|
 |
FinAid/Scholarships
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Student financial aid in the United States is funding that is intended to help students pay education-related expenses including tuition, fees, room and board, books, and supplies for education at a college, university, or private school. General governmental funding in the form of subsidies for public education is not called financial aid. Financial aid refers to awards to specific individual students. Certain governments, e.g. Nordic countries, provide student benefit. A scholarship is sometimes used as a synonym for a financial aid award, although grants and student loans are also major components of financial aid packages from students' intended colleges.
|
|
FinAid/Scholarships
5 Smart Tips for Decoding Your Financial Aid Award Letter
Student Loan Hero - Dec 22, 2017
If you’re like most students, financial aid plays a big part in deciding where to go to college. According to The College Board, undergraduate students received an average of $14,460 in financial aid in the 2015-2016 school year.....
|
Tips for Winning College Scholarships
Wheeling Intelligencer - Dec 28, 2017
College is a significant investment and millions of families each year face the question of how to pay for it. One way students can position themselves for success is by seeking out various forms of financial assistance.....
|
10 Great Colleges That Won't Make Students Take Loans
Kiplinger - Dec 21, 2017
The schools on our list of best college values have earned high grades for generous financial aid awards, which reduce the amount students must borrow to pay the bills. But some schools go even further, eliminating loans from their financial aid packages....
|
The 8 Most Confusing Things About Fafsa
New York Times - Dec 19, 2017
The high cost of college makes financial aid unavoidable for most students. And this means undertaking the lengthy and often complicated process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as Fafsa....
|
5 Overlooked Ways to Pay for College
US News - Dec 18, 2017
Paying for college is a challenge for most families and often involves pulling from a variety of sources – from financial aid to savings.....
|
Fill out that FAFSA: College financial aid goes fast
Herald-Review - Dec 10, 2017
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, filing period began Oct. 1, and high school counselors have been urging their students to take advantage of the online system and get their applications completed. Like yesterday....
|
Money Matters: Financial aid myths
WMUR - Dec 7, 2017
Some private colleges are now crossing the $70,000-per-year cost for the 2017/2018 school year. Public colleges are also getting expensive. This means that financial aid is essential for some families, yet many don’t know much about the process....
|
5 Mistakes That Could Cost You That College Scholarship
TeenLife Blog - Dec 6, 2017
Applying for scholarships requires a commitment of time and a dedication to persevere. It is a job in the truest sense of the word. You will most likely spend hours upon hours applying for scholarships ...
|
 |
The dreaded FAFSA form is going mobile
Marketplace - Dec 1, 2017
It's deadline day for students to apply to many U.S. colleges and universities, marking a moment of respite for families stressed out over essays and SAT scores...
|
FAFSA - Check, but what about CSS Profile?
Record-Eagle - Dec 3, 2017
The process of applying for admission to college and obtaining financial aid can be an overwhelming and confusing time. Area seniors have spent the fall season completing college applications and most are waiting to learn...
|
5 tips for scoring college scholarships
WINK News - Dec 1, 2017
FORT MYERS, Fla. (CONSUMER REPORTS) If you're a high school senior or a college student looking for scholarships to help fund the cost of school next year, now is the perfect time to begin your search....
|
FAFSA Goes Mobile
Inside Higher Ed - Nov 29, 2017
Education Department plans a new platform aimed at smoothing applications for student aid and helping borrowers manage loan payments. But Congress must act to remove the most serious obstacles to completion of the FAFSA...
|
Colleges puzzled by surge in FAFSA verification requests
Washington Post - Nov 28, 2017
Colleges and universities are reporting a surge in students being asked to verify information on their federal financial aid applications, a time-consuming process that school officials fear could derail low-income applicants....
|
Top 20 Filing Hints For FAFSA
Cape News - Nov 24, 2017
Today’s article will focus on filling out the FAFSA itself. My comments are made in the order that you complete the FAFSA. Some of the comments for a particular line have much more background information about my recommendations than this space allows.....
|
Your Guide To Applying For -- And Winning -- College Scholarship Money
Forbes - Nov 10, 2017
When you’re applying to colleges, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of numbers — the number of essays you have to write, the test scores you need to get in, how many miles campus is away from home (the more, the better) and, of course, the cold, hard cash you’re going to shell out to earn that degree.......
|
Should you bother to fill out the FAFSA?
Tribune News Service - Nov 13, 2017
Should you fill out the FAFSA? In a word, yes. Many middle-class families have convinced themselves that filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, isn’t worth the effort because they have heard that only students from families earning less than about $50,000 a year get federal grants.......
|
Answers to 16 Popular Questions About the FAFSA
Nasdaq - Nov 14, 2017
Filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the key to getting financial aid to help pay for college if you or your family can't foot the entire bill........
|
3 Reasons College Students Need to Submit the FAFSA Every Year
Huffington Post - Nov 2, 2017
College-bound high school seniors are the most likely targets for nagging about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. But the message is just as important for returning college students.....
|
Financial aid 101: What you need to know
Tribune News Service - Oct 31, 2017
The first question students ask is: “Will I be accepted at college X?” The first question parents often ask is: “How can we afford to pay for college X?”. ....
|
Every student should fill out a FAFSA form
Jackson Sun - Oct 31, 2017
Did you know that $24 billion in student aid goes unclaimed every year? With the average student loan debt hovering around $30K, I have to ask why. Primarily it is because of the misconceptions surrounding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. ....
|
College scholarship tycoon
VOX - Nov 1, 2017
College Scholarship Tycoon is a game where you’re asked to move your college up the rankings — but striking the wrong balance might force you to reject poor kids who really need college to give them a shot at a better life. ....
|
Don’t make these mistakes when seeking financial aid
Forbes - Oct 23, 2017
D-Day, or Deadline Day, for Early Decision applicants and a variety of Early Action options is just a week away on Nov. 1. Just after that crunch deadline is when many high school seniors will hopefully take a breath and perhaps even take a short-term break from college applications, since the next big deadline isn’t usually until Jan. 1. ....
|
To Maximize College Financial Aid, Timing Is Key
Wall Street Journal - Oct 20, 2017
If you want to get the most financial aid for your child’s freshman year of college, don’t wait until his or her senior year of high school to make important financial moves.. ....
|
10 Colleges That Give Merit Aid to the Most Students
US News - Oct 24, 2017
One way to help close the gap between college savings and any need-based aid is with merit aid. Merit aid, sometimes referred to as non-need-based aid, comes into play when colleges....
|
4 Proven Ways To Reap College Financial Aid
Forbes - Oct 13, 2017
Without a doubt, I know that families can find more "free" money for college. You just have to know where to look. Now's the time to start hunting for aid for the next college year. ....
|
Maximizing Financial Aid – Beware of Mistakes
The College Solution Blog - Oct 16, 2017
It’s financial aid season! If you have a child heading to college next fall, you can complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the CSS Profile now!....
|
File the FAFSA Now for More Financial Aid in the 2018-19 School Year
Kiplinger - Oct 9, 2017
The timeline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) changed last year. You can submit your application as early as October 1 (you no longer need to wait until January 1, as you did prior to last year). For the current FAFSA,...
|
5 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Oct 1, 2017
If you have a student applying to college this fall, you need to be filling out financial aid forms and filing them now. Many colleges require the CSS Profile, FAFSA or their own form when you submit your applications. Waiting will mean you miss out on important grants, ...
|
Scholarships for Women Abound
US News & World Report - Oct 2, 2017
Although this wasn't always the case, women outnumber men on America’s college campuses. And scholarship funds aimed at women remain plentiful. ..
|
5 Tips for Scoring College Scholarships
Consumer Reports - Sep 25, 2017
If you’re a high school senior or a college student looking for scholarships to help fund the cost of school next year, now is the perfect time to begin your search. ..
|
What Exactly Is FAFSA and Why Should You Complete It?
Pleasanton Weekly - Sep 22, 2017
Beginning October 1st, families with college-bound students may file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be approved for Federal Direct Student Loans as well as need-based scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. ..
|
Paying for College: Surprising Ways to Get Scholarships
Parade - Sep 22, 2017
When it comes to college financial aid, the best kind to look for is the kind you don’t have to pay back—namely grants and scholarships. But how can you increase your child’s chances of scoring them? By using the right strategy. ..
|
Complete Your 2018-2019 FAFSA Using The IRS Data Retrieval Tool
Forbes - Sep 23, 2017
The 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to complete online October 1, 2017 and with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool having been taken down last year, I reached out to Karen McCarthy, Director of Policy Analysis for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) ..
|
The 46 Best Colleges for Getting Big Merit Scholarships
TIME - Aug 16, 2017
The odds of winning a college scholarship are probably better than you think.In part because of a decline in the number of 18-year-olds, scores of private colleges are now worried about filling their seats. ..
|
|
The 4 best ways to save on college
Marketplace.org - Aug 11, 2017
College can be a huge expense for students and families. According to The College Board, the average cost to students for the 2016-2017 school year after financial aid was $14,210 for public college and $26,100 for private college. ..
|
The Hidden College Cost of Differential Tuition
Cappex - The College Solution Blog - May 16, 2017
Are you going to be charged more for college tuition than you anticipated? Differential tuition, also known as tiered tuition, is a hidden college cost that affects undergraduates at colleges and universities across the country. ...
|
College Corner: For An Easy Financial Aid Start, Get A Quick EFC
CapeNews - May 12, 2017
After the recent college visits come the parental concerns of: How will the college bills be paid? Many parents and students don’t focus on that aspect at this point in time. It is my recommendation that you at least start the process with a free calculator. ..
|
Private colleges are offering discounts at historic levels
MarketWatch - May 15, 2017
Now is a great time to find a (relative) bargain on a private college education. The share of tuition and fee revenue these schools are devoting to grants rose to its highest level ever in the 2016 to 2017 academic year — 44.2% for all undergraduates and 49.1% for first-time, full-time freshman ..
|
How to Do the Fafsa Right
Wall Street Journal - May 7, 2017
Readers continually send us questions about how best to handle saving for and paying for higher education. This month we focus on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the Fafsa, as well as “529” accounts, ..
|
IRS Tool Won't be Restored for 2017-18 Aid Cycle
Inside Higher Ed - May 4, 2017
The IRS data retrieval tool that let financial aid applicants automatically import income information into the FAFSA won't be restored for the current aid cycle, said James Runcie, chief operating officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid, in written testimony to Congress Wednesday. ..
|
Financial aid is key to the final and often tough choice of colleges
EdSource - Apr 30, 2017
Decision day is finally here. The SAT exam and anxious cramming are past. Admissions application essays and financial aid forms were submitted months ago. And the happy acceptances and painful rejections from colleges and universities are in hand. ...
|
How to decipher financial aid offers from colleges
Daily Herald - Apr 30, 2017
It's closing in on the end of April, and that means for this year's high school seniors planning to attend college next fall it is time to make their final decision by the traditional May 1 deposit date. For those who didn't commit early to a campus, the acceptances (or rejections) ,...
|
|
Student Loans: You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers
NPR.org - Apr 23, 2017
With student debt at a staggering $1.3 trillion, many families are facing a huge financial dilemma: Their final springtime decisions about college enrollment and acceptance. The NPR Ed team teamed up with Weekend Edition to answer some listener questions about debt and degrees..... ..
|
How to decipher financial aid offers from colleges
OregonLive - Apr 23, 2017
It’s closing in on the end of April, and that means for this year’s high school seniors planning to attend college next fall it is time to make their final decision by the traditional May 1 deposit date. For those who didn’t commit early to a campus, the acceptances (or rejections) have finally arrived, followed .... ..
|
4 ways to land a last-minute bump in financial aid
CBS News - Apr 24, 2017
By now, most high school seniors have college offers on the table, leaving them only a few days to decide which one to choose. Will it be the glamour school with a big price tag? The reliable state school? A commuter or community college?...
|
Applying for financial aid, without getting hacked
CBS News - Apr 17, 2017
Suppose that being a good parent of a college-bound child, you jumped through all the hoops and filled out the online FAFSA form to qualify for financial aid. Then you attempted to download all of your tax information from the IRS into the form -- only to find that this sensitive personal information may have been hacked...... ..
|
3 things you need to know about your financial aid offer
College USA Today - Apr 17, 2017
t’s the time of year when college financial aid offers start to arrive in your mailboxes. Neatly tucked inside the eagerly anticipated envelope can be a dizzying array of numbers and acronyms. To make matters worse, it’s difficult to compare one school’s aid package to another. ..... ..
|
Six tips for decoding college financial aid award letters
Columbia Tribune - Apr 14, 2017
Whether you're a high school senior or an adult looking to change careers, a college degree can be the key to a bright future. As acceptance letters arrive in the mail, another important document is not far behind: financial aid letters.... ..
|
'How I knocked $120,000 off our college tab’
CNBC - Apr 13, 2017
With four children between the ages of 13 and 21, Richard Goldberg knew financing college would be a challenge. "Even though we started saving early, the cost of paying for all of this was daunting," he said.... ..
|
4 Ways to Increase Your Financial Aid Package
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Apr 10, 2017
Over the next few weeks, many families with high school seniors will be comparing financial aid packages. A dizzying array of terms, numbers and types of aid will appear with no standard format from college to college. Most families think the packages will be straightforward and easy to understand; they are wrong. ..... ..
|
Hackers use FAFSA application to steal tax info
CNN/Money - Apr 7, 2017
Hackers accessed the data of up to 100,000 people through a tool that helps students get financial aid. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen testified before the Senate Finance Committee Thursday that a breach had been discovered in the fall. In September..... ..
|
How to Compare College Financial Aid Letters and Choose the Right School
TeenLife Blof - Apr 6, 2017
It’s that time of year. College admissions decisions are arriving and the award letters are either with them or will follow shortly. For most students who have applied to multiple colleges, comparing those award letters are a crucial part of making the final college choice.. ..
|
How to Determine If a Financial Aid Offer is Good or Bad
Cappex - The College Solution Blog - Apr 5, 2017
When you are deciphering a financial aid award letter, here is a critically important question that you absolutely must answer: Is this financial aid award fair? The best way to assess the generosity of an award letter is to obtain a dollar figure called the Expected Family Contribution or EFC..... ..
|
The FAFSA's Midterm Grade
The Atlantic - Mar 31, 2017
When Marie Groark, the executive director of the Get Schooled Foundation, contacted the California Student Aid Commission in January, she was expecting to hear good news about students completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. That’s not what she got.... ..
|
The 5-Step Plan to Appeal for More Financial Aid
TIME - Apr 4, 2017
You've known all along that you'd need to come up with a lot of money to send your child off to college. But only in the midst of your kid's senior year—when you open colleges' financial aid notices—does the harsh reality typically hit, says James C. Lundgren II, an independent college adviser in Encinitas, Calif... ..
|
Applying for financial aid is going to be harder this year
Journal-News - Mar 30, 2017
An online resource that makes it easier for millions of students to apply for college scholarships, grants and loans will be out of commission until next year, putting them at risk of losing out on financial aid.... ..
|
College financial aid packages usually aren't gifts
Boston Globe - Mar 22, 2017
College-bound high school seniors have just a few more weeks to choose the school that will offer them the best mix of academic opportunity, environment, and financial support. But as they and their parents pore over competing financial aid award letters, the bottom line may not always be clear....
|
What financial aid award letters tell you
Kansas City Star - Mar 27, 2017
amilies fretting over the size of college financial aid packages they are hoping to receive and how much of their own money they'll have to shell out are starting to get answers.....
|
FAFSA Changes Impacting Students and Parents
PA.com - Mar 27, 2017
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - Each year, thousands of students looking for help paying for college log onto the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid website - also known as FAFSA. The process is complicated.h....
|
Drilling down into a college financial aid offer
CBS News - Mar 13, 2017
If only choosing a college were as easy as picking a ripe fruit or vegetable. It’s complicated -- and often agonizing -- because of the financial aid offers that come along with acceptance packages. It’s often a apples and oranges kind of decision....
|
Appealing Financial Aid and Merit Scholarships
Cappex Blog - Mar 15, 2017
Do you know how to appeal a financial aid award or appeal a merit scholarship?
Knowing how to appeal merit scholarships and need-based financial aid awards from colleges could ultimately save you thousands of dollars....
|
|
Applying For College Aid Just Got Harder
NPR.org - Mar 15, 2017
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is down. If those words don't send a shiver up your spine, it means you're not a high school senior or college student rushing to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA....
|
Don't say 'yes' to that college before you check the financial aid offer
CNBC - Mar 9, 2017
Deciphering your financial aid offer Deciphering your financial aid offer High school seniors may already have their college acceptance letters and financial aid offers in hand, but there's no reason to rush on making an enrollment decision. Take time to assess those aid packages carefully. ...
|
Don't Get Fooled by Aid Offers
Poughkeepsie Journal - Mar 11, 2017
Soon high school seniors will be receiving admission and financial aid notifications from those colleges and universities that typically send out final decisions later this month and in early April. ...
|
Activities may translate into college scholarships
Poughkeepsie Journal - Mar 11, 2017
A recent ABC News story told of a Florida high school senior who was offered a combined total of more than a million dollars in scholarship money from the colleges to which she had applied. Yes, she was a great student. ...
|
|
Without IRS tool, families scramble to fill out financial aid forms
Marketplace.org - Mar 13, 2017
It’s FAFSA season, when families apply for federal aid to pay for college. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool makes it easier for applicants to add the required tax information to their forms by transferring it directly from the IRS. Or it did. The IRS has suspended the service for several weeks,...
|
4 keys for negotiating a better college aid offer
CBS News - Mar 6, 2017
When it comes to bargaining, most Americans know they can negotiate on a home, a car or an appliance. But what about college, a big-ticket item that could leave you in six figures worth of debt for decades? ...
|
Avoid 3 Mistakes When Applying for Summer Financial Aid
US News - Mar 8, 2017
As winter melts into spring, some college students are already looking further ahead – toward summer. That's because if you plan to enroll in a summer session, now is the time to prepare. And that means studying up on your school's financial aid rules. ...
|
Financial aid advice for college-bound students
Fulton Sun - Mar 5, 2017
By now, many high school seniors have finished their college applications and are waiting for results. That means it is time to start thinking about how a family or individual is going to pay for it. ...
|
How to land scholarships few people know about
CBS News - Feb 27, 2017
By now, many high school seniors have received financial aid offers from colleges. But far too many families think that means they’re done with the aid search.. ...
|
Financial aid tips for students
York Dispatch - Feb 28, 2017
Although I am not a debt counselor, only pro actively help families and students navigate through and understand the financial aid process, I helped him to understand the potential ramifications if he chose to default on his loans. ...
|
College financial aid awards and scholarships - getting your best offer
Lamorinda Weekly - Feb 22, 2017
Comparing student aid packages and figuring out the true affordability of any particular college can be both challenging and confusing. The essential first steps are to distinguish quality from quantity (more is not necessarily better) and to separate free money (grants and scholarships) and on-campus employment from loans that must be repaid....
|
How To Get The Best College Financial Aid Package
CBS News - Feb 20, 2017
NEW YORK (CBS NEWS) – It’s crunch time as families weigh financial aid offers from multiple colleges. And anxiety over the potential of going into six-figure debt can keep them awake for many a night.. ...
|
5 Things to Know About College Financial Aid and Spending
Yahoo News - Feb 13, 2017
With the start of tax season, families with college students are working on a key document used in granting financial aid to their young scholars: the tax return. Things have changed recently and aid experts have a number of tips for getting the biggest aid package possible, and using college savings wisely.. ...
|
New Timing for Applying for College Aid Offers Opportunities and Pitfalls
Wall Street Journal - Feb 9, 2017
The college-application and decision process just got a bit more complicated. That’s because the 2017-2018 college-application cycle marks the first time students and families could apply for federal financial aid in the fall, several months earlier than in the past. ...
|
Financial Aid Helps Low-Income Students Graduate
Yahoo News - Feb 13, 2017
A new report from the Association of Community College Trustees, the California Community Colleges' Chancellors Office and the Institute for College Access & Success finds that student success increases among two-year, low-income students if they receive more financial aid.. ...
|
5 Types of Scholarships to Look For
ULoop - Feb 9, 2017
Money is one of the biggest sources of stress during college years, sometimes even more so than the academic workload. While getting a job or taking out loans might be the first solutions, try searching for scholarships; there are scholarships tailored to every student based on their paths of study, career paths, past experience, cultural background, and much more. ...
|
Early financial aid letters shake up college decisions
Metro.us - Feb 3, 2017
While the official deadline for making a college decision is May 1, thousands of students across the United States already have been admitted to the schools of their choice. Many also have received financial aid offers, thanks to a new timetable from the Department of Education, ...
|
Most generous schools – Show me the money
Tribune News Service - Feb 7, 2017
Now that the heavy-lifting is done on college applications and the students have had a bit of a break from sharing their innermost thoughts in college essays, it’s time to gear up and start searching for ways to pay for their dreams.....
|
Early financial aid letters shake up college decisions
Grand Forks Herald - Jan 28, 2017
NEW YORK—The road to college has turned into an autobahn for some high school seniors this year. While the official deadline for making a college decision is May 1, thousands of students across the United States already have been admitted to the schools of their choice. .....
|
Top colleges for financial aid
CNBC - Jan 31, 2017
With college costs steadily rising, simply paying the tab is a serious concern when picking a school. At public four-year institutions, costs for the 2015–16 school year rose to $19,548 from $16,178 five years ago, according to the College Board....
|
Early FAFSA: Fast, but Will it Go Far?
Inside Higher Ed - Jan 19, 2017
A little over a year ago, our enrollment team at Augustana College met in retreat to discuss the anticipated impact of prior-prior year submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or early FAFSA, as it is called now. ....
|
How Your Income And Assets Impact How Much Financial Aid You Get
Forbes - Jan 12, 2017
For families applying for federal student aid for the upcoming fall school year, you’ll want to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible as some schools give out need-based funds on a first-come, first-served basis. .....
|
FAFSA? CSS profile? Here's financial aid help
NJ.com - Jan 12, 2017
Q. What's the difference between the FAFSA and the CSS Profile? - Planning for college A. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the CSS Profile are both used to determine financial aid for college students. .....
|
How the debt load figures into picking a college
CBS News - Jan 3, 2017
As the year begins, the clock starts ticking for families sorting through college choices. In addition to picking the school that offers the best fit for a student’s personality and academic interests, you need to know how much of a debt load may be part of the package.....
|
The Truth About Your EFC
Uloop - Dec 30, 2016
When you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’ll be asked to submit tax information so that FAFSA has record of your previous year’s income. For most of you, your parents will also be uploading their financial information. One way this information is used is to determine your Expected Financial Contribution (EFC)....
|
11 Common FAFSA Mistakes
The College Solution Blog - Dec 19, 2016
If your child will be heading to college next fall, you should be tackling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE now....
|
6 Costly Financial Aid Mistakes to Avoid
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Dec 19, 2016
If you have a senior in high school, the next few weeks are critical in the financial aid process. While federal financial aid deadlines (FAFSA) may stretch into the summer, college-based aid is most plentiful now. The longer you wait, the less money colleges....
|
Financial Aid Tip for Students, December 2016
The Gleaner - Dec 12, 2016
Pay attention to deadlines for financial aid. High school seniors should keep track of deadlines for applying for college financial aid. Here are some tips from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA):....
|
What to Know About Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
TeenVogue - Dec 5, 2016
Currently, millennials represent the most-educated generation in American history. Young people today know the value of a quality education, but as the price tag of post-secondary education continues to rise, young people are also well aware of how much education costs. As tuition continues to rise, students are becoming intimately familiar with financial aid, ....
|
How to Make the Most of Financial Aid: Tips to Getting the Best Scholarships
he Northwestern Examiner - Nov 17, 2016
When beginning the search for one’s perfect scholarship there are a lot of things to consider. There are plenty of scholarships out there, with many different options and benefits to choose from. With all the options, it’s hard to know which scholarships are right.....
|
College Corner: Simple Overview Of Financial Aid
Falmouth Enterprise - Nov 25, 2016
As a guidance counselor when I talk about financial aid, I try to follow the KISS philosophy. Not the philosophy of the band, KISS, but the acronym, which stands for “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” This especially applies when explaining college financial aid. I try my best to keep it simple....
|
Going to college? First you have to FAFSA
Hattiesburg American - Nov 16, 2016
Think playing on sports' travel team will help your kids get a college scholarship? Think again. Commentator John U. Bacon advises that they hit the books instead....
|
Financial Aid: The Definitive Guide for Parents
Lifezette - Nov 7, 2016
For most parents, financial aid is like a secret code filled with foreign acronyms such as FWS, BBAY, and SAR. Many approach the process completely unprepared; they believe it is an unwinnable battle....
|
College Admissions Expert Elizabeth Levine: Errors When Completing FAFSA
Chronicle Newspaper - Nov 6, 2016
What are some of the errors people make when completing the FAFSA (Federal Financial Aid) form? Listed below are common errors people make when completing the FAFSA that can potentially mean tens of thousands of dollars to your bottom line when it comes to receiving financial aid. ..
|
Digging For Scholarships Can Turn Up College Gold
Forbes - Nov 1, 2016
As I've written here previously, whatever your income you should file the FAFSA and, if required by the college, the CSS PROFILE. That way, you'll be eligible for federal aid and in line for college-based awards. ..
|
4 Need-to-Know Facts About State Aid for College
US News - Oct 31, 2016
With the rising cost of tuition, more students and their families are relying on grants to pay for college.
The College Board's 2016 Trends in Higher Education report found that undergraduate students received an average of $14,460 in financial aid during the 2015-2016 ..
|
Financial Aid for College not Reaching Foster Youth
Diverse - Oct 31, 2016
On a rainy Thursday evening, Jorge Padrón came to his high school library on a mission: to find a way to pay for his college education. “It's scary when you see these prices,” said his father, Jorge Padrón Sr ..
|
Detecting a scholarship scam
Twin Falls Times-News - Oct 31, 2016
If you're headed back to school or have a child considering higher education next year, it's time to start thinking about tuition. As college becomes more and more expensive, ..
|
4 Best Places to Find College Scholarships
TIME - Oct 26, 2016
Simplify your search for free money with these quick tips. Given today’s intimidating college costs, figuring out how to finance your higher education can be just as important as earning admission to a great school. ..
|
Nonprofit debunks college financial aid myths
Clarion Ledger - Oct 23, 2016
Get2College, a program of the nonprofit Education Services Foundation, is spending this month debunking the myths about applying for financial aid for college. One such myth? Applying for financial aid for college involves a credit check and obligates the student to take out a loan. ..
|
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
TIME - Oct 21, 2016
So when you start writing that essay, says Ellis, you should think about two things: Who are the people behind this scholarship looking for? And why are they giving away the money? You should tailor your essay around those two questions ..
|
5 Misconceptions About College Aid
MorningStar News - Oct 21, 2016
Many people assume that the FAFSA doesn't apply to them. Perhaps they assume their family's income is too high to qualify for need-based aid, so filling out the FAFSA would be a waste of time. Or maybe they think it's too big a hassle. ..
|
BBB Tip of the Week: Avoid scholarship scams
The Spokesman-Review - Oct 23, 2016
Are you going back to school or have a child who is looking to attend a higher education institution in the next year? Paying for higher education is rising exponentially and the offer ..
|
How to boost your college financial aid prospects
CBS News -- Marketwatch - Oct 18, 2016
Big financial aid changes have arrived for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. If you’re hoping that your child qualifies for financial aid, you need to know what these major new developments that kicked off this month. ..
|
10 Things to Know About the New FAFSA Changes
The College Solution Blog - Oct 13, 2016
Big financial aid changes have arrived for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. If you’re hoping that your child qualifies for financial aid, you need to know what these major new developments that kicked off this month. ..
|
FAFSA's Lurking, Nosy Cousin: The CSS Profile
Forbes - Oct 13, 2016
You may think that once you’ve completed the FAFSA you’re all set as far as applying for college financial aid goes, but you would be wrong. The FAFSA only covers aspects of federal student aid, not the aid that might come from colleges and universities themselves..
|
Here’s What Readers Are Asking Us About the 2017-18 FAFSA
TIME - Oct 13, 2016
The answers may help you get more financial aid too. The latest Free Application for Federal Student Aid has been available online since Oct 1, kicking off a new financial aid timeline for students and their families. You can now start applying for college aid in the fall, as opposed to after Jan. 1 of next year ..
|
5 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Oct 10, 2016
If you have a student applying to college this fall, you need to be filling out financial aid forms and filing them now. Many colleges require the CSS Profile, FAFSA or their own form when you submit your applications. Waiting will mean you miss out on important grants, scholarships and loans. So, here is what you need to know up front so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities: ..
|
The Gold Standard in Financial Aid Info
Tribune News Service - Oct 6, 2016
If you want the most up-to-date information on what’s going on with the FAFSA form, new dates, new restrictions and new regulations and most importantly new ways to pay as little as is legally possible for college, then my best recommendation for a sound financial investment is the recently released ..
|
The FAFSA Is For Everyone--Use It!
Forbes - Oct 10, 2016
I work with families with a wide range of incomes. When the time comes to discuss college costs, wealthier parents often tell me they won’t qualify for financial aid although paying the full comprehensive fee (tuition, room and board) will be a significant burden. ..
|
4 College Financial Aid Questions That Can Cost You Money
TIME - Oct 7, 2016
Anyone who wants financial aid for college needs to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. That form determines how much government aid, such as Pell Grants, you’ll qualify for. The FAFSA determines all of your aid at some 80% of colleges. But more than 150 colleges...
|
5 Surprising Reasons Colleges May Give You Less Financial Aid
TIME - Oct 6, 2016
f you’re hoping to get enough grants and scholarships to pay for college without any loans, sorry to say the odds are against you. About three-quarters of undergraduates get less scholarship or grant money than they need to afford college without taking on debt. In fact, the average college reports providing enough aid to meet only 66% of the financial needs of students....
|
Before you file the FAFSA, check for these errors
CNBC - Oct 5, 2016
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid may be a mere six pages, but it still offers college-bound students plenty of opportunities to trip up.
Filing the FAFSA should be easier this year. Families were able to submit their paperwork as early as October 1, using data from their 2015 tax returns ..
|
Why It’s Important to Check on Your Completed FAFSA
TIME - Oct 3, 2016
It’s time to get going on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2017-2018 school year. This year the FAFSA became available online on Oct. 1, three months earlier than in years past.. ..
|
Watch Out for These 3 Common FAFSA Mistakes
TIME - Oct 3, 2016
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, may be nobody’s idea of a fun weekend. But it’s absolutely essential if you hope to get grants, scholarships, or loans to help pay for college. ..
|
Dos, Don'ts of Applying for Scholarships as an International Student
US News - Oct 3, 2016
It's no secret that getting a college education in the U.S. is expensive, especially for international students. Applicants from other countries who are attending school in the U.S. don't have the opportunity to claim residency in a state to receive a lower tuition rate at a public institution, like many American college students do. ..
|
FAFSA FAQs: Answers to the 10 Most Common College Aid Questions
TIME - Sep 21, 2016
What’s a FAFSA? How can I get free money to pay for college? Those are among the most frequently asked questions sent to the Get Schooled Foundation’s text hotline. Any student in the U.S. can text questions about college, financial aid, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to 335577 to get answers from our nonprofit’s college advisers.. ..
|
The October 1st FAFSA Filing Date Is Not A Deadline, Despite Erroneous Reports
Forbes - Sep 18, 2016
Despite the urgency stemming from inaccurate media reports that parents must file for college financial aid using the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) by October 1st, 2016, parents and those advising parents through the college aid and admissions process should remain calm ..
|
Tips to Avoid 7 Common Scholarship Application Pitfalls
US News - Sep 18, 2016
Winning scholarships sounds pretty easy – just apply and wait for the money to roll in. That's not how it works, of course. But you can increase your odds of success by paying attention to detail and avoiding common problems that prompt judges to judge you – and not in a good way. ..
|
Realities of National Merit Scholarships
The College Solution Blog - Sep 18, 2016
This is the time of year when parents of teenagers, who are excellent test takers, start thinking about National Merit Scholarships. Next month, high school juniors will be taking the PSAT, which is a requirement to qualify for National Merit honors.. ..
|
At Last, Your Financial Aid Ordeal Has Gotten Easier
New York Times - Sep 18, 2016
Applying for financial aid and choosing a college in the United States is still much too complicated, but some long-overdue reforms are finally underway, and in the nick of time... ..
|
Check Out What to Expect During a Scholarship Interview
US News - Sep 15, 2016
After you've applied for a scholarship, the selection committee may want to learn more about you through a scholarship interview. Most of the time, scholarship providers clearly state in the application that they hold interviews as a part of the scholarship process, so usually this won't come as a surprise....
|
The 28 Best Colleges for Need-Based Financial Aid
TIME - Sep 8, 2016
All provide generous grants and don't burden students with heavy loan debt. More than 140 colleges in the U.S. claim to provide enough grants to meet at least 90% of the "demonstrated financial need" of their undergraduates....
|
Four financial aid tips for college procrastinators
The Christian Science Monitor - Sep 8, 2016
We all have bouts of procrastination, especially in college. Pulling an all-nighter to crank out a paper you've had weeks to work on is practically the definition of a college student......
|
FAFSA has a new deadline; here's what you need to know
News & Observer - Sep 10, 2016
College students and their parents might feel like they've barely finished unpacking the U-Haul this school year when suddenly they face the unexpected chore of tackling the paperwork for financial aid for the 2017-18 academic year.....
|
New Rules For The College Financial Aid FAFSA Form
Forbes - Sep 8, 2016
Starting this fall, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form) will be available October 1, three months earlier than in the past. This change has major implications for families planning to apply for financial aid....
|
FAFSA has a new application date -- don't miss it
Chicago Tribune - Sep 2, 2016
There's a big change coming in FAFSA -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- and those changes start October 1. Under rules enacted in 2015, the date for submission this year is earlier than in past years -- and if you delay you just might miss out on a lot of money!...
|
4 Financial Aid Tips for College Procrastinators
Huffington Post - Sep 7, 2016
We all have bouts of procrastination, especially in college. Pulling an all-nighter to crank out a paper you’ve had weeks to work on is practically the definition of a college student.. ...
|
States: Our financial aid needs major overhaul
eCampusNews - Sep 1, 2016
Although state financial aid programs can be powerful policy tools to defray the increasingly burdensome costs of college, many states’ financial aid programs are not in alignment with strategic postsecondary education policy goals, according to a new report from the Education Commission of the States (ECS).. ...
|
4 Big Financial Aid Changes You Need to Know About This Year
Star-Telegram - Aug 30, 2016
The timeline for applying is shifting into the fall. The application season for the 2017-18 academic year will mark a significant shift in how families apply for loans, scholarships, and grants to pay for college. What’s now known as “Early FAFSA” will soon be here. The goal of the change, which will dramatically shift the financial aid calendar at many colleges,. ...
|
Advice on applying for college scholarships and financial aid
Star-Telegram - Aug 24, 2016
Not necessarily, but the form's new, October 1 release date may mean lots of confusion. November 1 sounds crazy early as a financial aid deadline. W. Kent Barnds knows that. To require that financial aid applications be submitted before high school seniors have proofread their application essays or even finished taking their SATs is a serious acceleration of the financial aid timeline. Barnds understands that, too. ...
|
Advice on applying for college scholarships and financial aid
Star-Telegram - Aug 24, 2016
While prospective students for next year's freshman class haven't made a decision on a college yet, the process to begin applying for financial aid is only weeks away. The date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – commonly known as the FAFSA, which many schools use to determine financial aid awards – is available three months earlier this year than in past years. ...
|
What You Need to Know About FAFSA Changes
US News - Aug 2, 2016
While prospective students for next year's freshman class haven't made a decision on a college yet, the process to begin applying for financial aid is only weeks away. The date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – commonly known as the FAFSA, which many schools use to determine financial aid awards – is available three months earlier this year than in past years. ...
|
Before You Take On Financial Aid, Read This
Forbes - Jul 26, 2016
Congratulations, you’re college bound! Now that you’ve been accepted to a school of your choice, how do you pay for it? While higher education is a great, even necessary, investment in your future, the cost of college can become a huge burden on you and your parents. ...
|
Is It Too Late to File a College Financial Aid Appeal for Fall Semester?
TIME - Aug 2, 2016
August has arrived, and with it comes the inevitable fall payment deadline from your college. In a perfect world, families would have a plan for paying for all eight (or more) semesters, not just the next one that’s due, says Shannon Vasconcelos, a college finance consultant with advising service College Coach...
|
Underestimating Financial Aid Eligibility
Inside Higher Ed - Jun 28, 2016
Slightly less than one-quarter of parents and 37 percent of students believe they will qualify for financial aid, according to the results of a survey released this week by Royall & Company, a division of the Education Advisory Board (EAB). The findings,, ....
|
New Data Show Where Students Are Applying for Federal Aid
US News - Jun 16, 2016
Federal student aid application completion rates are considered a barometer for college enrollment – or at least a good sign that students are thinking about applying for college. And that’s something the Obama administration has been trying to boost, ....
|
8 steps to apply for federal and state aid
NJ.com - Jun 20, 2016
If you're a student preparing for college, you're probably wondering how you'll afford it. If you're like most people who can't simply write a check for the cost of tuition, you'll probably seek funding from the main provider of financial aid for students: the federal government.....
|
Two Powerful Ways to Avoid Student Debt
Forbes - Jun 12, 2016
I recently gave a talk at a community college and got to the part of the program that I love so much: hard questions from the audience....
|
How to regain footing in college after loss of financial aid
The Christian Science Monitor - Jun 10, 2016
When you first started college, you might have assumed that your financial aid package would be solid for the next four years. But now spring has rolled around and you’ve been blindsided: You’ve learned you’ll be getting less money next year...
|
College Counselors Spill 6 Financial Aid Secrets
Nerd Wallet - Jun 6, 2016
High school juniors, soon-to-be seniors: As you’re headed into a year of varsity letters, last hurrahs and anticipation for the new beginning that’s now just around the corner, don’t forget about college applications and financial aid forms......
|
Ways Parents and Counselors Can Help Students Earn Scholarships
US News - Jun 2, 2016
Finding and applying for scholarships while simultaneously completing high school coursework can be extremely stressful and overwhelming for the average 18 year old. Parental guidance and college counseling can not only help alleviate some of that stress ...
|
Paying for college: Six tips for navigating financial aid options
The Christian Science Monitor - Jun 6, 2016
High school juniors, soon-to-be seniors: As you’re headed into a year of varsity letters, last hurrahs and anticipation for the new beginning that’s now just around the corner, don’t forget about college applications and financial aid forms....
|
Gaming College Aid
New York Times - Jun 6, 2016
As the president of a private university, I am acutely aware of the financial challenges many lower- and middle-income families face in helping their child choose a college. ...
|
What to Do If You Lose Your Financial Aid
NerdWallet - Jun 6, 2016
When you first started college, you might have assumed that your financial aid package would be solid for the next four years. But now spring has rolled around and you’ve been blindsided: You’ve learned you’ll be getting less money next year.. ...
|
7 Top Financial Tips From College Gurl
Black Enterprise - Jun 6, 2016
I was delighted to meet the Howard University graduate at the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit in Miami Beach, where we chatted about her work—calling, really—to educate students and families about the intricacies of paying for college without drowning in debt... ...
|
Playing the 2016 financial aid game into overtime
DC College Admissions Examiner - Jun 1, 2016
The clock continues to tick down. But wherever you are in this year’s financial aid process, there are still opportunities to play to win the financial aid game in overtime ...
|
Changes to the 2017-2018 FAFSA
Palo Alto Online - May 31, 2016
A recent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) update was circulated by the College Board to college counselors, and I wanted to pass this useful information along. Your high school college counseling staff will have more details, as well as visiting FAFSA’s website. ...
|
What to do if you lose your financial aid
USA Today - College - May 26, 2016
When you first started college, you might have assumed that your financial aid package would be solid for the next four years. But now spring has rolled around and you’ve been blindsided: You’ve learned you’ll be getting less money next year....
|
How Much Financial Aid Will I Get?
Forbes - May 19, 2016
Predicting your financial aid is very difficult and bears little correlation with the published tuition of the institution. You are likely to get a larger grant at institutions where you will improve the institution’s statistics...
|
The 10 Most Common Financial Aid Mistakes — And How To Avoid Them
WiseBread - May 23, 2016
For many students, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is crucial to making college affordable. While the application process can be greatly rewarding, that doesn't mean it's easy. FAFSA is riddled with confusing acronyms and financial lingo...
|
5 Things to Know About Financial Aid in Online Degree Programs
US News - May 23, 2016
A college or graduate school education can be costly for on-campus and online students alike, but there are ways to ease the burden of a hefty price tag. When it comes to financial aid, prospective online students – just like traditional students...
|
Four Ways To Get The Best Financial Aid Deal
Forbes - May 15, 2016
If you’re trying to get a decent financial aid package from a college, do you know you have room to negotiate? You don’t have to accept the package they offer you....
|
Private Colleges Offer Record-High Tuition Discounts
TIME - May 16, 2016
Only about 1 in 10 students pay full sticker price. The average freshman student at a private college got about half off tuition and fees last year, according to annual study released today....
|
Here's what to do when you can't get enough financial aid
The Christian Science Monitor - May 9, 2016
College acceptance letters answer one question, but replace it with another: Can you afford it? You might feel extra anxious if your family’s income doesn’t qualify you for need-based aid and you can’t cover college costs out of pocket....
|
Parents: Here’s The Scoop on Financial Aid
Huffington Post - May 10, 2016
Financial aid is an elusive topic that far too many people fail to understand. I’m a graduate of a public university, I hold a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, and I still can’t wrap my head around many aspects of the financial aid process. ....
|
CONSUMER REPORTS: PAYING FOR COLLEGE
ABC 7 Chicago - May 9, 2016
Many high school seniors have to plunk down a deposit on the college of their choice. As they make their decisions, an important factor is the school's financial aid offer. Consumer Reports has advice on how to understand your student's financial aid package and avoid excessive debt.....
|
When and how to appeal a financial aid award
The Christian Science Monitor - May 1, 2016
The process varies from school to school, and there’s no guarantee that your appeal will be approved, but there are steps you can take to improve your chances of increasing your college financial aid....
|
Declare Yourself Independent for College Financial Aid
US News - May 2, 2016
Caitlin Cheney, 22, a junior at Washington State University, knew that paying for college was going to be a stretch when she couldn't afford the cost of a cap and gown at her high school graduation.....
|
12 Key Terms to Know About College Financial Aid
Huffington Post - Apr 28, 2016
Time to study up! Whether your student is college-bound in the fall or still in the early years of their high school career, understanding the college financial aid world is probably an important part of your—and their—education....
|
How to eke out more aid for college
Charlotte Observer - Apr 18, 2016
If your first choice college offers everything you want but the price tag is making you waver, consider appealing the college financial aid office for more money. While colleges and universities won’t encourage it....
|
Will Colleges Send Out Financial Aid Packages Earlier Next Year?
Washington Monthly - Apr 13, 2016
I’m looking forward to college students being able to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) three months earlier next year. Instead of being able to submit starting January 1 for the 2017-18 academic year...
|
How To Reap The Most College Aid
Forbes - Apr 18, 2016
If qualifying for financial aid was a simple matter, they’d have an app for it and anybody could do it on their mobile device. Unfortunately, it’s an opaque process. You never quite know what you’re going to get — if you get anything at all....
|
How to Decode a College Financial Aid Award Letter
Consumer Reports - Apr 11, 2016
It's college admission season, the time of year when you find out if you're accepted by the schools you hope to attend this fall. It's also the time that you find out something else - how much financial aid the schools offer you...
|
College Admissions: 4 Ways to Increase Your Financial Aid Package
GoLocalProv - College Admissions - Apr 11, 2016
Over the next few weeks, many families with high school seniors will be comparing financial aid packages. A dizzying array of terms, numbers and types of aid will appear with no standard format from college to college. Most families think the packages will be straightforward and easy to understand; they are wrong...
|
How to win at getting college financial aid
CNBC - Apr 8, 2016
Want to boost your chances for college financial aid? Start early — as in, before your child's sophomore year of high school. Until your child is a high school senior, you don't have to tangle with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (aka the FAFSA)....
|
How to read your ridiculously confusing financial aid letter
CNN.com/Money - Apr 13, 2016
Congrats on getting into college! Now, how much is it going to cost? It can be maddeningly difficult to figure out, especially for high school seniors who have just a few weeks left to compare offers and decide where to enroll....
|
What To Do When Your College Financial Aid Offer Stinks
TeenLife Blog - Apr 6, 2016
You know that unless the financial aid package offers substantial aid, your family won’t be able to afford the tuition. Your daughter is accepted to her dream college but when the award arrives, it’s nothing close to what you need to make this a wise financial decision.r ...
|
7 Financial Aid Appeal Tactics To Improve Your Child's College Aid Award
Forbes - Mar 31, 2016
Millions of mailboxes nationwide this week contained letters of acceptance and denials of admission to the colleges high school seniors applied to, yet for parents the most dramatic moment is when your child opens the thick envelope (meaning he or she got in) and you get a look at the financial aid offer ...
|
5 things you need to know about your financial aid offers
USA Today - College - Apr 1, 2016
You’ve done all the hard work assembling your college list, sending out your applications and then waiting for your acceptance letters. Next up you will begin to receive financial aid packages from the colleges where you were — these typically arrive after April 1. ...
|
Why Upperclassmen Lose Financial Aid
New York Times - Apr 6, 2016
A few weeks before Ashley Hurst was supposed to commit to college, an email arrived that she thought would change her life. An honors graduate from a magnet high school, ...
|
Let's make it easier for low-income students to apply for financial aid
The Boston Globe - Mar 25, 2016
In just a little over a week, many colleges will be sending out their decision letters. This is generally a quiet time in the news cycle about the college admissions process. Applications are in and now all the seniors have to do is sit back and wait -- or so the narrative goes....
|
Three Easy Ways to Vet Financial Aid Offers
TIME - Mar 29, 2016
Been there, done that. But the most important question should be is "what's the best-fit, no/low-debt school?" For me, this is where the rubber meets the road. This time of year, colleges send out their acceptance/denial/wait list letters along with initial financial aid offers....
|
How to Compare Your College Financial Aid Award Letters
TIME - Mar 29, 2016
Discover what you'll really pay at each school on your list. Off Mortgage. If your child has been accepted by one or more schools, you've probably received letters spelling out how much aid each college is willing to give....
|
he Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Financial Aid Letters
TeenLife Blog - Mar 29, 2016
Awaard season is upon us and financial aid packages are arriving. Each letter should have these key components: the full cost of attendance, grants and scholarships, loans, work study, the net amount you will pay after the financial aid is deducted, and your expected family contribution (EFC). ...
|
Deciphering the financial aid award
Spokane College Examiner - Mar 23, 2016
This is the season for excited high school seniors to rip open the thick envelopes (or congratulation emails) from colleges, see they have been accepted into a college and shriek with delight. Then comes the financial aid award, and often the response is less dramatic.....
|
7 Smart Steps to Appeal for More College Financial Aid
TIME - Mar 17, 2016
And boost your odds of actually getting it. If you can’t afford your dream college because it didn’t award you enough financial aid, don’t just give up in defeat. You still have time to appeal for an increase in grants or scholarships. ...
|
How to Play the College Financial-Aid Game
Daily News - Mar 20, 2016
High-school seniors could be forgiven for thinking that comparing college financial-aid offers requires an advanced degree. The letters have been pouring in over the past few weeks. But along with the excitement comes a challenge: sorting through offers that often differ in ways that can blur the bottom line. ...
|
College Financial Aid Advice…for High School Freshmen
TIME - Mar 18, 2016
If you are a high school freshman, the U.S. Department of Education encourages you to start thinking about the money you’ll need for college now. Save up some money, have an honest talk with your parents about the cost of college ...
|
Financial Aid: The Wrong Band-Aid
Chicago Now - Mar 17, 2016
Financial Aid can seem like a life saver if you don’t have the money to pay for your college expenses. But far too often it acts like a small Band-Aid on a massive, bleeding wound. It may help in the short-term, with the hope that the wound will heal itself; but eventually the Band-Aid becomes an obstacle to the healing process...
|
5 FAFSA myths debunked
Shreveport Times - Mar 92016
It’s January, so FAFSA season has begun. If you’re planning to attend college in the 2016-17 school year, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for loans, grants, work-study programs and some scholarships...
|
These mistakes cost many students their shot at college financial aid
MarketWatch - Mar 7, 2016
On a recent weeknight in a New York City high school classroom, 17-year-old Egady Torres sat surrounded by his parents, siblings and other students as he waited for a volunteer to call him into a computer lab and help him fill out the forms that might unlock the resources he needs to pay for college...
|
A Quick Guide to Financial Aid Essentials
TIME - Mar 3, 2016
Khalfani-Cox, author of College Secrets: How to Save Money, Cut College Costs and Graduate Debt Free, also talks about how students should be aware that the kinds of schools they apply to may dictate the financial aid they receive ..
|
New FAFSA timeline could result in major changes in admissions
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 24, 2016
While applicant attention has been largely focused on such headline-grabbing college admissions issues as new tests, new score reports, new applications and the proliferation of portfolio development tools..
|
How colleges award financial aid — and how to estimate yours
The Christian Science Monitor - Feb 17, 2016
Understanding how college financial aid work is one of the most important steps to paying for your education. Here's how colleges typically calculate awards, and how to figure out how large your own aid package may be....
|
And the Financial Aid Award Goes to...
Huffington Post - Feb 16, 2016
The Academy Awards are scheduled for the beginning of March, but families with students heading off to college in the fall are likely more focused on financial aid awards...
|
FAFSA help is here
Charlotte Observer - Feb 14, 2016
If you've been avoiding completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), procrastinate no longer, help is here...
|
Will Outside Scholarships Reduce the Financial Aid from My College?
TIME - Feb 9, 2016
Q. Will claiming outside grants or scholarships hurt our family’s financial aid chances? A. Like so much with college financial aid, it depends. If the total amount you’re awarded in outside scholarships, college scholarships, and federal grants and loans exceeds the total cost of attendance...
|
FAFSA mistakes you can and should avoid
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 10, 2016
You want to get it right. But even with its many improvements, the FAFSA can be challenging for some families to complete accurately and in plenty of time for colleges to consider...
|
Applying for college aid is free: Buyer beware of services offering help
Lebanon Democrat - Feb 9, 2016
NASHVILLE – Applying for college can be daunting enough. Add to that the pressures of finding the financial aid available and many students and parents can feel overwhelmed. Experts said those feelings are what scammers and unscrupulous businesses are preying on during this time of year....
|
2016 Guide To College Financial Aid, The FAFSA And CSS Profile
Forbes - Jan 30, 2016
Unfortunately, almost everything you’ve read about college financial aid is probably wrong. New rules affecting when and how students apply for financial aid will impact families and colleges over the next few years, but its not just the new information that renders a lot of what you’ve read about college aid to be wrong...
|
How To Decipher a Financial Aid Letter
The College Solution Blog - Jan 31, 2016
Financial aid awards are often confusing. I believe many colleges and universities intentionally make financial aid awards hard to decipher to trick families into thinking that their institutions are being generous even when they aren’t...
|
FAFSA FAQs: Answers to the 10 Most Common College Aid Questions
TIME - Jan 28, 2016
Expert advice on filling out and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. What’s a FAFSA? How can I get free money to pay for college?
Those are among the most frequently asked questions sent to the Get Schooled Foundation’s text hotline. ...
|
Post-FAFSA filing tips
Spokane College Examiner - Jan 20, 2016
After filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), should you just sit back and relax? Tempting as that might sound, there are still a few things that you will need to follow up on in the financial aid application process....
|
Why students missed out on $2.7 billion in financial aid last year
MarketWatch - Jan 27, 2016
High school graduates are passing up billions of dollars in free money to help them pay for college, a new analysis suggests. By not filling out or completing the free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA, high school graduates lost out on as much as $2.7 billion in financial aid...
|
New FAFSA Security Rules Cause Hassles For Some College Aid Applicants
TIME - Jan 22, 2016
Here's what you can do to avoid them. The U.S. Department of Education’s tough new security rules designed to prevent hackers from stealing sensitive personal and financial information from financial aid applicants are starting to draw complaints from some high school counselors....
|
2016 FAFSA deadlines are right around the corner
DC College Admissions Examiner - Jan 21, 2016
If you applied early and were hoping for priority financial aid consideration at Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, or Yale, you needed to submit the CSS PROFILE (and accompanying documentation) by November 1. Penn (November 2), Brown (November 3) and Columbia (November 15) were also looking for PROFILEs shortly after early applications were due.....
|
6 College Scholarship Myths to Steer Clear Of
US News - Jan 21, 2016
Scholarships can cover a significant portion of college costs, but all too often students don't take the time to apply for them. They may be dissuaded from checking out scholarships because they've been misled by some common scholarship myths....
|
How To Fill Out FAFSA 2016: Tips For Students Applying For College Financial Aid
International Business Times - Jan 1, 2016
Friday isn't just the first day of the new year — it's also the first day students can file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for 2016-17. The FAFSA is used to distribute $150 billion to people enrolled or enrolling in college, so you don't want to miss out.....
|
3 Reasons You Should Fill Out the FAFSA—No Matter How Rich You Are
TIME - Jan 6, 2016
Many middle class families don’t want to bother with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known to its friends as the FAFSA, because they have heard that only students from families earning less than about $50,000 get federal grants.....
|
Lights, Camera, FAFSA!
Teen Life Blog - Dec 29, 2015
et Reel: 5 Movie-Inspired Tips for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If college is in your future, filing the FAFSA is the most important thing you can do to get money to help pay for it. It’s the gateway to all forms of federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-?study programs. ...
|
Applying for Federal Student Aid: Checklist for Parents
SCVNEWS.com - Dec 18, 2015
Although a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the student’s responsibility, parents take a large role in the process when a student is determined to be dependent. If you’re getting ready to help your child apply for federal student aid on the 2016-2017 FAFSA, here’s what you should be doing over the next few months ...
|
Tips college financial aid specialists want students to know
USA Today College - Dec 15, 2015
After working with thousands of students, financial aid experts have seen some common mistakes throughout the years. Their insights can help you make smarter financial moves, whether you’re just starting school or you’ve been in college for a few years....
|
How To Get Help With the FAFSA
The College Solution Blog - Dec 11, 2015
The FAFSA season begins January 1. That’s the date when families can begin filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2016-2017 school year. Parents need to complete the FAFSA or their children won’t be eligible for federal or state aid. ...
|
Talk to Admission Counselors to Maximize College Merit Financial Aid
US News - Dec 10, 2015
Scholarships can come from a variety of organizations and businesses, but merit aid scholarships come directly from a college. These sorts of scholarships are offered to students based on their accomplishments in academics, athletics, the arts or other areas where they have excelled....
|
FAFSA form gives colleges more than financial info
MyCentralJersey - Dec 3, 2015
About two-thirds of full-time students pay for college with the help of financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships, according to The College Board. In order to be considered for most scholarships and loans, students need to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) .....
|
5 Reasons Why You Won't Get Free Money for College
TIME - Dec 12/9/2015 12:29:01 PM, 2015
If you have too many assets or a low GPA, you may not get free money for college. College costs are staggering yet many families are turned away from receiving free financial aid because their income is deemed too high or their home equity is considered too great.....
|
Get Ready for FAFSA
Huffington Post - Dec 9, 2015
Every January millions of high school seniors, and college students, and parents sit down together to fill out the dreaded FAFSA form -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form is more intrusive than the Federal tax forms, because it asks not only about income but assets of parents and students.....
|
Money Matters: The new FAFSA process and college costs
WMUR - Dec 3, 2015
For many parents and students, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the first step in figuring out the financial aid process. In effect, approximately 20 million students each year use FAFSA as the first step in accessing the funds available to them for their educations.....
|
Pathway to College: Step-by-step guide to financial aid
Pocono Record - Nov 25, 2015
For most parents of college-bound students there is one acronym around this time of year that scares them: FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid process can make any parent or student want to curl up in the fetal position and cry.....
|
College Scholarships That Don't Require Good Grades
US News - Nov 26, 2015
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be a straight-A student to win a college scholarship. While the number of financial awards you're eligible for certainly expands if you have a 4.0 GPA, there's no hard and fast rule that limits scholarships to valedictorians....
|
Before You List Colleges on Your FAFSA, Read This
TIME - Nov 24, 2015
The rules are changing this year, but the schools you list and the order you put them in can still affect your financial aid. You probably know that your income and assets are important factors in determining your eligibility for college aid. ...
|
Understanding the 2 Types of College Financial Aid
Nasdaq - Nov 24, 2015
My family and I just returned from Charlotte, North Carolina, where my two boys competed in and won their first Jiu-Jitsu tournament. On the ride home, one asked if he could get a college scholarship if he continued to win tournaments...
|
8 Tips to Maximize College Financial Aid
Bacstage - Nov 23, 2015
Parents ask me each year, how they can find resources to help them pay for the rising cost of college tuition. Here are some ways you can prepare and educate yourself in the process....
|
College scholarships are not free money
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Nov 21, 2015
It is National Scholarship Month, which means high school seniors are being exhorted to scoop up free money for college. What they are often not told is that scholarships won from corporations, nonprofits and other “outside” sources can reduce..
|
5 Best Ways to Snag a College Scholarship
TIME - Nov 16, 2015
Advice for high school seniors and their parents from a financial-aid expert. November is National Scholarship Month and a perfect time for high school seniors and their parents to kick their search for college scholarships and financial aid into high gear...
|
Tips and Tricks for Filling Out a FAFSA for College Financial Aid
Kiplinger - Nov 3, 2015
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, is the ticket to many thousands of dollars in financial aid for college. Just be sure you get the application right so that you maximize the money you receive to cover tuition, fees, room, board and more. Here's what you need to know. ...
|
College Scholarships Aren’t Free Money
TIME - Nov 16, 2015
Certain types of scholarships can reduce the grants you'll get directly from your school. It is National Scholarship Month, which means high school seniors are being exhorted to scoop up free money for college. ...
|
Nuts and bolts of applying for college financial aid
Spokane College Examiner - Oct 29, 2015
There are two kinds of financial aid provided by colleges – merit aid and need-based aid. For most colleges, what a student submits in the college application is used for merit awards (grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, etc.). Some colleges might have additional forms for merit aid. ...
|
Find the Colleges Most Likely to Give You a Scholarship
TIME - Oct 29, 2015
Save thousands of dollars in tuition by picking a financial "safety" school. High school seniors can dramatically increase their odds of getting big scholarships if they take just one extra step this fall: apply to a few “financial aid safety schools,” college admissions experts say. ...
|
5 People You Haven't Asked About College Scholarships
USNews - Oct 29, 2015
Ever feel like you're drowning in a sea of information when you research scholarships? It's daunting to search for money for school, but remember that you're never alone in the process. ...
|
Experts: Millions in college scholarships going unused
WPRI - Nov 1, 2015
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Paying for college is a worry for many high school seniors and their parents. Yet, despite the increasing cost of higher education, millions of dollars in scholarships go unused year after year. ...
|
4 steps for getting the best financial aid
USA Today - Oct 25, 2015
We have all heard it in the news. Most of us have even heard it from our friends and family: Student loan debt is taking a serious toll on those who choose to pursue higher education. In order to curb some of these intimidating costs, it's a good idea to make sure that you or your child applies to receive financial aid....
|
A small financial victory for college students
CBS News - MarketWatch - Oct 27, 2015
College students, who are staggering under record college debt, won a small victory on Tuesday. They'll no longer be forced to pay onerous fees that cut into the financial aid dollars they need to cover their college costs....
|
College Planning: 7 Steps to Filing the FAFSA
ThinkAdvisor - Oct 25, 2015
Now that college application season has begun, it’s time for students and families to consider college costs and how they’re going to pay them. The key to college financing is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which every school, ....
|
5 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Oct 19, 2015
If you have a student applying to college this fall, you need to be filling out financial aid forms and filing them now. Many colleges require the CSS Profile, FAFSA or their own form when you submit your applications. Waiting will mean you miss out on important grants, scholarships and loans....
|
4 Steps for Getting the Best Financial Aid
Credit.com - Oct 20, 2015
We have all heard it in the news. Most of us have even heard it from our friends and family: Student loan debt is taking a serious toll on those who choose to pursue higher education. In order to curb some of these intimidating costs...
|
Tips on Understanding a College Financial Aid Letter
NASDAQ - Oct 20, 2015
Your child’s already been accepted to the college of his or her choice, and you’ve been waiting patiently to find out how much you’re going to have to pay for that top-notch education. Now the wait is over: Your financial aid award letter has finally arrived in the mail. ..
|
3 Changes to the FAFSA for College Students to Understand
US News & World Report - Oct 13, 2015
Some important changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid next year, but Joseph Orsolini, a college financial aid adviser in the Chicago area, hasn't fielded many questions from parents....
|
5 College Financing Updates All Students and Parents Should Know About
NerdWallet - Oct 8, 2015
It’s college application season, and the reality of how much that degree will cost is hitting families across the country — even those who have been preparing for years. But changes to how families fill out the FAFSA, along with new ways to decide what colleges they can afford, might help make the process a little easier...
|
Insider Tips on Financial Aid Refunds
Huffington Post - Oct 13, 2015
If you are one of the millions of college students who receive a financial aid refund from your college or university each semester, you may be wondering what these funds are for. Simply put, a financial aid refund (sometimes referred to as a "credit balance")...
|
Navigating college financial aid options pays off
Trib Live - Oct 10, 2015
When Joyce Montag began visiting colleges with her daughter Angela, she was stunned by the costs and what the family would be asked to contribute.
Her daughter's preferred school, ....
|
3 Weird and Unusual College Scholarships
US News - Oct 1, 2015
What is your idea of weird? Most of you reading this blog will likely find the following scholarships a bit odd – but hopefully a great deal of help as well.....
|
Think Locally to Boost Your College Scholarship Odds
US News - Oct 1, 2015
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of scholarships? Most people think of substantial awards from major companies, like the scholarships Nordstrom, Coca-Cola and Ford give away, or big scholarships from globally recognized nonprofits and government agencies.....
|
What does “prior-prior” year mean?
Spokane College Examiner - Oct 5, 2015
Recently the federal government came out with an update for those families filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is required by almost all colleges in order to receive federal financial aid and provides the schools with an estimated family contribution (EFC) ....
|
No More Financial Aid Rush
The College Solution Blog - Sep 24, 2015
One of the most unpleasant aspects of filing for financial aid is how rushed the process has always been. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid isn’t released until Jan. 1 each year,...
|
3 Steps to Write a Standout College Scholarship Essay
US News - Sep 25, 2015
What you might not already realize about the scholarship application process – something that could be very critical in more ways than one – is that a lot of scholarship applicants are going to appear very similar on paper where the "numbers" are concerned, such as academics...
|
Questions Families Need to Ask About Paying for College
Wall Street Journal - Sep 21, 2015
When parents and children talk about applying for colleges, they consider all sorts of factors: the school's prestige, the location, even the food in the dormitories. But often there's one thing that never is on the agenda: How are we going to pay for this? ...
|
When It Comes to Financial Aid, “Show me the money!”
TeenLife Blog - Sep 21, 2015
Parents and students are always looking for ways to pay the least amount of money for college. It's even more important as costs keep rising and students face increasing student debt loads...
|
5 ways to evaluate a financial aid package
Shreveport Times - Sep 9, 2015
While it's true that numbers don't lie, the way that colleges present financial aid can be confusing and misleading. Some colleges only account for direct costs of education, such as tuition and fees, while others provide a detailed accounting of projected expenses right down to clothing. ..
|
Your First Financial Aid Step
The College Solution Blog - Sep 14, 2015
If paying for college is going to be a challenge, and it usually is, it’s important that you obtain your Expected Family Contribution before your begin looking at colleges with your teenagers. In fact, obtaining your EFC should be the FIRST STEP you take in the college process. ..
|
Few Colleges Cover Full Financial Need
Huffington Post - Sep 9, 2015
Lots of families can't afford to pay the full sticker price that a college charges. So, universities, especially private schools, are increasingly awarding institutional and federal dollars to help families chip away at their sometimes sky-high price tags.. ..
|
Tweetable tips turn into real college savings
USA Today - Sep 9, 2015
The fun thing about scanning a stream of tweets is that you're bound to spot something that you didn't know. Some quick fact or news tidbit pops up and gives you a clue into the bigger picture. Ditto for a new twist for delving into the mind-boggling process involved with college scholarships, student loans, financial aid and other aspects involved with paying for college. ..
|
The Time Has Come to Scrap FAFSA
USA Today - Sep 6, 2015
While it’s true that numbers don’t lie, the way that colleges present financial aid can be confusing and misleading. Some colleges only account for direct costs of education, ... ..
|
The Time Has Come to Scrap FAFSA
New York Times - OpEd - Aug 27, 2015
When it comes to federal grants for college, the government cannot get out of its own way. The process is encased in bureaucracy. Every family must fill out a mega form in order to receive grants (SEOG and Pell). A lot is at stake because these grants offer big benefits for those paying for college... ..
|
Time to Fix the Fafsa
New York Times - OpEd - Aug 27, 2015
Is Congress finally ready to pass legislation that would make it easier for harried parents and students to apply for federal financial aid?.. ..
|
Feds to stop tipping off colleges on student choices
CBS News - Market Watch - Aug 17, 2015
For years, the federal government has been delivering inside information to colleges about an applicant's school preferences that has harmed some students' chances for admission and awards...
|
This Financial-Aid ‘Trick’ Won’t Work
US News - Jun 16, 2015
I have a confession: Before I began writing this column, I thought a good college-savings plan was to set aside some money each month for my son’s “529” account. But after just a few months of seeing reader questions and tracking down answers, I’ve come to realize ..
|
The Top 5 Questions to Ask a Financial Aid Advisor Before You Even Apply
Huffington Post - Jun 19, 2015
College is an investment in your future. (And I bet you've heard it a thousand times). But at least in the short term, it will probably impact your pocketbook, too. In fact, Texas graduates in 2013 averaged just over of $25,000 in debt, according to U.S. News & World Report....
|
Financial Aid Tip: Don’t be taken in
News-Democrat & Leader - Jun 18, 2015
Parents of college-bound students often hear from companies that promise to help them find financial aid to pay for college. But families don’t have to pay for this kind of information,...
|
3 College scholarship actions students cannot ignore
Grand Rapids Community Colleges Examiner - Jun 23, 2015
Successful college scholarship winners don’t just fill out an application and mail it to the organization sponsoring the award. Rather, they have written a memorable essay, carefully followed all application directions ...
|
10 Colleges Where Upperclassmen Get Less Financial Help
US News - Jun 16, 2015
It's the dirty little secret that can end up walloping prospective students in the wallet. Experts call it "front-loading" – when a university's financial aid department beefs up freshman aid packages with institutional money, in an effort to reel in admitted students, but decreases that aid in subsequent years. ..
|
The 7 Best Resources For Finding Help Paying For College
Forbes - Jun 17, 2015
There are a lot of resources out there when it comes to how to best pay for college. There are blogs on financial aid, websites that find scholarships, along with coaches, financial planners, and more ..
|
How To Lose Your College Financial Aid
Forbes - Jun 8, 2015
When deciding which college to attend, students consider factors such as academics, prestige, location, and size. Even though these features are all important when making a final decision....
|
Flustered by the FAFSA? What you need to know
CNBC - Jun 4, 2015
Earning a college education is one of the best investments for your future, but it can become a nightmare if you do not take the careful measures into fully understanding how student financial aid actually works.....
|
Will You Qualify for Federal Student Loan Aid?
Huffington Post - Jun 5, 2015
If you’re looking to attend college, there’s a good chance that you might need financial aid. An important factor that determines student loan eligibility is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Let’s find out how the EFC is used and calculated.....
|
Scholarships Abound for a Variety of Hobbies
US News - May 28, 2015
With summer rapidly approaching, it's finally time for students to take a breather after a long school year. That means more time outside, more time with your family and friends – and more time to spend on your favorite hobbies.....
|
How 529 Accounts Impact Financial Aid for College
TIME - Jun 2, 2015
Q: I’ve saved a small amount for my daughter’s college expenses in a 529 account. Now I’m worried it will hurt her chances of getting financial aid when she applies in the fall. What should I expect?....
|
Dos and Don'ts of College Savings
Morningstar - May 26, 2015
Question: I'm worried about how we're ever going to afford college for our children. What can we do to increase their odds of getting financial aid in case we can't save enough?...
|
College financial aid letters can get complicated, but are rarely trickery
Hechinger Report - May 13, 2015
Financial aid letters are far from perfect, but critics who say colleges are intentionally misleading, as did some of those quoted in a recent Hechinger Report article, are mistaken. For critics to say this is standard practice serves no one — students, families or colleges....
|
When the financial aid game goes into overtime
DC College Admissions Examiner - May 18, 2015
The clock is definitely ticking down. But wherever you are in the process, there are still ways to play to win the 2015 financial aid game in overtime.
In fact, with a few properly-executed strategies, you might still have a significant impact on what financial aid is offered and how close it comes to meeting your needs.....
|
The number one winning scholarships tip
Long Island College Prep Examiner - May 19, 2015
There is a lot of competition for college scholarships so it’s important for students putting in the effort to apply, take their best chance to win. Unfortunately, the most advantageous advice is easily overlooked because it is so obvious. Worse, not following this tip is the reason many lose out......
|
| Four things you need to know about paying for college
PRI.org - May 15, 2015
The price tag for colleges and universities has been steadily on the rise. For the 2014–2015 academic year, the nonprofit College Board reports that, on average, a "moderate" college budget for an in-state public college falls at about $23,410, while a "moderate"....
|
How To File A Financial Aid Appeal
Forbes - May 12, 2015
Financial aid can be an important factor in whether a student attends a school. Given the fact that college costs have been rising, and will likely continue to rise, any financial aid can be a huge benefit... ..
|
The May 1st Deadline Has Passed and More Financial Aid Is Now Available
Huffington Post - May 14, 2015
Time is of the essence to appeal an unappealing financial aid offer. Because few families now play the multiple deposit game to keep their options open past May 1st, a wealth of financial aid offered will now revert back to the coffers of an untold number of colleges where an untold number of students will not be attending! ..
|
A Scholarship All Teens Should Know About
TeenLife Blog - May 13, 2015
Budget Challenge, an online simulation game created by H&R Block that teaches teenagers about money, has just awarded $3 million in individual scholarships, classroom grants and cash prizes to students and teachers across the country...
|
5 financial aid tips to help you choose the right college
The Fiscal Times - May 2, 2015
While the school's location and culture remain extremely important, the net cost of the college — its price after all financial aid and scholarships are factored in — has become an increasingly important factor as well.. ..
|
College Financial Aid: There's Still Time to Apply
ABC News - May 6, 2015
When it comes to lining up financial aid for college, earlier is definitely better. Universities have a limited amount of money they can award to students every year. Scholarships get snapped up fast. And many deadlines for state aid come and go before spring break.. ..
|
5 Expensive College Financial Aid Gotchas
TIME.com - Apr 27, 2015
A financial aid letter might look generous but actually come with costly caveats.
It’s crunch time for high school seniors: May 1 is College Decision Day, the day most college-bound students will let universities and colleges know whether they will be enrolling... ..
|
How to Appeal College Financial Aid Offers
New York Times - Apr 25, 2015
By now, most prospective college students have received their letters of acceptance and are weighing their financial aid packages. But what if the financial aid offer at your preferred school isn’t what you had hoped?.. ..
|
Getting More College Aid: How To Appeal
Forbes - Apr 17, 2015
If you don’t like the initial aid package, or simply want to reduce the amount of loans, you can appeal it. The appeal is called a “professional review,” and you can ask for it in writing to the college’s financial aid office. You are basically making a case why more aid is being requested. ..
|
5 Financial Aid Tips That Help You Choose the Right College
The Fiscal Times - Apr 20, 2015
College acceptances — and rejections — are now out and millions of students are trying to figure out how they are going to afford to go to college. Complicating that effort are financial aid letters sent from colleges, which can be so confusing as to be indecipherable. ..
|
 | How to Play the College Financial-Aid Game
Wall Street Journal - Apr 17, 2015
High-school seniors could be forgiven for thinking that comparing college financial-aid offers requires an advanced degree. The letters have been pouring in over the past few weeks. ..
|
Drug Convictions Can Send Financial Aid Up In Smoke
US News - Apr 15, 2015
Next week will be April 20, otherwise known as 4/20. People in some states may celebrate the occasion thanks to recently relaxed penalties for the use and possession of small quantities of marijuana.. ..
|
Five flaws with college financial aid letters
Washington Post - Apr 10, 2015
College acceptances — and rejections — are now out and millions of students are trying to figure out how they are going to afford to go to college. Complicating that effort are financial aid letters sent from colleges, which can be so confusing as to be indecipherable. ..
|
6 tips for appealing a financial aid award
CBS News MoneyWatch - Apr 16, 2015
This is the time of year in the college admission season when colleges and universities break the hearts of millions of applicants. ..
|
College Financial Aid: Five Ways To Get the Best Package
Forbes - Apr 10, 2015
I’m currently in the process of reviewing financial aid offers for my oldest daughter, who will be attending college in the fall. There are six offers on the table, three from private colleges and from three big public universities.. ..
|
How to Understand Your Financial Aid Package
Her Campus - Apr 13, 2015
Financial aid packages can definitely be tricky (what do half these words even mean?!). There are various types of financial aid, and it may be difficult to understand which you received and what they mean. ..
|
Getting 'Merit-Aid' for college
The Times - Apr 13, 2015
Think of merit aid for college as you do the “Airline Model.” Rather than take off with empty seats, airlines have discovered that it’s smarter to sell the empty seats at a discount. The economic theory: Having some revenue is better than having no revenue. ..
|
Appealing for a Better Merit Award
The College Solution Blog - Apr 2, 2015
Wealthy Hong Kong businessman Gerald Chow has described in federal court how an educational consultant promised to help get his sons into elite prep schools and Ivy League colleges, only to swindle the family out of more than $2 million. ..
|
How to negotiate a better financial aid package
Washington Post - Apr 2, 2015
Your high school senior is basking in the glow of college acceptance letters. Three or four schools want her to join their class of 2019, and nothing can bring her down, except for the cost.. ..
|
How to compare financial aid award letters
Bay Area College Admissions Examiner - Apr 6, 2015
Now that many colleges have sent out admissions decisions, students have until May 1 to decide what college they will attend in the fall. For many students, one of the biggest factors in choosing a college in this late stage of the admissions process is cost. ..
|
Understanding Financial Aid packages
Palo Alto Online - Apr 6, 2015
College acceptances are in! Which college will you choose? The national deadline to commit to your campus of choice is May 1st. Submit your 'Intent to Enroll' form along with your deposit and any housing forms and deposit to secure your spot on the roster,. ..
|
 | Do You Earn Too Much To Qualify For College Financial Aid?
Forbes - Mar 31, 2015
College aid formulas expect parents to contribute up to 47% of their after-tax income to college costs each year. Will your income throw your child out of the running for college aid? Use my EFC Quick Reference Table.....
|
The list your college does not want to be on
Washington Post - Mar 31, 2015
Hundreds of colleges across the country that are doing a poor job of managing their finances are on a federal watch list that could ultimately make it difficult to access financial aid dollars, a critical lifeline for universities....
|
Simple Mistakes That Can Hurt Financial Aid Prospects
Forbes - Mar 26, 2015
Now is the time to find the most financial aid possible to help with the costs of school. It can be a challenge, though, to find financial aid, especially given the fierce competition and limited amount available.....
|
How to Decipher a Financial Aid Letter
TIME - Mar 25, 2015
When colleges start releasing their admissions decisions toward the end of March, it’s easy for applicants and their parents to figure out the end result: You’re in, you’re out, or you’re on the waiting list....
|
Just how affordable is that college education?
CNBC - Mar 13, 2015
As college acceptance letters start making their way to mailboxes and inboxes, families' next big dilemma is figuring out which offers are affordable based on the financial aid award letter. That's not as easy as you might think....
|
 HSCW Sponsor Blog - Scholarship program for Caddys
Post - Mar 25, 2015
Each year, more than 850 golf caddies across the U.S. attend college by way of a full tuition and housing scholarship through the Chick Evans Scholarship from the Western Golf Association. ....
|
Five Hot Tips For College Financial Aid
Forbes - Mar 13, 2015
I'm in the throes of reviewing college aid offers for my daughter, who has been accepted to five colleges. There's more than $150 billion available in student aid, but you have to act quickly to obtain it...
|
4 Ways to Increase Your Financial Aid Package
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Mar 16, 2015
Over the next few weeks, many families with high school seniors will be comparing financial aid packages. The early returns for aid this year are not looking as generous as in past years..
|
Raise.me: A New Way to Earn Scholarships in High School
TeenLife Blog - Mar 11, 2015
Every family and student loves to win scholarships. It’s free money for college. Most scholarship awards require time: researching the award, applying for the scholarship, and waiting for the decision to arrive. But what if you could earn scholarships while you attend high school? ...
|
The School Where Everyone Fills Out The FAFSA
NPR.org - Mar 6, 2015
Every year, more than 2 million students who would qualify for federal Pell Grants fail to fill out the form that determines eligibility — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. . ...
|
| Shrink The FAFSA? Good Luck With That
NPR.org - Mar 4, 2015
Look closely. Buried deep in President Obama's 2016 budget (Page 41) is a proposal to cut up to 30 questions from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.. ...
|
The Magic Trick That Could Help Students Pay For College
NPR.org - Mar 4, 2015
It's deadline time for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Better known as the FAFSA. The daunting application — with its 108 questions — stands between many college hopefuls and much-needed financial aid ...
|
Key Factors You're Ignoring When Comparing College Costs
Daily Finance - Feb 26, 2015
College acceptances will soon come rolling in. Families of college-bound students already know how important it is to compare aid packages, look for scholarships and carefully assess loan terms. ...
|
5 Alternative Sources for College Financial Aid
US News - Mar 2, 2015
The average cost for a year of in-state public college tuition and fees for 2014-2015 is $22,410, according to the College Board. For students attending a private school, the cost more than doubles, with expenses averaging $46,272...
|
6 tips for deciphering a financial aid letter
CBS News - MoneyWatch - Feb 22, 2015
For high school seniors, the agonizing college admission process is almost over. All that's left for many students is deciding which college they can afford....
|
The Financial-Aid Fine Print
Chronicle of Higher Ed - Feb 23, 2015
The wealthiest colleges have similar policies. But variation among them can make a real difference in what students will pay.....
|
Make searching for scholarships part of weekly routine
Cincinnati.com - Feb 22, 2015
When it comes to applying for outside college scholarships, February through June are still great months for seniors to find opportunities. An outside scholarship is any scholarship not awarded by the government or the school....
|
5 Winning secrets from a college scholarship judge
Grand Rapids Community Colleges Examiner - Feb 24, 2015
College scholarship seekers should always be looking for ways to improve their applications to help them get noticed and chosen by the scholarship judges. What better way to learn how to do this than by speaking directly to a college scholarship judge? ....
|
Deciphering Misleading Financial Aid Letters
The College Solution Blog - Feb 17, 2015
Financial aid awards are often confusing. I believe many colleges and universities intentionally make financial aid awards hard to decipher to trick families into thinking that their institutions are being generous even when they aren’t....
|
Making the most out of financial aid
San Jose Mercury News - Feb 17, 2015
Many families overestimate the amount of financial aid they expect to receive or they don't anticipate loans being a part of the overall financial aid award.....
|
5 Myths About College Financial Aid
Morningstar - Feb 17, 2015
We look at the facts regarding why even students from wealthy families should fill out the FAFSA, the (remote) odds of getting a full-ride scholarship, and more......
|
The Great Scholarship Hunt: How to Save $40K on College
Huffington Post - Feb 17, 2015
"There are tons of college scholarships out there. You just have to find them." I've heard this mantra more times than I can count -- and as a former high school English teacher, I used to repeat it sagely to scores of 11th-graders...
|
Costly FAFSA mistakes you REALLY want to avoid
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 11, 2015
Even with its many improvements, the FAFSA can be challenging for some families to complete accurately and in plenty of time for colleges to consider.....
|
Fight FAFSA phobia
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 4, 2015
Paying for college is obviously expensive for middle-class families, just like it is for everyone who doesn't have thousands of free dollars to throw around each year...
|
Understanding financial aid packages
Tyler Paper - Feb 2, 2015
So it’s critical to carefully review the financial aid package being offered by any school that accepts your student. This offer spells out how much money you will need to come up with in order to pay for one full academic yea...
|
One FAFSA Tip That Will Net More Financial Aid
Forbes - Jan 30, 2015
Since I recently finished the FAFSA for my oldest daughter, who will be entering college in the fall, I did a deep dive on how to fill out this form for financial aid qualification....
|
2015 FAFSA deadlines are likely to come WAY sooner than you think
DC College Admissions Examiner - Jan 26, 2015
It’s fair to say that most every college and university in the United States has a clearly posted priority financial aid deadline by which the FAFSA should be filed for students to have the best possible chance of receiving both institutional and federal aid. ...
|
How your family finances factor into financial aid calculations
Washington Post - Jan 14, 2015
t’s 103 questions that could make all the difference in how you pay for college. Yet every year families shy away from filling out the form known as the FAFSA, which the government and colleges use to determine need- and some merit-based financial aid. ...
|
Five myths about filing for college financial aid
Consumer Affairs - Jan 16, 2015
The new year is more than just a flip of the calendar. For families preparing to send a child off to college it's a time for shopping for financial aid – an increasingly critical factor in being able to afford higher education. ...
|
Save big bucks with these FAFSA tips
Charlotte Observer - Jan 12, 2015
If you hope to score any need-based aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Many families assume they won’t receive aid and don’t bother to file the form....
|
College Admissions: 6 Costly Financial Aid Mistakes to Avoid
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Jan 12, 2015
If you have a senior in high school, the next few weeks are critical in the financial aid process. While federal financial aid deadlines (FAFSA) may stretch into the summer, college-based aid is most plentiful now. ...
|
Answering Your FAFSA Questions
The College Solution Blog - Jan 12, 2015
Now that we’re officially into the 2015-2016 FAFSA season, I wanted to share some questions that I’ve gotten about financial aid forms via my blog and my popular online courses for professionals and for parents. If you have your own questions, please leave them in the comment box below.....
|
7 things you must know about the FAFSA
CBS News - MoneyWatch - Jan 5, 2015
Beginning every January, millions of American families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is crucial for any student hoping to receive need-based financial aid....
|
7 Legal Ways to Squeeze More College Aid From the FAFSA
TIME - Jan 6, 2015
Filling out the 10 eye-crossing pages of the 2015-16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the most important application for need-based college financial aid, may not seem like a fun adventure in Super Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom.,...
|
Winning the financial aid game—2015-16 edition
DC Higher Education Examiner - Dec 30, 2014
College-bound students have a better chance of winning the financial aid game by going on the offensive early. And it’s not too early to start a few practice exercises.....
|
How to figure out the FAFSA finances
Charlotte Observer - Jan 5, 2015
If it is the beginning of January and you are the parent of a high school senior, then you need to be filling out the forms and figuring out your finances....
|
Preparing for the 2015 FAFSA
Spokane College Examiner - Dec 15, 2014
When high school seniors have completed their college applications it is time to sit back and relax, right? Not necessarily! If financial assistance will be important in attending college, there is more work to be done...
|
Financial Aid Haggling: How Far Can You Go?
Fiscal Times - Dec 11, 2014
My daughter learned this little ditty in preschool: "You get what you get, and you don't get upset." Parents who are convinced they can haggle their way to a better financial aid package might want to learn it, too -...
|
Father admits to falsifying financial aid data
Boston Globe - Dec 11, 2014
The father of a former Harvard University student has pleaded guilty in federal court to falsifying his income so his daughter could be awarded more than $160,000 in financial aid from the prestigious college and the federal government....
|
10 Tips to Prepare for the FAFSA
TeenLife Blog - Dec 2, 2014
f you haven’t watched the Hallmark Channel in the last few days, you might be surprised to find out that Christmas movies have already begun. The holidays are upon us, and that means the New Year is quickly approaching. ....
|
Figuring out how much college is going to cost
Charlotte Observer - Nov 17, 2014
Please don’t be one of those parents who encourage their students to apply to loads of colleges and universities with no regard to how much it is going to cost. ...
|
An economics professor’s guide to figuring out how much college costs
Washington Post - Nov 17, 2014
Students and their parents contemplating college need to have a clear understanding of what college is going to cost them long before they apply if they are going to make wise academic and financial decisions. Sticker prices upwards of $60,000 are chilling....
|
Remedial Courses in College Stir Questions Over Cost, Effectiveness
Wall Street Journal - Nov 17, 2014
College students are increasingly spending federal financial aid and taking on debt for high school-level courses that don’t count toward a degree, despite mounting evidence the courses are ineffective and may contribute to higher dropout rates....
|
Another College-Access Issue: Financial-Aid Jargon
Chronicle of Higher Ed - Nov 11, 2014
From his office window, Eric Johnson can see the groundskeeping staff clearing off the sidewalk with leaf blowers. Colleges like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he works, pull out all the stops to make their campuses inviting....
|
What you need to know about financial aid for college
DC College Admissions Examiner - Nov 10, 2014
Many college applications are signed, sealed and submitted, and now it’s time to move onto the serious stuff: money. Who doesn’t want to get the very best education at the very lowest price? ...
|
Why You MUST Use Net Price Calculators!
The College Solution - Nov 10, 2014
If your child is in the midst of applying to colleges, do you have an excellent idea of what each school on your child’s list will cost you? If you don’t, I strongly suggest that you temporarily halt the admission process and find out....
|
Unlocking the mysteries of college financial aid
Tyler Morning Telegraph - Nov 10, 2014
While the students I work with are mostly concerned with improving their GPA, test scores and essays, their parents often have a completely different concern: how are we going to pay for this?....
|
Get an early start on federal aid with FAFSA4caster
DC College Admissions Examiner - Nov 3, 2014
Families looking for a head start on the financial aid process might consider taking advantage of a handy tool developed by the federal government for just this purpose....
|
5 Questions to Ask Financial Aid Counselors at U.S. Colleges
US News - Nov 4, 2014
When applying to U.S. colleges, it is critically important that international students understand the financial aid policies at different schools. The best way to get all of the information is by asking the financial aid counselors directly. ...
|
Getting Help With the FAFSA
The College Solution - Nov 3, 2014
FAFSA season is fast approaching, which always brings questions about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In my post today, I want to share advice about why you should submit the FAFSA and who should be completing the actual financial aid form.....
|
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Filing the FAFSA!
True Admission Blog - Nov 3, 2014
The biggest mistake families make in the college application process is failing to apply for financial aid. The most recent study from the American Council on Education found that 1.8 million students who would have qualified for Federal financial aid failed to apply for aid.....
|
Don’t Bother Appealing a Financial Aid Award if…
TIME Magazine - Oct 27, 2014
Sometimes it doesn't make any sense to ask a college for more money. An expert explains what those times are. I’m often approached by families who want me to help them request more mo ney from a particular college. About a third of the time, I turn them down.....
|
Colleges Find Micro Grants Keep Some Students From Dropping Out
Wall Street Journal - Oct 29, 2014
When a group of Northeast Ohio colleges teamed up to help more local residents get their degree, they found that many students were in danger of not graduating because they were short just a few hundred dollars for class fees, books and even repairs to cars they relied on to get to campus....
|
A College Financial Aid Guide for Families Who Have Saved Nothing
New York Times - Oct 18, 2014
A mother of five children in Bath, Me., admitted on the New York Times’s Motherlode blog earlier this year that she and her husband had no college savings. Their son, a high school junior, was about to leave for a college tour with some leftover Easter eggs for food, a tent and his one good pair of pants.....
|
5 myths about student financial aid
Chicago Tribune - Oct 20, 2014
's time for thoughts about college applications, which means students are filled with anxiety over whether they will get into their dream school, quickly followed by their (and their parents') panic over how they will pay for it. For those already in school, this is a time of sticker shock as tuition bills for the new semester start to arrive.....
|
Appealing Financial Aid and Merit Awards
The College Solution Blog - Oct 13, 2014
What happens when the financial aid or merit aid package that a student receives from a school is inadequate? Is it possible to extract more money from a college? I’ve been getting questions about this lately from parents who are disappointed by some of the awards their children have been receiving.....
|
Everything you need to know about Parent PLUS Loans
USA Today - Oct 11, 2014
No parent wants to see a child take on crushing debt, especially when it comes to college. When all other financial aid options have been explored, you may decide to take out your own federal Direct PLUS loan to help pay for a college education.....
|
FAFSA college list shared with colleges
Bay Area College Admissions Examiner - Oct 7, 2014
When students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), one piece of the application includes listing the colleges the students plan to apply for admission. Students are asked to list up to 10 colleges on the electronic version of the FAFSA to send their financial information.....
|
Don’t Let Colleges Snooker You
The College Solution Blog - Oct 7, 2014
For many students the biggest source of money will be from the colleges themselves. That’s why it’s important for you to understand what would motivate any school to give your child one of its awards......
|
Where to get a free college degree
CBSNews MoneyWatch - Oct 3, 2014
Want to attend college for free? It can happen if you learn German. All German universities are now free to Americans and all other international students. The last German state to charge tuition at its universities struck down the fees this week....
|
The 2015-16 financial aid season officially kicks-off with the CSS PROFILE
DC College Prep Examiner - Oct 1, 2014
It’s the “other” financial aid application. And most families who are new to the process have no clue that the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE is required by well over 200 colleges for scholarship consideration in addition to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)......
|
Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need
The College Solution - Oct 1, 2014
If your family will need to depend on financial aid to attend college, your best bet is to find a school that will offer an excellent financial aid package to your child.......
|
Most Financial Aid Should Go To First-Generation College Students
TIME - Sep 29, 2014
Sometimes, vague can be misleading—and harmful. For years, colleges have identified disadvantaged students based primarily on “diversity” and “need.” But those categories are broad and unspecific, and can be gamed by sophisticated applicants and parents. The result? Schools aren’t helping the students that really need it......
|
Mistakes Parents Make With Financial Aid
Wall Street Journal - Sep 21, 2014
Most families know the basics of college financial aid: Several months before school starts, students apply for assistance, parents detail their financial situations, and then everybody waits for the powers that be to tab the bill.....
|
Why Every College Student Should File A FAFSA
CBS Philly - Sep 16, 2014
The federal government provides billions in grants, loans and work-study opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students each year. The College Board estimates that two-thirds of full-time undergraduates receive some government help with college costs.. ....
|
Nab a Fat Financial Aid Package to Pay for College
US News - Sep 16, 2014
Heather McDonnell, associate dean of financial aid and admission at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, was shopping at the grocery store a few years ago when a man came up to her and appealed for mercy. ....
|
FAFSA and the Middle Class
Huffington Post - Sep 15, 2014
According to a recent US New & World Report article, parents who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are often shocked by how much the federal government estimates they can afford to pay for college when they receive their official "Expected Family Contribution," or EFC.....
|
3 Mistakes That Will Cost You a College Scholarship
Business Week - Sep 3, 2014
College campuses are springing to life again as students gear up to start a new academic year. For many freshmen, the school they’ll be getting to know in the next few months will be the one that not only agreed to let them in but also offered to help pay the tuition bill. According to the National Center for Education Statistics....
|
Expert Advice: What You Need to Know About Direct PLUS Loans
Nerd Wallet - Aug 28, 2014
When deciphering your financial aid award letter, it’s important to notice how much of your financial aid is in the form of student loans, which you’ll have to pay back, rather than in the form of scholarships and grants.....
|
Financial aid paperwork can seem daunting
Democrat and Chronicle - Aug 2, 2014
Before high school graduates can succeed or fail at college, there's a mountain of paperwork to be completed. For middle-class students whose families are familiar with the process, it's an annoyance. But for first-generation college students, filling out college applications and financial aid forms can be an insurmountable obstacle...
|
Five Top Secrets to College Financial Aid
Forbes - Aug 18, 2014
Let’s face it, qualifying for college financial aid is complicated. Colleges use formulas that are opaque and hard to understand. There are lots of factors to consider. I know, because I’m about to go through this gantlet as my oldest daughter applies for college. ...
|
There Is a Simpler Way for Students to Apply for Financial Aid
New York Times - Jun 21, 2014
Any college student who wants a federal loan or Pell grant has to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. With well over 100 questions about income, assets and expenses, the Fafsa approaches the IRS Form 1040 in length,....
|
In 5 Tweets, a Glance at the Proposal to Trim the Fafsa
Chronicle of Higher Ed - Jun 19, 2014
When news broke on Wednesday night that the hulking Free Application for Federal Student Aid might be in for some drastic cuts thanks to forthcoming legislation, Twitter’s higher-education wonks were quick to celebrate.....
|
5 Costly Financial Aid Mistakes Community College Students Make
US News - Jun 24, 2014
Financial aid helps put college within reach for millions of students, but a few common mistakes and misconceptions can cost students thousands. Community college students, who are more likely to be first-generation students and less likely to have college counseling before enrolling, are more susceptible to these errors. ....
|
There's something broken in America's financial aid system
Yahoo Finance - Jun 13, 2014
One need only see the tally for America’s student debt load — $1.2 trillion at last count, with an average $29,400 per college graduate — to realize something is badly broken in our financial aid system.....
|
Avoid Making These 4 Scholarship Search Mistakes
US News - Jun 12, 2014
As the school year winds down and the last scholarships for the season are handed out, students across the country are able to take a break and assess how they did. And while thousands of scholarship recipients are heading into summer with a clear idea of how they'll be paying for college next year...
|
How to pay college bills and maximize financial aid
/The Star-Ledger - Jun 18, 2014
Q. My daughter will start college in September, with the first tuition payment due in July. We have money in a 529 plan, but it is not enough to cover all the costs. I also have some stock options from work that I plan to exercise and use for college..
|
Can Financial Aid Determine Your Fate?
Huffington Post - Jun 4, 2014
As the school year comes to an end, high school seniors are saying goodbye to teachers and friends as they prepare for their journey to college. Over the last four years, these students have paid their dues by making the grades, participating in extracurricular and volunteer activities and cramming . ...
|
Diverse Conversations: Let’s Talk About Financial Aid
Diverse Education - Jun 3, 2014
The Washington Post reports that the average college student will graduate with $25,000 in debt. With more than $1 trillion in outstanding loans, student debt outweighs credit card debt and is exempt from bankruptcy protection...
|
The Best College Loan for Students
The College Solution Blog - May 27, 2014
As recently as the early 1990s, most students did not take out college loans. Today about two out of every three students borrow to pay for college due to the runaway cost of college....
|
Staying ahead in the 2014 financial aid game
DC College Admissions Examiner - May 28, 2014
Yes, the clock is ticking down. But wherever you are in the process, there are still ways to successfully play the financial aid game. In fact, with a few properly-executed "moves" you can definitely have an impact on what financial aid is offered and how close it comes to meeting your needs. ...
|
COLLEGE COUNSELOR: College Financial Aid Needs More Transparency
Gazettes - May 17, 2014
As admissions into colleges and universities has become ever more challenging, applying for financial aid and understanding the financial aid letter once received, is an equally grueling, though often neglected, piece of the admissions process....
|
Don't fall for college scholarship scams
WCPO.com - May 19, 2014
A student in Amarillo, Texas, received an exciting phone call last month: Damon Bennett, a high school senior, had been applying for grants and scholarships to help pay for college, and a woman called to tell him he received a $7,000 grant....
|
Navigating the landscape of increased college costs
CNBC - May 15, 2014
Although college tuition has soared in recent years and much ado has been made about whether a higher education is worth the price tag, many American parents remain driven to send their kids to college. ...
|
| Deciphering financial aid offers for college
Marketplace - Apr 25, 2014
Spring is the time of year when high school seniors prepare for college and their life after school. Though a typical undergraduate program lasts four years, paying off student loans can easily last decades if you don't properly plan. ..
|
Financial Aid Basics: What You Need to Know
NerdWallet - Apr 28, 2014
If you’re worried about the staggering costs of college, take a deep breath. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education awards nearly $140 billion to help millions of students like you who are wondering if they will receive financial aid......
|
5 Uncommon Ways to Find and Win Scholarships
Teen Life Blog - Apr 21, 2014
Every parent and student dreams of getting scholarships to pay for college. The problem: it’s hard work and requires dedication. One scholarship expert even said to look at it as a part-time job while in high school......
|
Educate yourself on college financial-aid schemes
Albuquerque Journal - Apr 19, 2014
If you are the parent of a college-bound son or daughter, leaving no stone unturned in the search for financial assistance is certainly an appropriate strategy....
|
On College: How to weigh financial aid offers
San Jose Mercury News - Apr 15, 2014
High school seniors and their families are in the midst of a very exciting and anxiety-ridden process -- choosing a college. Among the many factors that families should consider, finances will be one of the most important......
|
Different Scholarship Results for National Merit Finalists
The College Solution Blog - Apr 16, 2014
As promised, today I am sharing my thoughts on the email that I posted on Monday from a disillusioned mother from Alabama, who is bitter about her brilliant daughter’s admission results.....
|
Finding and winning scholarships hiding in plain sight
Long Island College Prep Examiner - Apr 10, 2014
Ready or not college bills will be arriving soon for the college-bound and scholarships can help pay the invoice. Grants are need-based financial aid offered to students based on their financial need....
|
What You Don’t Know About Financial Aid (but Should)
New York Times - Education Life - Apr 9, 2014
Marilyn Ferreira has solved her share of financial puzzles — running a business, buying a home and arranging a mortgage, raising six children as a single mother. But none of that compared to the challenge of understanding the cost of sending her brood to college....
|
Appealing a Financial Aid or Merit Award
The College Solution Blog - Apr 3, 2014
What happens when the financial aid or merit aid package that a student receives from a school is inadequate? Is it possible to extract more money from a college?...
|
Appealing to a College for More Financial Aid
New York Times - Apr 5, 2014
The era of the financial aid appeal has arrived in full, and April is the month when much of the action happens. For decades, in-the-know families have gone back to college financial aid officers to ask for a bit more grant money after the first offer arrived....
|
Comparing Costs, Financial Aid and “Value”
Poughkeepsie Journal - Apr 8, 2014
At the same time, it’s important to remember that, just as with any purchase, “cheapest” is not always best. Many so-called second and third-tier (mostly private) colleges are discounting tuition (under the broad banner of “merit scholarships”) ..
|
The Devil Is in the Details: Sizing Up College Financial Aid Offers
Huffington Post - Apr 1, 2014
For families getting ready to send a child off to college this fall, sizing up financial aid offers can be daunting. At first glance, it may seem like some of the schools are offering to cover all of your costs, but the devil may be in the details...
|
10 Rules For Decoding College Financial Aid Award Letters
Forbes - Mar 31, 2014
If you’re a high school student whose family income doesn’t qualify for the 1% club, there’s a very good chance that the most important day of your college application experience won’t be the day you turn in all of your applications.....
|
Comparing college costs: a primer
Washington Post - Apr 1, 2014
It’s the season for colleges to accept students and then students to accept colleges. Part of the decision for many students is price, but comparing the actual cost of attending different colleges can be tricky....
|
| Decoding College Financial Aid
NPR.org - Mar 25, 2014
Many high school seniors are hearing from colleges about admissions and financial aid. Scott Juedes, director of Student Financial Services at Wellesley College, gives tips on decoding aid offers.....
|
Some Common Misconceptions About Paying For College
NPR.org - Mar 25, 2014
In reporting on students navigating the maze of college costs and financial aid, I kept running into misconceptions about paying for a degree. Here are some of the most common ones:...
|
9 Things We Bet You Didn't Know About College Financial Aid
Forbes - Mar 25, 2014
Paying for college can be a nerve-wracking rite of passage. Not only are you probably dealing with huge sums of money, but the complex process of making decisions about loans is often trusted to 17-year-olds, who may or may not have ever managed money before.....
|
Don’t Be Tricked By Misleading Financial Aid Letters
The College Solution Blog - Mar 17, 2014
FInancial aid letters are often confusing. I believe many colleges and universities intentionally make financial aid awards hard to decipher to trick families into thinking that their institutions are being generous even when they aren’t.....
|
| Navigating The College Money Maze
NPR.org - Paying for College - Mar 17, 2014
It's that time of year again for anxious students and their families. College acceptance letters are coming in, and federal financial aid forms are going out. That means thousands of students and families are starting down the road of deciding where to go and how to pay for it all.....
|
8 Myths About College Financial Aid and What You Can Do To Get Free Aid
WWLP - Mar 12, 2014
Paying for college is stressful, but knowing how financial aid is awarded can reduce parents’ anxiety and also make college more affordable. Paul Hemphill, College Planning Expert and Author of “How to Win The College Game,” shared more about the myths surrounding financial aid.....
|
5 College scholarship myths: Busted!
Examiner.com - Mar 10, 2014
There are thousands of college scholarship opportunities available for students who take the time to apply. Unfortunately, the majority of students incorrectly assume that they cannot win money for school for several reasons. Here are five college scholarship myths, busted!....
|
Erasing College Assets With Life Insurance
The College Solution Blog - Mar 3, 2014
More and more, families are being approached about purchasing permanent life insurance policies as a means of reducing the family’s expected contribution (EFC) in calculating college financial aid eligibility......
|
Higher education’s transparency sham: Who really gets financial aid
Salon - Feb 27, 2014
At the center of the admissions and financial-aid process is a massive information imbalance: Schools make their decisions with detailed data about each applicant that goes well beyond test scores and transcripts. Many universities have access to comprehensive financial profiles...
|
Get More Financial Aid for College
Kiplinger - Feb 21, 2014
Typical scenario for parents of a high school senior: Your student identifies a half-dozen colleges he’d like to go to. He spends long nights and fraught weekends filling out applications. The whole family waits anxiously for the acceptance letters....
|
6 ways to boost your financial aid for college
The Week - Mar 3, 2014
Everyone knows college tuition costs have been soaring. The published prices alone, however, don't provide a full picture of what most students will actually pay, since nearly 60 percent of students receive grants and scholarships...
|
How Many Colleges Were Misleading Students About Financial Aid?
Washington Monthly - Feb 21, 2014
Trying to find enough money to pay for college is a challenge for many high school students. Along with the escalating cost of college, and the institutions’ much-publicized habit of obscuring their true costs, just finding where the money is available is a big challenge...
|
David Haufler: College financial aid how-to a must-read for parents
Dallas Morning News - Feb 23, 2014
We all know the importance of a college education — studies indicate it can even increase one’s earning potential by up to $1 million over the course of his or her career — but we also know the daunting numbers involved. College costs vary widely, but many students receive some form of financial aid from scholarships and grants...
|
The 7 Craziest Scholarships You Can Apply For Now
Her Campus - Feb 18, 2014
It’s finally time to narrow down your college choices. As exciting as that is, there is one little buzzkill: money. After all, college is very expensive! Unlike loans, which need to be repaid, scholarships give you a little extra money to put towards your tuition that you don’t need to pay back later....
|
6 Ways to Boost Financial Aid for College
Fiscal Times - Feb 18, 2014
Everyone knows college tuition costs have been soaring. The published prices alone, however, don’t provide a full picture of what most students will actually pay, since nearly 60 percent of students receive grants and scholarships. That makes the net cost of college considerably below the sticker price. ...
|
Asking For Better Merit Aid Scholarships
The College Solution Blog - Feb 11, 2014
oday I am sharing a guest post by Bradford Pine, a financial advisor in Garden City, NY, who wrote about his experience with his daughter, who has been receiving acceptances and merit aid scholarships from schools. He explains how he lassoed a $14,000-a-year scholarship just by asking....
|
COLUMN-How asking for aid could hurt your college chances
Reuters - Feb 11, 2014
Filling out the federal financial aid form known as the FAFSA "is one of the first and most important steps" to getting a college education, First Lady Michelle Obama told a group of parents and students attending a FAFSA workshop at a Virginia high school on Wednesday....
|
FAFSA mistakes that can cost you the game
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 12, 2014
Even with its many enhancements, the FAFSA can be a challenging form for some families to complete. Mistakes can be costly and possibly result in lost financial aid.....
|
Financial Aid – Tips from an expert
Charlotte Observer - Feb 3, 2014
I frequently write about financial aid, especially at this time of the year, but I am not a financial aid expert. People have contacted me with financial aid questions ranging from divorce settlements to residency status to the impact severance packages will have on their financial aid forms.y...
|
6 Financial Aid Application Mistakes to Avoid
Charlotte Observer - Jan 30, 2014
College is expensive (as you’ve probably been told!), so of course financial aid is important. There are several types of aid you can apply for (like grants, loans and scholarships), which may seem intimidating and complicated. Believe us, though; it’s worth it!...
|
Don't let fear of FAFSA stop you
DC College Admissions Examiner - Feb 2, 2014
Fear of FAFSA is a known, but easily treatable syndrome. Often it begins with math phobia or chronic avoidance of anything related to personal finances. Individuals who have never balanced a checkbook or filed their own taxes are particularly susceptible....
|
Financial Aid Myths – Part 2
Charlotte Observer - Jan 26, 2014
While the “fear of financial aid forms” is not likely to surpass the top-ranked fear of public speaking, most families would agree that completing the forms is typically approached with dread and anxiety...
|
FAFSA student aid and 7 ways to pay for college (+video)
The Christian Science Monitor - Jan 27, 2014
If you know much about college financing, you probably know the basics of improving a financial aid package: Save in your own name, rather than your child's, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA student aid) as soon after Jan. 1 as possible ..
|
6 Costly Financial Aid Mistakes to Avoid
GoLocalProv - Jan 27, 2014
If you have a senior in high school, the next few weeks are critical in the financial aid process. While federal financial aid deadlines (FAFSA) may stretch into the summer, college-based aid is most plentiful now. The longer you wait, ..
|
Four college financial aid maneuvers that can backfire
MSN Money - Jan 27, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Spiraling college costs can tempt families to stretch the truth trying to get more financial aid. These methods carry significant risks and may not even work. There are legitimate ways to get better offers (see), but here's what you want to avoid: ..
|
2014 FAFSA deadlines come way sooner than you think
DC College Admissions Examiner - Jan 27, 2014
Nearly every college and university has a clearly posted priority financial aid deadline by which the FAFSA should be filed for students to have the best possible chance of receiving both institutional and federal aid. ..
|
Seniors: Apply, apply, apply… for financial aid!
True Admissions Blog - Jan 21, 2014
The single biggest mistake families make in the college application process is failing to apply for financial aid. So, apply! Even if you think you won't qualify, apply....
|
The Big Mistake Students Make When Filling Out The FAFSA
Pleasanton Weekly - Jan 21, 2014
As the flurry starts to die down around applying to colleges, there is a new issue for students and their families to consider. Students may have to be just as thoughtful about filling out the FAFSA ...
|
Financial Aid Myths – Part 1
Charlotte Observer - Jan 13, 2014
Whether it is the parking lot after a PTA meeting or in the stands watching your kids’ basketball game, parents are sharing lots of misinformation about college admissions and especially about financial aid....
|
Seven mistakes to avoid on financial aid forms
Reuters - Jan 13, 2014
Jan 13 (Reuters) - Millions of families will fill out a key financial aid form in coming weeks, many for the first time. Unfortunately, mistakes on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are easy to make, education experts said....
|
The Big Mistake Students Make When Filling Out FAFSA
Lamorinda Weekly - Jan 15, 2014
As the flurry starts to die down around applying to colleges, there is a new issue for students and their families to consider. Students may have to be just as thoughtful about filling out the FAFSA as they were about completing their college applications.....
|
Lessening the confusion over college financial aid forms
Spokane College Examiner - Jan 8, 2014
January is the time for college bound high school seniors and their parents to begin filling out their financial aid paperwork. The most common form is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,....
|
Need FAFSA Help? Here are 6 Resources
The College Solution Blog - Jan 6, 2014
January 1 marks the start of the FAFSA season. If you will be applying for financial aid this year for a new or returning college student, it’s time to tackle the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.....
|
Don’t delay filling out FAFSA form
Charlotte Observer - Jan 6, 2014
If one of your New Year’s resolutions had something to do with helping your child find scholarship money for college, then your first order of business is to complete the FAFSA.....
|
What You Need to Know About Filing the FAFSA
Huffington Post - Jan 6, 2014
Happy New Year! It's that time of year again when families that have a child starting college this coming fall need to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).....
|
New financial aid rules for college-bound in 2014
CBS News - Dec 31, 2013
New Year’s Day kicks off the beginning of college financial aid season for the 2014-2015 school year. It is the first day families can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid....
|
Winning the financial aid game
DC College Admissions Examiner - Dec 27, 2013
Families have a better chance of winning the financial aid game by going on the offensive early. While the folks at the U.S. Department of Education feverishly prepare for kickoff on January 1st, take to the practice field and work on getting in shape starting today....
|
Schools That Award Lots of Merit Scholarships
The College Solution - Dec 16, 2013
I recently wrote a post that shared the colleges and universities that say that they meet 100% of financial need for the majority of their families. If you missed it, here it is:...
|
Who Should Complete the FAFSA?
The College Solution Blog - Dec 10, 2013
FAFSA season is fast approaching, which always brings questions about who should complete this federal financial aid application. For the 2014-2015 school, year, the Department of Education has issued new rules impacting some parents about who should be completing the FAFSA. ...
|
Our Financial Aid Checklist -- Part II
True Admissions Blog - Dec 9, 2013
Today, we're pleased to bring you Part II of a checklist of tasks you should be tackling right now to pay for college, courtesy of College Advisor Alice Kleeman. ...
|
The great college aid game: Five seniors juggle desire and reality
Yahoo News - Dec 10, 2013
December is a tense month for college-bound seniors at New Rochelle High School in suburban New York. A few who have applied through early decision programs could soon learn whether they have been accepted or rejected to their dream schools...
|
New federal ‘financial aid toolkit’ for college
Washington Post - Dec 4, 2013
The federal government on Wednesday rolled out an online “financial aid toolkit” for guidance counselors, parents and others to help students learn about funding options for college....
|
Using FAFSA Against Students
Inside Higher Ed - Oct 28, 2013
Some colleges are denying admission and perhaps reducing financial aid to students based on a single, non-financial, non-academic question that students submit to the federal government on their applications for student aid...
|
Does Applying For Financial Aid Hurt Your College Admissions Chances?
Forbes - Oct 29, 2013
The article in the GW Hatchet read like a scene ripped from a high-school-senior’s nightmares. “The University admitted publicly for the first time Friday that it puts hundreds of undergraduate applicants on its waitlist each year because they cannot pay GW’s tuition,...
|
7 ways to find free money for college
CBS News MoneyWatch - Oct 29, 2013
(MoneyWatch) 'Tis the season when parents and high school students who will be in college next year should start looking for scholarships. The good news is that scholarships are easier than ever to find and apply for thanks to online tools that can connect students to billions of dollars'....
|
College Admissions: 9 Scholarships Anyone Can Apply For
GoLocalProv College Admissions - Oct 28, 2013
Many families wonder about private scholarships--sources of funding for college that are not offered by the federal government or colleges. Advertisements on the Internet make it seem as if there are abundant untapped private scholarships to fund education....
|
List of Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need
The Coillege Solution - Oct 18, 2013
If your family will need to depend on financial aid to attend college, your best bet is to find a school that will offer an excellent financial aid package to your child....
|
Six questions to ask colleges about financial aid
Boston.com - Oct 11, 2013
Now more than ever, cost is dictating where students will attend college as many families are choosing schools that offer the best value and not the most prestigious name. But how exactly do you figure out that cost?.....
|
6 tips to winning college scholarships
CBSNews MoneyWatch - Oct 14, 2013
(MoneyWatch) If your teenager has contemplated looking for private college scholarships, now is a good time to search. Some of the biggest private college scholarship providers have fall deadlines for their contests. Another popular scholarship deadline is February.....
|
Why College Savings Usually Won’t Hurt Financial Aid Chances
The College Solution - Oct 14, 2013
Many parents worry that their college savings accounts will kill their chances for financial aid. Most families, however, who have saved for college are not hurt in student financial aid considerations.....
|
Do You Know What Your Expected Family Contribution Is?
The College Solution - Oct 4, 2013
Do you know what your Expected Family Contribution is? If you don’t, you should make it a priority to obtain this number. I’d argue that families need to know what their preliminary EFC is long before they begin looking at colleges.....
|
Nab more cash for college
CNNMoney - Oct 4, 2013
With the sticker price on private colleges averaging $45,000 and even the typical public university asking $23,000 a year, families at all income levels need help with tuition bills: A College Board poll last February found that about three-quarters of families earning more than $100,000 were applying for aid for the 2013-14 academic year.....
|
Do college scholarship search engines work?
CBSNews MarketWatch - Oct 8, 2013
(MoneyWatch) A popular way to search for private college scholarships that charities, foundations and civic groups award is to turn to scholarship search engines. So just how effective are these websites?.....
|
Quick! Show Me the Money--the CSS Profile
San Ramon Express - Sep 27, 2013
Timing is critical. For high school seniors who plan to request financial aid, now is the time to determine the forms required at each college on your list. You can do this by looking at the financial aid webpage found under the admissions tab.....
|
How does divorce affect college financial aid?
CBSNews MoneyWatch - Sep 27, 2013
(MoneyWatch) I received an email this week from a divorced mom in San Diego who was confused about which parent should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which is required to get a college loans....
|
Finding financial aid for college
The College Solution Blog - Sep 16, 2013
Millions of young Americans recently began their senior year of high school. If your kid is among them, he or she is probably busy juggling homework, extracurricular activities and maybe a part-time job — all while trying to savor the last official year of childhood and simultaneously prepare for impending adulthood....
|
Make Quick Work of These Easy Scholarship Applications
US News & World Report - Sep 19, 2013
Whether you're a high school junior just getting started on scholarship applications, or a college student with a sheaf of essays, you've learned by now that applying for college cash can take awhile.....
|
Top 5 Reasons You Should Apply for Financial Aid
Huffington Post - Sep 16, 2013
It's that time of year again when parents and their high school students gear up for the college application process. Somewhere along the line you are also going to have to deal with the financial end of things. You may even be dreading that. Perhaps you have heard stories from other parents who told you what a challenge it was.....
|
Should You Apply for Financial Aid?
The College Solution Blog - Sep 16, 2013
Here’s a variation of a question that I always get during admission season: Someone told me yesterday that it’s better to answer “No” to the “Do you intend to apply for need based financial aid” question on the Common Application....
|
Getting the right college financial aid package
MyFox Atlanta - Sep 18, 2013
First the good news: Don't regard that eye-popping tally of frosh college costs your son or daughter just handed you as the last word. In fact, a better analogy is that it's just the sticker price, the suggested payment that school administrators hope you fall for....
|
Top 5 Reasons You Should Apply for Financial Aid
Huffington Post - Sep 16, 2013
It's that time of year again when parents and their high school students gear up for the college application process. Somewhere along the line you are also going to have to deal with the financial end of things. You may even be dreading that. Perhaps you have heard stories from other parents who told you what a challenge it was.....
|
College aid offers fail to grow with economy
Boston Globe - Aug 24, 2013
MEDFORD — It was a goal that former Tufts University president Lawrence S. Bacow highlighted in his inaugural address more than a decade ago: make admissions decisions without considering a student’s ability to pay.....
|
Finding the Most Generous Colleges
The College Solution Blog - Aug 24, 2013
How can you fnd the most generous colleges? The ones that meet 100% of financial need or close to it? And what about the schools that provide merit scholarships for affluent students who don’t qualify for need-based aid?....
|
College Scholarship Scams: 5 Questions You Should Ask
Huffington Post - Aug 25, 2013
You don't have to search very far to get tips and strategies for getting college scholarship money these days. But how often do you hear about the seedy underworld of scholarships? Fact is, the number of scholarship scams and frauds have picked up considerably over the last decade....
|
The Financial Aid Lingo You Need to Know
Her Campus - Aug 15, 2013
The college admissions process is stressful enough. By the time you get to filling out your financial aid forms, everything might just feel like a confusing, acronym-filled blur. FAFSA? SAR? EFC? Who even knows what all those terms mean? ...
|
The never-ending scholarship search
MSN Money - Aug 19, 2013
So your kid got enough scholarships and grants to pay for most or all of freshman year. Congratulations! Tell him to keep looking. Yes, the past year was pretty fraught: writing application essays...
|
|
|
|
|
|
