LKNW HALL PASS YOUR INSIDE GUIDE TO EDUCATION WITH SHAWN A. HALL

ATTENTION LOVERS OF LIBERTY! Seeking Freedom from Student Debt

LKNEXPERT

Shawn Hall is a former US Department of Education Program specialist that resides in Mooresville. She is a scholarship and college admissions coach, the author of “Prepare Now, Don’t Pay Later” and is the mother of a high school junior, college freshman, college graduate, and elementary student. For more information, visit allroadseducation.com.

JUST AS YOU’RE PREPARING TO SET OUT YOUR FLAG,

write the list for the backyard barbecue, and check your list of invitees to ensure you didn’t leave o a neighbor or relative, I want you to reconsider what liberty means for your family and if you’re truly prepared to walk in it.

As of May 30, 2022, 43.4 million Americans have student loan debt. at means 1 in 8 of your barbecue guests are in that number! Shocking? Well here’s another shocker to add to the list: a 2022 high school graduate can expect to borrow $39,500 for their bachelor’s degree. Student loan debt can be crippling and it’s the elephant in the room that no one discusses but many people are impacted by it.

True liberty is creating and implementing a plan where your child doesn’t have to be in this great number of borrowers. And if you’re thinking they can work their way through college like many of you did, just stop because those days are long gone. e plan and path to debt-free college lies in their high school course schedule. Make sure you as the parent are taking advantage of the dual enrollment opportunities students can participate in. I know you love the “prestige” of your kid taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses however they aren’t guaranteed to get the college credit for the course the way you are with dual enrollment classes. Even if your child is at a private school that doesn’t o er dual enrollment, they can still enroll for them at a community college. ese courses save you money since the state foots the bill for them. If you plan and implement appropriately, your child can rack up as many as 30-36 college credits and transfer them all!

I know summer is a time to relax and spend time with family and friends and you should. It’s also the time to execute your plan for liberty from student debt because graduation from high school is around the corner and you want to be prepared. Just as much as you planned your family excursion to Jamaica is how much you should be planning for junior’s 4-year getaway to college!

If you’re unsure how to get started with creating a plan and a path to nancial freedom, reach out to a college admissions and scholarship professional for a consultation. Having a blueprint is the best way to let freedom ring in your bank account and for years to come for your child(ren)! w