The cost of going to college continues to rise, as you probably know.

But there are many resources to help lower that cost.

Our Laura Rogers spoke with a high school counselor from Russell County, who recently had the tables turned when she sent her first child to college last year.

And she says there are some things even she learned in the process.

Robin Erickson is college and career readiness counselor at Russell County High School.

And Robin, aside from your professional role, you're also the parent of a college freshman, so you know this process very well.

I want to ask how you started planning and saving for those college expenses, because we know how costly it can be.

Absolutely.

It's scary for a parent, to think about the financial responsibility of having a student in college.

But there are some things that I did early on, whenever my child expressed interest in wanting to pursue college someday.

And that was had him look into a merit scholarship opportunities at colleges, based on his GPA and his Act score.

The keys money that students earn while they're in high school, that has helped tremendously.

And then, of course, following the Fafsa with that federal aid from the government.

This is your background.

So you had a lot of experience and you knew a lot going into the process, however.

Is there anything you wish you had known last year that you know now?

So when I took my son on college visits his senior year, I realized that there were a couple colleges that he had really focused on and thought a lot of attention and effort into researching that once he made it on campus.

That wasn't the fit for him.

And so if one thing I could have changed was, I think I would have got him on the campuses earlier, possibly his junior year.

So we could have eliminated the colleges that, were not a fit for him.

I want to ask you more about your role there at Russell County High School and how you do help prepare high school seniors for that college admissions process or whatever they may want to do after they graduate.

So I feel like I'm a liaison between the student and the military rep, the, partners in our community with businesses.

Our chamber of commerce, our college reps.

I do a lot of planning to set up meetings between students and those, those individuals.

I also have Fafsa workshops for parents of students.

So we going to have them file their Fafsa in a very relaxed environment with plenty of help.

I host College application day, and we just had that on Monday.

I was like success with over 275 applications filled out.

We had people from all over the state here to help us.

I have senior newsletter.

I have, correspondence with parents, do all the scholarships, the dual credit coordinator.

So, play a role in then, just making sure that the student feels more prepared and the parent feels, better prepared to move that student on to the next step, whatever step that may be.

Pivotal role that you play there at Russell County High School.

Any common mistakes that you see people make?

Possibly some common mistakes that I see students make.

Procrastination when it comes to following, filling out scholarships, following the Fafsa.

Even applying to college, when they wait until the last minute, it just makes it harder for them.

And then back to that affordability factor.

What is something that you think every senior needs to know, needs to consider when it does come to paying for college?

I feel like the every senior needs to know that there are funds available for college expenses.

Through scholarships, through military opportunities, through grants, work study options.

There are opportunities out there, and it never hurts for a student, to go ask a financial aid office or a scholarship office at the college that they're interested in, and explain their circumstances and ask for any available funding that might be out there.

But, I think that students need to exhaust all options out there before they look at taking out a student loan.

Yes.

Can definitely save you money in the long run.

Absolutely.

Robin Ricks, college and career readiness counselor at Russell County High School.

Thank you so much for your perspective and your expertise today.

We really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you Laura, some great advice there.

Hear more advice from our panel of experts on paying for College 2026 Education Matters, where we discuss the changes and this year's Fafsa, scholarships, grants, and more.

That program is streaming online on demand@ketv.org.