Crowdfunding Your College Education

With the price of attaining a higher education rising day by day, it is gradually becoming quite difficult for students to cover these expenses. And because of high college fees, there are many students who are unable to attend college and graduate, despite having a will to do so. Hence, many honorable students do not even bother to make an effort to save up for a college degree. They know they would not be able to make up for the cost. Other students tend to get loans so they can pursue their dream. But years later, they remain tangled in webs of debt which they are unable to repay. Such instances can harm a student’s work ethic and also prevent bright scholars from pursuing their education.

So for students who wish with all their heart to go to college and graduate, but are financially incapable of doing so, here is one creative way using which you can fulfill this dream: crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is defined as the practice of funding a venture by collecting small amounts of money from willing people via an online platform, the internet. Nowadays, educational crowdfunding has seen a rise in popularity. With teenagers and young adults seeking help with their college tuition, online crowdfunding has quickly turned into a viable fundraiser.

But before you set out on a crowdfunding campaign, you must know how exactly you are going to carry it out. So here is an outline of the steps you must take in order to get yourself on this latest bandwagon and simultaneously attain your goal.

Select a Platform

The first step is to select an online platform through which you will launch your crowdfunding campaign. This is where you will explain why you want people to donate to your cause. This is also where people will get to know about you and send you any amount of money they wish to give you.

There are several websites that have seen plenty of successful crowdfunding campaigns come and go. Here is a list of some basic applications you can use.

• GoFundMe
• YouCaring
• Indiegogo Life
• DreamFund
• PigIt
• CommonBond

These are only a few of those that are present on the internet and through simple browsing you can easily find several more.

A wise thing to do is to select a platform that will charge you as little a registration or membership fee as possible since you will be wanting to save up every penny you receive for your goal. After you have completed your goal, many sites will charge you off of the money you have collected, starting from 3%, to up to 8%.

Develop Your Crowdfunding Campaign

The next thing you need to do is to set up an account on the website. It is quite simple to register, and is similar to social media registrations. You must be truthful with all the information you provide as people should be able to trust you enough in order to give you money.

When you are setting up your account, the site will ask you to type in details of yourself and what your aim is. What you write here is what the donors will see and this alone will help them decide whether or not they should support you. Which is why you need to develop a campaign that works and resonates with people and compels them to help you with your dream.

There is no need to hold anything back as you explain your personal story and why you have decided to pursue a college education. Then you must mention the goal amount you wish to collect. Make sure it is practical and not too high as it often causes donors to turn away before they even indulge in your story.

Entice Donors

After you have set up your account, you should not just sit around and wait for someone to click on it and donate to you. Instead, you need to come up with ideas that would attract more donors to your cause. Images and videos are a great addition. A video of yourself narrating your story, and stating your goal can be a great way to show your determination and convey emotion. You should also use your social media connections to spread the word and get more views.

Keep Updating

By posting updates and thanking everyone who has so far donated towards your goal every few days, you can show people that you appreciate their help and this will in turn attract more donors. It also shows that you are an active user on the site and are not an abandoned account.

Crowdfunding is an effective way to make sure you do not go into debt while studying for a college degree. Do not be disappointed if you do not reach your goal immediately. Remember, every dollar you raise is one less dollar you need to pay to your institution, and that should be relief enough to keep you going. Just always be truthful and determined, and people will themselves gravitate towards your campaign.