College Money
Getting Ready to Apply for Financial Aid
This is the time of year for parents of high school seniors to start thinking about applying for financial aid. Many families have heard of the FAFSA, but they don’t know what it was. Families need to complete the FAFSA to be eligible for state and federal grants. You also can’t obtain a federal student […]
6Dec2010 | Lynn | 0 comments | ContinuedShould You Attend Your Dream College?
This is the time of year when high school seniors and their parents begin reciting this age-old advice: Follow your dreams. Families tend to use this advice to justify their children attending expensive dream colleges even if these schools will require taking on crushing student debt. I am a huge advocate of families researching schools […]
5Dec2010 | Lynn | 0 comments | ContinuedCan You Shrink Your EFC?
My last college blog post focused on a dilemma that many families face. When parents calculate what their Expected Family Contribution is, they discover it’s far higher than they anticipated. If you missed the post, here it is: Is Your EFC Too High? Today I want to stay on that topic and share an email […]
29Nov2010 | Lynn | 0 comments | ContinuedIs Your EFC Too High?
Is your EFC too high? I have been hearing from families of high school seniors who have calculated their preliminary EFC or Expected Family Contribution and are now panicking. They can’t believe how high their EFC is. Your EFC can provide a decent idea of what a college will assume you could pay for one […]
28Nov2010 | Lynn | 1 comment | Continued
A New Look for The College Solution Is Coming
Before I head into my sister’s kitchen in Pleasanton, CA, to start cooking the Thanksgiving feast and making a terrible mess, I wanted to share some news about my blog. On this day of thanks, I am happy that my college blog has continued to grow in popularity this year. I want to thank all […]
25Nov2010 | Lynn | 3 comments | Continued
Why State Universities Aren’t Always a Bargain
If you’ve been a regular visitor to my college blog, you know that college price tags are meaningless. A $50,000 college, for example, could cost some families less than a $25,000 school. More families in my state of California are beginning to realize this. I bet that’s why expensive private schools such as Whitman College, […]
15Nov2010 | Lynn | 1 comment | Continued
6 Tips for Performing and Visual Art Majors
In my college blog post last week for US News & World Report, I wrote about students who want to major in the performing and visual arts. Here it is…. If your child wants to major in musical theater or some other performing art, go ahead and blame it on Glee, American Idol or America’s […]
14Nov2010 | Lynn | 1 comment | Continued
Will Saving For College Hurt Your Odds for Financial Aid?
Is your family going to qualify for financial aid? Many families that I talk to assume that they won’t qualify for financial aid. Many believe that the money that they’ve stashed in their college savings accounts will kill their chances. Stressed Out Dads It’s been my experience that it’s usually dads who get stressed out […]
10Nov2010 | Lynn | 2 comments | Continued
Should You Apply for Financial Aid?
Are you wondering if you should apply for financial aid? For most families, the answer will be yes. You should file for financial aid. Here are three key reasons why families of any income level should apply for aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid: 1. The FAFSA is free. The FAFSA […]
8Nov2010 | Lynn | 1 comment | Continued
Attending UC Berkeley for $50,649
I’m not surprised by much that I read about the higher-ed world, but even I was amazed at how quickly private colleges are blowing by the $50,000 price tag. After crunching College Board data, The Chronicle of Higher Education has published a list of the nation’s 100 top colleges by price, which all cost at […]
4Nov2010 | Lynn | 2 comments | Continued
