College Admissions Help Blog

Twitter and Facebook are among the social media tools that recruiters and university officials are using these days to promote their school and lure students.

According to the USA Today the number of colleges using social networking sites and or putting video on their blogs more than doubled from 2007 to 2008.

So what does this mean for potential applicants? It’s best for you to be on your best behavior. Don’t post vulgar twitter updates or embarrassing pictures on Facebook. I can tell you if that final spot comes down to you and some guy who posted underage drinking pics of himself on Facebook that seat is yours.

Be careful what you post, you never know who may be watching.

Today is officially the last day of “haggle month.” Financial aid officers refer to April as haggle month because of all of the parents who spend time asking for better financial aid offers.

Students generally have until tomorrow, May 1st, to decide whether to accept or reject an offer of admission. It’s going to be a tough decision for those who have received acceptance letters to more than one school, although cost will most likely play a key role in the decision making process.

Typically, a financial-aid offer will consist of five parts: grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, federally backed Stafford loans, and Plus loans for undergraduate students. Each school understandably offers different packages to each student based on merit and need.

Once you get settled on a school the next thing you’ll want to address is how to pay for it. Read 5 Tips for Getting Student Loans.

Just last week I wrote a blog entitled, Private Schools More Affordable than State, which spoke to the point that financial aid packages may actually be more attractive at private institutions driving down the bottom-line cost for you. This week it was announced that many budget-strapped public universities are predicting significant tuition hikes lending further credence to my earlier claim.

Right now private universities are doing everything in their power to maintain or lower the cost for students, while public schools are struggling amidst budget cuts and are looking to raise costs. Many are expected to raise tuition by 5-6%, which is understandable. Between state budget cuts, tuition income dollars, and endowments funds being down the only place to make up the shortage is through John and Jane Q student.

When completing your FAFSA just make sure to include ALL the schools on your wish list. Like Forest Gump once said, Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” You might as well go for the gusto! You may find the perfect chocolate.

If it was up to me I would either toss the SAT out of the college admissions process, devalue its weight, or make it optional across the board. There is nothing standardized about that exam.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe tests are a necessary part of life. When I was trying to land a customer service job several years ago I took a problem solving exam so they could rate my competence. In school you take exams to see how well you learned the material. Tests in those capacities serve as appropriate measuring sticks, but the SAT is a different animal completely. My wife Kerri, to this day, kicks herself about how poorly she scored.

First off you should know that Kerri is an encyclopedia of knowledge and can hold her own on just about any topic. In fact she kinda reminds me of Rainman. So how on earth did she score a rather pedestrian 710 on her SAT? Answer, she froze. She felt the weight of the exam and just couldn’t concentrate. Because of that she did not get into UConn. Is that fair? She was ranked tenth in her class of 275, played softball, cheered, and was on the yearbook committee. That one test really hurt her.

The NFL administers their SAT equivalent with the wonderlic test. Future Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb reportedly scored a 14 (19-21 is said to be average). Steve McNair and Dan Marino scored a 15. By SAT rationale they should not have been allowed into the NFL. They would have got their denial letter in the mail just as Kerri did. But a new leaf may be turning over as a handful of schools are now SAT test-optional.

According to the College Board, which owns the SAT, 45 schools are test-optional. It’s making baby steps, but at least they are stepping in the right direction. For the test-optional mandate to really kick into high gear a major school such as Harvard would need to adopt the policy. It’s a different world today and things have changed so much since the 1920’s when the exam launched.

The SAT was devised in 1926 as a merit-based leveler to replace the old-boys pipeline from prep schools to top colleges. The test was promoting equal opportunity for those students who didn’t come from the best schools. But now many view the SAT as the opposite – as an obstacle to opportunity. There are scoring gaps between different racial and socio-economic groups, and concerns that the test is too coachable.

The SAT probably does have a place. I just wish it wasn’t the first thing that schools looked at. The sum should remain greater than the sum of its parts.

Although the initial sticker price may be more at private universities when compared to state schools that doesn’t necessarily mean it will cost you more

Back when I was shopping for colleges in the early 90’s I was seeking the most affordable school, but was not factoring in all the variables that contribute toward the bottom line figure. I was looking at the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board but was not calculating in the financial aid package I may receive. As a result I scratched several schools off my wish list prematurely like a fool.

The simple fact is many private universities can offer richer financial aid packages to students because of their endowment dollar nest-eggs and large financial aid budgets.

My advice, don’t put all your Easter eggs in one basket. Hop around and check out as many schools as you can and include several on your FAFSA (if they meet your academic criteria), even if they are pricey.

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

Student Loan Network

1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169
email: press@edvisors.com, web: http://www.PrivateStudentLoans.com

PrivateStudentLoans.com encourages students to consider all their student loan options

Quincy, MA (PRWeb) July 19, 2009 – The Student loan Network introduces a new private student loan comparison website offering a variety of loans for for funding your college education. Compare a private student loans to federal student loans and competing offers from various private loan lenders.

“We have two objectives with our new design.” explained Jon Rudy, Director of Student Loan Programs. “First, although we always recommend federal loans first, we want to show that private student loans actually compare favorably to federal student loans. Second, we want to let students know they have several options – both federal and private.”

Private Student Loan Insight:

• Many private student loan products have a lower rate than the Federal PLUS Loan. The catch – private loan rates are usually variable while PLUS Loan rates are fixed. The majority of parents want their sons/daughters to share in the responsibility of their loans.
• Many applicants will not apply for federal student loan to avoid filling out the FAFSA form – which is viewed as overly complicated and requires submitting personal information to the government.
• Increasingly, students are doing the shopping and then bringing the options to their parents for the final decision.
• PrivateStudentLoans.com is a top 5 site in Google for Private Student Loans.
• 45,000 visitors to PrivateStudentLoans.com this month makes it the leading site for private student loan comparisons and the fastest growing resource for students and parents looking for private student loans.

“There has been a lot of press about a new private student loan product requiring payments from the student while they are in school” continues Mr. Rudy. “While in school payments reduces the overall cost of the loan, most students and parents want to defer payments. We want to let students know they have many options. All programs listed allow for payments at any time when students or parents have the ability – most people do not know this important feature.”

Students have many options when it comes to financing their education. Scholarships, grants and federal student loans are the first and best option. When these funds fall short, students can and should consider a variety of private student loans.

PrivateStudentLoans.com is a member of the Student Loan Network, an Edvisors Online Education Company. PrivateStudentLoans.com.

About Edvisors and the Student Loan Network:

The Student Loan Network is one of the nation’s fastest growing providers of student loans and related information. A member of the Edvisors (www.edvisors.com) family of companies since 1998, we have connected 25 million students and parents with over $1 billion in scholarships, grants and federal, private and consolidation loan funding. To help make the confusing and stressful financial aid process easier, the Student Loan Network also delivers helpful information, including the award-winning Financial Aid Forum, a multitude of financial aid-related blogs and the monthly Financial Aid Newsletter. Learn more about the Student Loan Network at www.StudentLoanNetwork.com.

With 401k plans devalued, pension plans dissolving, and social security only paying a fraction of the cost of living many baby boomer’s are finding themselves in a place they haven’t been in over 40 years, school. These old dogs are learning new tricks, and in today’s world that is a must. Versatility, flexibility, and a broad set of skill sets is required to secure and maintain employment.

But it can be mentally tough to get those pistons firing again after so many years away from formal study. Also, the prospect of sitting in a classroom with those in their late teens / early twenties is a bit scary for some. In fact, many talk themselves out of going back to school before they even start by concluding they are too old when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

With health-care advances the average life expectancy in the U.S. is now pushing 80, meaning those in their early 50’s today are the equivalent to those in their mid 30’s a generation ago. Today’s classrooms are filled with students of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. But for those adult students who just don’t feel comfortable in a classroom setting, whether for medical reasons (those classroom chairs are still uncomfortable) or other, online classes are your ticket to the fast lane.

More than 4 million students enrolled in at least one on-line class last fall. On-line is quickly becoming the preferred way to earn a degree for those who are disciplined. Aside from the obvious perk, working from the comfort of your home, you also save money on commuter fees and parking passes.

I know it can be difficult to start that engine again, but it is well worth it. You may be in the workforce another 20 or 30 years. Heck, with all the medical advances by the time I hit my late 50’s I may be saying, just 40 more years until retirement.

If you are considering going back to school and are interested in an online degree or class (click here).

Why is it good to attend a college fair? There are many reasons.

First off they are a great informational resource. If you are seeking knowledge about colleges, universities, or other postsecondary institutions you should go without question. I’m confident you will leave thankful that you did.

It is also a good idea to get out from behind that computer screen (where you are now) and go shake some hands and network. While at the fair you should request a business card from an admissions representative or two. If it comes down to you and another applicant for that final spot and you were the one that attended the college fair, guess who is most likely getting an acceptance letter.

Do your homework: Read a college guidebook such as “Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges” or the “Fiske Guide to Colleges.” Don’t get sucked in by a brand name school. Identify which colleges interest you, and make sure that school is offering a curriculum that is in line with your interests.

Focus on the positive. If you are a standout athlete make that known. If your class rank and SAT scores are your bread and butter be sure to put those in the toaster oven and serve them hot.

According to Charmin Lee, Director of Student Recruitment at Wingate University, “College representatives love it when students come to the college fairs prepared. Students need to understand that part of their personal profile is being determined by how they act and the questions they ask.”

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

For tips on filing your FAFSA and maximizing your federal aid for school (click here).