Q My parents seem really excited about helping me look into colleges. They love going on campus visits, and we've had some good talks about the right kind of school for me. The thing is, I have no idea how they are going to pay for the schools I'm looking at. We're far from rich, and there are three kids in my family—and all three of us will be in college over the next five years. I feel really guilty that they're taking on such a heavy load, and I'm afraid it will be too much for them. What should I do about these feelings? Do you think I should try to find some cheaper schools to look at?

A It's great that you and your parents have enjoyed visiting colleges and talking about your choice of schools. Now you have a great foundation for a conversation about finances. Share your concerns with your parents and see how they respond. They may already have a plan in place for handling your and your siblings' college expenses. If so, you can relax and look forward to making your final decision about which college to attend.

If not, you can talk with them about other options, like working for most of your tuition or wisely taking out loans. This would be the time to suggest that you look into cheaper schools.

As you look, it's wise to consider a broad spectrum of college choices—schools with different locations, missions, academic programs, student activities and costs. Keep different options open for yourself as you go through the selection process.

Depending on your family's financial circumstances, need-based financial aid may be available to you and may make it possible for you to attend one of the more expensive schools. In the years when more than one of you and your siblings are also enrolled, your need increases and your aid can also increase, depending again on your family finances. Another option you could consider would be to attend a community college for a year or two, take your general education requirements, get good grades, and then transfer into the school that is more expensive.

I am confident that you and your family will work together to resolve your concerns about finances and that you no longer need to feel guilty or afraid.

Q My grades aren't great, so I'm wondering if I should even try to apply for any scholarships. Do I have a chance at free money if I'm just an average student?

A Yes, do apply! Many scholarships aren't tied to your academic performance, so don't rule out any award possibilities. Colleges want students who bring interesting backgrounds and experiences to their campus. Schools can offer scholarships for participation and leadership in various activities as well as for scholarly achievement. The same is true for community and civic organizations. These groups value well-rounded students who demonstrate a servant-oriented spirit or who are accomplished in areas other than academics.

Q My mom and dad say there is no way we can possibly afford a Christian education. Is a Christian college really too expensive for a family with an average income? If so, it seems unfair and even unchristian that a Christian education is only for those who have a lot of money.

A Actually, Christian colleges and universities tend to be more affordable than other private colleges. There are three reasons why this is generally true: 1) Many Christian schools receive charitable and denominational support; 2) Christian colleges and Bible schools tend to be good and careful stewards of the resources God has given them; 3) They are committed to offering need-based aid to help families with average incomes like yours.

Many students at Christian colleges are from families that do not have a lot of money. Often students are working hard to contribute toward their education—and so are the parents. Those families believe that Christian higher education is worth the cost.

I must encourage you and your parents not to give up on the possibility of a Christian education. Do some research. Compare costs. Explore scholarship, grant and loan possibilities. If you do, I believe you'll find a school that's not only affordable, but also well worth the cost.

Q I know how important it is to look for scholarships, and my parents have told me they won't be able to pay for college unless I'm able to win about half of my college costs. But I'm too busy to apply for scholarships! I'm in several activities (and lead some of them), I have a part-time job and I'm a worship leader for my youth group. I need to apply for scholarships, but I just don't have time to find them! Where am I going to find that kind of time? What's the best way to use the little time I have?

A I've got good news for you: With your busy life, you're going to love college! You'll have even more opportunities for leadership and involvement, and your biggest challenge may be determining what to focus on and what to ignore. But first you've got to get there.

There are actually four sources of funding for college: the federal government; state government, if you attend an institution in your home state; the school you attend; and private sources such as service organizations, foundations, PTA, church, and community and civic organizations like the Rotary Club. The first three categories actually contribute most of the money awarded to college students.

If you're short on time, prioritize this way: Apply for financial aid at the college(s) of your choice. (This process generally includes filing the FAFSA with the government.) They determine the amount of aid you will receive from government sources as well as what they can offer you in gifts and grants. Then, apply for private scholarship money. If your Student Aid Report (which you receive after filing the FAFSA) doesn't identify you as having significant need, these non-government, non-school sources may be your major resource. I'd recommend applying for those.

More advice: Apply "smart." About 90 percent of private scholarships are awarded locally. Early in your senior year of high school, talk to your guidance counselor about how to apply for local scholarships. Then, even though you are busy, be sure to meet the deadlines on the applications. Another way to streamline your search for college money is to find scholarships through one of the online scholarship search websites such as fastweb.com, scholarships.com or absolutelyscholarships.com.

If you take whatever time you have and really focus on applying, you're likely to win a few awards—which can go a long way. I hope this information helps you, and encourages you to make time to look for scholarships.

Q People keep telling me I'll need a credit card when I go off to college next year. But I don't want one. I'm afraid things will get out of control. My cousin had a credit card, and he ran up several thousands of dollars of debt—so much, he had to leave school for a year to pay it off. On the other hand, my older sister didn't have a card in college, and she had a lot of trouble trying to get a loan when she bought her first car a couple of years after she graduated. Do I have to have a credit card? If I do, what's the best way to use it so I don't end up with these problems?

A You do not have to have a credit card, but you may want to have one for the very reasons you identify in your question. You have the opportunity to learn from both your cousin and your sister and not repeat their mistakes.

There is good reason to get a credit card sometime during your college years. At first, you may want to just hang on to it and keep it only for emergency uses, like car breakdowns or expenses you can't plan for—not for shopping or eating out. Eventually, you can begin to charge items that you can easily pay for when your statement comes at the end of the month. That means you have to be careful and responsible with your credit card so it can help you build a favorable credit rating.

A debit card is another good option for you if you're just learning to manage your money. Because it's connected to your checking account, the card limits your spending and allows you to monitor your expenses online. A debit card might be a good way to establish good habits and budget your money before you apply for a credit card.

Q I know I'm going to have to manage my own cash when I go to college, but I'm nervous. I don't know where to begin. We never talk much about money in my family, and I don't feel comfortable asking my parents questions about it. What kind of money skills do I need to master before I leave for school? What kinds of expenses do I need to budget for?

A Now is a good time to take some responsibility and initiate a conversation with your parents about money. You may all feel uncomfortable at first, but it's very important to talk about how you and your family will handle the cost of college.

Some possible ways to prepare yourself for such a conversation are: take a personal finance class at your high school or the local community college; get a part-time job and learn how to deposit your paycheck and withdraw money from your account; write checks and learn to balance a checkbook; use a debit card and keep track of your debit spending; set up a simple budget plan for yourself and stay within it; learn budget basics by keeping track of your day-to-day expenses in a small notebook; work through a free online course on personal finance like the one available at mapping-your-future.org (click on "financial fitness tools").

When you budget for college, factor in your personal needs on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis for toiletries, snacks, clothing, entertainment, and purchases like CDs or DVDs. Be sure to save at least $800 for textbooks for the year. Also, budget money for church and charitable giving, and for buying gifts for family and friends. You'll want to continue those positive patterns in your spending.

Many students in college are working hard to cover their expenses and manage their money wisely. You can find friends like that and together you'll find ways to be creative and have fun without spending a lot of extra cash.

Judy Moseman is vice president for student life at Bethel College, Minnesota.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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