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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How Should I Choose A College Major?

How Should I Choose a College Major?

Deciding a college major can seem like a daunting task--after all, it means you are choosing your life's work, right?  Some independent educational consultants specialize in interest, personality and career assessments. Many students just don't know where to start in picking a major or exploring careers.  Of course, a good place to begin is with your high school college counseling website.  Some high schools use Career Cruising, some use Naviance.  There is no one best way to begin.  You may find it helpful…

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Do This Before You are Off to College!

  You've picked a college?   Now what?  Are you done, just waiting until move-in day?  NO!  There's still a lot to do to get a great start off to college as a college freshman.  Here are some tips on what to do next: ASAP You've probably sent in your enrollment deposit already--most people did that by May 1. This is the first step, required well before you're off to college.  Be sure that you submitted the deposit for enrollment,…

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Beware Senioritis

Senioritis--Why Avoid It? We often joke about Senioritis.  Technically it means the pain of being a Senior but for most, it’s not exactly painful. It’s that time when students are so close to finishing up and want to coast their way to the finish line. After all, there is so much going on with prom, upcoming graduation parties, the taste of their new college life and that impending freedom from parents.  Students have worked so hard and just want a…

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College Visits 101

High school juniors are deep into college visits right now.  Summer break will see those college visits increase by leaps and bounds.  If you are starting now to explore colleges, you have just a few months to learn a lot about your colleges.  Make the most of those visits by following these suggestions. Get an Idea of What You Are Looking For Obviously, one of the reasons you are visiting colleges is to learn what matches you, but you want…

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Can Parent Plus Loan Forgiveness Rescue Some Families From A Lifetime Of Debt?

Can Parent Plus Loan Forgiveness Rescue Some Families from a Lifetime of Debt?

Unbeknownst to many who are struggling to pay for college, the current loopholes in the Parent Plus Loan rules allow some families to receive full forgiveness on a boat load of college debt.   It’s not a viable strategy for everyone, it’s not a recommendation by any means, and there is quite a bit of controversy surrounding it, but there is a way to banish the bills from your Parent Plus Loan for good. But should you? Parent Plus Loans…

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