How to save money when applying to college

Almost everyone is going to tell you that applying for college is important. Very few people, though, will tell you how expensive just applying for college can be. Application fees alone can amount to hundreds of dollars. Visiting campuses, especially those out of state, is often unobtainable for some students.

To help save some money, students should plan ahead. High school students should narrow their list of possible schools. Applying for every college under the sun may seem like a good way to make sure you get in somewhere, but that would actually be unbelievably expensive. Write a list of the schools you want to apply to, research their application fees, and decide what you can afford.

Try categorizing the schools to decide where to apply. Here's an example of possible categories: low odds of being accepted, high odds of being accepted, offer great financial aid, and dream schools. Some schools may appear under more than one category, and seeing where they fall on the list will help you prioritize your applications. If a college offers low acceptance odds, little financial aid, and is not a dream school, then avoid wasting much money applying there.

Go to colleges' admissions Web sites to find out how much the application fees are so you can budget and save accordingly. You can even try contacting the admissions office to find out if you can receive an application fee waiver (which would mean you can apply for free!). Just be sure to ask early.

Visiting college campuses may be hard for students to afford, especially if your parents have a very limited amount of time off from work. Why not have your family vacation double as a college visit? Many campuses are located near historic towns, amusement parks, or beaches. You can discuss with your parents the possibility of taking your summer or spring break trip to see the frontrunner of you college choices, and spend the rest of your vacation enjoying the surrounding attractions.

Before you go, make sure you get the most out of the limited time you will have on the campus. Write a list of all the questions you want answered, the names of the people you would like to talk to and where to find them, and the parts of the school you must see.

Even if your family cannot afford the trip at all, you may still be able to go. Some high schools will organize trips to near-by universities, so ask your guidance counselor. Or you may be able to tag along on a friend's campus visit. Some colleges have virtual campus tours on their Web sites, along with admissions personnel available for  live internet chats. So, even if you cannot be there in person, you can still be informed.

Readers, what do you think you? Are application fees difficult for students to manage financially? Do you think campus visits are worth the expense?

Reference:

Davis, K. W. & Burt, E. (2006, July 5). Make the most of a campus tour. Kiplinger. Retrieved June 8, 2012, from http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/07/campustour.html?si=1.