Page 11 - Education Guide

Alternative ways to afford college

college education is which also includes free text-
one of the largest books and practice questions,
expenses you’re likely totally free.
A to have in your life- “This is a great on-ramp to
time, second only to buying a college and an opportunity to
home. Unfortunately, the cost save both time and up to 25 EDUCATION
has increased dramatically in percent of the rising cost of a
recent years. degree,” says Steve Klinsky,
Tuition plus fees at four- founder and CEO of Modern
year public colleges jumped 71 States Education Alliance.
percent over the last decade, To learn more, visit mod-
forcing many would-be degree ernstates.org. GUIDE
seekers to delay or even forgo ■ Attending community col-
attending college. For others, lege for the first two years and
it’s meant heading to school then transferring to a four-year
while taking on large amounts institution offers another op-
of debt. portunity to cut costs. Dual-
Today, however, new solu- StatePoint enrollment programs, whereby
tions are popping up to ad- New solutions are popping up to address the college affordability crisis. students take college courses
dress the college affordability at a city or community college
crisis. Most people know money on tuition. Alliance, a charity dedicated while still in high school, are
about grants and scholarships. ■ The College Board’s CLEP, to making a college degree another great way to head to
Students can now also con- while not as well-known as more affordable and attainable college with some credits
sider alternate paths to college AP, is a 50-year-old credit-by- for everyone. Students can use under your belt.
credit, helping them graduate examination program accepted Modern States’ 40+ tuition- More than one-third of
faster and more affordably, say by more than 2,900 schools free online courses — all Americans ages 30 and young- VIEW
experts. and universities. Check to see taught by top college profes- er who haven’t attended col-
Here’s what you need to if the colleges you are consid- sors — to prepare for the AP lege attribute their decision to SPECIAL
know: ering accept CLEP credit, and and CLEP exams. the high cost, according to a THIS
■ The average cost of a typi- then work hard to succeed on ■ One advantage of CLEP Federal Reserve survey. In
cal undergraduate college one or more of the 32 CLEP tests is that they are offered fact, U.S. student loan debt
course is $1,782. In high exams. CLEP courses and every day at thousands of stands at an all-time high of
school, take as many Ad- exams are rigorous, but shorter testing centers. AP exams can $1.34 trillion. Don’t miss out EDUCATION ADVERTISING
vanced Placement and College and not as challenging as AP. only be taken in high schools on an education or let it saddle
Level Examination Program ■ Consider new programs in May. Modern States is pay- you with debt. Seek out alter-
courses as you can handle, such as “Freshman Year for ing the AP and CLEP exam native methods for earning
increasing your opportunity to Free,” an initiative developed fees for the first 10,000 test- college credits. GUIDE SECTION
earn college credit and save by Modern States Education takers, making the program, StatePoint OF

Navigating the learning curve of college visits ONLINE THE

AT

Finding the perfect college is strategy for visiting college list can be pared down to a real- can be dead zones for college MORNING
kind of like investigative journal- campuses and getting the most istic number of colleges to visit. life, which won't give your stu-
ism — you must do loads of out of each tour. Prepare to be ■ Get SAT/ACT prep sup- dent a real glimpse of the cam- CALL
research, ask all the right ques- schooled by Dr. Richard Bavar- port. If some of the dream pus. Call ahead to schedule
tions and visit the scene to ia, senior vice president of edu- schools seem out of range due to tours, and make sure college is
gather first-hand knowledge and cation outreach for tutoring unsatisfactory test scores, get in session and students are at- SUNDAY,
experience. authority Sylvan Learning. your student SAT help from tending classes so potential
College visits should start ■ Cast a wide net. If your local tutoring experts. The level applicants see the whole experi-
percolating in the parental and high-schooler hasn't done so of competition to get into top ence. THEMORNINGCALL.COM/SPECIALSECTIONS
student lobes toward the end of already, help them compile a list schools is more intense than ■ Ask smart questions. En-
junior year and the start of sen- of potential universities. Ask ever. courage your kid to question FEBRUARY 18,
ior year. Road trips may be what aspects of college life — "The number of early admis- everyone — students, profes-
necessary, and several at that. sports, extracurriculars, campus/ sion applications has increased sors, advisors, librarians,
The most comprehensive virtual enrollment size, dorm life, reli- dramatically, with some uni- coaches and more. Ask the same
tours, G-chats and online scour- gious affiliations, academic versities seeing double-digit questions to compare answers. 2018
ing simply cannot replace the strengths and offerings — are jumps. To begin the college Parents, remember to hit key
experience of seeing real dorm important to them and use those process, most students applying topics that students might forget,
rooms or eating in actual dining criteria. to competitive colleges now take like financial aid and safety. You
halls. Mark choices as dream, tar- the SAT/ACT more than once," can usually trust them to inquire
As any tooth-and-nails jour- get and safety schools based on says Bavaria. about food selection and social
nalist will tell you about a hot your child's academic perform- ■ Go while college is in ses- activities.
story, parents should have a ance and test scores. The initial sion. Weekends and holidays NewsUSA 11