Major change to 529 Plans – The SECURE Act signed at the end of last year includes a major change that now allows 529 Plan dollars to be used to pay for student loans. However, certain states need to conform their tax laws to the federal one, otherwise folks in those states may face…

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Need-to-know financial aid info – Mycollegeguide.org has a handy summary of everything your family needs to know about financial aid. Insightful questions for an admission officer  – It’s hard to make the decision of what college to attend. Use this helpful list of questions from Road2College to ask the admission office at each of the…

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Student Loans from A to Z – Trying to figure out the borrowing side of college? Road2College.com has a nice summary of student loans and pros and cons of each type. One important message: Students should always max out federal loans before looking into private loans, but you must fill out the FAFSA to qualify…

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Are you a guilted parent? – Saying no to our kids is hard, especially when it has to do with their education and future. Lynn O’Shaughnessy writes an important article on parents feeling guilted to pay for a college their teenager wants, but they may not be able to afford. 6 questions that should be…

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College’s hidden costs: What the admissions office won’t tell you – The father of a college freshman shares with the Washington Post costs families incur beyond tuition, room and board. He admits they thought they thought they knew what the costs would be but were “dead wrong.” An important read for all parents. 4 questions…

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How to help your teen be college-ready – Being admitted to college doesn’t mean a student is ready for it. Check out this important read from the New York Times, which explains how parents can encourage kids to step up their levels of personal responsibility while still in high school. 5 people worth talking to…

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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…

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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…

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15 things to know about college rankings – Lynn O’Shaughnessy does a nice job of explaining “how the sausage is made” with the popular US News college rankings, and it isn’t pretty. A must-read if you are at all using rankings in your search, and remember there is no such thing as a best ranked…

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10 ways for parents to get on top of the college process – A must-read for parents of college-bound students from the Washington Post. My favorites: 1) Become a mentor as much as a parent and 2) Expect your student to take advice from others that he or she won’t take from you.   23…

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