Showing Tag: "financial aid" (Show all posts)

College Counseling In The Time Of The Corona Virus

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Monday, March 16, 2020, In : College Planning

Don't let the Corona Virus, with attendant quarantines, pauses, and time outs, hamper your college admission plans.

Whether you're in Great Neck or in Guam, time constraints, logistics, social distancing, or simply dollars and cents may make face-to-face, in-person counseling impractical, if not impossible.

That's why College Connection offers E-Planning, a comprehensive combo of online, e-mail, telephonic, and virtual counseling, with a real-live college planning counselor on hand and on call,...

FREE College Planning Workshop | April 20

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Monday, February 10, 2020, In : College Planning

Colleges once considered “safety” schools have become “reach.” The application process, seemingly simple back in the day, is now overwhelming. And the cost of college, well, let’s just say that arm and leg may not cover it. What’s a high school student (or parent) to do?

On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:30 PM, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will play host to a free college planning workshop, where high school students and their parents will get the inside scoop on how to...

The College Whisperer 4.0™

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, In : College Planning

Pssst! Got College Plans? Then you need this guy. . . The College Whisperer™ - That warm and fuzzy teddy bear who comforts you from #college angst, anxiety, and stress.

The College Whisperer™ - That ferocious pit bull, tenacious in getting you into the right college, and helping you find the money to pay for it.

The College Whisperer™ - At six pounds four ounces (weight may vary) #Determined #Courageous #Cute

If this is how #college applications, admissions, paying for college, an...
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Prelude To College Applications: A Primer On Getting Started

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, June 9, 2018, In : College Planning

If there is a single question The College Whisperer™ is asked most about the college application process, it is, "Where do I begin?"

My typical response is, "At the beginning, of course!" ;-)

Seriously, though, getting started down that long and winding road to college admissions, as it is with many things in life, is often the most difficult part of the journey.

So, what will follow below is a basic (very basic, as in, just to give you a push) primer -- a "To Do" list, if you will -- to set y...

The Knowledge Of College In Black, White, And Shades Of Gray

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, May 22, 2018,

College is closer than it appears in the rearview mirror!

That said, here is a short list of required reading as we prepare for yet another exciting college application season:

Prelude To The Common App: A Primer To "Getting Started"

College Admissions & Affordability: It's All About Enrollment

New Meaning To "Safety School?"

Rankings Matter To Colleges. They Should To You, Too!

Top Ten Tidbits Of Advice For Those About To Embark On The Road To College

And, for those who are absolutely enamored...

Free College Planning Workshop

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, January 11, 2018, In : College Planning

College Planning 101 | The Knowledge of College

Monday, May 21 2018 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island

38 Old Country Road, Garden City, New York 11530

Space Is Limited | REGISTER TODAY at www.tfaforms.com/319156

What High School Juniors (and even Sophs) Should Be Doing Now!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, In : College Planning

At College Connection, we help you navigate the college application, admissions, and financial aid maze. We welcome the opportunity to work with you, should you choose to use our college planning and counseling services.

Meanwhile, you can get a jump start on those college plans.

It's not too early to start planning and preparing for college. In fact, the time is just right...

READ, High School Juniors: This Is Your Moment!

Questions? Concerns? Leftover turkey and trimmings? Give a holler. We a...

Free College Planning Workshop | Garden City, NY | October 26

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 5, 2017, In : College Planning

WHAT: College Planning Forum For High School Students & Parents

WHEN: Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 7:30 PM

WHERE: Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island | 38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY

WHY: Because the more you know, the better prepared you'll be!

Whether planning for college, applying to college, paying for college, or just thinking about college, this workshop is a must attend for high school students and their parents.

Seth Bykofsky, a/k/a The College Whispere...

Info On FAFSA for 2018-19

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, September 14, 2017, In : Paying for College

The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2018-19 school year launches on October 1. [Just like Common App went "live" on August 1, that doesn't mean you should complete and submit the first day, or even the first couple of weeks. Give FAFSA time to work out the kinks, like the issues with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which was hacked last year.]

YES, you WILL be submitting the FAFSA, regardless of income and assets, real or perceived. Colleges use the FAFSA to calculate...

College Planning & Counseling | Now's The Time!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 24, 2017, In : College Planning

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: Save $500 on our Ultimate College Planning Package! Just $4000 complete, now through April 28. [Payable in 8 monthly installments of $500.]

Don't wait until the beginning of your Senior year to begin the college application and admissions process. Get started NOW!

Here's just some of what our college planning and counseling package includes*:

· Comprehensive college plan customized to student’s needs and goals ...

Tips For Students (and their parents) Applying To College

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, March 11, 2017, In : College Planning

1. Five top tips for college bound students

- Seek out colleges that are the "best" fit for the student, rather than what is "best" for Forbes, U.S. News, or The Princeton Review. Rankings make for fun reading and can offer valuable insight, but students need to do their homework to find colleges that are right for them, and not merely popular or trendy to others.

- Apply early. If a college offers Early Action (non-binding), and the student is motivated to have a complete, accurate, and read-w...

Ethical Humanists of Long Island to host The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 20, 2017, In : College Planning

Seldom are the words “ethics” and “humanity” heard in the same breath as “college admissions,” but on Wednesday, March 22^nd at 7:30 PM, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will play host to a college planning workshop, where high school students and their parents will get the inside scoop of how to choose the “best” colleges, the ins and outs of the application and admissions process, writing persuasive essays, and navigating the maze of financial aid ...

The Road To College Starts Here!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, In : College Planning

FREE COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOP

Navigating The Application Process ~ Admission Strategies

Persuasive Essays ~ Financial Aid Essentials

Wednesday, March 22, 2017 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island

38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 11530

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers a FREE College Planning & Admissions Workshop. Open to students and parents alike, this forum will explore...

Guide To FAFSA | FAFSA Deadlines

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, In : Paying for College

FAFSA COMES EARLY FOR 2017-18!

Two important reads regarding the completion and submission of the FAFSA, the starting point for college financial aid...

Filing The FAFSA: The Edvisors' Guide to Completing The Free Application for Federal Student Aid

3 Types of FAFSA Deadlines You Should Pay Attention To

And for those who are applying to colleges that require the submission of the CSS Profile (in addition to FAFSA, required by all colleges, every year), read on:

FAFSA's Lurking, Nosy Cousin: T...

The Best Fit For Your College Plans!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, July 4, 2016, In : Just for Fun

COLLEGE CONNECTION VOTED "BEST COLLEGE PLANNER & COUNSELOR OF THE NORTH SHORE." [Of course, our students, and their parents, already knew that! SEE, What They're Saying]

How do you like that? For the second year running, College Connection, home of The College Whisperer™ , is tops in the category of "College Planning & Counseling," in Blank Slate Media's Best of The North Shore (Long Island) 2016.

Who's the best college planner and counselor on the north shore? C'est Moi!

Okay. We know. Thes...

Got College Plans? Get A College Plan!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 15, 2016, In : College Planning

COLLEGE CONNECTION, Home of The College Whisperer™ and Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers comprehensive college planning and counseling. Guidance and support in choosing a college, getting in to college, and finding the money to pay for college, all while taking the stress, the worry, the frustration and the madness out of college applications and admissions.

At COLLEGE CONNECTION, we’ve not only got your back, we’ve got your best moves forward!

From college mat...

FREE College Admissions Workshop | March 14 | Garden City, NY

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, In : College Planning

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS

Choosing Colleges That Are “Best” For You

Navigating The Application Process

Admission Strategies

Winning Essays

Financial Aid Essentials & Scholarship Sourcing

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers a FREE College Planning & Admissions Workshop. Open to students and parents alike, this forum will explore such topics as choosing a college that’s a “best” fit for you, the intricacies and nuances of...

Enrollment Management Is The New College Admissions

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 8, 2015, In : College Admissions

For most graduating high school seniors, the tale has been told. You've applied and been accepted to college, made your final decision, and, hopefully, searched for and found an abundance of scholarship money to pay for that degree.

There are of course those, who, waking up to the fact that high school is now coming to an end, have yet to apply to college. The procrastinators. The "hiding under a rock" gang. The "I only applied to one school and didn't get in" bunch.

Out of luck? Too late? Afte...

Top Ten Tidbits Of Advice For Those About To Embark On The Road To College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, In : College Planning

This is the time of year when everyone doles out advice – to graduates of high school and college, to the newly minted and soon-to-be-initiated, to sun-worshippers, everywhere.

And so, I thought it appropriate to hand out a few gems of my own, gratis, for those still bright-eyed high school juniors/rising seniors, as well as their already angst-ridden parental units, just now beginning the journey through the college application and admissions maze.

So, without further, and in no particular ...

None So Need-Blind: The College Fin Aid Conundrum

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, In : Paying for College

Much has been bantered about, in social media, on campus, and around the family dinner table, on the subject of paying for college. Rightfully so, at a time when college seems out of reach for all but the uber-wealthy and those living in abject poverty.

So the question is often asked, "Do colleges consider financial need when making admission decisions?"

Many colleges, in fact, most, boast that they are "need-blind" in the admissions process, meaning that they do not consider whether you will n...

Who Doesn't Like FREE?

Posted by College Connection on Friday, April 17, 2015, In : College Planning

Free College Planning Workshop
April 28, 2015 | Garden City, NY
Register TODAY!

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, hosts a free College Planning Workshop. Open to students and parents alike, this forum will explore such topics as choosing a college that’s “best” for you, the intricacies of the college application and admissions process, creating a winning college essay, and paying for that college degree.

When: Tuesday, April 28, 20...

Paying For College: The Financial Aid Shell Game

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 9, 2015, In : Paying for College

“...How can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes? First.. get a million dollars...” -- Steve Martin

The financial aid “gurus” love to tell you that they can lower college costs, get you more money for college, and find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Everything from shifting assets to Aunt Dottie and Uncle Moe, to deferring contributions to your retirement accounts, in the collegiate equivalent of the street corner shell game. Now you see money for college. Now you don’t!...

Tying Up Loose Ends On The Financial Aid Front

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 5, 2015, In : Paying for College

Welcome to February! The Ground Hog has seen your college application and... Okay, you tell me what the Ground Hog said.

Meanwhile, on the financial aid front, a few tips and critical reminders:

- You MUST submit a “CORRECTED” FAFSA once you have filed your 2014 income tax returns. [The FAFSA Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is now available. It may be utilized approximately 10-days after you file your federal tax return, if filed electronically.]

- If you will be attending a college physically lo...

The College Whisperer™ Speaks. . .

Posted by College Connection on Monday, January 5, 2015, In : College Planning

We were going to title this post, Seth Speaks. . ., but we didn't want to confuse our readers with that great transcendental guru of the 60s, Seth Speaks, as channeled by psychic Jane Roberts, or, for that matter, the truly amaaazing guru of Broadway, Seth Rudetsky, who not only speaks, but sings, acts, and plays the piano with aplumb.

So, we'll just leave it as The College Whisperer™ Speaks... and ask that you pull up a chair, sit back and relax, and listen up for a good measure of sage wis...
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What To Do Over Winter Break

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, December 27, 2014, In : College Planning

Yes, school is out. HOORAY!

But before (or after) you hit the beach -- or the slopes -- here are a few things “To Do” during the break:

1. High school Seniors: Put the finishing touches on those college applications still waiting to be submitted, and, by all means, SUBMIT! [Be aware of those deadlines. They mean it!]

2. Follow up on submitted applications (most colleges have Application Trackers on their web portals) to make certain they are complete. [Transcripts, letters of recommendation,...

Turning Winter Break Into Money For College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 24, 2014, In : Paying for College

Be productive during your winter break from high school or college. Search and apply for college scholarships! [Scholarships are not just for high school seniors, or students already in college. Yes, there are scholarships open to high school juniors, sophomores, and even freshmen.] Check out fastweb.com, meritaid.com, and zinch.com, for starters.

College Prowler, one of the premier college scholarship search engines, is now Niche. More scholarship opportunities. Better matches. Increased opp...

Up Close and Personal with The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 17, 2014, In : College Planning

Just Who Is The College Whisperer™?

The College Whisperer™ is Seth Bykofsky. [Or is it the other way around? No matter! :-)]

Born on the cusp of a new century (1 B.C.), his mother, Frances, was first runner-up to Miss Alternate Universe, while his father, Irving, served as counsel to the Czars. Orphaned at a tender age by the tragic sinking of the Titantic, Bykofsky was home-schooled until the age of 13, at which time he was summarily expelled.

Joining the French Foreign Legion and rising t...
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SAT Scores; Early Action; Financial Aid; Upping The Ante

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, In : College Admissions

SAT Scores: A reminder that scores for the October SAT are now posted at www.CollegeBoard.org. Official scores must be sent to those colleges requiring same via the College Board website. [Note: If the Early Action Deadline is November 1, scores should be sent "RUSH" (additional fee applies).]

Early Action Deadlines: Be aware of Early Action (EA) Deadline dates. Do NOT wait until the actual deadline date(s) to submit your applications.

Naviance: For those high schools utilizing Naviance, be s...

I'm The College Whisperer™ And I Approved This Message

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, In : College Planning

VOTED "BEST" In COLLEGE PLANNING AND COUNSELING
BY THOSE WHO MATTER MOST!

* * *

At COLLEGE CONNECTION, We've Got Your Back. And Your Best Moves Forward!

Find Us on the web at College Connection
Check out The College Whisperer™ blog
College Connection on Twitter

Follow Us
The College Whisperer™on Facebook

Like Us On Facebook

SAT Scores, ACT Scores: AP Scores; Scoring $100

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, In : College Applications

As college application deadlines loom on the horizon, here are a few pointers to help you complete the process. Remember, there's more to applying to college than simply clicking "Review and Submit" on Common App!

Test Scores -- Nothwithstanding the unofficial reporting of test scores to colleges via Common App, prorietary applications, and SSAR (where required), the ONLY test scores considered for admission by colleges are the ones officially submitted via College Board (SAT, SAT II, AP) and ...

College Connection Update - October, 2014

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 2, 2014, In : College Planning

Welcome to October!

A new month means that it is time, once again, to enter College Prowler's $2000 "No Essay" Scholarship Contest. [And while you are on the College Prowler site, be sure to check out the many other scholarship opportunities!] REMEMBER: If you don't apply, you won't get money! (And scholarships are NOT just for high school seniors!!!)

In other news, an "on point" article on college rankings, as appeared a couple of years ago in The New York Times, is just as relevant today. Che...

Ten Things The College Admissions Office Won't Tell You

Posted by College Connection on Monday, September 15, 2014, In : College Applications

Just when you thought it was safe to get into the college admissions game... [Cue the theme from Jaws!] What you know. What you think you know. What they tell you and, sometimes, what they don’t tell you. Let the college applicant beware!

1. Your Application Is Incomplete. Yes, most colleges have so-called “Application Checkers” which allow you to see (though not always in real-time) what, if anything is missing from your application. Test scores. High school transcript. Supplements. Re...
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FREE College Planning Workshop, March 26

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, March 8, 2014, In : College Planning

Jump Start Your College Applications!

When: Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Where: Ethical Humanist Society -- Auditorium
38 Old Country Road
Garden City, New York 11530

Why: Because getting in to college has become more competitive than ever, and the application process increasingly complex. You need to be in the know and prepared to go!

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, hosts a free College Planning Workshop. Open to stud...
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Take Your College Applications Seriously

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, In : Just for Fun

The college application and admissions process and the entire collegiate industrial complex? Not so much!

Going to college is a great experience. Shouldn't getting there be at least half as much fun?
- - -

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

Before college applications, the Common App, CSS Profile, FAFSA, financial aid forms, and the whole college application and admissions process get to you, you need to get to us!

Whether applying to college, paying for college, planning for college, or just thinking a...

A Shopping List Of College Costs

Posted by College Connection on Monday, January 13, 2014, In : Paying for College

First came the Net Price Calculator. Then came the College Score Card. Means of comparing and contrasting college costs, which, all too often, turned out to be akin to comparing the cost of apples to the cost of a brand new Ferrari.

And now, enter the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet, a tool designed to inform students, and their parents, as to the details of their financial aid awards.

Ahh. Could it be that after slogging through the CSS Profile (enough to make a financial analyst's head spin) an...
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Got College? Get A (529) Plan!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, January 6, 2014, In : Paying for College

We all know just how important it is to plan for college. Choosing the right colleges to apply to, and, ultimately, that one college that is the right fit for you. Developing and writing a compelling essay. Finessing those college applications and supplement. Conquering the Common App. Avoiding the pitfalls. Navigating the detours. Handling the stress and anxiety. Keeping from being overwhelmed by that crazy whirlwind of a ride they call the college application and admissions game. [Of course...
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It's FAFSA Time!

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, January 4, 2014, In : Paying for College

College Connection, your one-stop source for college planning, counseling, guidance and support, is now scheduling appointments for the preparation and submission of FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Applying to college for the fall of 2014? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA!

Already in college and planning to attend college or grad school in the fall of 2014? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA! [Yes, FAFSA MUST be submitted each year for the following school year.]

Been awarded a scholarship fr...
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"It's Not The End Of The World. . ."

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, In : College Admissions

For all those with "end of the world" anxieties, here are just a few things that the college-bound shouldn't worry about:

-You missed the Early Action deadline. "It's not the end of the world..." There are literally hundreds of colleges and universities with regular decision deadlines yet to come, not to mention (though we always do) the legion of schools with rolling admissions.

-Your Common App essay lacks formatting and pagination. "It's not the end of the world..." No worries here. If y...

Don't Leave Scholarship Money On The Table!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 18, 2013, In : Paying for College

You've been accepted by the college of your choice. Congrats!

They've even offered you a handsome scholarship (that's free money, folks), if only you'd say yes. Neat!

You consider all offers from the colleges you've applied to, weigh the financial aid awards, and you accept. Way to go!

Come August, as you are packing your belongings for the trip to campus, that tuition bill arrives in the mail (or, more likely, by way of email alert advising that your semester invoice is available for viewing vi...
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CSS Profile, FAFSA, and Financial Aid

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, September 26, 2013, In : Paying for College

Part and parcel of the college planning and counseling process is helping you find -- and apply for -- the money to pay for college.

Some have already started searching and applying for "outside" scholarships (bravo!), while others will do so over the course on the ensuing weeks and months. [Alas, most will never bother to mine for the money, and many who do, without an assist, will be looking to chisel in to the mother load with a toothpick!]

Aside from scholarship searches (and actually ...

What High School Students Should Do During Spring Break

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, In : College Admissions

Assuming the beaches of Cancun aren't on the agenda for the coming Spring Break, high school students are likely to have some free time on their hands.

Here's a few things high schoolers (and not just Seniors) can -- and should -- do to prepare for college:

1. Visit Colleges. Seniors should visit or revisit colleges to which they were accepted, with a view toward deciding which school(s) would be the best fit. Sit in on a class. Stay overnight in a dorm. Check out the library (you may as well k...
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Need Money For College? Think FAFSA!

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, December 23, 2012, In : Paying for College

FAFSA. It's where the money is!

Applying to college for the fall of 2013? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA!

Already in college and planning to attend in the fall of 2013? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA! [Yes, FAFSA MUST be submitted each year for the following school year.]

Been awarded a scholarship from a college or want to apply for many of the scholarships offered? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA!

Vying for merit aid or looking for need-based aid? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA!

Simply put, when it comes ...

Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, December 9, 2012, In : Paying for College

Or about FAFSA!

FAFSA -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- must be completed (on or after January 1) for the consideration of a financial aid award (both need-based and merit) from almost every college, including those schools requiring the submission of the CSS Profile.

WHO MUST FILE FAFSA:
1. Those who will be first time students (Freshmen) in fall, 2013;
2. Those who will be returning students (Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Graduate) in fall, 2013;
3. Students who want to...

If A College Isn't Offering You Money...

Posted by College Connection on Friday, October 19, 2012, In : Paying for College

...Why Should You Give Them Yours?

We all know that college is expensive (some more expensive than others), with tuition and related costs rising nearly every year (this past year, by about 3% on average). As for college debt -- as they say in Brooklyn, fuggetaboutit!

Recently, Princeton Review came out with a list of the ten schools with the worst financial aid packages. On the flip side of the proverbial coin are colleges that are said to offer the best financial aid awards, which, by the way...
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Scholarships Are Not Just For High School Seniors

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, January 15, 2012, In : Paying for College

If you know a high school senior, well then, you are well aware of their hectic schedules applying to colleges, searching for scholarships, and biting their nails waiting for admission decisions. [High school seniors should also be preparing their financial aid forms, including FAFSA.]

But what about high school juniors?

Even though they are not applying, they should be preparing. That means lining up engaging courses to take in the senior year, embarking on those meaningful extracur...

If This Is January, It Must Be FAFSA

Posted by College Connection on Friday, December 30, 2011, In : Paying for College

Yes, the new year. And with it, resolutions, fresh starts, W-2s in the mail, and the annual preparation and submission of college financial aid forms.

January marks the official start of the college financial aid season (though the eager high school student started searching and applying for scholarships weeks, if not months ago), and we now usher in that hallowed time for the preparation, completion and submission of FAFSA, CSS-Profile (for those colleges and scholarship programs requiring sa...
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Getting Into College Isn't Rocket Science*

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 28, 2011, In : College Admissions

*It's actually more difficult!

Rocket Science. More appropriately, aerospace engineering. The time-honored term used to describe a task or idea as being easy as compared to rocket science, which is perceived as a very difficult field. Usually used as a statement such as "It's not rocket science!"

So, why even attempt to make a connection between, say, the science of putting a man on the moon and the college application and admissions process?

Let's put it this way. The former deals with the desi...
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Meet The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, In : College Planning

The College Fair May Be Over, But The Wealth Of College Info Lives On!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 3, 2011, In : College Planning

Ahh. To swim like a salmon upstream at the Long Island College Fair. The huddled masses yearning to speak with a college admissions rep. The glazed and bewildered look in the eyes of confused and weary parents. The lines at the booths of the most popular colleges, where high school students stand six deep waiting their turn to get information otherwise available to them with the click of a mouse from their laptops (from the comfort of their homes, while still dressed in their PJs). And, of co...
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Get More Money From The College Of Your Choice

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 21, 2011, In : Paying for College

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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You're In! Now What?

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, In : College Admissions

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...

Deadlines, Priority Deadlines and Missed Deadlines

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 10, 2011, In : Paying for College

J.K. of Lake Success, NY writes:

We're working on our college financial aid applications and notice that there are all kinds of deadlines, in addition to all kinds of forms from so many sources. We've even come across something called "Priority Deadline." How do we find out what these deadlines are, as well as the best possible sources for aid, giving ourselves the best shot at money for college?

The College Whisperer responds:

And there you were, applications for admission submitted, thinki...
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Another Month, Another Ranking

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 8, 2010, In : College Planning

Kiplinger Magazine, in its upcoming December issue, takes a look at "values" in private colleges. As with most rankings, the findings should be taken with both a grain of salt and a hand on your wallet. "Value," too, is subjective, given the price tags attached to most of these institutions of higher learning.

Of value to the college bound (and, most certainly, their parents) is Kiplinger's reporting on the availability of financial aid at the ranked colleges, including averages (in dollars) f...
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A Four-Letter Word To Help Pay For College: SAVE

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 4, 2010, In : Paying for College

Our friend and colleague, Lynn O'Shaughnessy, opines on why saving for college -- or for anything, for that matter -- is a good thing. To top it off, having saved some money for education beyond high school, you won't necessarily be penalized in terms of securing financial aid from your college of choice.

There are some links included, courtesy of U.S. News & World Report (the folks with those silly rankings), to be taken with the requisite grain of salt, hopefully spurring some more in-depth ...
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A Sweet, Joyous and Peaceful New Year

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, In : Just for Fun

As Jews the world over usher in the year 5771 (where does the time go?), The College Whisperer pauses to reflect, to refresh, and to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Next year in college!

Don't leave college admissions to prayer alone!

Call College Connection (516-345-8766) after the holidays for the competitive edge in this most selective college market.

College Matching ~ Application Enhancement ~ Essay Development
Admission Strategies ~ Scholarship & Financial Aid Sourci...

A Message from the New York Student Aid Alliance

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 16, 2010, In : Paying for College

Tough times call for tough measures and often difficult decisions, both for students and university administrators alike.

All the more difficult, especially in these hard economic times, when the State cuts back on financial aid to students, often hitting the hardest those who are most in need.

The College Whisperer's good friends at the NY Student Aid Alliance report on cutbacks in New York's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and summon a call to action on the part of students and parents alik...
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Shark Week

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 2, 2010, In : Paying for College

Shark Week and the Common Application going "live" at the very same time. Coincidence, or calculated by design to strike fear in the hearts and minds of swimmers and college-bound students alike? Hmmm. The College Whisperer reports. You decide. Is it me, or does anyone else hear the theme from Jaws playing in their heads? Oh well...

Anyway, speaking of sharks, has anyone looked at the cost of tuition these days, not to mention room and board? Cue the Great White...

D.G. of Sea Clff, NY writes: ...
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So Many College Websites, So Little Time

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, June 17, 2010, In : College Planning

The Internet is a tangled web, indeed, particularly when it comes to the plethora (SAT word ;-) of college websites, each professing to be the best, to offer the most, and to be the last word in all things college.

Some college websites are great. Others less so. And everyone has an opinion on where to click when researching colleges, developing admission strategies, looking for college planning advice, or hunting down scholarship money.

Higher ed journalist, speaker, consultant, author of The ...
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Showing Tag: "financial aid" (Show all posts)

Colleges once considered “safety” schools have become “reach.” The application process, seemingly simple back in the day, is now overwhelming. And the cost of college, well, let’s just say that arm and leg may not cover it. What’s a high school student (or parent) to do?

On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:30 PM, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will play host to a free college planning workshop, where high school students and their parents will get the inside scoop on how to...

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS

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