Paying For College With Scholarships, Grants, And Loans

If you have a child that will be graduating from high school, you most have explored financial aid options. You may be happy, and proud and somewhat relieved that your child is graduating. It is certainly a milestone in a teenager's life to graduate. As a parent it is time to celebrate that your child has made it through high school, however, you may have mixed feelings about them leaving the nest and the financial burden of paying for college.


However high school graduation is not the end of the road. In fact, it is one stepping stone to possibly tougher challenges that are on the horizon in the succeeding years, obtaining a college degree.

You may have already thought about this but, it is time to get serious about how you are going to finance four years of college. At most colleges tuition fees and other fees are increasing.

You certainly need to plan ahead of time to avoid any problems, and to assure that your child has a smooth transition from high school into college. You will want to be financially prepared. It is best to start early, so that you are prepared, especially if any unexpected problems arise.

If you are or you think you may be faced with financial problems, it is important that you know that there are options available for your child. Take the time to read up on the subject so that you are familiar with the options that are available.

Grants-You may have heard that there money available from the government as well as other agencies that you can apply for. You need to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Once the application has been completed, send it and it will be reviewed and if your child qualifies, he/she will be entitled to a stipend. At this point, you then need to provide the name of the college your child plans to attend.
Scholarships- If your child is athletically inclined or has a very high grade point average or both, you may have the option to apply for scholarships. There are a multitude of scholarships available, you just need to take the time to explore your options. The scholarships available are for sports, community service scholarships, social service scholarships, and others.

Student Loans- they are available and generally have lower interest rates then other types of loans. Sometimes the loans are subsidized, so that the interest does not start accruing until a student finishes college. And, collateral is not required so you do not have to use your home as collateral for the loan. Most of these loans are set up to have a variety of repayment options at low interest rates and low monthly payment options.

Distance Learning in Kenya

The Skinny on Distance Learning Programs

If you have access to the Internet, or watch television, then you likely have heard of distance learning before. But, do you really know what distance learning is, or what it could do for you? Distance learning allows parents, and other people who are busy with work and family still be able to earn a degree, in their own time, from their own home. These degrees, diplomas, or certifications can be used to help them advance in their current jobs, or help them to find new ones. If you think that you can'' earn a college degree, or even your high school diploma simply because you don't have the time to go to school, then you should really think about distance learning, after all, you are who it was originally designed for in the first place.
While many distance learning programs are done entirely online, not all of them rely solely on the Internet. In fact, some distance learning programs are done via snail mail, others take advantage of local television, or video conferencing. You aren't necessarily not able to take a distance learning course because you don't have a computer in your home, or aren't computer literate, there are other options.
Universities that offer distance leraning in Kenya include:-

1. Kenyatta University
2. Nairobi University
3. Moi University
4. Egerton University
5. Jomo  Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology
6. Maseno University

The equipment you will need will vary greatly with your course of study, and the distance learning program that you decide to join. In some instances, you may be required to have a computer, access to the Internet, and a decent web browser, but that is not always the case. If you do take an online distance learning course, you may need some additional software, again depending on the specific courses that you take.
Distance learning can be the answer that you have been looking for, if you have always wanted to further your education, and just haven't been able to find the time to do so. You can take courses when your schedule permits, rather than having to rearrange your life around your classes. You don't have to get involved in the social aspects of college, as you can do all of your work from home, and never have to talk to anyone, unless you choose to do so.
If you aren't able to stay on task and work well unsupervised, then you might not be successful with distance learning. You will have work and tests that are due just like in regular college courses, and if you can't stay motivated enough to get those done, then you should consider another learning alterative. You will not have someone holding your hand telling you what is due and when, so you will have to be able to get it on your own. You are in control of your own success or failure, so keep that in mind.
If you do well working by yourself, and learn new ideas fairly easily, then you should be a success with distance learning. It all really depends on the type of person you are.