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“The campus visit is the most important part of a student’s college search process. Here are some suggestions for making the most of those visits. Most of these apply more to small colleges than large universities, but some apply to all.”
“One often-overlooked category is small residential colleges. By “small,” I mean fewer than 3,000 full-time undergraduate students living on campus, of which there are about 700 in the U.S.”
“In my work as a college admissions consultant with My College Planning Team, I advise students and their families to not focus only on the big universities but also to consider the advantages of small colleges. Many small colleges are just too cool to be completely overlooked in the search process.”
““Undecided” is one of the most popular major choices among college freshmen. In my experience as a high school counselor, I’ve heard widely varying opinions on this. Some say every student should go into college undecided so they can explore their interests without pressure. Others say that, to avoid wasting time and money, undecided students should first attend community college before enrolling in a four-year college or university.“
“Families continue to get squeezed by the cost of college, but there is one way to dramatically cut costs — graduating in three years. That doesn’t have to mean overloading on Advance Placement classes in high school or taking the maximum number of credits each semester in college. What it does mean is doing some homework to learn about the options before deciding whether this approach is workable for an individual student.“
“In summary, if your student is undecided about their upcoming major, that’s perfectly normal. You can help them understand the implications of enrolling as undecided — and engage in a process of learning more about themselves and where they want to be.”
“Visiting colleges has been a rite of passage for high school students. Campus tours give students and their families a way to see if schools really reflect those glossy brochures that landed in their mailboxes. With COVID-19, that’s all changed.”
“Students should never pay a fee to submit a scholarship application or to be entered into a potential recipient pool; this is a red flag, industry participants say. They should also avoid opportunities that tout a money-back guarantee. ‘If they are asking you to pay for free money, it’s a scam.’ says Shane Cole, a scholarship and college counselor at Addison Trail High School in Addison, IL.’
“Contacting a school’s financial aid office can help a student stay in college when that package turns out not to be enough. This I especially important now that families have to cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Now more than ever, middle class families need help figuring out how they can afford college. With many families having to do more with less, knowing the ins and outs of the financial aid system can be key to helping them cut college costs.”
“It doesn’t matter what you put your money into to save for college-starting as early as possible is universally the best decision you can make.”
“We know that adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work which has a huge impact on their overall life satisfaction. With this in mind, it’s important for students to consider the value in selecting a career field that will bring contentment and spark joy.”
“Saving on college means more than just earning scholarships or financial aid awards. It also means being wise at tax time so you don’t miss out on deductions that can save you money.”
“The best way to position yourself for a career switch is to have a clear understanding of what you do best and how you can add value to the company’s team, says career coach Ray Giese of My College Planning Team.”
“Unlike federal student loans, which have consistent interest rates and terms, emergency student loans vary greatly by school,” says Teddy Nykiel, client service manager at My College Planning Team, a financial aid advising firm. “Students should check with their school’s financial aid office for details…”
“Start early, work on your project consistently, and be open-minded in your process,” said Stephanie Kennedy, an independent educational consultant and founder of My College Planning Team.”
“At some colleges and universities, the more outside scholarship money students have the less money they’ll receive from their college. It’s called “scholarship displacement,” and it often comes as a shock to families who are counting on that scholarship money to send their student to their dream school.”
“Students working as independent contractors — as rideshare drivers do — have the “unique ability” to deduct certain expenses from their income and potentially keep their income under the allowance, says Billie Jo Weis, a client service manager at My College Planning Team.”
“Oftentimes, parents believe there is no point to completing the FAFSA,” said Lindsay Muzzy, a FAFSA and student aid expert with college consulting service My College Planning Team. “It is important to complete it regardless of if the family believes it will be eligible for governmental aid.”
Student Loan Hero, “Parent’s Guide to the FAFSA and Federal Student Aid,” November 14, 2018
“Considering that assets are assessed at a rate of 5.64%, it makes sense for many small business owners to hold assets in their business, rather than personal accounts, during the college years.”
The Daily Herald, “How Small Business Owners Can Save Big on College” October 22, 2018