Applying to College

FAFSA says how much you can pay for college, but it’s often wrong – The NY Times explains what the FAFSA says you can afford is usually less than you will end up paying, which comes as a big surprise to many families. This is an important read as you plan how to make the…

College savings cheat sheet – Financial aid guru Mark Kantrowitz shares some tremendous advice with Katie Couric on how parents can best approach the financial aspect of college. Among my favorites: Parents overestimate eligibility for merit aid, underestimate eligibility for need-based aid, and aren’t aware that most colleges meet financial need with loans, not…

So much energy and attention gets placed on the process of applying to colleges, that families often aren’t sure what to do once they have been accepted. And many are certainly unprepared for the intensity of the courtship that is about to ensue. Here is what every family should know heading into this stage of…

You fill out the FAFSA, which gives you your expected family contribution (EFC), which is how much your family will pay for college. Seems simple right? Ah, but like most things with the college process, that is unfortunately not the case. Here are 5 things every family should know about that EFC. 1 Your EFC…

With the college admissions scandal all over the news, we wanted to respond as members of the vast majority of the college counseling world that work with families honestly and ethically. It’s incredibly upsetting that people would manipulate the college admission system in this way, and every industry seems to have a very small…

The 3 secrets to getting into your dream school – How do you get into a school like MIT? Chris Peterson, assistant director of admissions, shares a wonderful perspective from the college side. Please share this important read with your child and thank you to Kevin McMullin of CollegeWise for highlighting his advice. Straight…

The secret to finding what colleges want – NerdWallet’s Liz Weston explains that schools telegraph what they want in applicants in the form of data that is available online to anyone. Take a minute to scan her advice. 10 things college rankings won’t tell you – Although we all love lists to help us…

6 tips for managing your EFC – Your EFC, or expected family contribution, is a number used by colleges to determine how much financial aid you will receive and a topic most families know little about. Invest a few minutes to read Road2College’s helpful tips to potentially save your family money. 5 strategies…

Grades and test scores don’t mean as much as they used to – Jeff Selingo explains that with 50 percent of American teens now graduating with an A average and over 1,000 colleges having dropped standardized tests as an admission requirement, other factors such as demonstrated interest are playing a larger role than before. …

Stop asking about my kid’s college plans – A beautiful essay from the NY Times from a parent who is going through it just like you. A terrific read, especially the point she makes in the second-to-last paragraph. Check it out. How colleges award financial aid – A succinct and well-written explanation by the…

Insider tips for the week of March 2, 2020

You’ve been accepted, now what?

5 things every family should know about their expected family contribution (EFC)

CIT response to college admissions scandal

Insider tips for the week of Feb. 11, 2019

Insider tips for the week of Jan. 7, 2019

Insider tips for the week of July 30, 2018

Insider tips for the week of June 25, 2018

Insider tips for the week of March 26, 2018