According to a survey conducted by Philamlife, only 23% of Filipinos are able to finish college because of financial problems. And this is not a very surprising result since college education in the Philippines is not really cheap. Regular colleges usually cost around 50,000 to 100,000 Pesos a year. But if you want to study in a really good university, you’d have to shell out even more money for the tuition fee. There are good state universities that offer free tuition fee but it’s not enough to accommodate the number of Filipino students who are struggling financially.
But you don’t have to lose hope because there are still ways to support yourself until you finish college. Here are some tips that will be very helpful for your journey as a college student.
Part Time Jobs
Getting a part-time job is a great way to earn money and support your college education. Fast food chains like Jollibee and McDonalds accept students who want to work part-time in their team. Being a waiter in the fast food industry will require a lot of hard work but it will be worth it because you are doing it for your education.
Another part-time job that you should consider is being a virtual assistant. This is a job where you don’t have to go out of your house to earn money. All you need to have is a WiFi, a computer or a laptop, and some admin skills. You can look for this kind of job using legitimate sites such as Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, Onlinejobs.ph.
If you are great at dealing with customers and problems, being a call center agent is a great way to earn money. The pay is higher than being a service crew in a fast food restaurant, plus, you’ll learn a lot of things because you’ll be dealing with various people. Call center companies hire part-timers and they will provide training so that you will be able to talk to clients like a native English speaker.
Scholarships
One of the easiest ways to pay for your college tuition fee is by applying to a scholarship. There are several government scholarship programs that you can apply to. Usually, they also offer allowances to students who meet their requirements. An example of a scholarship program for college students is the one offered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
If you do not qualify to be a government scholar, you can try getting a scholarship at your school. Academic scholarships are offered by colleges and universities to deserving students. Usually, they will require you to pass a test or have good grades to be granted a scholarship. Aside from this, there are also scholarships for athletes and talented students who want to finish their education while doing the things that they love. You can inquire about this with your school’s admin. They should point you to the right people who will help you use your skills and talents to earn a scholarship.
Poverty shouldn’t hinder you from reaching your dreams. Even if you might be facing some financial problems right now, don’t let these bad situations rob you of your good future. There are ways to fund your education. It might take a lot of hard work and effort for you to earn money while studying in college, but the reward of your hardships will be worth it.