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Award Letters

Analyze Your Award Letter Before You Accept It!

Some colleges and universities are already sending out financial aid award letters for 2021/2022. 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…

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How to Succeed in Online School

Online higher education has always been an option, but for those of us that decided to pursue degrees mostly (or fully) in-person, 2020. As someone who just finished my final semester of college online, I am familiar with the challenges and the disappointments. Here’s my advice on how to handle taking your classes online.  1. Create a space for school  If you can, avoid doing school work in your bed. I know it’s tempting to watch lectures from the comfort…

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Career Exploration for High School Students: 3 Steps to Follow

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” This is the age-old question many adults ask children as soon as they can talk and show interest in certain toys. This question tends to turn into “What are you going to major in?” when they get into high school. In my experience as a high school counselor, I’ve found that these questions (although well-intentioned) can be very daunting to students who are unsure of their career interests. They can…

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Tools to Help Pay for College

There are many, many options when it comes to finding resources to help you figure out the best way to pay for college. There are blogs, websites, coaches, and more. Unfortunately, a lot of the advice out there can miss the mark and leave you paying more for college than you need to. « Learn more about paying for college Here are 5 free resources that we trust to help you find the best way to pay for college. 1.…

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A Pathway to Reduce Student Loan Debt and Increased Long-Term Financial Wellness

Written by: Ray Giese, Director of Career Development Every young adult hopes to ultimately find their way to the corner of the "Happy & Wealthy" quadrant by choosing a career that will provide them with a lifetime of earnings and personal satisfaction.  The prevailing thought is that every high school graduate must apply for and attend a college of their choice to help secure their chosen career path.  Each year high school students and their parents engage in the mad…

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Why It Is Always Important to Reduce Your EFC

How important is it for you to know how to reduce EFC for college? EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution. What if you already know that you or your student will be receiving a merit scholarship that will far exceed any need-based financial aid? Though it is possible that a high merit scholarship may eliminate your eligibility for any need-based financial aid, it is still very important to keep your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as low as possible. « Learn more…

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7 Unconventional Ways to Earn Money Towards Your Kid’s Dream Degree

Written by: Guest Contributor College is a big expense, and saving for it can be stressful for both parents and students. It’s easy to make mistakes in this process of saving and paying for an education. We all know about filling out the FAFSA. But let’s talk about 7 unique strategies for saving and paying for college.  Deposit funds into a college savings account There are various types of college savings accounts available to you. Some schools allow parents to…

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Google Career Certificates

Google career certificates are designed to provide students with skills, tools, expertise, and experience necessary for entry-level jobs. No prior knowledge, experience, or college education is necessary. » Looking for other online courses? Check out our resource page Coursera Google Career Certifications 1. Google IT Support Professional Certificate (Google) This certificate is designed as a starting point for a successful career in IT. Students will learn foundational IT skills through virtual lectures and quizzes, as well as hands-on labs. This online…

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What is CLEP?

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP), is a program administered by the College Board that allows students to save time and money by earning college credit for knowledge they already have from work experience, AP classes or independent study. Upon passing a CLEP exam, students can earn college credit at more than 2,900 institutions. This program is open to anyone, including high school students, adult learners, active military service members, veterans and current college students.  What is CLEP? Although it…

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College For Free Freshman Year For Free

How the Freshman Year for Free Program Works: Q&A with the Executive Director of Modern States

  The Freshman Year for Free Program launched in 2017 by Modern States Education Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to college access. The program has since helped more than 200,000 students earn free college credit. The Modern States Freshman Year for Free program provides more than 30 free online courses taught by top college professors. Once students complete a course, the program provides vouchers for them to take an AP or CLEP exam to earn traditional academic credits at more than…

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