Showing category "Paying for College" (Show all posts)

Now Comes FAFSA Time!

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, In : Paying for College

DON'T LEAVE MONEY FOR COLLEGE ON THE TABLE!

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required by every college for consideration of financial aid, including Federal Student Loans and Grants, college-specific need-based aid, and, in many instances, merit-based awards.

The FAFSA for the 2023-24 school year is now available. Regardless of State or college deadlines, the FAFSA should be completed and submitted as early in the process as possible in order to maximize financial aid, pa...

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Thursday, December 23, 2021, In : Paying for College

...To Search And Apply For College Scholarships!

While the best time to begin to look for college scholarships was yesterday, the second best time is right now.

Sooooooo, to get you started, here's a short list of scholarship search engines. Sign up. Complete all profiles. Search. And apply, apply, APPLY!

Fastweb.com

Niche

Scholarships.com

Cappex

Unigo

ScholarshipOwl

Keep in mind that most scholarships are little more than sweepstakes and contests (all legit on these sites), and take little more effor...

On Turkeys, Tuition, & Trolling For Scholarships

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, In : Paying for College

Almost time to stick that Thanksgiving turkey in the oven (and can that Christmas music be far behind?). [By all rights, if the heralding of Christmas (1 day) begins the day after Halloween, the festivities for Chanukah (8 days) should start right after Valentine's Day. Just sayin'... ]

Early Action. Early Action II (like hitting the snooze button?]. Regular Decision.Now is the time to put those finishing touches on the yet unsubmitted applications. Dot the i's. Cross the t's. Answer the optio...

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...

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...

FAFSA | Don't Pay For College Without It!

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, October 1, 2016, In : Paying for College

Yes, FAFSA! Required by every college, not only for student loans, Work-Study, and federal grants, but, in many instances, for institutional aid, including the colleges' own scholarships and merit awards!

FAFSA FACTUAL

FAFSA COMES EARLY FOR 2017-2018! Launch is October 1 of current year, rather than January 1 of next year.

Who must submit FAFSA? YOU must submit FAFSA!

Incoming freshmen/Current high school seniors. Complete and submit your first FAFSA for the 2017-18 school year on or after Octobe...

Before You Say YES To Any College. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 23, 2015, In : Paying for College

A word to the wise regarding those college acceptances -- wait until AFTER you receive your financial aid awards from ALL colleges you've been accepted to, BEFORE you say YES to any college!

The next step in the college admissions game (after you've submitted the last of your applications) is to get the money you need to pay for college.

If you have received that coveted letter (or email, text, Tweet) and you've been accepted to the college of your choice, congrats! Now sit back, relax, an...

FAFSA | Just Do It!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, December 3, 2015, In : Paying for College

Yes, FAFSA! [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] Required by every college, not only for student loans, Work-Study, and federal grants, but, in many instances, for institutional aid, including the colleges' own scholarships and merit awards!

FAFSA FACTUAL

Who must submit FAFSA? YOU must submit FAFSA!

Incoming college freshmen/Current high school seniors. Complete and submit your first FAFSA for the 2016-17 school year on or after January 1, 2016*.

Those already in college. Graduate students...

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...

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!...

Jump Start Your College Scholarship Search!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, In : Paying for College

College scholarships. Read as, FREE money for college!

You’ve read about them. You’ve heard about them. You may even get emails, texts, and Tweets to apply for them. But what are you doing to actually get a college scholarship -- or two, or three, or four?

In all likelihood, not much, if anything at all.

“Oh, no one every wins those.” “You have to be poor to get a scholarship.” “Too much work.” “Wait. There are scholarships?”

You’ve heard the excuses. And no, it may not be e...

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...

Free College. An Idea Whose Time Has Come -- Again!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, January 12, 2015, In : Paying for College

Back in the day, when I was a student at Queens College, the jewel in the crown of the City University of New York (CUNY), there was no tuition. A college education was, in fact, “free.”

I remember, when during the course of my tenure at QC, CUNY administrators instituted what they believed to be a modest “consolidated fee” of $250. Oh, the tumult created on campus. The near hysteria. The protests on the quad, orchestrated, as I recall, by the then president of the University Senate, J...

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...

Earning Scholarship Money For College (While You're Still In High School)

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, In : Paying for College

Getting in to the college of your choice (yes, we'll help you do that) is one thing. Finding the money to pay for college can be quite another matter (and we'll help you there, as well)!

Most high school seniors -- at least the ones we work with -- understand that the bulk of scholarship (read as, FREE) money does not come from either the colleges or the government, but rather, from outside sources such as corporations, foundations, community-based organizations, and the like....

Next Up, FAFSA!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, December 8, 2014, In : Paying for College

Applying to college for the fall of 2015? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA! [FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can be completed and submitted on or after January 1.]

Already in college and planning to attend college or grad school in the fall of 2015? 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 scholarships offered by a college? YOU NEED TO SUBMIT FAFSA!

Vying for merit...

What Cost, College?

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, November 15, 2014, In : Paying for College

Factored into what colleges you should apply to, and, ultimately, which college to attend, must be the cost of four or more years of higher education. [How's that money tree doing?]

So, how does one cut through that seemingly bottomless pit of calculating the true cost of college, let alone comparing the bottom line of one college to another? And, once the cost of college is revealed, where does one find the funds to foot the bill?

First Step, College Cost Calculators. All coll...

Guest Post: Make Your Scholarship Application Stand Out

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, In : Paying for College

From time to time, we present guest posts here on The College Whisperer™blog, offering viewpoints, insights and opinions that may complement or even differ from our own.

Today, we are pleased to bring you a guest post written by Jocelyn Paonita, a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina ("debt free," we might add), and author of The Scholarship System: 6 Simple Steps on How to Win Scholarships and Secure Financial Aid, with some essential pointers on acing that scholarship applic...
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College Scholarships: Sweeter Than The Sweet Sixteen

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, In : Paying for College

The brackets will soon be set in stone for college basketball's 64, with the March Madness countdown to the Sweet 16 and the Final Four, but how about the money you need to foot that tuition bill?

Now that the college acceptance letters are beginning to roll in, The College Whisperer™ is amazed by just how many college-bound students abandon the search for money to pay for college.

Sure, you've filed your FAFSA (hopefully), and registered at Fastweb and other scholarship search engines, but h...
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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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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 ...

Scholarships: The Antidote To Rising Student Loan Debt

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, In : Paying for College

While the folks in Congress have done absolutely nothing to stop the interest rates on subsidized student loans from doubling (yes, we said DOUBLING, from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1), students can help themselves reduce, and even eliminate student debt by diligently searching and applying for college scholarships.

Start while you're still in high school (there are even college scholarships that high school freshman can qualify for), and continue throughout your college career (after all, that tuit...
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Another Senator Takes Aim At Student Loan Rates

Posted by College Connection on Monday, May 20, 2013, In : Paying for College

We recently reported on the efforts of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to link federal direct student loan rates to the discount rates paid by banks (currently 0.75%).

Now comes Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) with a measure of her own -- one which would permit students to refinance their government loans at 4%.

While we certainly prefer 0.75% to 4%, these rates are better than 6.8% (current rate for unsubsidized loans, and rate to which subsidized loans will climb on July 1 unless Congress a...
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Measure Introduced To Cut Student Loan Interest Rate To Same As Paid By Banks

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, May 9, 2013, In : Paying for College

It's no secret that banks pay ridiculously low rates to borrow money (currently 0.75%, based on the discount rates banks pay to the Federal Reserve). At the same time, college students pay considerably more in interest (3.4% for subsidized loans and 6.8% for unsubsidized) when they borrow money for school under the feds direct student loan program.

Imagine that. Big banks -- the folks who brought our nation's economy to the brink -- get a most favorable, nearly unheard of rate from the feds, w...
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March Mad(ness) Money -- Revisited

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, In : Paying for College

Every year around this time we touch upon the critical need for students to search and apply for scholarships (read as, FREE money), both from institutional sources (once they know which college they will attend), AND, from outside sources, where billions of dollars in scholarship money lies in wait for the eager applicant.

So this post is well worth repeating, as is the advice contained herein well worth heeding. Keep up that search for scholarship money. Apply. Apply. Apply!

Remember, the dea...
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Beware The Collegiate Industrial Complex

Posted by College Connection on Monday, February 25, 2013, In : Paying for College

The year was 1961. Then President and former General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, addressing a nation about to embark upon a journey toward a new frontier, warned Americans to beware the military industrial complex, an interlocking directorate, fueled by blind ambition and unfettered arrogance.

"We face a hostile ideology -- global in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and insidious in method," said Eisenhower, referring, of course, to Communism. Our response, he postul...

Watch The Webinar: "How To Finance College"

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, In : Paying for College

Did you miss the Newsday webinar on how to pay for your college education?

No worries. Watch it right here, via the link below.

Use the COLLEGE CONNECTION email address -- info@CollegeConnect.info -- as your login.
- - -
Newsday College Prep Talk Free Webinar on "How To Finance College"
The original event was broadcast on:
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Duration: 60-minutes

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=561393&s=1&k=CE474C5C5481AED2DF6FF6ECDDD9CB49

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The...

Scholarships? Yup, There's An App For That!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 7, 2013, In : Paying for College

Nowadays, it seems as though there's an App for almost everything. Shopping. Banking. Restaurants. You name it.

So, it should come as no surprise that, in addition to those Apps that help you search for colleges (among them, College Confidential), there are Apps that let you find, match, save and share college scholarships. Why, there's even an App to help you find parking on campus! [Clearly, they never looked for parking at Queens College. :-)

For anyone who visits the Apple Store online, or ...
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How To Finance College -- Free Webinar

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, February 3, 2013, In : Paying for College

Getting into college is a challenge. Paying for it?

Well, when it comes to the money you need to cover tuition, room and board, books, not to mention Fraternity or Sorority dues (we never said a word :-), unless you've got a money tree in the backyard, or have saved since your high school kid was in vitro (and even then), you need all the expert guidance and advice you can get.

And so, aside from that which you may glean from The College Whisperer blog™, or through our independent college co...
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How NOT To Get Money For College

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, In : Paying for College

With billions of dollars of scholarship and grant money (read as, "free money you never have to pay back") out there for the taking, and everyone from Guidance Counselors to financial planners telling you how to get your hands on a good chunk of it (not that you listen :-), we figured we'd tell you how to go about NOT getting any money for college.

That's right. Here's the consummate "How NOT To" when it comes to paying for college!

Just follow these simple steps and you will be guaranteed to g...
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Show Me The Money (For College)!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 4, 2013, In : Paying for College

It's time once again to apply for the College Prowler "No Essay" $2000 Scholarship! [Actually, it's that time once every month!]

And speaking of scholarships...

Whether you're in college, applying to college or only beginning to think about college, you should be searching and applying for scholarships, grants and other "free" money via scholarship search engines such as fastweb, MeritAid and Zinch. Remember, you've got to be in it to win it! [There are many other avenues for college gelt shoul...
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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...

Don't Go Over The College Fiscal Cliff

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 22, 2012, In : Paying for College

With college costs rising, and the amount of student debt ($1 trillion and climbing) off the charts, it is not only the fiscal cliff we hear about on the news that concerns us. The college fiscal cliff looms large on the horizon, and, for some, the abyss below beckons as parents and students hover, not unlike Wile E. Coyote, suspended over that void which threatens to suck every last dollar out of both wallet and bank account.

While we have little (okay, we have some) control over college cost...
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Just Because You're Already In College. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, In : Paying for College

. . .Doesn't Mean You Should Stop looking For Money To Pay For It!

Unless you have a full ride, or a money tree in the backyard that wasn't felled by Hurricane Sandy/Nor'Easter Athena, those tuition bills and related college expenses keep on coming -- after the freshman year, sophomore year and senior year (and sometimes well beyond that)!

So, too, should (MUST) the strident search for scholarships, grants and other sources of financial aid continue once you are in college.

That sa...

Paying For College With Other People's Money

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 12, 2012, In : Paying for College

Hope everyone is recovering, or at least coping, after Sandy and Athena. [We are keeping an eye out here on Long Island for the locust, which we presume will be coming our way any day now. :-)]

Just wanted to remind you to apply for the monthly, No Essay Required, $2000 Scholarship at College Prowler. http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/scholarships/159911-college-prowler-2000-no-essay-scholarship

This is truly a no-brainer, and, as those who use the services of COLLEGE CONNECTION know,...
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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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You May Well Need An Abacus To Calculate The Cost Of College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, In : Paying for College

Those Net Price Calculators on college websites driving you crazy? Comparing apples to oranges would be easier? Lost in the transliteration?

Maybe what you need is a good old-fashioned abacus. Or a new-fangled abacus of the Internet variety.

Find and compare college costs at CollegeAbacus.com. As per their Mission Statement, "Abacus provides a free and secure service to its users, enabling them to compare their projected financial aid packages across schools and to identify schools within their...
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National College Affordability Week

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 8, 2012, In : Paying for College

An important message from our friends at StudentDebtCrisis.org:

This week is National College Affordability Week! From October 8th-12th we’re joining Young Invinciblesand partners across the country to participate in rallies, town hall meetings, panel discussions and online chats to talk about the cost of higher education.

Follow us @DebtCrisisOrgand @YI_Care all week to voice your opinion!

Monday: The Tuition's Too Damn High

A Facebook video challenge where you answer the question: "What is...

One Year Later: Are College Net Price Calculators Working?

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 1, 2012, In : Paying for College

P.B. of Plainview, NY writes:

I've been trying to figure out college costs by using the Net Price Calculators as appear on most college websites. Are they accurate?

The College Whisperer™ responds:

Ah, yes. The Net Price Calculator. Created for the good of the college student (and his/her parents). But have we instead created a Frankenstonian distopia?

Assuming (and you know what happens when we do that) every college used the very same calculator, taking into account exactly the same factors...
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Now More Than Ever, You Need A 529 Plan

Posted by College Connection on Friday, September 7, 2012, In : Paying for College

College Savings Plans -- so-called 529 Plans -- were all the rage a decade ago. A tax-advantaged, low-cost vehicle to save money for college.

Then, the bottom fell out of the economy, and suddenly, or so it would seem, folks stopped saving for college. And now, they're paying the price -- literally and figuratively.

That's too bad, because those who started saving, and those who have continued to save, have, in most instances, even in a fluctuating and sometimes volatile market, seen their inv...
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Out of the Ryan Plan, Into the Fire!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, In : Paying for College

M.R. of Mineola, NY writes:

My daughter will be starting college this fall and has been offered a financial aid package conditioned upon "verification," a process through which I am asked to release, among other financial statements, my income tax returns. I didn't make $20 million dollars last year. I do not have any money hidden away in off-shore bank accounts. Can I simply pull a Romney and skirt the issue of tax returns?

The College Whisperer responds:

Your question is fraught with major po...

July 1, Everything Changed (for Student Loans)

Posted by College Connection on Friday, August 10, 2012, In : Paying for College

S.C. of Merrick, NY writes: I'm hearing so many things about changes to student loans, particularly the Stafford loans. I'm so confused. Could you clear the air?

The College Whisperer replies:

Clearing the air, as far as Congress is concerned, would take a heck of a lot more Febreze® than student loans could possibly pay for. That said, here's the low down on the changes to Direct Student Loans the feds enacted effective July 1, 2012, courtesy of our friends at the Student Loan Network:

No more...
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The Cure for College Debt?

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 6, 2012, In : Paying for College

We said it before, and we'll say it again. The best way to get out of college debt is to avoid it in the first place! Fewer (if any) loans. More grants and scholarships. Attending colleges that are within reach, both academically and financially.

Of course, until there's a cure for college debt, with colleges assessing reasonable, common sense tuition, financing that college education is a significant undertaking, and a major worry.

Though certainly no panacea in eliminating college debt in its...
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Target Your Scholarship Search

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, In : Paying for College

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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The Best Time To Apply For College Scholarships

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 19, 2012, In : Paying for College

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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Can't Pay Your Student Loan? Move!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, In : Paying for College

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!
- - -

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 ...

Support The Student Loan Forgiveness Act

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, July 8, 2012, In : Paying for College

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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Heightened Interest On The Student Loan Front

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, June 23, 2012, In : Paying for College

Interest rates on home loans may be at the lowest levels ever, but the feds are tightening up, raising rates and limiting grace periods on Direct loans to students, many of whom are already over their heads in college and graduate school debt.

Note the following changes to Direct Student Loans:

Direct Subsidized loans will not be eligible for an interest subsidy during the six-month grace period.

Subsidized loans are loans for which the borrower is not responsible for the interest while t...

Till College Debt Do Us Part?

Posted by College Connection on Monday, May 14, 2012, In : Paying for College

The New York Times reports that which most college students -- and their parents -- already know too well: Student loan debt is out of control! [Read, A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College.]

More than $1 trillion in outstanding student debt, and that number is rising.

Of course, with tuition alone topping $50,000 at some colleges, and rising every year, despite an ailing and stagnant economy, and internal scholarship dollars as awarded by these same institutions shrinking, is it a...
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A FAFSA Correction Corrected

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 16, 2012, In : Paying for College

Or, Why You Should Always Question What The Government Tells You!

Recently, the feds at FAFSA sent out emails to students who submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) reminding them to submit a corrected FAFSA once their tax returns have been filed.

Here's the email:

When you completed your 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you indicated that you were going to file your taxes and were providing estimated 2011 tax information. Now that the federal ...
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March Mad(ness) Money

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 16, 2012, In : Paying for College

The brackets are set in stone for college basketball's 64, but how about the money you need to foot that tuition bill?

Now that the college acceptance letters are beginning to roll in, The College Whisperer is amazed by just how many college-bound students abandon the search for money to pay for college.

Sure, you've filed your FAFSA (hopefully), and registered at Fastweb and other scholarship search engines, but has your quest for college cash ended there?

Visit and revisit those college schola...
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On Advice Of Counsel

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, In : Paying for College

Just when you thought the paperwork that has followed you throughout your college career was over. More paperwork...

Seems this nation, and our beloved government, in particular, is enamored with paper -- even if it is electronic. Forms. Questionnaires. Surveys. Documents of every kind and of infinite duration. Endless, too often incomprehensible paperwork, rendering the Paperwork Reduction Act just another Congressional blunder, and the act of completing required forms more or less meaningles...
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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...

Rank	Name	State
1	United States Military Academy	NY
2	United States Air Force Academy