When people think about handling the cost of a higher education, they usually think they have no hope of getting support with this expense. Luckily, that’s not necessarily the case! It can be easy to be overwhelmed when it comes to dealing with the process of education. That is why DegreeSnap exists. This is a resource that contains a variety of information and tips when it comes to a higher education!
What is DegreeSnap?
Going through all of this information can be a little confusing. That is why DegreeSnap may be able to help. This is a resource that students can use whether they are:
New Students
There are always new students looking to begin their education journey regardless of their current situation or background. Getting a higher education can be beneficial for a number of reasons. It can help in all parts of life whether social, personal, or professional. DegreeSnap likes to highlight the experiences that new students can expect when beginning their education journey. This includes how new students will:
- Come across people from a variety of different backgrounds
- Better understand adult life on their own
- Become familiar with their instructors
Understanding the Process
Through DegreeSnap, students can better understand the process that goes into becoming a new student. This includes:
- Proper Preparation
- Navigating Acceptance
- Handling Being a New College Student
- Getting First Hand Advice
Proper Preparation
Technically preparation starts before college. In high school, a student’s cumulative GPA, choice of classes, standardized test scores, activities, and letters of recommendation are a part of preparing for college. However, some might argue that the most important part of preparing for college is figuring out the right school! The best school will be one that aligns with the student’s needs. Once a student finds the right school, they will need to submit an application. This would include providing documents on the information we mentioned above.
Navigating Acceptance
If everything works out, that will mean the student has been accepted. Now they have to figure out how to handle the cost of education. Luckily, plenty of options exist like financial aid or financing opportunities.
Handling Being a New College Student
Once the student finalizes the financing portion of college, they will be able to begin life as a new student! This means seeing personal and academic growth. It’s important to begin life as a new student with goals to keep in mind. These goals can help people have inspiration and something to aim for as they go throughout their education journey.
On top of that, new students should focus on taking full advantage of all available resources and opportunities. This means having one-on-ones with instructors, seeing what financial aid is available, and more.
Getting First Hand Advice
If it’s possible to get some advice or wisdom from people in their life that have attended college, students should try to take advantage of that. Some of their words can help a student better prepare for what lies ahead of their college path. Others may even be able to provide tips on better understanding a school-life balance, getting financial aid, and more!
Need Help Searching for Financial Aid
There are a variety of financial aid opportunities available for students to consider. Luckily, since DegreeSnap is an information resource, they go over some types of financial opportunities that students can check out:
- Federal Student Loans
- Grants
- Federal Work-Study
- Private Student Loans
Federal Student Loans
There are a variety of federal student loans available. It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone can qualify for these loans. Instead, only those that meet certain eligibility criteria. Some types of federal student loans that students can consider include direct subsidized loans, direct unsubsidized loans, and parent PLUS loans. The benefit of these loans are the fact that they come along with flexible terms.
Grants
One of the biggest benefits of grants is the fact they do not need to be repaid. The opportunity for up to $6,895 is available in the form of grant funding. This is the maximum amount of money that students can get per year. However, this number is subject to change! It’s important to note that only qualifying individuals can benefit from this opportunity. This opportunity is available thanks to the Pell Grant.
Federal Work-Study
There may be opportunities for students to take advantage of a Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) depending on the school. This program involves an eligible student working on campus. The payments that students receive can go towards the cost of tuition.
Scholarships
Lots and lots of scholarships are available for students to consider. There are both need-based and merit-based. However, most commonly the scholarships are merit-based. This includes merits like:
- Sport participation
- Academic achievement
- Special talents
Private Student Loans
While this isn’t necessarily a type of financial aid, it is still a way for students to deal with the cost of a higher education. Financial institutions like a bank can offer student loans for students to handle the cost of education. A benefit to these loans is that they can come with forgiving terms like the option to defer payments for a specific timeframe. Each financial institution will have their own set of pros and cons.
Understanding Online versus In-Campus Learning
Schooling won’t look the same for everyone. Instead, some people may take advantage of online learning while others will take advantage of in-campus learning. Regardless, it’s important to consider each option which is why DegreeSnap highlights the difference!
Online Learning
One of the biggest benefits to online learning is the amount of flexibility that students can experience. Students that have a busy schedule with work, kids, etc., can especially benefit from this type of learning. The accessibility is also a nice bonus. That’s because as long as students have a device and access to wifi then they can work wherever in the world! This makes getting an education super easy to deal with. However, the drawback to this type of learning is that without proper management, it’s easy to forget and fall behind.
In-Campus Learning
While online learning comes with its own unique set of benefits, most often students opt for in-campus learning. Many students love the traditional classroom format with a teacher face-to-face that’s easily accessible. For example, when a student has a question for a teacher, they don’t need to wait for a response. They could just go to the teacher’s desk with the question! Another reason students like this type of learning is because it comes along with more opportunities for socializing. The drawback is that this schedule is often more strict than an online alternative setup.
Bottom Line
Handling the process of furthering education can be stressful. Luckily, there are resources like DegreeSnap that aim to provide useful information. This includes details from anything like up to $6,895 in grant funding to understanding the difference between styles of learning. Regardless, the information can provide better context to students, especially when trying to find a school that works for their needs.
