b'39In this section:PaYIngFOrCOLLegeThe Cost of Attending College, pp. 39-40Myths and Realities of Financial Aid, p. 41Types of Financial Aid, pp. 42-43The FAFSA, pp. 44-45your Financial Aid Package, pp. 46-47Tips to Close your Financial Aid Gap, p. 49Find Scholarships, p. 50Activities:College Cost Calculator, p. 48Millersville UniversityPaYIngFOrCOLLegeA critical part of finding your fit is selecting a college you can aord. This section identifies the direct and indirectcosts of attending college, the financial aid available to oset those costs, and how to access that aid.ThE CoST oF ATTENDING CollEGE The Indirect Costs of CollegeMost students and their families know about the costIn addition to the direct costs of attending college,of tuition, room, and board, but many do not realize there are additional indirect costs that will not there are additional costs associated with going toappear on your bill, but must be considered when college. When assessing your college fit, you mustcalculating your total cost of attendance. Indirectconsider all of these costs. costs may include:The Direct Costs of CollegeTextbooks and school suppliesThe direct costs of college include the cost of tuitionTransportation to and from collegeand fees (what you will pay to take classes), plus roomComputer and accessoriesand board (campus housing and meal plan). Fees varyPersonal expenses including clothing, toiletries,by college but can range from student activity fees laundry, phone, internet, entertainment, etc.and athletic fees, to technology fees and lab fees. TheDorm necessities such as bedding, towels, fan,direct costs of attending college will appear on your desk lamp, etc.bill. The chart on p. 40 shows the estimated directMeals and parking for commuters.costs for a sampling of schools in Pennsylvania. FUTURE Beware of Sticker Shock: It is easy to get discouraged when researchingyour and comparing tuition rates. But remember that financial aid packages can dramatically to reduce some of the more expensive schools. For example, for qualified applicants, financial aid can make some private universities more aordable than some public universities.'