This is the big summer, the last one of your high school career! At this time next year, you’ll have graduated and will be on your way to the next phase of your life. Life will change quite a bit, whether you go to college or trade school, take a gap year to volunteer or travel, join the military, or jump right into your career. Are you ready? Probably not, but there’s still time!
While you can still enjoy the summer with long days on the beach or quiet nights at the lake, you’ll also want to put yourself in the best position for a successful senior year and beyond. You can get on the right track before school starts up again in the fall!
While you’re in school, required reading often takes the place of your own interests. Summer is a great time to lounge outside with a good book on any subject you choose. Learn something new that might never be covered in school. If you start a new book that doesn’t hold your interest, move on to something new. There’s no test! Have fun with it!
Life during the school year doesn’t leave much “free” time. Days and nights are packed with school, sports, clubs, homework, and the precious moments with friends and family. With a few extra hours this summer, think of a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Take an art or photography class, learn how to build a simple mobile app, or try something completely out of your comfort zone, like trapeze flying. Go for it!
Summer is a great time to get a seasonal job, and living at home gives you the perfect opportunity to save now for future expenses. It’s easiest to save if you don’t see the money. One great tactic is to set up a savings account and have a portion of your paycheck deposited directly into it. If that’s not feasible or you’re used to cashing your whole check, ask your parents to hold a set amount each week and be sure to hand over the cash each payday.
Community colleges and some high schools offer college-level courses that could help you earn college credits before you even graduate from high school. It will also give you an opportunity to try out a program you’re interested in without the commitment of enrolling full-time. Best of all, many courses are offered nights and weekends as well as online, leaving your days free for summer fun.
This is another great way to try out a field of interest before you enroll in a full-time program at a college or trade school. Check out online websites such as Internship Programs and LookSharp to search for an internship in your area, learn what to look for in a reputable opportunity, and find out how to boost your chances of getting one you want.
Merrimack Valley Credit Union and Bridgewater Credit Union, a division of Merrimack Valley Credit Union, are here to help!
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You successfully made it through the college application and admissions processes—congratulations! Now that you’ve found a fantastic school, it’s time to create a smart plan to pay for your education.
Wow, that went by fast! It’s time to head off to college, but you and your family didn’t save enough for the educational experience you’re hoping for. Now what do you do?! Don’t worry– it’s never too late. You can use a combination of these 4 strategies to help make your college dream a reality:
School graduations are major milestones. So it makes sense that you’d want to mark the occasion with a memorable, meaningful and useful gift.
So you’re college-bound, and before you even step foot on campus, your bank account is already worthy of “starving student” status. You need money for tuition and expenses, but it’s too late to start saving now. Is there any hope? Yes!
Do you know about Massachusetts’ first statewide college savings program, BabySteps? The goal of this program is to ensure every family has the opportunity for future success! BabySteps will provide $50 towards every child born or adopted in the Commonwealth upon opening a 529 college savings account. This program is designed to help all parents save for their child’s higher education, and level the playing field for all children in Massachusetts.
Yikes! It’s almost time for your child to go to college, and you didn’t save enough for the education you want to provide him or her. But guess what? Your goals may still be within reach with the help of a combination of resources. Before getting stressed out, learn about these 4 ways to pay for college:
This is the big summer, the last one of your high school career! At this time next year, you’ll have graduated and will be on your way to the next phase of your life. Life will change quite a bit, whether you go to college or trade school, take a gap year to volunteer or travel, join the military, or jump right into your career. Are you ready? Probably not, but there’s still time!
Did you know it’s truly never too late to go “back to school” and learn something new? There are options in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and even online for adults who are ready to expand their knowledge!
#1 Before you buy anything for your teen’s dorm room, find out what the school already provides either in the room or somewhere in the building. Some dorms have shared kitchen areas, vacuums that can be borrowed, etc.
At one point in my post-grad career, I had to temporarily switch to an Income-Sensitive Repayment Plan. This option stipulated that the loan payments were going to be based on my annual income. I was only on this plan for about one year but I was paying almost $200 less than what my regular payments were supposed to be.
You could spend this summer between high school and college vegging out, or you could use the next few months to get ahead. Here are some quick tips for making the most of this special summer:
You’ve received your college acceptance letters, graduated from high school, and maybe even had a big party to celebrate. Congratulations! While some students may be hitting the beach and taking time to decompress, you want to make the most of the next few months before going off to college. You’re smart! There are several ways you can maximize the summer break to put yourself in a much better position for your upcoming college career: