How Do Real Families Pay for College?
It used to be that getting into college was about finding the “best” schools available and then giving them a shot. Now we all lie awake at night wondering, How will I pay for college?
How to Get the Best Letters of Recommendation
Everything you need to know about when and how to garner the strongest letters of recommendation + a free template download to use when following up with recommenders.
2021 Admission Results and Wait Lists: Will They Move?
Congratulations to the Class of 2021! In this unprecedented year in admissions, we saw students accepted to dozens of excellent schools and also had some disappointments along the way. I want to reiterate what I have said to so many of you already: you are more than where you were admitted.
Can I Appeal my Financial Award Letter?
Last week’s blog covered how to read your award letter, but what can you do if the amount you are on the hook for is higher than what you can-- or want to-- pay? Ideally you will have sussed this all out before applying to schools, but the reality is that a school isn’t always transparent about expected family contribution, and even when it provides a cost calculator, the school doesn’t necessarily stand by it.
How to Read Your Financial Award Letter
Many questions arise when you read a college’s financial award letter, but what you must focus on is the bottom line: After all is said and done, what will I be paying? The formula is simple: COA - GIFT AID = EFC
Are you ready for your college application decisions?
Virtually all colleges that have not done so already will be releasing their regular decision application outcomes in the coming weeks, with regular decision applicants receiving feedback by the first week of April.
What extracurricular activities should I do now to prepare for college applications?
What “counts” for high school activities? What should I do now to prepare for college applications? Getting on the right path AND keeping track of what you do now will be a great help when you are applying to college in three years.
What’s the difference between test optional and test blind? Do I still need to prep for the SAT/ACT?
This blog post explains the difference between test optional and test blind. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT remain important for many students, but the goal post has shifted a great deal in the last 18 months.
Is 8th or 9th grade too early to start thinking about college?
Knowing what your goals are and understanding what “counts” and what doesn’t are critical for helping your student prepare for college, and the clock starts on the first day of freshman year.