Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Paying for education isn't just a concern for parents, a new study shows that more young people are worried about footing the bill for college.
The Horatio Alger Association conducted the study and found three of every four students has some or major concerns about covering the costs of school.
"The most important key is starting early not waiting until that senior year," said Dr. Dorothy Gallman, Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Services for Richland County School District One.
Gallman says the perfect place to start your scholarship or grant search is your own school.
"The guidance office gets information consistently throughout the school year," she said.
Visit the South Carolina Commission of Higher Education Website
Gallman says working with the school's guidance office will allow families to get more information on South Carolina higher education options like Palmetto Fellows, Life and Hope Scholarships. It also helps them tap into local and private scholarships from the community.
Students can also look for scholarships or grants related to subjects they are interested in studying.
"If you write an essay for one scholarship, usually you can use that same essay for another," said Gallman. She says work you do for some application can be used as basis for others.
Gallman says students and parents can also reach out to schools they are interested in attending to get information on financial aid and campus jobs, and in the end she says it's important for future students to not be afraid to ask questions.
"It takes a joint effort among the student, the parent, and the schools," she said.