Posts by Jay Benanav
Federal student loan rates fall to lowest on record
For some good news amidst the current pandemic, the federal direct student loan rates are falling to the lowest interest rates on record for families taking on federal student loans this year. Undergraduate rates for the 2020-2021 school year will be 2.75%. This is a reduction of 1.78% as compared to the 2019-20…
Read MoreFAFSA Tips
By now you may have received a notice from the colleges to which your student has applied that they need a FAFSA. While you may not yet have even started to think about your tax return, it is not too early to complete your FAFSA. The first thing you should do is go to FAFSA.gov.…
Read More9 Things I Wish People Understood About Getting Into College
Check out this great article by Katherine Cohen I recently came across; it is a little long but worth the read! — Jay 9 Things I Wish People Understood About Getting Into College By Katherine Cohen As an independent college counselor, I get questions every day about the college admissions process and what it takes…
Read MoreUnusual Scholarships
While definitely the most popular, unusual scholarships are oftentimes the most exclusive. Their eligibility requirements are strict, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find an unusual scholarship for which you qualify. This list of scholarships s organized according to some of the more common subcategories of unusual scholarships, such as physical characteristics, creativity, last name,…
Read More5 Surprises Behind the Student Debt Crisis
Student debt continues to rise. In MN the average student debt now exceeds $30,000. When you add the debt that parents often take on in addition to the student’s debt the family debt for college is approaching $50,000. Unfortunately, I have seen families who have $100,000 or more in student debt. Clearly the student debt…
Read MoreHow the College Class of 2019 Sees the World. A Must Read!
Each August since 1998, Beloit College in Beloit, WI., has released the Beloit College Mindset List, providing a look at the cultural touchstones and experiences that have shaped the worldview of students entering colleges and universities in the fall. Click here to read the list for the class of 2019. The list is a real…
Read MoreStudent Debt Takes a Bite Out of Paychecks
It’ seems like everywhere you turn there is a story about student debt. While every study and report indicates that going to college is still crucial for a successful career it is also true that the debt some families take on to send a student to college can be a crushing burden. Read this…
Read MoreA Note to Seniors
As your final high school year begins, I want to wish you all the best. You’ll soon be busy with school work. On top of that, the next few months will be hectic because you also have to complete your college applications. Here are the things you need to know and do in the…
Read MoreVideos on the College Search and Selection Process
I recently came across a series of videos from Kahn Academy in which a variety of college search perspectives are presented. One on visiting colleges is embedded below. For the entire series of videos, click here. Visiting campus: Campus Visit Alternative: Online Tour
Read More24 Common Mistakes in Choosing a College
Based on my experience these are the mistakes students often make in searching for colleges the right college to attend. 1. Only look at colleges your best friend is looking at Your goal should be to find the right college for you, not your best friend. Even the closest friends have different goals and ambitions.…
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