By Mary Sirianni

Special to The Ridgway Record

(Editor's note: This is the first of a three part series for high school students preparing for college. The first section will offer advice on how college freshman can make higher education more affordable.)
Even though the summer is halfway through, many Kane High School students are preparing to attend college or technical school in the fall.  In addition to preparing for classes, living away from home and making new friends, students must start thinking about how they will fund their education. Between loans, grants, scholarships and personal savings, there are many different ways for students to pay for their education. With these tips from the experts, you’ll have a better idea about how to keep your finances under control.

Tip No. 1: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The question may sound cliché, but it becomes important when considering a student’s future. Deciding on a field of study, whether it’s physics, dance, political science or English, will simplify a college choice and be easier on your wallet. Students who declare an ‘undecided’ major are more likely to transfer schools or take longer than four years to finish college — and rack up more debt.
“Going to a regular college with an undecided major will be a waste of a year and [will only give you] a loan balance, said Melissa Ibanez, director of financial aid at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Such students “may as well spend a year or two at a community college” to decide their career interest, Ibanez added.
Students should also choose a college based on their interests rather than where their friends are going. Once students get to college and realize that the academic offerings do not fit their goals, the chances for transferring (and adding debt) increases.
Ibanez also said that just because a school is expensive or has a recognizable name does not mean that its academic credentials are top-notch or are the best fit for a student. One program at a less expensive school might be as good or better than the same one at Big Expensive University.
“If you can get the same degree at a cheaper school, why not do it?” she said.
Tip No. 2: Get all the information.
In order to keep college finances in control, students and parents should make every effort to read and understand the terms of their tuition and loan payments.
“Just start somewhere,” Ibanez said, “even especially by breaking things down into manageable pieces.”
If you still have difficulty, don’t be afraid to ask questions and contact your school’s financial aid or admissions office. Ibanez also encouraged people from the area to contact the university even if they are not interested in attending the school.
“We want everyone to make good decisions, and we’re here to help the community.”
If students or parents are new to working with colleges, they should start talking to people with whom they are comfortable: high school teachers or guidance counselors. These professionals understand how colleges work and can point you in the right direction.
Also, she added that colleges can no longer advise students and parents about which loan firm to borrow from or ones to avoid, but she did encourage students not to borrow more than they need in order to keep interest rates and repayment amounts low.
When preparing for college, students may become overwhelmed at the large amounts of information they receive from various university offices. Despite this, students and parents should set aside time to go through everything to make sure families make informed choices.
When deciding on a school to attend, Ibanez suggested that students and parents go through each packet of information, marking schools that offer the major they want and noting the tuition and financial aid offers.
Then, write down the total tuition, financial aid received, and the amount leftover that the student and family must pay. Look at the least expensive school and check whether or not it offers the student’s major of interest. If not, look at the next school. Keep going until you find a school that is affordable and offers programs the student is interested in.

Tip No. 3: Be practical!
Being realistic about one’s interests and income is the key to keeping tuition payments reasonable. Parents should be reasonable with their child about what sort of tuition they can afford. At the same time, students should keep in mind that a quality program isn’t necessarily found at expensive schools.
“This is not time to be keeping up with the family down the street,” Ibanez said.
Also, families should be proactive during the college search, reading college Web sites and asking questions of admissions officers and other college students. Start saving and do the best you can to pay for school.
“Don’t rely on fate for things to work out,” she said.
By having a basic idea of the student’s major, gathering all necessary information, and being realistic, managing finances for college can be achieved.
“In an ideal world, all students would be able to go to school wherever they wanted,” Ibanez said.
“But, for now, there will always be a cost.”