Are you wondering why your student hasn’t received their financial aid package yet? Actually, if you’re involved in this process, you may already know. The FAFSA—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is—to put it mildly—out of whack this year. Here’s what’s gong on behind the scenes and what being done to fix it. Why […]
Your Financial Aid Plan B Read More »
Parents surely worry about their student’s literacy—the ability to read, write and communicate effectively. But fewer of us are confident that our students have financial literacy. Why Worry About Financial Literacy? As parents, we have good reason to be concerned about finances. College tuition is expensive, and the last thing we want is for our
Financial Literacy and Your College Student Read More »
One of the first people your student will meet in college is likely to be a resident assistant. And your first reactions might be: what do these resident assistants do, and should my student try to become one? What a Resident Assistant Does Resident Assistants or RAs, serve as upperclass guides to the campus. Resident
Should Your Student Become a Resident Assistant? Read More »
When your student receives their admissions letter to college (Yay!) they’ll also hear about their merit award. This is part of their overall financial aid package for that school. Finances are a critical factor in choosing a college, but how can you tell a good financial aid package from a bad one? The Basics There
This is the time! Your student has been admitted to one or more colleges for the following year! This is a time for celebration, but also of stress, because now they have to decide, and you’re wondering what college should they choose? It’s all about the Fit I’ve addressed this in my post “It’s All
Where Should My Student Go To College? Read More »
When students receive their financial aid award letters from their college of choice, they may be wondering what language it was written in. Something everyone should learn is how to read a financial aid award letter. Knowing how to compare award letters from different colleges is essential, too. Here’s how. What’s in the Award Letter?
How to Read a Financial Aid Award Letter Read More »
One of the questions I’ve heard from parents every year is “how much money will my student need for outside expenses?” They’re thinking about expenses such as pizza with friends, toiletries, snacks, entertainment, etc. And while sometimes these expenses can get out of hand, they are valid—in moderation. So, how do you determine how much
Planning a Budget For Your College Student Read More »
Making money in college is often a concern for college students. For one thing, they may want to go with friends to buy pizza some time, and having their own source of income relieves the pressure of not being able to head to Chipotle occasionally. At the same time, having that job gives them autonomy
Campus Jobs are a Good Idea Read More »
It’s always good to apply for aid from a variety of sources. College and university financial aid offices may provide your student a financial aid package that you believe doesn’t reflect your entire family situation. And other students won’t even qualify for financial aid because of their family income. In either case, there’s nothing to
Applying for Outside Scholarships Read More »
There are many ways people pay for their student to attend college. The first course is personal funds from the student and their family. Many of us also make use of federal financial aid sources, such as Pell Grants, both unsubsidized and subsidized student loans and student employment. For most people, paying all of our
Payment Plans–Another Way to Pay Read More »