RSC - Blog-120 http://www.collegeprepexpert.com Blog-120 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:18:11 +0000 http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/ en weekly 1 Blog Posting Why Students Are Independent Contractors in the World of College Business http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/blog/college-prep/why-students-are-independent-contractor-in-college-business http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/blog/college-prep/why-students-are-independent-contractor-in-college-business#comments 2012-03-05 06:00:00 Higher education has changed much the way the workplace has. It used to be you attended one college, graduated, stayed loyal to that college and even contributed money as an alumnus, just as your grandparents stayed in one job and loyally contributed a lifetime’s worth of work to their employer.
 

Times have changed. Just as freelancers, part-timers and work-from-home entrepreneurs are becoming common in the workforce, you’re now an independent contractor in the world of higher education. You need to treat your interaction with your selected colleges as a business proposal.

 

Developing a Business Plan for College

 


  1. Know what you’re selling. You’re selling you. Make yourself look like the perfect candidate by knowing your interests, talents, academic abilities and goals. You’re likely to get more financial aid if the college believes you’re a good fit. Show them you are.

  2. Establish a business plan. Every business plan starts with a goal, and then finds ways to meet it. Let the college know how they fit into your plans to achieve your goal, whether it be a specific career or graduate school. Again, know what you’re selling.

  3. Negotiate financial aid. Every business deal involves a little negotiating. If you think the college has made you a poor financial aid offer, see if you can’t get a little more. This requires knowing what constitutes a good offer for that particular college and the ability to write a carefully worded but compelling Financial Aid Appeals Letter.

  4. Don’t over-invest. You know those students with $50,000+ in student debts and can’t pay them off? That’s like a business accruing too much debt – pretty soon it goes out of business. It’s easy to believe you’ll be able to pay off exorbitant debt once you have your college degree; don’t fall for it. You’ll likely incur some debt, of course, but find ways to make college affordable for you. Don’t over-invest. Have a financial strategy going forward.

  5. Take advantage of opportunities. You have many, many opportunities to find ways to graduate from a good school with a usable degree. The first step is recognizing them; the second is taking advantage of them.  This includes everything from Advanced Placement classes to work-study, three-year bachelor’s degrees to declaring your major early. Know what opportunities are available to you and seize them!


 

Your College Business Tools

 

You’ll need certain tools to set up your business plan, including personality tests and other surveys that let you recognize, develop and sell your interests. Since the first two parts of creating a college business plan rely on this, it’s extremely important that you know your abilities and goals. You’ll also need good financial aid information, not just a few investments. Get easy access to a college’s financial aid history, as well as help with financial aid forms (FAFSA, CSS Profile, etc.) and the appeals process. Finally, compile a list of ways you can save money. Great financial aid is only one of the many tools you can use to cut your college costs. Know the rest.

 

Treating college like a business isn’t just for business majors and future MBAs; it’s for anyone who doesn’t want to graduate deep in debt. After all, you may have your heart set on a certain college, but just like classroom, you need to use your head.

 


 
]]> http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/feed/blog-120 0