<p>In some college communities, there are programs in which students can train as volunteer firefighters or paramedics and live at the fire station in exchange for answering alarms for a certain number of shifts per week.</p>
<p>Is he unwilling to take out a student loan to help pay for his room/board.</p>
<p>It’s been my experience, that the first year seems to be the most expensive for R&B because many schools require frosh to live on campus AND to buy a good-sized meal plan. </p>
<p>We need to know the situation…If your son were to get a full tuition scholarship, then how much can you contribute? From that info, we can better figure out how much he’d still need.</p>
<p>If he wants to go into the ministry - I would suggest looking for a youth ministry job at a nearby church. Also, depending on the denomination, some churches offer positions for part-time student ministers for very small congregations. You should check with your denominational authorities about ministry opportunities. I am clergy in a protestant denomination and we regularly employ college students.</p>
<p>There are lots of ideas here. The problem will be that you need to make your final college decision before knowing if any of the ideas will work out for your son. Make sure he spends time before April learning things helikes about his financial safeties.</p>
<p>My son has a friend who digs graves. I made a little money letting med students do an exam for a medical condition I have.</p>
<p>Does your son currently have a part-time job?</p>
<p>Will he work more hours during the summer?</p>
<p>Will he work while he’s in college?</p>
<p>Donate plasma?</p>
<p>Keep the ideas coming, I may use some myself. ;)</p>
<p>My son enters trivia contests in local pubs in his city - not the best idea for one interested in the ministry - but he makes about $50/week. I assume it goes right back into the pub’s coffers.</p>
<p>My friend’s daughter has done very well by taking on a job as a nanny. She has gotten a free room, not sure about food, AND she is paid and she has banked her earnings (a LOT of money for a college student). I really am not sure why she is not using it for tuition as her parents could really use the help. I did not ask questions. I know that she purchased her car with savings from high school. She knows how to handle a dollar.</p>
<p>Here is a creative way: When I was in college (82-85) a friend of mine started a dance troupe, basically male strippers. They performed at a local night club. He did so well that during college he was able to pay for his living expenses for both he and his girlfriend. After college he went to law school in California and his dancing allowed him to save enough money for law school.</p>
<p>A friend of my husband’s was a pool shark. He is a small built nerdy looking guy who happened to be a very talented pool player. He would go to the country bars and the “macho” guys were easy bait since he was so “not-macho” looking.</p>