Figuring Out How to Pay for College

Well last week was scholarship week at SMHS and I am so glad that I did not have to stress about it. I was one of the few seniors who was able to complete everything before the very last day.

Over the past year, I have applied for so many scholarships it is unreal. My only concern is not receiving as many as I hoped I would, then all my hard work would have been for nothing.

I have already been told by the University of Texas at San Antonio, the college that I have decided to attend, that I will not be receiving the Terry Scholarship nor any scholarship through the Honors College. As of right now, my only chances of getting a scholarship through UTSA are general scholarships.

On the bright side, I have received my first official scholarship by the Order of the Eastern Star that amounts to a grand total of $500. Don't get me wrong, I am glad for it, but I really hope that I receive bigger scholarships than that.

With only two months of my public education remaining, I have been getting really nervous about how I am going to pay for the next 4 years of my life. I have been crunching the numbers and I have figured out it is going to be costing me roughly $20,000 a year to go to school. That's more money than a used car! And the sad part is, even though this sounds like a lot of money, some schools cost nearly double that, not to mention that the price to attend a college increase every year.

In order to prepare for this huge investment, I have decided that I will be working at least 30 hours a week during the summer. Though I know most of the money I earn won't be going towards tuition, it will still be going to college related expenses. For example, I am going to need new sheets that will fit the size of my new bed, storage units, towels, dishes, and so on.

One thing I am so glad I don't have to worry about is buying a refrigerator and microwave, because they come with the dorm.

I am aware that there are plenty more expenses that I will need to worry about, but as of right now, I am going to set it in the back of my mind. I hope all of my finances will eventually find a way to get paid for without using student loans.

- Iris