7 Tips On Lowering College Costs In 2023

7 Tips On Lowering College Costs

Here are our 7 tips on lowering college costs in 2023 that families can use to save money. We all know that the cost of a college education is off the charts, and for many families affording a college education can be a real challenge. Make a conscious effort to work on these, and it will lower your out-of-pocket costs.

  1. Compare housing options
  2. Don’t buy new textbooks
  3. Consider dual enrollment
  4. Get a tuition discount
  5. Attend a college with fixed-price tuition
  6. Utilize a work-study program
  7. Graduate on time

Two bonus tips…

  1. Consider a community college in the first year or two
  2. Consider being a resident advisor. Many colleges will offer free or reduced room and board

Explore all of your aid options. With that said, parents need to be savvy when it comes to the financial aid process. The more they know about the process, the more likely they will retain more gift-aid. The more gift-aid, the fewer loans needed. Regarding loans, never turn down a subsidized loan(s) is offered and, more importantly, if needed.

Parents should consider retaining professional guidance. A trained expert will assure the family will retain the most financial aid possible. Also, students should always pursue outside scholarships which will help to lower their out-of-pocket costs for a four education. Once on campus, the student should walk into the financial aid office to ask if there are any “in-house” scholarships that they can apply for. Parents should set up a 529 plan early on.

If you wish for more tips or information on how to lower college costs, please contact our office for a free consultation to see if our team can help.

Why Student Campus Visits Are An Important Factor In Choosing A College

Student Campus Visits 2023

There is no question in our experience that student campus visits are an important factor in choosing a college or university for the 2023-24 academic school year.

A campus visit allows the student to experience the trip involved to get to the school, the people who are there, and the actual learning environment on campus. Seeing the dorms and dorm rooms, the library, the career center, the fitness center, the bookstore, tasting the food, and walking around the campus.

All of these factors are important to understanding if a student will actually be happy once he or she is a student there. Take a moment to read my blog “10 Things You Have To Do Before Going Off To College” to really get a good plan together as you make visits. 

A great college campus visit starts with preparation. Before you head out to meet with admissions officers, take time to plan ahead. We also recommend that you attempt to meet with the financial aid office. Ask questions about filling out the FAFSA and CSS profile, but try and disclose as little about your financial situation as possible.

Get ahead of the game now!  We have helped hundreds of families like yours since 1990 to lower their out of pocket costs. Contact our office for a complimentary review of your financial aid options. we can review the EFC and make other observations as a professional FAFSA preparers.

FAFSA4caster Does Not Tell The Whole Story

FAFSA4caster

The FAFSA4caster does not tell the whole story for predicting your college financial aid.  It is useless when it comes to their bottom line.  While this is a tool provided by the Federal Student Aid and available on their website it only gives an estimate.  The  FAFSA4caster does not factor in their eligibility for institutional grants   If the student is applying to colleges that require the CSS Profile, the FAFSA this even truer.  With that in mind, they will be in receipt of financial aid awards based on different figures resulting in disappointment.

Most importantly the FAFSA4caster  does not help you interpret the FAFSA questions any better.  Keep in mind, the CSS Profile will assess more information than FAFSA. In addition, the majority of financial aid estimators on the colleges’ websites are not accurate; therefore useless.

The most important factor in maximizing your financial aid is knowing how to properly interpret the questions.  This is where you can massively increase your award by working with a trained college financial aid consultant.  If you wish a true calculation of your aid eligibility, contact one of our staff.

What you need to know about financial aid for college
News Source: charlotteobserver.com

5 Facts Parents Need To Know About Student Loans In 2019

5 Facts Parents Need To Know About Student Loans In 2019

Here are 5 facts parents need to know about student loans in 2019.  It’s important I start this blog by mentioning the drawbacks of private student loans that may include the interest is often variable, less flexible repayment options, the student may have to start making payments while they are still in school, there is a higher limit on lending.  This will mean the student will be paying more interest, the loan will be dependent on the student’s credit score, and if the lender requires a co-signer, the student may be putting that person at financial risk.

  1. Never turn down a subsidized loan.
  2. Know the differences between subsidized and unsubsidized Federal loans.
  3. Borrow only what you need.
  4. Be clear in what you are signing.
  5. Shop around at local banks and credit unions to learn what they have to offer in private loans before utilizing any unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford loan. Why? Friendly terms! Over the last 2-3 years, I have been learning from some of our clients that they have secured a private loan with a lower interest rate than a Federal loan. For example, I talked to a client recently that retained a private loan at a 3% rate.

If you need more advice about student loans, financial aid, FAFSA, CSS Profile or scholarships please don’t hesitate to contact our office.  We offer a complimentary consultation to see if our service would be a fit and help your family reduce the out of pocket cost of college.

Tips For Students On How To Pay For College

Throughout our 28 years  of helping families lower their out of pocket cost for their education we have compiled our most valuable tips for students on how to pay for college. First students should always walk into the financial aid office the first day they are on campus and ask if there are any “in house” scholarships they can apply for. Many times there are and students are not aware that they exist.

Other tips include: pursue outside scholarships keeping in mind that they should never pay for a scholarship service. Set up a 529 plan. Whenever possible purchase used textbooks and sell them when they are finished with them. Utilize work study on campus whenever possible. Keep credit card debt at a minimum and always pay it down on time. Choose the right meal plan. Set up a student checking account. Most of them are free. Keep organized regarding their spending habits. Get the right cell phone plan. Utilize alternative transportation. Consider being a resident advisor. Many colleges will offer free or reduce room and board.

If possible, retain a trained expert in the financial aid process. These people can save families thousands of dollars in their 4 year education. Contact us if you would like to learn more.

How Much College Can You Afford?

Many factors come into play when comes to how much college tuition a family can afford.

  1. What colleges is the student applying to?
  2. What is families’ liquid asset situation like?
  3. How much was saved for college?
  4. What financial aid forms are required?
  5. Many colleges require more forms than the FAFSA. Who is completing the forms?

The bottom line here is the correct interpretation of the questions and know what information you do not have to disclose. The more mistakes made, the less aid offered. Families that utilize a trained expert in the process will historically retain more aid.  That is where College Aid Consulting Services has been assisting families for 28 years to avoid the mistakes and maximize the Financial Aid available to them.  Contact us today to learn more.

Client Testimonial

“Our “miracle” was a direct result from working with College Aid Consulting Services. Our financial planner gave us his name via several of her clients who had highly recommended him. After an exchange of information over the phone, he assured us we would see substantial savings in college costs with his help. Needless to say, we signed on the dotted line. Immediately my husband and I were impressed with Ronald’s service – always returning our calls promptly and doling out calming advice. He assisted us with college applications, financial aid forms, and other related documents. The most exciting time in this process was near the decision deadline. Even though we had received a generous financial package, our expected family contribution was higher than anticipated. With Ronald’s insistence and editing, we drafted a letter of appeal which resulted in an additional annual grant of $3,000.00! Now that the dust has settled, we realize with another daughter being a high school junior, this process will soon start up again. Knowing that Ronald will be able to guide us, makes this a worry-free experience. We could not be happier with all of his help.”

~ Dana L.

12 Tips For Parents and Students On Paying Your Way Through College

These are our 12 tips for parents and students on paying your way through college in the 2018 and 2019 school year. Every year we consult with many families, single parents and even students who want to make college more affordable. These are the things we believe without fail you need to do to reduce the cost of college.

  1. Students should always walk into the financial aid office the first day they are on campus and ask if there are any “in-house” scholarships they can apply for. Many times there are and students are not aware that they exist.
  2. Pursue outside scholarships keeping in mind that they should never pay for a scholarship service.
  3. Set up a 529 plan for your student.
  4. Whenever possible purchase used textbooks and sell them when they are finished with them. You are never going to use them again.
  5. Utilize work study on campus whenever possible.
  6. Keep credit card debt at a minimum and always pay it down on time.
  7. Choose the right meal plan.
  8. Set up a student checking account. Most of them are free. Keep organized regarding their spending habits.
  9. Get the right cell phone plan.
  10. Utilize alternative transportation such as a bike, bus or rail system.
  11. Consider being a resident advisor. Many colleges will offer free or reduce room and board. If the college is close to family or relatives the student should consider living at home which is one of the most economical ways to get an education. If money is short in the beginning, the student should consider a community college. There are now many quality 2 year programs around the US that will allow a student to transfer their credits to a four-year school.
  12. Retain a trained expert in the financial aid process. These people can save families thousands of dollars in their 4-year education.

If you wish to consult with one of our fine experts, please contact our office for a complimentary consultation. Just like a great accountant for 28 years we have been experts in financial aid. We would love to look at your FAFSA and CSS Profile and see if we can help reduce the out of pocket expense even more.

Do You Know Your College Tuition Expected Family Contribution 2018?

expected family contribution

Do you know what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) 2018 is? Most families don’t. Did you know that there are three EFCs in the financial aid process? Most families don’t.

The EFC(s) represents the families’ ability to pay for a college education. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated via The CSS Profile under one of two formulas. The Institutional Methodology or the Consensus Methodology depending on the college. Families need to know that the three EFCs could vary widely. Moreover, many families are not told what their EFC is under the Institutional and the Consensus Methodologies by the college(S).

If you would like our staff to calculate your true EFC(s) and learn how to increase your financial aid eligibility, please contact our office.

Waitlisted For Your Top College Choice What’s Next?

Waitlisted For Your Top College Choice

You had hoped the admissions process would be over by now, but you have been waitlisted for your top college choice. What do you do now?

33% of colleges and universities use waitlists. These lists are effectively the colleges’ back up plans. They have a number in mind of how many freshmen they want to admit. The colleges also know that not all students will accept their invitations to join their student bodies. So the waitlists are there to fill the gap.

Approximately 10% of student s who apply to a college with a waitlist will wind up on the list. Out of those 10%, 20% of them will get off the waitlist and get into the college.

So here’s your first lesson about being waitlisted. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against you. You only have a 1 in 5 chance of getting off that waitlist. So if you’re serious about and you really want to get into that school, then you better do some work to improve your chances.

1. The student makes all contact with the college.

First things first… Mom and Dad need to stay out of this process. Here’s a bit of trivia for you…

Out of all the communication that a typical admissions office receives:

  • 85% comes from parents of prospective students
  • 10% comes from high school guidance counselors
  • 5% comes from the students themselves

Only 5% of all communication comes from the students! Do you realize that one of the most effective ways for your student to stand out amongst the thousands of applicants is to be one of the very few students who contact the admissions department themselves? This is the first key to getting off the waitlist. The student should be making all the contact with the college.

2. Decide whether or not to pursue the waitlisted school or schools.

This is an important step, and can easily get overlooked, so answer this big question now.  Take stock and determine if you really want to remain on the waitlist. Is the school that much more desirable than their second or third choice which has already admitted them? Do you want to hang on to the chance they would get in? Since most of the financial resources will have long before been allocated and history shows you are not likely to get a generous award.  If lowering the out of pocket cost is important, it’s worth taking a serious look if you should take the money being offered by one of the other schools.

3. What’s your backup plan?

Third… You and your student need to formulate their backup plan. Remember, only 20% of students get off the waitlist. Also keep in mind that most colleges require you to make a yes or no decision by May 1st. There is a very high likelihood that you will not hear anything about getting off the waitlist until July or August. So you must have a backup plan.

Pick one of the other schools you have already been accepted to, hopefully one with a generous financial aid offer, and send in your confirmation and deposits. You need to pursue your backup plan school as if you will be there in the fall. Then if your first choice school comes through and you get off the waitlist; you can let your backup know and change course. Of course, you have to be willing to give up your deposits at the backup school.

Do not pass up this step. You must have a backup plan. Don’t start telling yourself, “well that doesn’t seem fair to my backup school.”

4. Contact the Admissions office

Fourth… You need to contact the admissions office directly (you being the student). Ask them why you were waitlisted. Was there something missing? Were your ACT or SAT scores just a little too low? Were they looking for more leadership? Find out as many details about the admissions decision that you can without being a pest. Find out who the admissions representative is who has your file.

Now send them a letter reiterating your interest in going to their school. List what you like about their school. Is the location, the staff, its history, your experience at a campus visit. You need to present yourself as someone who is knowledgeable and a good fit for their university.

5. Follow up with the College

Fifth… You need to be following up with the college as you are able to provide them with important information which will cast you in a good light and help them make their decisions. Here are some good reasons to contact your admissions rep and update them:

  • Your ACT or SAT score went up measurably
  • Your GPA has improved
  • You have just received a school or community award.

This is not the time to Twitter your admissions counselor to death. They don’t care who you went to prom with. They don’t care that you’re going on a really cool senior trip. And they don’t care that your group won the high school battle of the bands.

You want to provide them relevant information.

6. Don’t Obsess over the Waitlist

If you’ve put together a well thought out admissions plan, you should have several other schools who have already accepted you. You are just as likely to have a great college experience at those schools as you are at your first choice school. So don’t worry about it. Get on with the rest of your Senior year and have some fun!

If you would like a complimentary financial aid evaluation, please contact our office.

2018 FAFSA Filing Is Approaching, What You Need To Know

2018 FAFSA Filing

The 2018 FAFSA filing is approaching here is what you need to know. Like for the current academic year, families can file the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as Oct. 1 (instead of Jan. 1 as families have done in the past) for the upcoming 2018 -19 school year.

What you need to know: Each college will have their own deadline and will vary from school to school and some deadlines can be as early as Nov. 1 and as late as of Apr. 1. The second deadline is determined by the family’s home state. Starting Oct. 1, families can check their state’s deadline here. Some states have hard deadlines and other states have suggested deadlines to make sure you get priority consideration for college money. There’s also a group of states that offer first-come, first-served financial aid.

If you would like more information on FAFSA and how to properly file your financial aid forms, please contact our office.

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