CAREER
ASK AND YOU SHALL
RECEIVE “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth…” Proverbs 10:22 By Tenia Clayton, Esq.
I
f there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s that we have to be resourceful. We know God can open doors to places beyond our imagination, but sometimes, this requires work on our end. College is a prime example of this. As parents, we do all we can to make sure our children are learning everything they need to succeed in school and at life. We pray for them to do well, and when they do, we eventually have to start thinking about how to help them pay for college. Most of us don’t have thousands of dollars to put towards school. The good news is that you don’t have to! There are scholarships, grants, etc. that can lower out-of-pocket costs for college. With the Lord’s help and a few tips I’ll share, college can be attainable. I was fortunate enough to go to a private Christian school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. We had counselors and were prepared for the college application process. I knew that Emory University was my first choice, but a private school that cost $60,000 per year seemed daunting. However, Emory met 100% need, and I got an early decision acceptance. My parents ended up paying manageable amounts just for my books and a portion of my campus housing costs each semester. I graduated in 3.5 years with a degree in
30
THE CHRISTIAN OUTLOOK
Human Health and went on to Belmont Law with a full tuition scholarship. I still applied to my church’s Sunday School scholarship, a bar association scholarship, and a $10,000 law firm diversity scholarship. I graduated cum laude, ranked 10th in my class, and now work as an attorney at that law firm. These scholarships can lead to more opportunities beyond just the money.
1. Consider costs before your child even begins applying to schools You’re probably thinking that your child should apply to any and every school and if they get accepted, then you can worry about whether you can afford it. This could lead to disappointment if the finances don’t pan out. Additionally, schools have application fees that add up, so it’s best to prioritize. However, it is also helpful to ask for fee waivers. Almost all of my law school applications were free, and it can often be as easy as just emailing the admissions office, asking if they would consider waiving the fee. Sometimes, you may even automatically qualify for a fee waiver. When thinking about schools, consider whether they’re public or private. Private schools have a lot of funding to offer big financial aid packages, but
“WALKING IN THE PROMISE OF GOD”
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
