Making college more affordable while you’re in school

At College Financing Group, we love seeing students find creative ways to pay for college. We’re especially proud when we hear about students from Western New York, where we’re headquartered, capitalizing on their success to make college more affordable.

Adam Munich, a native of Orchard Park, NY and freshman at the Rochester Institute of Technology, recently did just that.

Finding creative ways to pay for college

Technology company Texas Instruments recently held its sixth annual TI Analog Design Contest for future engineers. The goal of the contest is to inspire engineering students to create innovative projects and designs.

Adam only just completed his freshman year in RIT’s Engineering program, but he beat out 450 other students to win first place in the contest. Adam’s project focused on improving the original Tesla coil, which is used to produce high-voltage, low-current and high-frequency alternating-current electricity.

Don’t stop looking for ways to make college affordable after enrolling

In addition to receiving the Engibous Prize for best project, Adam took home a $10,000 cash prize for his efforts. And even those who didn’t come in first place walked away with some significant dough: $7,500 went to the second place winner, and $5,000 for third. The People’s Choice award winner received $1,000.

Making college more affordable shouldn’t stop once you’re enrolled. There are plenty of grants, scholarships and contests for continuing students, but most people stop applying for these sources of free money after the summer before their freshman year.

Stay diligent, keep searching and you just might be able to find a way to use what you’ve learned to help pay for college.

The benefits aren’t just monetary

Adam found a way to use what he learned in school to earn money to help him ease the burden of paying for college.

By starting early and entering such a contest after only his freshman year, Adam also prepared himself for applying his talent in the real world in a job setting. He did exactly what people do when they graduate–use their skills and education to find a job that allows them to pay for their living expenses and college loans.

And, in addition to that cash prize, the award he received will be great for his resume–which could help him get a better, higher-paying job in the future than he would have otherwise.