Residents Learn to Beat College Costs at Library

Having to face astronomical college tuition costs is not a pretty picture.

But don't lose hope because there are ways to get a higher education without emptying your bank account.

College Financial Aid Expert Barry Fox recently held a workshop presentation about how to beat college costs at the Massapequa Public Library

He discussed savvy ways to save thousands of dollars including advice to fill out financial aid forms in the coming weeks.

"As college costs continue to rise, concerns about how to pay for college grows. I am here to help," Fox said.

"During the workshop, I walk them through the whole process. I make it plain and simple for everyone to understand. We go through the financial aid form line by line."

Fox knows first hand the high cost of attending college, he has been presenting college aid workshops for the past 20 years and is determined to assist individuals who need funds to further their education.

"Paying for college is not a one year affair," he said. " A bachelors degree takes four years and a Masters can take up to two years. When most students graduate from college, they are in so much debt and if you don't pay it back on time, it screws up your credit report which affects you when you want to make a major purchase like a car or a home."

In an effort to save thousands of dollars that would have been spent on college loans, Fox shared his wealth of knowledge about 'outside' scholarships. An 'outside' scholarship is scholarship money that comes from sources other than the college or government. '

Outside' scholarships can come from high schools, local and national corporations, community organizations or private sources. 

He also suggested researching websites including: FastWeb!; the Federal Government; New York State  and Scholarships for Women .

To improve your chances of earning a degree that won't swallow your finances whole, here are a couple of steps to follow :

1.  Apply to affordable schools (apply to at least one in state public university or community college).
2.  It is wise to fill out financial aid forms in early January using estimates based on the previous year's taxes. Since many schools hand out most of their aid money in late winter and early spring, the best time to file is in January. "Paying for college can be an intense process and this free workshop helps," said Fox.