3 Reasons to Crowdfund for College
May is a time of constant academic milestones and celebrations. From the cherub-faced pre-K kiddos stumbling and giggling across the stage to the exuberant college graduates dreaming of their future career, spring is the time when millions of students across the country prepare for the next stage of their lives. And while this month is an exciting time for so many people, there are also a significant amount of parents and children who will struggle to pay for college and technical schools. For some, higher education is simply out of reach.
The reality is that most scholarships don’t cover the ever-growing costs of college tuition, and student loans can saddle a student with debt that’s almost impossible to get out from under. Today, 70 percent of college graduates now leave school with not just a diploma but also an average of $37, 172 in student debt. Many kids simply cannot afford the dream they worked their entire lives to achieve. In addition, as manufacturing and other traditional middle-class American jobs disappear, more non-traditional students are entering academia but lack the funds to support a career change.
As online crowdfunding has grown in popularity, many students have turned to this new approach to securing funds for their education. What was once a novel method for funding medical emergencies has now becoming more mainstream for other financial needs like education. Here are three reasons to consider using a crowdfunding site like WonderWe to help reach your educational dreams.
Simple to Use
Our lives today are busier and more frantic then ever before. We are pulled into a dozen different directions, and even with digital reminders on phones, good intentions fall through the cracks. Donations to online campaigns take five minutes to complete, are secure, and the funds go directly to the person in need. In addition, funds are immediately available to pay those never-ending tuition bills. The best part about WonderWe is that, unlike other crowdfunding sites you get 100% of the donations after the nominal credit card processing fees.
Greater Reach of Donors
Unfortunately, not everyone has parents who are able to help pay for college nor a strong support system of people who can help navigate the confusing paperwork required to apply for scholarships or loans. Non-traditional students may already have a family they support in addition to their own academic financial responsibilities. Further, with the recent changes in how student loans accrue interest, that debt can grow even before a person graduates.
Because crowdfunding campaigns are online, friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers can contribute. In addition, the ability to post through social media channels increases the ability to share the story with a wider, larger audience. Often, campaigns will also be shared through others’ pages as well, so the chance of getting the word out increases exponentially. You never know who can relate to your situation and will want to help by sharing the post or donating a couple of dollars.
Every Dollar Helps
Most likely, even the most viral campaigns won’t be able to cover the full cost of tuition, but setting realistic goals will improve the chances of creating a successful campaign. Being able to raise enough to cover a semester, books or even lab fees might be just the push needed to keep going until other arrangements can be made or additional funds and/or scholarships come through.
It’s never easy to ask for help, especially for things we don’t consider emergencies. Often, we’d rather go without than bear the guilt of accepting money from others. However, online campaigns make the request less embarrassing by having a digital wall between you and the donor. Communication can be asynchronous, and donations can be made when it’s most convenient for the donor, whether that be at two in the afternoon or in the wee hours of the morning.
Whether you chose to create a campaign for yourself or another person, an online crowdfunding campaign is a viable and useful source of funds. See how easy it is to set up and get started in a matter of minutes by clicking here and taking the first step in earning that degree.
