Guest Author - Kris Bigalk

Sending twins off to college can be an expensive proposition. Even the most financially prepared, frugal parents can find themselves wondering how they will manage to pay for it all--tuition, books, room and board, and all those little extras that add up.

The most important step when seeking financial aid for twins (or for any child going off to college) is to fill out the FAFSA form as soon as possible. As a parent of twins, this means that you MUST get your 2006 taxes done as soon as possible after January 1, 2007, and then assist your children in filling out the form as soon as possible, to maximize their chances of getting aid. Many schools have deadlines for financial aid applications in the early part of 2007, and the sooner your FAFSA form arrives, the more likely your children are to get the aid they need.

The next step is to look in your own back yard, so to speak. Contact your local "Mothers of Twins" or "Mothers of Multiples" club and ask if they know of any scholarships sponsored by the club or by other organizations. Contact your children's high school to find out if any local scholarships preference twins or siblings. Don't forget to also check in with other possible scholarship sources, such as your bank or credit union, church, synagogue, or mosque, insurance company, fraternal organization, civic club, auto club or other membership-based organization.

While there are few institutional scholarships targeted directly at twins, there are a few at select institutions. What is more common is a "sibling scholarship", which offers a discount on tuition and/or room and board for one twin when another also attends the same institution. In addition to official "sibling scholarships", most colleges, especially small, private institutions, will gladly work with parents of multiples to try to make their institution more affordable.

I've compiled a list of institutions and larger twins clubs that offer scholarships to twins and other siblings. Most colleges on the list are small liberal arts institutions, and many are church-affiliated. If your twins' college of choice is not on the list, don't give up--schedule an appointment with a financial aid officer, and take your twins along. Be frank with the financial aid representative about your situation, and let your twins explain why they want to attend that particular school. Usually, especially if both twins have fairly good grades, a financial aid officer can put together an attractive package for the family.

Currently, the best scholarships for twins are at the following institutions:

- Morris Brown College, Atlanta Georgia (waives tuition for one twin)
- Sterling College, Sterling, Kansas (each twin receives 1/2 off tuition)
- Notre Dame College, South Euclid, Ohio (second twin receives 1/2 off tuition)
- Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (each twin receives 45% off tuition)
- Lake Erie College, Painsville, Ohio (each twin receives 1/2 off tuition)

To view links to these and other scholarships, please click here.

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See you in Cyberspace!

Kris Bigalk
Bellaonline Twins Editor