Help Your College Students Manage Their Budget

Help Your College Students Manage Their Budget

Chances are good you’re not living like a college student anymore. So it’s likely that your children aren’t used to living like one either. One of the roles parents take on when helping teenagers transition academically from high school to college is also helping them transition financially. It’s a time of tremendous growth for everyone, and with growth often comes growing pains. But there are ways to help kids avoid breaking their budget. Have a Heart to Heart, Often Sending…

Read More
How MCPT Can Help With Your FAFSA

How MCPT Can Help With Your FAFSA

My College Planning Team's Chief College Funding Strategist, Jim Slowik, discusses how MCPT can help with your FAFSA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfd2xHqr7b8&t=4s Need Help With Your FAFSA? My College Planning Team's Financial Team can assist you with understanding what you can expect to pay for your student's right fit college and strategize with you on the best ways to reduce your bottom line, as well as filling out your FAFSA forms. Contact Jim Slowik for more information or click here to schedule a free…

Read More
The Cost Of A Wrong Fit College Education

The Cost of a Wrong Fit College Education

My College Planning Team's Chief College Funding Strategist, Jim Slowik, discusses the disadvantage of choosing a wrong fit college for your student. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2uMCiht5A Need Help With the Figuring out How to Pay for College? My College Planning Team's Financial Team can assist you with understanding what you can expect to pay for your student's right fit college and strategize with you on the best ways to reduce your bottom line. Contact Jim Slowik for more information or click here to schedule…

Read More
Parents And The “Soft Launch” To College

Parents and the “Soft Launch” to College

Things Parents Know Generally speaking, adolescents are shortsighted, focused on the immediate present rather than the future (that could be weeks or months away!), unwilling or unable to plan ahead, and are challenged to see the long-term consequences of their actions and choices. The Research Says it is Normal The maturation process - including development of the prefrontal cortex paired with hormonal changes - is influenced by a variety of external factors such as parent education, socioeconomic status, environmental conditions,…

Read More
New Tax Bill Brings Good News

New Tax Bill Brings Good News

Most of the news coming out on how the new tax bill affects families and colleges has been fragmented and tainted with political bias. This an attempt to provide a bottom line and more objective look at how the final bill will affect college families and colleges. EFFECT ON COLLEGE FAMILIES On balance, the lobbying efforts from colleges, universities, graduate students, and families has resulted in a tax bill that is mostly good news for most college families. Keeps the…

Read More
Community College: Is It Right For You?

Community College: Is It Right for You?

Community college or four-year college? The idea of attending a four-year college sounds awesome, doesn’t it? You get to do your thing whenever you want. You are on your own. You are making your own way. But let’s face it, a four-year college is not for everyone. Community college often is the right choice for a student, whether it is a short-term choice, a path to an associates or two-year degree, or part of a more affordable financial plan. Why…

Read More
Analyze Your Award Letter Before You Accept It!

Analyze Your Award Letter Before You Accept It!

Some colleges and universities are already sending out financial aid award letters for 2018/2019. That’s great news! After all, you’ve worked hard, and it’s time you reap the rewards of that hard work. But before you sign and return that award letter, it’s essential to look at it with a critical eye.   As we wrote in a previous blog, analyzing your award letters can be a complicated process, but it’s well worth your time. Is your offer clear and easy to…

Read More
46% Of IL Families Didn’t Fill Out The FAFSA!

46% of IL Families Didn’t Fill Out the FAFSA!

There’s a lot of paperwork to be completed in preparation for the college application and admission process, so who could blame anyone for overlooking one form or another. But not filling out the FAFSA could cost your family thousands of dollars in free money for school. Does This Sound Familiar? Families often state many reasons why they don’t complete a FAFSA: “We earn too much income to qualify for aid.” “A FAFSA is only for government grants and loans.” “It’s…

Read More
Make Social Media Work For You!

Make Social Media Work for You!

There are many tips and articles on what you should not post on social media and the Internet, but let’s consider some ways that social media can be used in a positive way. LinkedIn LinkedIn is not only for your parents. This social media tool is an excellent way for you to promote yourself. More and more students are using this site to share their work experience, their successes, and resources as well as finding a job. Start connecting with…

Read More
Greek Life: Is It For You?

Greek Life: Is it for You?

You might know already know if Greek life is - or is not - the right choice for you. But, if you are like many college students you just aren't sure. Joining a sorority or a fraternity has pros and cons. On the plus side, there are parties, immediate friend connections, possibly a place to live as an upperclassman, and a lifetime of memories to be made. But joining a Greek organization also means additional fees, extra commitments and activities,…

Read More