Paying For Military School
By: David Bolthouse | 7 Comments
How to Afford Military School
Current statistics are showing that more and more parents are choosing to home school or send their children to private schools, such as military boarding schools. As budgets of public schools become tighter, classrooms grow larger with less teaching staff. Students who attend these public schools may struggle with grades and discipline. No parent wants that.
If you are considering sending your child to a private military school, you obviously look to the benefits of quality education, leadership skills and discipline.The downfall you may have encountered is the steep price tag that comes with it. Tuition, room, board, uniforms, books and travel costs can add up quickly. There are ways to afford your child’s education without breaking your banking account. Don’t let the price tag of quality education deter you.
Scholarship Opportunities
The earlier you start applying for scholarships, the better chances you will have. Many parents start the process a year before the child enters military school. Grades are incredibly important for most scholarships. If your child is struggling in school, hire a tutor. A small price to pay now, to secure big scholarships in the future.
Recommendations are another key to securing scholarships. Teachers, counselors and coaches are all great people to ask for letter recommendations. For those in the military, a recommendation from an officer is a major plus. Keep several copies of your letters of recommendation as you will probably apply to several scholarships. Also, keep in contact with those you asked to write these letters. Some scholarships will require that the person who recommends your child to send a confidential letter directly to them.
Where to find these scholarships? Largely it will depend upon the military school you choose. Most schools will have benefactors and scholarships available, you will need to apply directly through them. These scholarships are based upon grades and merit, they look for children who are gifted in school subjects or excel in sports and arts. For those who are in the military, there are scholarships available through units, military banks and some private housing companies. Also check with your church and your employer, you might be surprised to find that they have scholarships as well.
Grants are Great
Most military prep schools fall under the National Association of Independent Schools, or NAIS for short. Military schools are not funded by tax dollars and because they do not usually affiliate themselves with a religion, they do not receive funding from churches. This is where the NAIS steps in. In addition to providing grants for teachers, they also help students. Students should be in good academic standing and demonstrate a financial need. To apply for these grants, contact your school.
Loans for Education
If after scholarships and grants, you find yourself still needing additional funding to support your child’s education, consider a loan. Loans can come from a bank or a finance company. For a bank loan, contact your personal banking officer. These types of loans usually fall under private loans. Not all banks will approve a private loan for education. You may consider shopping around different banks to find the best interest rate for you. Financial companies are national companies such as Sallie Mae. These companies specialize in educational loans, again compare interest rates with different companies. Keep in mind that these loans will need to be paid back and consider if the repayment plan will work within your budget. Unlike college education loans, these loans will be under the parents’ names and will be their full responsibility to repay them.
Schools Offer Financing
School financing works well for parents who can make tuition payments throughout the year but don’t have the full amount upfront. Plenty of military boarding schools are willing to work with parents and set up a yearly payment plan. The school’s financial office will set up a written agreement which shows the amount of payment required each month. Be aware that many schools still require a down payment before the start of the school year, this down payment is usually larger than the rest of your payments. The down payment is to secure your child’s spot in the student body and shows good faith on your part. Unlike loans, payments do not have an interest rate.
Also read: Free Military School Options
