You are here:Home Archives for News
December 3, 2014

Chances Are You Can Afford Private College

Students with high academics should always apply to prestigious private colleges. Many students who deserve to attend these schools never apply to them due to “sticker shock”. We have found over the years that many of our students end up attending a private school for around the same price as a state institution. Why? Two reasons; first, private schools have more endowments to tap into. Second, professional guidance. Our clients go through the financial aid process in the most efficient way possible. Knowing how to play the financial aid game is key. Contact us today to learn more.

When you should apply to a college regardless of the cost
News Source: USA TODAY College

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , ,
November 27, 2014

Debt And College Choices

The cost of education will continue to rise and students will graduate with a historical amount of debt. More bad news; unfortunately many students will not be able to retain a job with the salary they deserve based on their degree. Therefore, students should research what careers will be in demand in the years they will graduate.

How Debt By Way Of Higher Education Will Ruin Millennials’ Lives
News source: Elite Daily

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,
October 24, 2014

Facts About Financial Aid Eligibility

The article neglects to mention a 4th type of financial aid; work-study is also available for most students and should be utilized whenever possible. Regarding the calculation of aid, the writer fails to mention that there are three ways that colleges may employ. There is the Federal Methodology, Institutional, and the Consensus Methodology which results in an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) respectfully.

15 freaky facts about financial aid eligibility
via savingforcollege.com

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,
October 15, 2014

Cost Of Applying For College

The cost of applying to colleges can be costly due to the application fees. However, applying to as many schools as possible is to the family’s advantage. Why? It is a numbers game. The more schools the student applies to, the more they are accepted to. The result, more financial aid offers. Therefore, more options and leverage benefits . In addition, you can get some colleges to waive the fee. How? Contact our office for more information.

How Much Does a College Degree Really Cost?
via Wall St. Cheat Sheet

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,
October 14, 2014

Financial Aid Simplification and Transparency Act

I definitely don’t see this bill dubbed the Financial Aid Simplification and Transparency Act (FAST) passing for many reasons. Regarding loans, parents need to be more savvy in the financial aid process to retain more gift-aid resulting in less debt with loans. In addition, they need to choose a college based on what they really can afford. The best advice I can give parents is to plan ahead!

What reauthorizing the Higher Education Act means for students
via USA Today

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,
October 7, 2014

When Should You Complete The FAFSA

The article states that you should complete the FAFSA as soon as the form becomes available, right after January 1st. I disagree with this in certain situations. If the family has their taxes completed in a timely manner and can meet the college(s) deadline, they should. Why? One big reason is by using figures from a completed tax return from the base year, the less likely the family will have to go through a process called verification. Regarding credit cards compared to student loans, the family should always consider utilizing student loans first, especially the subsidized loans.

3 big money mistakes to avoid in college
via USA Today

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,
October 7, 2014

Should Students Apply To College Early?

The article states that students should apply to colleges as early as possible. Good advice! However, some students will be offered early decision. Bad news here for many reasons for most families. Parents need to know the difference between early decision and early action. If you would like to read a column I wrote on this topic, please contact our office.

4 reasons to apply to college early
Shreveport Times

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,
September 23, 2014

Cost Of College Education To Parents

I found this article worth posting because it states that there are proposed changes in the financial aid process. One of them would allow parents and students to complete the FAFSA using information from two years earlier so they can file it in the fall which would allow them to see how much they would have to pay in the following year earlier. I don’t see this happening for many reasons. I always advise my clients to apply to lower price schools as a backup. I do concur with the author that parents should discuss as much as possible with the student regarding the true cost of their education and the debt they will incur.

Cost of student loans can haunt parents, too
Des Moines Register

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,
September 19, 2014

Media Ranking Of Colleges Effects Financial Aid

There is now a move by many, including colleges, that want to drop the use of SAT or ACT Scores in admissions known by some as “test blind”. Makes sense to me for many reasons. In addition, the cost of education has risen dramatically over the years and continues to do so. There are many reasons for this including one big one. Since the financial aid process is now so convoluted, families need expert direction in retaining the most for their children’s education.

College Rankings Are Destroying Financial Aid
Low-income students are increasingly paying for policies that prioritize prestige over opportunity
newrepublic.com

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,
September 10, 2014

Is There A Best Way To Pay For College?

The article states that you should borrow the maximum amount of federal loans available because they have a lower interest rate than private loans. This is not always the case. Parents need to shop around and explore their options. However, some federal loans are subsidized and private loans are not. If a student receives a subsidized Stafford loan and they still show unmet need in their award, they should ask for Perkins loan consideration. Like Stafford, the Perkins is a good loan since it is subsidized. The reason you ask about Perkins is that many colleges will not offer it in the initial award. If you want to know more, contact our office for the bottom line.

Finding the best scholarships starts with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you don’t think your financial situation qualifies, many institutional scholarships are sourced this way.

Let our experts give you the chance of the highest available amount of financial aid for your student. Receive your complimentary consultation when you fill out our online form.

What’s The Best Way To Pay For College?
News Source: FOX News Latino

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , ,
Google+