College Illinois 529 Plans On The Brink

College Illinois 529 Plans on The Brink

As Illinois colleges come closer to the breaking point from the state’s fiscal crisis, it has just been reported that the College Illinois pre-paid 529 plan is also going broke. Illinois Universities Bond Ratings Downgraded Again MCPT believes the recent downgrade on Illinois’ Bond rating will result in even less students applying for admission at in-state universities in 2018.  This will likely result in lower financial aid offers at other Midwest universities because of the lower demand for Illinois students.…

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If You Don’t Ask The Question, The Answer Is Always No

If You Don’t Ask the Question, The Answer Is Always No

I just explained this quote to my 9-year-old son.  He was puzzled.  What does that quote mean and why should he care? I think it’s an important life lesson; don’t you? It's Always Best to Ask We all have moments where we wish we had asked a question.  For instance, I learned the hard way that I would never get a discount for auto services if I didn’t ask.  I now ask EVERY single time if there is anything that…

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Why Sleep Is A Good Study Habit

Why Sleep is a Good Study Habit

By Guest Blogger Sarah Jones Oops, did you hit another stone while sleepwalking? Do you realize how much your poor sleeping habits are affecting you at school? You might argue that you have lots of assignments and revision to do before retiring to bed but we all know that these are just excuses. If your plan your time well, then you won’t have to be the “last minute” type of student. Below are some of the reasons why you should…

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How Do I Get Professors To Know Me?

How Do I Get Professors to Know Me?

So many students are intimidated by college professors and with good reason.  The stereotypical professor is old, immersed in their own books and is way smarter than the student. Students assume correctly that professors are busy and they don’t want to waste their time. However, students need the mentorship of teachers.  Ideas and intellect grow with this nurturing.  Most faculty are excited about teaching young people. Many professors say that they sit at office hours waiting for students to come…

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Differential Tuition: What You Need To Know

Differential Tuition: What You Need to Know

Just When You Thought You Knew What You Are Going to Pay for College, Here’s A New Revenue Enhancer That a Growing Number of Colleges Are Using That Can Be Devastating to Your Budget Most students and their families are familiar with the idea that not all students at a school pay the same tuition. There’s been in-state and out-of-state tuition offered by public colleges and universities for years. There are also tuition discounts available to students based on the…

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Successful College Visits in Summer

Ah, summer!!! For high school juniors and sophomores, it is a popular time for college visits.   College visits are critically important in deciding your college, but summer is not really the ideal time.  Why?  You guessed it--no students! Realistically, for busy students, summer appears to be the only time available for college visits.  Challenging AP and honors exams, heavy sports schedules, multiple activity competitions all take up students' time and focus during spring semester of high school. Done poorly,…

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Why Sophomores Should Visit College This Summer

If you want to get a step ahead in your college application, then you're being really smart to make some college visits this summer.  Even"rising" high school sophomores, and certainly rising juniors can take a lot of stress off their college decisions by starting now. Here are 4 ways to check out your "smart quotient": The Idea of Going to College is Exciting to You Some kids want to go where all their friends are going, and that might sound pretty…

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How Will The Education Budget Affect College Families?

How Will the Education Budget Affect College Families?

From the screaming headlines over the past few days, it would seem that the president’s new budget on higher education will be devastating to American families who are already struggling to pay for college. So, it’s time to be objective and look at the facts.  The president’s budget, if implemented, is really not going to have that much impact on MCPT families. Here’s a brief overview: Pell Grant Funding Though the talk about reducing the Pell Grant surplus has been…

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College Planning: The 3 Most Important Documents

College Planning: The 3 Most Important Documents

We are currently meeting with many Sophomores and Juniors in High School.  Everyone has the same question before we meet: what do we need to bring to the meeting?  Here’s our answer for what we need to know for an initial meeting and generally what your family needs to start the college planning process. High School Transcript Colleges look at the type of coursework a student has taken and how they have done in those courses.  The GPA is a…

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How to Stay Safe on College Campuses

Many college students are simply unaware that they must look out for their personal safety and security at college.  Be sure to talk with your college-bound student about campus safety. This may be the first time that they are away from home without a family member or close friend to look after them.  They must get used to new ways of doing things, a new place and a new schedule which may leave them walking around unfamiliar areas at odd times…

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