Cut 25% Off The Total Cost of a College Degree

Three million Americans over the age of 60 are still paying off student debt. Approximately 40,000 of them are having Social Security or other government payments garnished.  It shouldn’t be this way.  To avoid the likelihood of joining these ranks, parents and students need to do some careful planning well before deciding on their college of choice.

One of the best ways of reducing the total cost of a college education is reducing the number of years spent acquiring a college degree.  By taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school, taking an extra course (at no extra charge) during some college semesters, and/or taking courses at a college close to home in the summer, students can often complete their college requirements in three years, cutting 25% off what is typically a four-year college bill.

Strategies to Get Accepted to Colleges of Choice

 

The best way to get “Your Accepted” letters is to present yourself as an ideal candidate for each college to which you apply.  If you’re a legacy, let them know.  Many colleges favor applicants whose parents are alumni – especially if they’ve been donating over the years.  If you are the first in your family to seek a college education, let them know.  Most colleges favor students whose parents are not college educated.  If your family can afford to pay the full sticker price and not seek financial aid, let them know.  Some colleges are “need blind,” and admit students regardless of whether or not they are applying for financial aid.  Other colleges are “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” and may consider financial need when deciding whether or not to admit an applicant.  This category includes American and George Washington universities in Washington D.C., and Tufts University, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges in Massachusetts, among many others.

Students Get a Second Chance at “Early Decision”

Many college-bound students aim to avoid the stress of waiting all senior year to find out which colleges will accept them.  They apply Early Decision I, meeting a November 1st or November 15th application deadline, and then typically hear back from their college of choice prior to the December holiday break.  If they are accepted, the holidays are a joyful time as they and their families can celebrate that the anxiety-ridden college application process is over.

But, for those students who are turned down by their Early Decision I college, or those who failed to meet the November deadline, all hope is not lost.  Many colleges offer Early Decision II, with a January application deadline and notification in February – close to two months prior to the typical April 1st college response date.

High Schoolers: Lessons to be Learned from COVID

By observing students in the high school class of 2021 anxiously submitting their college applications, there are many lessons to be learned by those who will be following in their footprints.

Don’t procrastinate.  Many students, thinking they had plenty of time to take the SAT, ended up having few or no opportunities.  Since students are allowed to submit their highest test scores on college applications, those who started taking the test early in their high school years enjoyed a significant advantage. Even though many colleges went “test optional,” they will obviously admit – and award scholarship money to -- the most impressive applicants.

Top Northeast Schools for Aspiring Business Majors

Business has long been one of the most popular undergraduate majors, with students choosing specialties from a wide range of options.  The pandemic has not lessened its popularity but has emphasized the importance of adapting to the ever-changing business environment.

A recent Money article, “The 10 Best Business Colleges in the U.S.,” names four Northeast colleges and universities at the very top of its list.  City University of New York’s Baruch College earned first place, with its Manhattan location and “its promise of real-life training in the business world, and its commitment to making connections with potential employers.” Its estimated annual price of $4,300 (with average grant) adds to the appeal.

Tips To Know If Choosing The ACT Over The SAT Exam

As they struggle with test centers closing and exams being cancelled, some high school students are finding themselves taking the ACT instead of the SAT. It’s important to note that all colleges accept either SAT or ACT scores on their applications, and no college requires both.

Students tend to favor the SAT over the ACT, as the SAT mirrors the PSAT which many high school students take as sophomores and almost all take as juniors when it counts as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam. The SAT and ACT have many similarities, but there are also distinct differences that students should be aware of in advance of their test date.

Stand Out on College Apps with Personalized Essay

Most high school students who are applying to colleges start out by completing The Common Application that is accepted by more than 800 colleges.  It requires one essay, and students can choose from a variety of topics or one of their own creation.  Due to the importance of writing an interesting, grammatically correct, essay most students get help from a variety of sources. In many schools, the writing of this essay is incorporated into the English IV curriculum with teachers editing their students’ rough drafts. Often parents, relatives or friends offer their input as well. At times, a private counselor is hired to insure that an impressive essay is submitted that is likely to garner the approval of college admissions officers. The end result, according to colleges, is that most of the essays they receive are good enough to be published.  The problem: they seldom reflect the students’ independent work.