing (if you live there).

If you live in the US as a non-native, a lot of states are starting to offer up assistance!

MLR

Roger’s last blog post..Marginal Tax Rates and You