One of the most daunting parts of the college application process can be the search for financial aid. The question of how you and your parents will be able to afford college can often seem to be one that can’t be answered easily. Yet by arming yourself with knowledge about the types of financial aid […]
Paying for College 101: When Financial Aid is Not Enough
One of the most stressful parts of college admissions is figuring out how to pay for the next four years. The process alone is daunting: you must fill out pages of forms and applications, complete the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, submit tax returns for both you and your parents, and get everything sent off and […]
NCAA Basketball Bracket: The Most Affordable College
Oh, man, the flu has hit my family. As a result, I didn’t get to bed last night until 4 am. I missed work today. But I couldn’t miss out on this. I am so tired, though, that I didn’t even have the energy to put commas in the dollar figures for each of these […]
How to Make the Most of the Summer Before Senior Year
It’s easy to treat your junior year–rather than your senior year–as the culmination of your high school career. Junior year is the last full year of grades that colleges see when you apply, after all, and many high school students take on leadership positions in their extracurriculars during their junior year. Senior year, however, is […]
How to Ask for More Financial Aid for College
When it comes to college, the most stressful thing you’re likely going to go through is figuring out how to pay for it. Filling out form after form, completing the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, submitting tax returns, getting everything sent off and certified–it can be quite the experience.
Applying to College? Here are 9 Resources you Need to Know
Whether you’re currently applying to college, or are just starting to think about the process, having resources available is something that all students can benefit from. I know that I constantly rely on information and guidance from multiple sources (both online and off) to help me as I counsel students–and, often, the information I get […]
The DOs and DON’Ts of Asking for More Financial Aid for College
When it comes to college, the most stressful thing you’re likely going to go through is figuring out how to pay for it. Filling out form after form, completing the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, submitting tax returns, getting everything sent off and certified–it can be quite the experience.
Paying for College 201: A Break for Family-Owned Businesses
This is a guest post by Todd Rhine. By now, you have learned a significant amount about how you can properly position your assets to receive the maximum amount of financial aid legally possible. You have hopefully avoided putting too much money in the student’s name and you have moved your investments to the types […]
Paying for College 101: What You Need to Know About 529s
This is a guest post by financial planner Todd Rhine. If you have been looking to save for college, you have probably heard of a 529. Simply defined, a 529 is a college savings plan that allows the owner to avoid Federal capital gains tax on the growth in savings when the funds are used […]
Paying for College 101: The CSS Curve Ball
If you have been keeping up with our prior posts, you now understand the importance of properly positioning your assets when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You should now understand how the student and parent’s income(s) and assets affect the FAFSA calculation and how these calculations dictate the Estimated Family […]