Before our children could crawl, my husband and I started planning for their higher education.
Now the due date for the first college bill is fast approaching, and the money we’ve invested isn’t growing as steadily as tuition costs. To stretch our savings across three college educations, our thoughts are turning to scholarships.
For wisdom on this subject, I turned to another military spouse.
Patty Carden, an Army wife of 27 years, is the counselor for my son’s senior class at Ramstein High School. She is also the mother of a high school senior, has another child in college, and one who has graduated. In short, she knows the ropes.
She assured me there are plenty of resources for college funds, and some especially for military children. She said the best tool for finding them is one most students are expert at using — the Internet.
"I learn so much from students telling me — because they are so computer savvy — that they get on the computer and do a search on scholarships," she said.
An important step, Carden said, is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form, detailing a family’s financial situation, is the starting point for all federal aid, grants and loans. It is often required for aid from schools as well.
"For even academic scholarships, most of the colleges I’ve talked to say that in order for them to do all of the paperwork, you’re going to have to sign up through the FAFSA," Carden said.
To those who think their child will not qualify for financial aid, she advises, "Sign up for it anyway, because it may help you qualify for scholarships that aren’t need-based."
Some scholarships are offered especially to military students by groups like local spouse associations, the Defense Commissary Agency and private charities like ThanksUSA.
One potentially gray area for military students, and a major cost factor at state schools, is whether a student pays in-state or out-of-state tuition.
The state of residence, Carden said, is usually where the parents have been paying taxes, although some states use the "home of record," where the active-duty parent signed up for military service.
Current duty station also plays a part.
"Generally, as long as one parent is stationed in the state, a student can pay in-state tuition," Carden said.
"The main thing I tell students is: ‘Check with your state, and check with the school,’ " for the definitive answer.
For college admission and scholarship applications, Carden said a high grade-point average is not the only factor.
"They’ve got tons of great scholars, and that’s important, but there are other aspects of each student that are unique," she said.
Students with multicultural experiences are commonplace at DODDS schools. When it’s time to apply for college and scholarships, these students might forget that their global experiences are unique in the larger world of college applicants.
"Good students who have lived around the world" are a desirable commodity to colleges and universities, Carden said.
She also said students should keep seeking scholarships and financial aid throughout college.
"Once you get into the college, if you are a good student, they will work with you," Carden said. "It is to the college’s advantage to keep you there." Colleges and universities have an incentive to retain students through graduation, a criterion that influences school ranking.
For more guidance and a list of Web sites concerning college information and scholarships, including those especially for military students, see the Spouse Calls blog.
Terri Barnes is a military wife and mother of three. She lives and writes in Germany. Write to her at spousecalls@stripes.com and see the Spouse Calls blog here.