College Admissions Help Blog

Most people know that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, is the number one form you need to fill out to receive any kind of federal financial aid. However, there is another important financial aid form that every prospective college student should know about. The College Scholarship Service Profile, or the CSS Profile, is an application put out by the College Board. Over 600 colleges and universities use the information collected by the profile to determine student eligibility for nonfederal student aid. This application is much more detailed than the FAFSA and it gives financial aid officers  a closer look at the details of a student’s family finances.

This form is most useful for colleges with early decision and early action programs. These schools use the CSS Profile to make preliminary financial aid decisions for students because they cannot file a FAFSA until after January 1. Unfortunately, unlike the FAFSA there is a fee associated with filing the CSS Profile. The application fee is $9 and a $16 fee is charged for every school the information is sent to.

Make sure you find out if the school you are applying to require or accept this application!

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to everyone who has served and is serving our country in the United Stated Armed Forces. Today we are talking about what is being done to make the transition from active service to college easier for veterans. Recently there has been a lot of talk about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill, which was signed last year, provides veterans who served on or after September 11^th 2001 with financial aid for education and housing.

This bill is the largest veterans benefit bill since World War II and since it went into effect in August it has achieved a high level of popularity. A overwhelming  275,000 veterans have applied for education benefits so far. Although this number has been hard for the Department of Veterans Affairs to keep up with many schools are being lenient with when payments come in and the problems are expected to work themselves out with time.

Many young veterans returning from tours of duty have a lot more to deal with than the average undergraduate student. Many times these people already have families to support which makes obtaining an education extremely difficult. The hope is that this bill will make education more accessible to more veterans and that if will ease any doubt that they may have about returning to school.

ScholarshipPoints Bonus Code: AAGWEEK3

Today I am starting something new. Every Wednesday I will be answering your most common college admissions questions.

This week we are talking about choosing the right school. Recently I had someone ask me “how do I know that I am picking the right college to attend?” This is a tough one. The truth is you can never know for sure until you get there, start taking classes and immerse yourself in the campus culture, but if you follow this advice you can come pretty close to making a flawless decision.

1: Determine a location that suites you. Some people are city people and some people are rural people. Some people like a self-contained campus and some people like a campus that is spread out. You need to figure out where you think you will be comfortable. You also need to figure out how far away from home you want to go. Maybe you cannot wait to move to the opposite coast or maybe you would prefer to be able to go home on the weekends.

2: Make sure the schools you are looking at have the academics that suite your needs. If science is your thing try not to fall in love with a business school no matter how fun it looks. Additionally, you may think you know what you want to do now, but if you change your mind and go to a school with limited options you might have to go through the hassle of transferring.

3: Do an exhausting amount of online research. There are so many websites out there that connect you with college that might fit your needs. How To get In even has its own college and university search engine that allows you to do all of you preliminary investigation.  If you are considering the online education route Edvisors.com can help you learn everything you need to know about online courses and degrees.

4: Visit the top ten schools on your list. You cannot make an educated school choice without visiting schools first. Colleges are extremely visitor friendly especially during college application season.  Colleges and Universities schedule and extensive number of tours, group information sessions, and even overnights. While you are visiting schools make sure you see what the residence halls look like, eat in the dining hall, visit the classrooms take a tour of the athletic facilities. The more information you can get the better.

5: Make sure you have safety, target and reach schools that you are interested in. If all of your favorite schools are admissions long shots and you do not end up getting into any of them, you will probably end up having to make a choice you are unhappy with. Have at least one safety school that thrills you.

6: Do not limit yourself to only looking at schools you think you can afford. Usually you will have people tell you the opposite, but I believe that if you find the perfect school there are ways to make it work. The Student Loan Network can help you determine what all of your financial aid options are.

In the end the college you choose is a decision that will stick with you for the rest of your life. If you know yourself and your own personal needs you cannot go wrong.

There is one thing that every college student experiences at least once a semester; sticker shock at the bookstore. Textbooks are an added cost that most first year students are not prepared for. Textbooks cost some college students thousands of dollars annually and paying for them dries up months of summer paychecks and years of savings.

Although many students have their textbooks subsidized by student loans and scholarships, the upfront costs for $190 biology books and $98 statistics books comes out of their pockets. Students sometimes wait months to see that money back in their wallet. After all of the other costs associated with college paying for books, even temporarily, is painful. However, one Massachusetts school is making paying for textbooks a lot easier. Williams College has adopted a policy that will allow students who receive financial aid to swipe their college ID and get their books for free. The costs are then assigned to the student’s bill and paid directly by college grants. Hopefully, after recognizing the benefits of this policy other schools will follow William’s lead.

If you do not attend a school with this procedure there are other ways to save on textbooks. Buying used books is one way to save. Although these books may be already marked or highlighted they are significantly cheaper. Another way to save is to split the cost of the book with a friend.  If you know you do not have the same study schedule as another person in your class you might be able to get away with one book between two people. Finally, you can usually sell you books back at the end of the semester and then use the cash you get back to buy your next set of books.

Search for Cheap College Text Books

With the current state of the US economy, the task of financing a college education is increasingly difficult. Because of this, many students are forced to let go of their dreams of attending their number one school. After years of picturing themselves writing for the Harvard Crimson or attending UConn basketball games, senior year comes with a dose of financial reality. This is when many high school students realize that getting into their school of choice will not be a problem, but paying for it will be.

After you have passed the SATs with flying colors, received recommendations from the best teachers at your school, and have acceptance letters in hand, settling for the number two or three school on your list can be heartbreaking. However, if you are set on attending your dream school you can, and should, make it work.

First of all, apply for federal financial aid by completing your FAFSA. The FAFASA is the most important financial aid form you can complete. Without it you will not be eligible for the Stafford loan, PLUS loan or Pell grant. Many students qualify for this type of aid; even student who do not think they will be eligible at all. Visit FAFSAOnline.com to find out more about the FAFSA and apply.

Secondly, if you were accepted to your dream school you must have done a few great things to get there. Because of your achievements, there are thousands and thousands of scholarships out there that you are eligible for. StudentScholarshipSearch.com can help connect you with scholarships you should apply for.

Finally, if you need additional funds after federal financial aid and scholarships apply for private student loans. Private student loans can help you pay for expenses beyond tuition including room and board, and transportation. You can also apply for these loans at any time during the semester if unforeseen expenses come up. PrivateStudentLoans.com can tell you more about your private student loan options and even help you apply.

As juniors and seniors in high school you are probably well on your way to planning your college career. Getting ready for college can be extremely stressful on top of everything else you have to worry about, but luckily most high schools have resources to make the search and apply process a lot easier.

Many high schools host college information nights for juniors and seniors, and their families. Information nights give students and parents a broad overview of the college application process. Guidance counselors are on hand to provide direction and answer questions. Sometimes a school will even bring in a college admissions counselor to lend advice from their perspective. These events are particularly helpful to families who are sending their first child to college, but everyone should consider attending since things change so frequently.

The following is a list of topics that are usually covered at college information nights:

SATs and ACTs: All of your questions about when and where to take the SATs or ACTs will be answered. You will find out what the test dates are, where they are being offered, where to send your scores, what scores you should aim for and how many times you should take a particular test.

Visiting Colleges: You will learn how to schedule college visits and when the best times to visit are. You will find out what questions you should ask when you take a tour and how many schools you should visit to make the right decisions.

The Application Process: College applications are more than just pieces of paper. Someone from the guidance department will outline everything you need to include with your applications from the essay to the application fee.

The College Essay: Someone will go over the basics of writing a college essay. They will cover how to choose a topic, how long the essay should be and who should see your essay before you send it off.

Letters of Recommendation: Most colleges require that you submit letters of recommendation with your application. A guidance counselor will explain who these recommendations should come from, how many you should submit, and what they should say about you and your achievements .

FAFSA and Financial Aid: Financial aid can be the most confusing part of applying to college. Someone from the guidance department will go over when and how to fill out your FAFSA, what kinds of federal student loans and alternative student loans exist, and how to search for scholarships.

Fall serves as the perfect transition between summer and winter while playing host to Halloween, the start of the NFL season, and of course the start of a new school year. Growing up in New England I also enjoyed the foliage and smell of warm apple pie wafting down from the dorms as I walked to class.  But I wouldn’t have enjoyed those sweet sights and smells on campus had I not done my homework over the summer.

I was a first generation college student, and had little help with the enrollment process from Mom and Dad when I went to school back in the early 90’s. My parents were very supportive in my pursuit of Higher Education, they were just a bit naive to the whole process. As crazy as this sounds I actually found getting my enrollment credentials in order more challenging than my micro and macroeconomics classes. It was truly awful, and I don’t want anyone to feel as overwhelmed and confused as me.  So lets make sure you’re using your time leading up to the fall judiciously. Time, as well all know, can either be your foe or ally depending how you use it.

Here are 5 smart tips to make sure you stay on course.

Free Money: These summer months are a great time to surf the net for scholarship opportunities, which of course would decrease the amount of funds you need to borrow.  There are many scholarships to be had ranging from merit based opportunities to free scholarships with minimal requirements.

Class Availability/Schedule: When you’re the new kid on the block you often get the shaft when it comes to your schedule.  Check for updates on class enrollment numbers.  You should be able to access those details online.  I used to check the Red Sox website daily which is how I would score great seats for face value as they would release some from time to time.  The same principle applies for your classes.  Your diligence over the summer may make for a better fall.

Loan Order: Your awards letter from the school will highlight your loan options.  The most common loan type, which students secure first, is a Stafford loan.  The Stafford loan is listed in the students name with modest maximum allotments.  The second most common loan type is a Parent Plus loan, which is in a parents name and listed on behalf of the student.  Third is a private student loan which lists the students name first with the parent listed as the co-signer.  The Plus loan and private option are sometimes switched around pending the circumstance and the market.  Right now favorable rates in the marketplace have made private loans more enticing for some than Parent Plus loans.

Waiting List Update: If you didn’t get into your dream school and were relegated to the much maligned waiting list – check back with them.  Write a letter to the regional admissions officer concerning what that school means to you and keep them apprised of anything new going on in your life that may showcase you in a different light.

Smell the Roses:  You made it happen.  You scored the marks in High School, fared well on the entrance exam(s), and are ready for this next exciting chapter in your life.  It’s ok to allow yourself some indulgences from time to time.  After all, all work an no play makes Jack a dull boy.

After the joy of acceptance wears off, the daunting reality of paying for your child’s college education sets in. For those lucky students who were admitted to highly selective colleges, the euphoria of being admitted can last a lifetime. Yet, if you’re a parent or guardian of these select few students, it is hard not to spend a couple of sleepless nights considering the big financial picture.
Although the Ivy League and several other prestigious colleges have generous scholarship programs, their scholarships are awarded based only on a family’s financial need. Many students admitted to such schools would easily win merit scholarships at other colleges.

Understandably, you may now be asking yourself if it’s a wise idea to have your child turn down a merit scholarship from another institution and, instead, enroll at his or her top choice school. If you do not qualify for financial aid, you will be expected to invest up to $200,000 in your child’s college education. This daunting figure seems impossibly high, especially when considered alongside the thirty years it usually takes to pay off a mortgage of a comparable amount. Indeed, the price tag of a private, selective college education is equivalent to the national median price of a single-family home.

In 1998, Princeton based researchers Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale concluded that attending an elite college does not always pay off in higher earnings. Focusing on students who decided not to attend an Ivy League school, they found that one’s future earnings correlated most with personal traits like tenacity, networking abilities and intelligence, rather than whether or not one attended an Ivy League institution. Still, Ronald Ehrenberg, Director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute, disagrees. He argues that there is a significant economic return in attending an Ivy League institution, a return that only increases over time. With this in mind, here are two questions I ask parents to consider when they cannot decide if paying $50,000 annually for a prestigious college education is really worth it.

1. What will your child’s earning potential be?
If you are considering a selective college only because you believe your child will earn lots of money in the future, I hope you’ll expand your viewpoint. In this tight labor market, having a degree from a prestigious institution may lead to networking opportunities and name recognition that could open doors and lead to increased employment opportunities. On the other hand, there are certain professions where starting salaries and future income potential are controlled by the labor market, unions or government policies.

2. Does your child plan to pursue graduate/professional school?
In this case, you need to expand your timeline to better finance your child’s entire education. Graduate and professional schools rarely give students significant sums of scholarship. With the exception of a lucky few who win fellowships, a student largely pays for their own graduate/professional school education out of pocket or with loans. If you intend to help your child with these expenses, it might be helpful to plan accordingly.

If your child was admitted to a highly selective college, take time to celebrate! When the euphoria wears off and anxiety sets in, take a minute to ask your children these personal questions about their futures and be honest with them about your short and long-term financial plans. Although this conversation may be sobering, it will bring clarity to their college selection. Then, speak with your child’s financial aid officer. This professional can guide you on how to make an investment in the four transformative years your child will spend at college. Without a crystal ball to predict the future, it is hard to assess how your child will grow and change in the next few years—and you cannot put a dollar figure on their intellectual, social and emotional development. Good luck!

Also Read: How To Appeal for more Financial Aid at our Financial Aid Forum, under General Questions:
http://www.financialaidforum.com/financial-aid-discussions/general-questions/

© Apply wise LLC 2008. Rod M. Bugarin, Jr., former admissions & financial aid officer at Brown and Columbia Universities, advisor at IvyWise, LLC

After you complete your fafsa, and maximize all federal aid and scholarships, the next thing you want to do is look into private loan options.

The problem, however, is there is less money available this year for students. Tim Ranzetta from Student Lending Analytics estimates the supply of loan capital from private lenders has declined by around one-third, or between about $6 billion and $7 billion.

Another hurdle students are facing is the rigid qualification standards. Mandatory co-signer requirements and FICO scores north of seven hundred are leaving many students out in the lurch. As I discussed in a recent blog, Students to Schools: “Thanks, but no thanks,” many students are rejecting pricey colleges and enrolling in more affordable community colleges and state schools.

The irony behind the spiraling economy is that it will benefit students in the long run by forcing families to be more judicious with money and school selection. Being a penny pincher in today’s world isn’t only wise, but a necessity.

Click here for more information on federal Stafford loans

Click here for more information on private student loans

Click here to sign-up for the big $10,000 scholarship giveaway on 3/31

Who wants free money? ME ME ME. I want free money, although I’m no longer in school so I don’t qualify…unless I win the lottery! Though, technically that wouldn’t actually be free. Anyway, you want free money for school, and want to know how to find it and what to look for, right? Well, your search is over. Read my award winning tips below (award winning in my mind anyway).

1. Schedule an appointment with your financial aid office. The largest amount of financial aid comes from federal, state, and institutional grants and tuition discounts.

2. If you already know what your major is speak to that academic department. They will have a better handle on scholarships given in your particular field.

3. Free scholarship search engines can help like the one at studentscholarshipsearch.com. You can locate scholarships by your field of study and state. The scholarship database is updated daily.

4. Tip: Don’t overlook the small scholarships out there ranging from $250 to $500, and don’t discount scholarships which require an essay. Both of these are often overlooked due to the low purse or the effort devoted to writing an essay. Basically, it is power in numbers. In this case the fewer the applicants the better your chances.

5. On March 31 scholarshippoints.com will be drawing a 10K winner. It’s free to sign-up and exciting to win. Just ask Victoria Fiorentino who is attending George Washington and won the last 10K giveaway in October. Will you be the next 10K winner? Good luck!