Applying to College
Insider tips for the week of January 29, 2018
Straight talk from college admissions officers to parents – Brennan Barnard collected candid advice to share with you. While some of it may be hard to stomach, it is valuable to get an insider perspective from the other side of the desk. Check out the article in the Washington Post. Are you a helicopter,…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of January 1, 2018
How to talk about money with your student – Affording college is a big issues for parents and their kids; take a few minutes to read some helpful tips shared with Money Magazine by Karen Levin Coburn, author of a recent book on the topic. My favorite takeaway: Parents should start out with a clear idea…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of December 4, 2017
15 things every parent needs to know – A thought-provoking list from DIY College Rankings. My two favorites are 1) You set the expectation for acceptable colleges — not the rankings, your peers or your child’s peers and 2) You shouldn’t base your expectations on another family’s experiences. Take a few minutes to scan the…
Read More4 last-chance financial aid strategies for parents of juniors
With last year’s big change to the FAFSA, families of current HS juniors (2019 grads) will now use tax information from 2 years prior to their year of HS graduation when they complete their first FAFSA in the 2018-2019 school year. This is a huge deal because whatever those families are doing (or not doing)…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of October 16, 2017
10 tips to get the most financial aid – Time magazine has 10 practical tips to help families get the most out of the FAFSA. Take-aways include moving money out of your child’s bank and brokerage accounts and appealing disappointing aid packages. College fair do’s and don’ts – Check out this goofy 3 min…
Read MoreHilarious take on the financial aid letter
It’s that time of year again when college financial aid packages are landing in mailboxes. And even the TV show “The Middle” couldn’t help but weigh in. Check out this hilarious 1 minute video!
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of Nov. 21, 2016
Below are our insider tips to help your family with the complicated college process: 4 financial aid questions that can cost you money – In a well-done article for Money Magazine, Kim Clark explains how colleges set their own rules for handing out their scholarships and how differences in two financial aid forms may or…
Read More5 Steps to a Successful College Essay
Write your essays in five easy steps 1. Get Started Decide on a deadline and mark it on your calendar. Break the task down into smaller parts: starting date, completion date, and working dates in between when you will write. Decide what you want the college admissions office to know about you that isn’t spelled out in…
Read MoreConquering Essay Block
You boot up your computer, determined to write your college application essay or work on the supplemental questions asked by so many of the Common App colleges. Instead, you find yourself just staring at the blank screen, searching for inspiration and feeling stuck. When writer’s block hits, try these tips for getting unstuck and you’ll…
Read MoreGetting the Best Recommendation
Many colleges ask students for letters of recommendation during the application process. The two types of recommendations colleges may request are: Teacher recommendations. Letters of recommendation from your teachers help colleges learn about you as a student. Teacher recommendations should be written by a teacher who has taught you in 11th or 12th grade in…
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