Will the FAFSA Changes Affect You?

College students and their parents are accustomed to filling out the yearly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is usually a pretty straightforward, if not drawn-out, process. But in today’s society students have many different types of home living arrangements which can cause problems when completing these forms. Trying to answer the seemingly-simple question of “who is my parent?” can become a matter of splitting regulatory hairs. Questions about stepparents, adoptive parents and parents in same sex marriages cloud the information students can supply and may affect their... Read The Rest →

Should You Accept Admission to More Than One College?

It is really down to the wire now. Most colleges and universities need your final answer one way or the other about whether you are accepting their offer of admission. They need to start planning for the incoming freshman class in the fall and getting back to those prospective students they have waitlisted. But what if you still just can’t decide which college you want to attend for one reason or another? Maybe there are some scholarships you’re waiting for to determine your overall financial picture. Or you might still... Read The Rest →

#CollegeCash Summary with College Abacus

Our guest for CollegeCash was  College Abacus, we had a great twitter conversation about college cost in the United States. Abacus is  free  service parents, students and counselors , that helps  compare  projected college financial aid packages across schools and to identify schools within families  budgets.   [View the story "CollegeCash Summary with College Abacus" on Storify] Share → Tweet

The Five Most Self-Defeating Things to Say to a Financial Aid Director

Most of the college aid application process can be cold and impersonal – from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to your Student Aid Report (SAR) and your Financial Aid Award Letter. When it comes to figuring out the financial aid package for a favored school, though, it can be helpful to sit down in person with a financial aid officer for a face-to-face discussion. These interviews can be helpful in stating your case and understanding the financial aid process, but it is also possible to do more... Read The Rest →

#Collegecash Summary The Next Step Choosing your College

Most of the week, I have been on the phone with parents about college decisions and financial aid. Students across the board have been admitted to many amazing colleges. But families still have a hard time communicating to students how well they have done to get into the colleges on their list. The parents, students that I have been chatting most of the year about their student’s college lists. The college admissions process is tough and now it is time to chose your college – here is some info to... Read The Rest →

Completing the Verification Process

After completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you may be selected for a process called verification, which helps to insure the accuracy of certain information you submitted. Verification may be requested by the United States Department of Education (DOE) or one of the schools to which you are applying. Some schools randomly select applications for verification while others may choose to verify a certain percentage, or even all, of their applications. Usually, though, there are certain reasons which may flag your FAFSA for further review:   •... Read The Rest →

Tips For Completing Missing Documents

Once your online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is complete, your Student Aid Report (SAR) will go to the colleges indicated on your application. You must stay involved in this process because you may receive a Missing Information notice at the email address you provided. If you did not provide an email address, these requests will be sent by mail. Some of these requests might include: FAFSA: You could have forgotten to enter a school’s code or entered it incorrectly on your FAFSA. You can go to the... Read The Rest →

#CollegeCash Chats About Demonstrated Interest in a College

#CollegeCash chat had guest Sia Knight talking about demonstrated interest in college admissions. Sia gave great insight into how demonstrated interest can effect your college admission. It’s true. When students are applying to more colleges than ever before, schools are looking to identify and admit students who will likely enroll if accepted. Colleges really like students who demonstrate an interest beyond simply applying. #CollegeCash is every Thursday night at 7pm PST. Join us to l earn about all topics related to the college process & much, much more! [View the... Read The Rest →

You’ve Finished Your FAFSA – Now What?

Congratulations – you finally sat down, went online, and completed your FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – to determine your eligibility for college financial aid. Now what? The Federal Student Aid website has a lot of information on what happens next, but here is a quick summary: Processing: The Department of Education will process your FAFSA and determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on their Need Analysis Methodology and review of your information. Once this processing is complete, you will receive an email notification. You can... Read The Rest →

The Consequences of Senioritis

Are you tired after all those long years of working hard in school every day? Do you feel the sudden urge to do nothing at all? You may be coming down with a serious case of senioritis! Here are some warming signs that you may be afflicted by this disease: Skipping assignments or handing them in late. Grades and GPA are slipping. Dropping out of extracurricular activities. Spending more time with friends than studying. Repeated school absences. Increased tendency to skip classes. Uncharacteristic disciplinary action Sudden behavioral issues. Once they... Read The Rest →

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