M.G. of Glen Head, NY writes:

My daughter got into her first choice college [Yea!]. Her financial aid award, however, left much to be desired. Can we -- and should we -- ask the college for more money?

The College Whisperer responds:

There's an old adage, as true in college financing as it is in fundraising: "If you don't ask, you won't get."

Most schools base financial aid awards on a number of factors, which could include merit (i.e., GPA, test scores) and, more often than not, need.

There are...
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For every college-bound student -- and his or her parents -- The New York Times' The Choice is a must read. Timely articles, insights, tips, and anecdotes appearing daily on this appealing and interesting blog help guide you safely through the jungle that is the college application, admission and financing process.

Beyond The Choice, The New York Times provides special sections, including the recently published Education Life, which inform, enlighten and, yes, even entertain.

Learn about such c...
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The Mayan calendar, in the ultimate homage to Montezuma's Revenge, passes into eternity in 2012. December 21, 2012, to be exact. The winter solstice.

It is then, according to 2012 theorists, that the world shall meet an apocalyptic fate. [Assuming anyone could spell  a·poca·lypti·c, or actually knew what it meant!] Witness the many books, movies, and  entrepreneurial merchandising efforts attempting to capitalize on the 2012 version of Y2K. The coming of the Apocalypse.

Calendars, and th...

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WOW! You made the cut. You've gotten into college - several of them, actually. Congrats! Now comes what you thought would be the easy part: deciding where to spend the next four years of your life.

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions...

Our friends at University Language Services have some sound advice to help you make that all-important decision. Read on...

The daunting application process has paid off, and now you can relax - sort of.

These colleges may have chosen you, but how do you choose a colleg...

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There are lots of "How To" books, courses, videos, etc. on getting into and paying for college, but how many of them are FREE? Many, to be sure, aren't worth the cost of the paper they're written on -- or, for that matter, the cost of the blank DVD. But who could argue about free?

Newsday, home of College PrepTalk, is offering a FREE Webinar, entitled, "GET THEM THERE!", a "How To" on financing that college education.

Date: Thursday, April 7
Time: 8 PM

Registration for the How To Finance College...
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There's an old adage that goes something like this: An idiot with a plan is better than a genius without one.

Well, I'm not so sure I agree that an idiot will do well (though, apparently, many have ;-), but certainly, the smart move, particularly when it comes to college admissions, is to have a plan -- and, once you have a plan, to wisely put it into action.

This is especially so when, year after year, colleges are becoming more selective (this year being no exception), and applicants, so much...
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