When is the last time you made a big purchase such as a house or a car? Did you pay “sticker price” or did you negotiate and pay less? Hopefully, most of you answered that you paid less than sticker price.
College tuition is also a big ticket item that has a sticker price. However, most families believe they must pay the published rate in the brochure. If you correctly position your student this is just NOT the case. There are thousands of colleges and universities all over the US who are more than willing to discount their tuition for the right student.
Keep is mind that most of the big discounts come from private universities. For families who understand student positioning and use it correctly the discounts are huge, often exceeding 40% of the published rate!
There are of course no guarantees that your student will get a discount or scholarship. However, there are some things you can focus on to greatly improve your student’s odds of getting a scholarship or big tuition discount. Here are some things for you student to work on:
- A solid resume (community service, participation in school activities and leadership roles)
- A 3.0 or better GPA with a strong curriculum
- Solid standardized test scores (ACT and SAT)
- Apply early
- Apply to the right schools (schools that give discounts)
- Apply to at least 6 schools
- Seek out schools that are looking for a student like yours
There are also other benefits than saving a ton of money with student positioning. Let us keep in mind that the whole goal of college is for your student to find a job that will make them happy and productive. Finding a school that fits the student will give them a better opportunity to graduate in four years, earn the right degree, find a job that will make them happy and allow your student to earn a living.
You are welcome to come see us for more information on student positioning. You may even consider using one of our specially trained counselors who will do all the work for you and your student. Our counselors are the best and they will filter through the thousands of colleges and find the ones that fit your student the best based on his or her profile.
Also, check back as we will continue to update our blog on this and other areas of saving money on the high cost of college!