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Joanne Levine: joannepr@aol.com
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“As the school year winds down, it’s important for incoming high school seniors and their parents to understand why summer – besides being a great time to hang out at the pool! — is a great opportunity to start writing that all-important college application essay.”
“New rules are expected to make it easier for grandparents to help their grandkids, if you clearly explain them.”
“The long-awaited changes under the FAFSA Simplification Act will finally see the light of day in December when the U.S. Department of Education releases the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2024-2025 academic year.”
“As summer arrives, many college-bound high school students and their parents are wondering if it’s worth visiting campuses while college students are on summer break.”
“Deciding to attend college is one of the biggest decisions one will make in one’s lifetime. Some may wish to obtain certifications in other fields as a career path versus attending junior college, four-year colleges or universities, but the final decision will affect one’s life forever.”
“In these days of overstimulation from social media, the ongoing pandemic, news broadcasts, working too many hours, taking college prep courses and trying to have an enjoyable home life, student burnout is more prevalent. But what exactly is it, how can we help our students avoid it or at least have tools to lessen its hold on our lives”
“Student loan entrance counseling aids students as they go forward toward financing their college education for the first time. Some loans like Federal Student Loans require student loan counseling, whereas private loans do not.”
“As a graduate of one small college (1,000 students in a town of 10,500) and former employee of another (900 students in a town of 10,000), I want to make a suggestion as you and your student are exploring colleges: Don’t be too quick to cross small-town and rural colleges off your list.”
“How to select campus housing may come up in one of your discussions with your students. It would seem that there are only two choices of where to live during college life, and the final decision should be an easy one, right?”
“Imagine you’ve gone through the hard work of finding, applying, and finally winning a scholarship. Although this exciting win is considered a good thing in most cases, students may be surprised and disappointed to learn that colleges can potentially reduce their financial aid as a result of their scholarship winnings. “
“In my work as a college counselor, I encourage high school students and their families to approach the college search process with the mindset that college fit doesn’t mean finding the one college where a student would be successful (college is not like a soulmate), but rather seeking many colleges that would let a student be happy, grow and learn.”
“One factor that parents and students need to think of a bit more carefully before crossing a school off their list is the size and location of the college’s town.”
“Students need to be proactive in seeking out scholarships and searching for them consistently and from multiple sources.”
“While most families want their children to go to college, parents and kids may come to conflict over different aspects of the process”
“The moment your child is ready to go off to college is a big, exciting, and also nerve-wracking time in a family’s life.”
“Appeals aren’t always successful — my success rate for my clients is a little more than 50 percent. But by using these tips, you can increase your chances of success right from the start.”
Collegiate Parent, “EFC Too High? Tips for Successful Aid Appeals” Feature article by Billie Jo Weis from MCPT, 2022
“Here are some tips for success when it comes to course selection.”
Collegiate Parent, “How Many Classes Should They Take?” Feature article by Shane Cole from MCPT, 2022
“A monetary gift to a grandchild may result in a tax event on the grandparents’ end or interfere with financial aid eligibility for the student.”
Accounting Today, “A grandparents’ guide to funding college” with quotes by Billie Jo Weiss from MCPT, January 11, 2022
“Should I apply test optional? I believe students AND parent(s) should consider several factors before making their decisions.”
“What Is Ikigai? The term combines two Japanese words: iki, meaning “alive,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.” … The right college will help lead your student to their ikigai.”
“The campus visit is the most important part of a student’s college search process. Here are some suggestions for making the most of those visits. Most of these apply more to small colleges than large universities, but some apply to all.”
“One often-overlooked category is small residential colleges. By “small,” I mean fewer than 3,000 full-time undergraduate students living on campus, of which there are about 700 in the U.S.”
“In my work as a college admissions consultant with My College Planning Team, I advise students and their families to not focus only on the big universities but also to consider the advantages of small colleges. Many small colleges are just too cool to be completely overlooked in the search process.”
“Undecided” is one of the most popular major choices among college freshmen. In my experience as a high school counselor, I’ve heard widely varying opinions on this. Some say every student should go into college undecided so they can explore their interests without pressure. Others say that, to avoid wasting time and money, undecided students should first attend community college before enrolling in a four-year college or university.“
“Families continue to get squeezed by the cost of college, but there is one way to dramatically cut costs — graduating in three years. That doesn’t have to mean overloading on Advance Placement classes in high school or taking the maximum number of credits each semester in college. What it does mean is doing some homework to learn about the options before deciding whether this approach is workable for an individual student.“
“In summary, if your student is undecided about their upcoming major, that’s perfectly normal. You can help them understand the implications of enrolling as undecided — and engage in a process of learning more about themselves and where they want to be.”
“Students should never pay a fee to submit a scholarship application or to be entered into a potential recipient pool; this is a red flag, industry participants say. They should also avoid opportunities that tout a money-back guarantee. ‘If they are asking you to pay for free money, it’s a scam.’ says Shane Cole, a scholarship and college counselor at Addison Trail High School in Addison, IL.’
“Contacting a school’s financial aid office can help a student stay in college when that package turns out not to be enough. This I especially important now that families have to cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Now more than ever, middle class families need help figuring out how they can afford college. With many families having to do more with less, knowing the ins and outs of the financial aid system can be key to helping them cut college costs.”
“It doesn’t matter what you put your money into to save for college-starting as early as possible is universally the best decision you can make.”
“We know that adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work which has a huge impact on their overall life satisfaction. With this in mind, it’s important for students to consider the value in selecting a career field that will bring contentment and spark joy.”
“Saving on college means more than just earning scholarships or financial aid awards. It also means being wise at tax time so you don’t miss out on deductions that can save you money.”
“The best way to position yourself for a career switch is to have a clear understanding of what you do best and how you can add value to the company’s team, says career coach Ray Giese of My College Planning Team.”
“At some colleges and universities, the more outside scholarship money students have the less money they’ll receive from their college. It’s called “scholarship displacement,” and it often comes as a shock to families who are counting on that scholarship money to send their student to their dream school.”
Najnowsze Funkcje
“Studia w Stanach Zjednoczonych są drogie, dlatego warto wiedzieć jak zdobyć na nie fundusze. O pożyczkach studenckich, stypendiach uczelnianych i innych drogach pozyskania pieniędzy mówi w Radio Deon Chicago specjalistka, jeśli chodzi o te zagadnienia, Iwona Kulpa z organizacji My College Planning Team.”