With the 2012 summer Olympic games about to get underway in London (Go USA!), The College Whisperer has been giving some thought to the benefits (okay, absolute necessity) of having a coach as students wend their way along that long, winding and often treacherous road toward college admissions.

After all, name just one successful Olympic athlete who went for the gold without a comparably winning coach. Odds are, you cannot.

Where would Nadia Comaneci have been in pursuit of the perfect 10 witho...
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Okay, so you've started to look for the big bucks in college scholarship money. Good for you! But don't overlook the small change -- or even the loose change hidden behind the cushions of the sofa. It all adds up!

Yes, the tedium of the search. The burden of the essays. The agony of defeat. Oh, ye of little faith...

Sure, it's summer. Who wants to apply for countless scholarships? [You do!] Who needs to spend hours on end mining the scholarship search engines? [Again, that would be you!] Who ne...
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Michelle of Mineola, NY asks: My daughter is going into her Junior year in high school. When is the best time to apply for college scholarships?

The College Whisperer™ replies: Great question, Carolyn. Answer? NOW!

Yes, it is rarely too soon to begin that scholarship search, and never too early to start saving for college.

While many students wait until they are in the throes of the college application process to even inquire about scholarships, grants and financial aid in general (and, unfort...
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From time to time, The College Whisperer publishes posts of guest bloggers, whose musings may be of interest and/or benefit to our readers.

Today, a guest post from Maureen (no last name, like Cher and Madonna, just Maureen) on the timely (and costly) topic of paying off college loans.

Enjoy!
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How To Have Someone Else Help Pay Off College Loans
By Maureen

One of the biggest recent changes in college education is the level of debt that many students build up while they get their degrees. ABC ...

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J.R. of Albertson, NY writes:

I've heard talk of a Bill in Congress that would provide much needed relief to college students in the form of student loan forgiveness. Could you elaborate?

The College Whisperer replies:

Much more than just talk on the college loan forgiveness front. Indeed, the House of Representatives has before it key legislation -- know as the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 -- which would, in effect, erase college loan indebtedness for many students.

In part, the Act wo...
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