How to Pay for Your Education
By Melody GoughQuestion
I currently work as a secretary in an accounting office. I enjoy my job, but would like to learn more about accounting so I can pursue a more advanced career. I have searched the Web for accounting programs, but many schools are very expensive. Can you give me any advice about financing my education?
Answer
Don't despair. Several avenues exist when trying to obtain that much-needed tuition money. You mention that you are working in an accounting office, so start your research there. See if your employer offers any sort of tuition reimbursement program; if you can convince them that your education is a worthwhile investment for them (in terms of your usefulness to the company), they may be willing to partially or wholly finance it.
You may want to speak to the admissions and financial aid offices at your college of choice to learn more about financial aid, especially grants, scholarships, and education loans. Many types of financial aid don't have to be paid back, which makes this process well worth your effort. Also, I suggest gathering together your paycheck records and monthly expenses, since you may have to prove your financial need when applying. Most agencies also want to see prospective students who possess an intense desire to succeed, a quality that you seem to have. Good luck!
University of Nevada Reno professor Melody Gough is here to answer your questions every week. Professor Gough has taught poetry in both online and community college classrooms for almost a decade and has also taught English composition at the local university for the past five years. In addition to advising her students and inspiring them with witty classroom exercises, Professor Gough writes both poetry and memoir. Her Master of Arts in Teaching English is from the University of Nevada, Reno.
