A Guide to the Different Types of College Student Loans.
It is crucial that families understand the different types of college student loans so that they are making an informed decision
Why the FAFSA is Important – Whether or Not You Need Financial Aid
Completing the FAFSA is important for more reasons than families may realize – from scholarships to changing financial circumstances.
How Do Colleges Use Preferential Financial Aid Packaging in Admissions?
Colleges will use preferential financial aid packages as a tool to help them shape the incoming class. How can your student benefit?
The Simplified FAFSA Changes – The Good and The Bad
The simplified FAFSA is significantly shorter, and the Expected Family Contribution number is now a thing of the past.
What You Need to Know About a College Financial Aid Appeal Letter
Did your teen receive a disappointing financial aid award from their “dream school,” after you were celebrating their acceptance just days before? Not receiving the anticipated financial aid award feels like a blow – this could put that college out of reach financially, and no parent wants to disappoint their child, especially now. If this…
Why Should You Invest in a Qualified Tuition Program?
If you’re the parent of a potentially college-bound child, chances are that you have spent more than a few minutes thinking about the best way to finance that dream. While I have written previously about how to understand how much college really costs, I have never written specifically about the best way to save for…
What Does My EFC Number Mean, Really?
When your oldest child begins high school, you may never have heard of the acronym, “EFC” before. But by November of their senior year, most families of college-bound teens are not only familiar with the term, they likely know what their EFC number IS. In general, most families feel that it’s too high. But what…
Why Is the PSAT Important?
Recently, a friend shared with me that she knew someone who was planning to let their child skip taking the PSAT. It was the student’s junior year and the student already had a good score on the ACT. So, the parent saw no point. Apparently not all schools do a great job of answering the…
College Athletic Recruiting: What You Need to Know to Get Started
College athletic recruiting is a complicated thing and there is absolutely no way to capture all of the nuances in one article. For one thing, it varies by sport! But, I am going to give you an overview to get you started. And then, I’ll provide some further resources for you. Before getting too far,…
What You Need to Know About Need-Aware Colleges
I often write about factors that colleges consider as they make admissions decisions. There is one factor that gets very little attention – financial need. Did you know that there are “need-blind” colleges, as well as “need-aware” colleges? Unfortunately, this is an aspect of the college admissions process that students have very little control over….