S t r e
t c h i n g your Student $$$
By Robin Boostrom
Pulse Staff Reporter
| Money, money, money. It’s all about money, or it may seem that
way when you don’t have enough to go around. There are many ways
Palo Alto College students can stretch their dollars, however, with scholarships,
student loans and entertainment discounts. Doing your homework begins well before the first day of class. Student loans, grants and scholarships are there for those who begin early enough to take advantage of the help they offer. Director of Financial Aid Lamar Duarte encourages students seeking financial help to apply early. Many different types of scholarships are awarded to deserving Palo Alto students based on physical or mental abilities or disabilities. Some scholarships are given to students who display exceptional athletic or artistic ability. Others are awarded for scholastic achievement. These type of scholarships are given for having good grades, writing an outstanding essay or for going the extra mile and contributing to your community. There are even scholarships offered for those who are left-handed or are interested in flying! Palo Alto offers many scholarships each year. The ACCD Bookstore scholarship, ACCD Foundations scholars and Miller Brewing Tools for Success are just a few. The priority deadlines for ACCD scholarships are as follows: Fall semester-April 1, Spring semester-November 1, Summer term-March 1. Government grants are another form of free money and are given based on need. They allow students to attend a college that they would have otherwise not been able to attend. The amounts awarded vary. Some grants may cover all your college expenses, while others may only cover half. Even then, grants can be a great help for students paying for tuition, fees and books. Student loans are another way to stretch your dollar. There are two major types of student loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. A subsidized loan is one that has to be paid back, but there is no interest accrued on the loan as long as you remain in school. An unsubsidized loan is one that is paid back with interest from the initial time of the loan. Securing a low interest rate student loan is a way you can stretch your dollar and decrease the amount of hours that you have to work in a semester. Applications for loans can be found on-line at http://www.accd.edu . Information on scholarships, grants and student loans are available throughout the school year at the Financial Aid desk, located across from Admissions in the Administrative Building. There is new HOPE for students attending Palo Alto College. The HOPE "scholarship" is a tax credit available to students during their first two years post-high school. The tax credit covers 100 percent of the first $1,000 of tuition and fees, and 50 percent of the second $1,000. In order to qualify, a student must be enrolled half-time in a degree, certificate or other program leading to a recognized education plan. More information on the HOPE tax credit can be found at http://www.aacc.nche.edu In addition to scholarships, grants and loans, there are many other ways of stretching your dollar while enjoying the finer things in life. You can join an entertainment club, which sell cards for a small fee and donates half of their proceeds to charities. One such card is the Liberty card. It gives you discounts at restaurants such as the Honey Baked Ham Company and Popeye’s, as well as discounts at entertainment venues like University Bowl and the AMC theaters. This card costs $10 and can be purchased on-line at http://www.teamliberty.com or call (225) 926-2632. Other great values include showing your student ID at the AMC and Fiesta 16 theaters for a reduced admission price ranging from $4.50 to $5.00 a ticket. "Showing my student ID is cheaper than going to the movie matinee or showing my military card for a discount," said Jamie Bray a sophomore working on a degree towards nursing. Many fast food chain restaurants offer bargains to their customers. Subway has a sandwich club that gives you a free sub after every eighth purchase. The local Dairy Queens run lunch specials every day of the week from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. that make it affordable for the hungry stomach and empty pocketbook. However, eating out can add up quick. If you spend five dollars a day on lunch, that adds up to $25 a week and $100 a month. Packing a lunch makes sense and saves cents. Entertainment doesn’t always have to be away from home. Stretch your dollar by inviting friends over for a video instead of heading out to the movie. Everybody can chip in for the snacks and the cost of the rental. It saves a few dollars, allows for a more relaxed environment and if you missed something, you can always stop and rewind the movie. Going out with friends and having a good time does not always have to cost you money. San Antonio offers many free local activities. The Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, and the San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones, have free admission on Tuesdays between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels, is open to the public for free Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sundays from 12 noon until 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. For a dime, students can take a trolley downtown to see the sights. Dessert and coffee at a restaurant on the River Walk is much cheaper than dinner. Finally, e-mail your out-of-town friend instead of calling long distance. There are many ways to stretch your cash as a student at Palo Alto College. Educate yourself about scholarships, student loans and entertainment specials around you. A penny saved is a penny earned. |