Paying for College
Insider tips financial aid tips for the week of January 13, 2020
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…
Read More2 valuable college planning changes in the SECURE Act
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act signed into law at the end of 2019 includes two significant college planning changes that families need to know about. 529 Plans can now be used to repay student loans Previously, 529 Plans could be used for qualified college expenses and $10,000 annually of…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of Dec. 9, 2019
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…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of Nov. 4, 2019
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…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of Oct. 7, 2019
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…
Read MoreYour College Savings Game Plan webinar
College Inside Track’s Cozy Wittman was the featured guest on Wealth Enhancement Group’s webinar “Your College Savings Game Plan,” discussing steps you can take now to make college cost effective. Click the button below to download and listen to the webinar.
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of September 2, 2019
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…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of August 5, 2019
11 ways parents can help their child think through the college decision – Grown and Flown has a thoughtful piece on how the college decision is one of the greatest teaching moments in your child’s life Will your child be safe at college? Colleges are required by the government to report on numerous campus safety…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of July 8, 2019
How to explain student loans and debt to your child – The idea of debt is often unfathomable to a teenager because they’ve likely never dealt with large sums of money and repayment happens in the unknown of the future, (which of course will turn out great). Road2College shares practical tips for how to help…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of June 17, 2019
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…
Read More