The College Whisperer™ | Navigating The Road To College

Okay. You've taken the SAT and/or the ACT for the first time. Other than that, and perhaps making plans for Junior Prom, what are you doing to prepare for the onslaught that is, the college application and admission process.

Sure. Senior year, let alone college, seem a lifetime away. And yet, the time for submitting your college applications (perhaps as early as August 1), is much closer than you think.

So, what can high school Juniors -- and their parents -- do now to start preparing for college?

Here's a partial "To Do," courtesy of our friends at MyCollegeCalendar.org:

Juniors! Now Is The Time To Start Planning For The College Application Process

This month, juniors should start planning and taking action to complete the first steps in the college application process. There are many crucial planning and preparation steps that should be addressed now; waiting until September or October 2011 to begin the process will make your senior year painfully busy and could hurt the quality of your college and scholarship applications. Taking action now will reap huge benefits for both you (the high school junior) and your parents. The MyCollegeCalendar.org Junior Early Planning Schedule presents all the necessary tasks to complete through the remainder of this academic year; follow this calendar to be fully prepared for your senior year.

What should you be doing now? Look at the schedule for standardized tests (SAT and ACT) and register to take one (or both) this spring semester. Standardized tests are important because the higher the test scores, the greater possibility of getting accepted to college and the greater chance of earning significant scholarships. Review your PSAT test scores to identify weaknesses in subject areas and work to improve those areas before taking the SAT and/or ACT. I highly recommend taking an SAT preparation class if you can afford it; preparation classes teach valuable test-taking strategies and time management skills.

Update your student résumé. Keep it updated in the months ahead by simply adding activities and accomplishments as you complete them.

In February and March, 2011, you should plan to search for college majors of interest, colleges and universities that fit your needs, and scholarships to help pay college expenses. Also, you should prepare to visit campuses of your favorite colleges during spring break and/or the coming summer. In late spring 2011, research preferred summer jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities and think about taking a summer community college class.

As a junior, one of the most important things you should develop this spring is your Student Theme. The Student Theme is that special aspect of your personality and character that sets you apart from the other college applicants. Your Student Theme should be included in every part of next year’s college applications. Work with your parents to decide on your theme and support it by participating in related activities (i.e., if you are passionate about medicine and plan to enroll into a pre-med program in college, become a student volunteer at a local hospital this summer).

So juniors, get started now on the college application process or you just might get passed over (run over?) by other students on their way to visiting colleges, taking SAT or ACT tests, becoming leaders in important extracurricular activities, taking steps to secure great letters of recommendation, interviewing for great summer jobs and internships, registering for summer community college classes, or preparing for the many other steps necessary to get into college. Need I say more? He who hesitates is lost; don’t get lost on the way to the best four years of your life . . . college life.

For more information, and great college planning calendars, visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Sound, perhaps sage advice on using the Junior year of high school wisely as a springboard to college admission success.

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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Our good friends at AccreditedOnlineColleges.com, who themselves sport a blog (www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/), have posted a list of college blogs that, as they succinctly put it, "every parent should read."

The list of blogs is by no means definitive, and certainly not exhaustive (after all, The College Whisperer's blog, which clearly ranks right up there -- if The College Whisperer must say so himself -- does not appear among the anointed. An oversight, to be sure ;-), but many of these postings are still worthy of a look see, if not an absolute adhere to.

Keep in mind that all blogs, including this one, offer opinion, and should not be taken either as Gospel (unless verifiable Biblical references are footnoted ;-) or as the final, determinative word on any given subject.

Check your sources. Gather credible and time-tested resources. Consult with the experts. Above all, use your common sense.

That said, we bring you, by way of republication and without further comment or any particular endorsement, the college blogs de jour:

Admissions

Get tips on reviewing schools, dealing with rejection, and writing college essays.

1. The Choice: This blog from the NYT online keeps up with the sometimes outrageous trends circulating around college admissions. A new series with student guest bloggers adds interest and emotion into the column and will help you understand the journey from your child’s perspective. Recommended Posts: A Decision Letter from Yale, Then a Sandwich and a Nap and A Common Glitch in the Common Application
2. My College Calendar Blog: Posts here range from deadline reminders to action items for juniors to interesting stats and trivia about college, college graduates, and the job market. Recommended Posts: Deferred to Regular Admission Applicant Pool? Here’s What to Do and Don’t Let Counselors Limit Your Future
3. The Ivy Coach: Find reminders for Early Action and Early Decision deadlines, tips for dealing with rejection, and clues for answering essay questions. Recommended Posts: Senior Slide and its Impact on College Admissions and Score Choice or No Choice?
4. My College Options: Besides the blog, this website also has an info site for parents. But visit the Advice column, too, for news, tips and support during the stressful application process. Recommended Posts: Where Should College Rankings Rank in Choosing a College? and Growth Industries to Keep in Mind As You Consider Your College Selection
5. Get Into College Blog: A professional college counselor from New York City keeps up this blog which features weekly posts containing tips for mastering the SAT, admissions essays, and the overall process. Browse through the archive for golden bits of advice. Recommended Posts: 5 Steps to Starting Your College Essay and 5 Reasons to Enjoy the College Admissions Process

Financial Aid

Learn how to fill out financial aid forms and apply for scholarships, without going deep into debt.

6. Financial Aid News: This well-organized blog tags posts according to financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA information, student loans, and saving money, and covers top news stories about governmental rulings and programs, as well as state-specific updates. Recommended Posts: Avoid 4 Common Financial Aid Myths and 3 Student Debt Reduction Strategies
7. Student Loan Blog: Families will find tips and solutions for all types of college finance issues, not just student loans. Recommended Posts: Federal Aid for Students –Without Need and Top 5 End of year financial aid strategies
8. Paying for College: This blog is supported by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, but lists lots of great tips and resources for families in other states, too. Recommended Posts: Stay Focused! and More on Federal Student Loans
9. The Go Financial Aid Blog: Learn how to fill out and file FAFSA, and other grants, scholarships and loans. Recommended Posts: Practice FAFSA and Out-of-State Tuition and Financial Aid
10. FAFSA Blog: This blog breaks down all the guidelines, benefits and limitations of FAFSA. Recommended Posts: What is the FSEOG? and What schools offer the FSEOG?

Campus Life

These blogs offer you a peek into college life, from the dorms to study groups to exam time.

11. Year One: A College Blog: Collegiate Kate’s blog is a good resource for parents of high schoolers or freshmen students. You’ll get a peek inside the challenges, temptations and and chaos of college life, all with an optimistic spin and lots of tips for staying sane. Recommended Posts: Optional Homework? and Test Week, not Death Week
12. The College Solution Blog: Lynn O’Shaughnessy’s popular blog is an indispensable resource for students and parents, tackling practical topics like finances, admissions, studying and college life by offering insightful, innovative solutions. Recommended Posts: What You Need to Know About Studying Abroad and Tips for Collegebound Teenagers With Learning Disabilities
13. Campus Grotto College Blog: As well as some feature-type posts that share college statistics and trivia, this blog sheds a light on how colleges spend money, degree trends, and helpful study tools. Recommended Posts: Where to Get eTextbooks and Where do colleges spend their money?
14. University Diaries: Get smart analysis on modern day campus life in America from an English professor, blogging for Inside Higher Ed. Recommended Posts: Party On and BDSM and the American University
15. OnlineCollege.org Blog: This helpful higher education guide features concise posts about thriving on campus and in class, punctuated by longer, trivia-type posts about colleges, study tools, and more. Recommended Posts: 100 Incredibly Useful Links for Teaching and Studying Shakespeare and Parents Weekend! How to Show Your Parents a Good Time on Campus
16. International Counselor: From admissions to America’s college competitors to insight for evaluating study abroad programs, you’ll find a healthy mix of college topics here. Recommended Posts: Why application numbers are up: the other side of the story and Most stressful colleges
17. More college material: Mary Beth Marklein blogs for USA Today’s website about college finances, campus life events, gap years, applying to graduate school, and more. Recommended Posts: Do religion and college mix? and My Gap Year: Feel the fear and do it anyway
18. Rachel vs. Ramen: Here’s a niche blog we’d like to throw in. If your college-aged "child" is a picky eater or complaining that they’re sick of eating ramen, direct them to this blog, which is full of tasty but easy recipes for university students. Recommended Posts: Meat Sauce and Pasta Primaver-y Good
19. Freshman 15 Blog: Seventeen.com’s blog reveals what college life is really like, a great guide for parents wanting to find out what their daughters may be up to, without being too intrusive. Recommended Posts: First semester – year of redemption and New York City College Nightlife
20. Surviving College Life: Jamie is a recent graduate of UC San Diego and blogs here to help students get through the everyday obstacles — like waking up early and getting by on a shoestring budget — so that they can enjoy their college experience. Parents will also find support and advice when wondering how to deal with their student’s questions or problems. Recommended Posts: Why and When You Should Drop a Class in College and 3 Tips to Help You Graduate Early (or At Least on Time!)
21. The College Puzzle: Dr. Michael W. Kirst blogs for Stanford University, sharing all kinds of tips for studying and succeeding in college, as well as news about higher education in California. Recommended Posts: Students Think That They Are Prepared For College, But Teachers Disagree and Study Finds Complex Patterns In College Grading Of Students

Higher Ed

You’ll stay abreast of all the news, legislation and debates surrounding colleges, including funding, community college programs, technology, and more.

22. Washington Monthly College Guide: From cheating to IT to the rising cost of college, you’ll get a comprehensive education on the state of higher ed here. Recommended Posts: The New College Choice Mentality? and The Ivy Drug Problem Gets Serious
23. The Quick and the Ed: Keep up with education research and policy here. Recommended Posts: Reg Weaver Jumps on the Wrong Bandwagon and A Worthwhile Investment?
24. Brainstorm: As one of The Chronicle of Higher Education’s blogs, Brianstorm offesr up smart, current commentary on why colleges do what they do. Recommended Posts: The "Don’t Suck’ Theory of Improving Graduation Rates and Employers Want 18th-Century Skills
25. Minding the Campus: Here’s a truly smart and valuable blog for parents who want to learn more about higher education reform, for their college-aged kids or younger children who may not apply for several more years. Recommended Posts: Sustainability — Splurging with Your Tax Dollars and I Agree with Richard Vedder, But…

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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Which Part Of "Free" Don't They Understand?

FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Required by almost every college and university in the nation as a prerequisite for consideration for scholarships, grants, work-study, and, yes, even loans.

And did we mention that the application is FREE? Free to complete. Free to submit. Absolutely FREE! [Hence, the word "Free" in "Free Application for Federal Student Aid.]

So, why are folks paying "as little as $79.99" (and sometimes more than $100 a pop) for online services to do nothing more than file FAFSA?

Could it be they enjoy paying unnecessary expenses, on top of what they've shelled out for the SAT, ACT, tutors, coaches, campus visits and application fees?

Or is it that parents, by dint of that seemingly simple Google search for "FAFSA," are landing not on www.fafsa.ed.gov, the official site of FAFSA online, but rather, on www.fafsa.com, the site of a private company that, for a fee (who do they think they are, College Board?), will submit (not prepare nor complete, but merely submit) the form for you. [Maybe not even that. There are reports of such vendors taking the money of unsuspecting parents and students and not filing, or filing incorrectly. And without a proper FAFSA submission (let alone a federal PIN), these now poorer parents/students may not only be out of the filing fee, but out of luck in securing much-needed cash for college.]

Not that there is anything illegal, or inherently evil, in charging a fee to perform a service that one could otherwise do, with relative ease, on one's own. People pay others do avoid doing what they could do on their own, gratis, all the time. It is the inherent deceptive practice (in this instance, blatant) of holding oneself out to the public as the genuine article -- FAFSA -- when, indeed, you are not!

There is, in our opinion, a vast difference between mere puffing and outright duping.

Okay. The folks at fafsa.com do post the following statement on the homepage:

Like filing your taxes, the FAFSA can be filed for free via paper or electronic forms without professional assistance at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Many people however, choose to use a FAFSA preparer, just like a tax preparer, to provide personal advice, consultation and review of their important FAFSA application.

But how many people, especially in their haste to file, and already stressed to the max by the pressure of deadlines, looming college acceptances, and impending tuition bills, are reading, let alone understanding? Then again, when fafsa.com shows up first in your online search for "FAFSA," why would you even think about looking further? The perception created, though false, is that this is FAFSA.

Is it a scam? No. It's someone (The Rezolve Group) taking advantage of an opportunity, even if it belies the reality that, unlike a tax preparer, they are not actually preparing the FAFSA (you enter the very same information here as you would on the real deal), and you are left footing the bill for what is otherwise FREE.

With competition for scarce scholarship money particularly fierce in these tough economic times, and the rush to file for financial aid reaching a fevered pitch, it is understandable  -- and, in fact, prudent -- that parents and students would seek assistance in preparing, completing and submitting the likes of FAFSA and the CSS Profile (which, as a product of College Board, is not free), in searching for scholarship money, and in maximizing financial aid awards. All good. But don't get caught with your wallet open simply for the so-called "convenience" of paying for a service to do little more than press the "submit" button for you.

FAFSA, after all, is FREE. Let's keep it that way!
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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is now "live" at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Completion and submission of FAFSA online is essential, both for merit and need-based aid, including grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Indeed, most colleges will not consider a financial aid award, of any kind, without submission of FAFSA.

Our friends at My College Calendar offer a concise, informative and easy to follow, step-by-step guide to completing and submitting the FAFSA form. We encourage both students and parents alike to review the basics, and then, to file the FAFSA as soon as possible. [If your college requires the submission of the CSS Profile, you should complete and file the required forms at this time as well.]

Remember, colleges not only have application deadlines, but financial aid deadlines as well. And there's only so much money to go around, so the sooner you file, the better your chances of securing aid, in one form or another.

Here's the post from My College Calendar:

Parents: Submit Your Son or Daughter's FAFSA As Soon As Possible

Parents should submit their student's online FAFSA in the next 10-14 days. Keep in mind financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis from “pools” of money; waiting to submit the FAFSA until after mid-January 2011 may be harmful to your student's chances for receiving significant need-based financial aid awards.

To complete the online FAFSA:

1. Click here: Online FAFSA

2. Enter the student’s name, Social Security Number and date of birth. Click on the “NEXT” blue arrow button near the page bottom.

3. Confirm the information you entered is correct and click on the “NEXT” blue arrow button near the page bottom.

4. Click the “Start 2011-2012 FAFSA” button.

5. Create a password in the event you need to save your information and finish the FASFA at a later time. Be sure to write down your password on paper for safekeeping. Click on the “NEXT” blue arrow button.

6. To continue, again click on the “NEXT” blue arrow button.

7. Enter all requested information regarding your family, parents’ income and financial assets for 2010, and student income and financial assets for 2010. Remember, you are using estimates of your income and assets for 2010.

8. When you get to the “Sign and Submit” page, review all the information you have entered by clicking on the “VIEW FAFSA SUMMARY” button on the page bottom.

9. After you have reviewed the FAFSA Summary and verified your information is correct, print a copy of your summary information and place the paper copy in your Student Information file box for safekeeping.

10. The online FAFSA should be signed electronically by both the student and one parent by entering your FAFSA PINs. On the “Sign and Submit” page, click the bubbles for both the student and parent which say, “Sign Electronically With My PIN (fastest)”.

11. Also, on the “Sign and Submit” page, both student and parent should enter their PINs and click the “SIGN” button to the right of the window where the PINs were entered.

12. Continuing on the “Sign and Submit” page, both student and parent should click the “Agree” bubble for the Terms of Agreement.

13. Lastly, on the “Sign and Submit” page, click the blue “SUBMIT MY FAFSA NOW” button.

If you questions about the FAFSA, you can contact a FAFSA representative by clicking here. Follow the directions provided; you can chat live online, speak via telephone, or send an e-mail to get answers to your questions.

For detailed, question-by-question instructions for completing the 2011-2012 FAFSA, click here.

Within 1-to-3 days of submitting the online FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (called the “SAR” or “E-SAR”) via e-mail from the U.S. Department of Education (usually from FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemail.ed.gov). Be sure to check your bulk or junk e-mail because the SAR may be delivered to these folders.

The SAR is a summary of the information entered into your FAFSA. Please review your SAR to make sure all the information listed is correct. Print a copy of your SAR and place the paper copy in your Student Information file box for safekeeping. An example SAR can be seen by clicking here.

Also, the SAR will show your calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based upon the financial information you entered into the online FAFSA. The EFC is the amount of money your family is expected to pay for college expenses. The best possible EFC is zero, meaning your family is expected to pay $0 for college tuition, housing, etc.

The EFC is an indication of how much financial aid you are ELIGIBLE to receive; it does NOT mean you will definitely receive large amounts of need-based financial aid. Your EFC will be used by federal and state governments and colleges you listed on the FAFSA to calculate the amount of need-based financial aid you are eligible to receive (NOT how much you WILL receive).

Your EFC is shown on top of the first page (on the example SAR, the EFC is 3256. This means the family is expected to pay $3,256 toward college expenses).

If you don’t received your electronic SAR within 1-to-2 weeks of submitting your online FAFSA, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) Monday through Friday [8 a.m. - midnight (Eastern Time)] or Saturday [9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Eastern Time)].

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

...Call Us!

COLLEGE CONNECTION
College By Choice, Not Be Chance
www.CollegeConnect.info

516-345-8766

Application complete? Ready to hit that "submit" button? Got all the "t"s crossed and the "i"s dotted?

Not so fast!

Don't be sorry. Be Sure!

At COLLEGE CONNECTION:

We will review and edit your personal statement and supplemental essays.
We will enhance the presentation of your Common App and proprietary college applications.
We will show you how to turn a simple "activity sheet" into a professionally styled high school resume.
We will provide the tools necessary for you to effectively search and apply for scholarship and grant money.
We will take the mystery out of the CSS Profile and FAFSA.
We will empower our students and offer peace of mind to their parents.
We will help you successfully navigate the road to college!

So, don't just apply to college. GET IN!

COLLEGE CONNECTION
The Competitive Edge In College Admissions
516-345-8766

December. Those who applied Early Action anxiously await that envelope -- or e-mail, as is often the case in the information age -- the "We welcome you to xyz U, class of 2015" or "We regret to inform you.." from colleges offering the comfort (or further angst) that comes with knowing where you stand before the new year.

If rejected, well, there's still time to apply elsewhere. [You didn't want to go there anyway, right? Mom made you apply. ;-)]

Assuming you are accepted, now what?

Okay. Unlike Early Decision, where you are married to that one school of choice should they deem you worthy, Early Action candidates still have their options.

True, your finger hovers over that, "Yes, I'm coming" button. Wooooo Hooooo! But don't be so quick to hit it.

With Early Action, like Regular Decision, your decision typically does not have to be made on the spot. Indeed, most schools have an acceptance deadline of May 1. [Check to be sure. You wouldn't want to miss it. Not even by an hour.]

"But I'm absolutely certain I want to go there..." Of course. And maybe that's true. Still, unless you think the college made some gross miscalculation in offering you admission, and may, once they realize, withdraw the offer, hold off, at least a while.

What will you be waiting for? Well, for one thing, let's see where else you get in. You'll then have the opportunity to weigh your options, consider all offers, and, when it comes to financial aid awards, to, perhaps, use one school's offer to up the ante of another. [Yes, it does happen, and it never hurts to ask!] Accept now and, quite frankly, you've put all your cards on the table. [And why should a college that has you "locked in" offer you anything more than the minimum in aid, if that?]

Discuss your acceptances -- and your rejections -- with your parents, guidance counselor, and independent college planner. Think about your future, or at least the next four years of your life. Take a deep breath and look carefully before you leap. [And wouldn't it be nice, at long last, to turn the tables on those college admissions officers, making them wait for your decision?]

Yes, if you are dead certain that you are not going to a college that has offered admission, by all means, decline the invitation forthwith, freeing up a seat for a student who may have her heart set on going there. Otherwise, considering that you're in, what's the rush?

P.S. Just because you've been accepted, now is not the time to coast. Keep up those grades. Acceptance is almost always conditioned upon your maintaining the scholastic record that got you in in the first place!
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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Commenting on our post, How Much Is That College Coach In The Window?, John T. Weir, Founder and CEO of The College Planning Network, had these words of wisdom to students -- and parents -- interested in college planning services:

I spent the past few years researching the college planning resources that are available for young adults and their families. I found that high school guidance counselors can be a great resource, but their time is very limited and they are spread too thin. So, parents have naturally turned to private options for advice-college planning experts. And it sure makes sense! You would seek a real estate agent if you were buying a home in a new neighborhood and you probably employ an accountant to do your taxes. You plan for retirement, consider investments, purchase insurance, and plan for your estate, all with the help of qualified professionals. Many folks even hire an expert to plan their wedding! So, it only stands to reason that you would want to hire a college planning professional, especially when you consider that the investment in a college education could easily top $100,000.

There are thousands of qualified and experienced coaches, consultants, and advisors on the Internet specializing in college preparation and planning services. But these professionals and the information about their various specialties are scattered over thousands of websites, and who really has the time or patience to do all of that Googling? I spent endless hours surfing the Internet looking at one college planning website after another. And what I discovered over time was that the availability of resources was not an issue; deciding how to select the advisor, coach, or college planning consultant that would best meet our family's professional and financial needs was the critical piece. How do I compare and contrast the services of one professional to the next? Is this person reputable? Can they deliver? Do they have references? What services do they offer and will it be worth the cost?

And so I had that "a-ha" moment! There had to be a way to search for a college planning professional on just one website. If it didn't exist, I would create it. And so I did. My hope is that The College Planning Network provides a convenient way for parents and their college bound students to connect and interact with the largest network of college planning experts in this country. I've established common parameters that a professional can use to display their services, allowing you to interview, verify, and select the individual that will best meet your needs. My personal goal and passion is to help you make smart choices about one of the most important decisions of your child's life-their college education.

Good Luck and I wish you success in your search for the right College Planning Expert!
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Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Time. There never seems to be enough of it. It goes by so quickly. Fleeting. Elusive. Of the essence. Time, as in, "where did the time go?"

Time as a measure. Time as a harbinger. Time well spent. Time as an investment.

Investment? Sure thing.

Why, just this weekend, as The College Whisperer pored over Sunday's New York Times, there was old man time himself, taking the form of watches (now referred to, among the elite, as "timepieces") being offered up as precious investments.

A Breitling fot $41,500. A Patek Phillippe for $325,000. A Rolex for a mere $32,050. Watches that you don't actually own (at least not without a second mortgage), but that you merely look after for the next generation.

And here The College Whisperer sits, wearing his faithful Timex -- $49.95 at the Time Factory.

Sure, the bezel may be a bit worn. The crystal scratched. The date forever stuck on "10" -- correct but once every month. Still, true to the Timex credo, after more than a decade, it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' -- accurate, more or less, to within seconds (and with a free lifetime replacement of the battery, to top it off).

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, once opined, "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." But a watch -- excuse me, timepiece -- as an investment?

Perhaps so, but for my money, a watch is a watch. A tracker of one moment to the next. A reminder for the chronographically challenged. And time is something you can view -- if not exactly hold onto or go back in -- on your cell phone or under that wonderful old clock in Grand Central Station.

No, my money, as investment, is on the time-honored institution of higher learning. College.

Sure. Four years of college is expensive. Not nearly as costly as that Patek Phillippe, mind you, but we are talking the north side of six figures for private colleges, and the public universities coming pretty darn close.

Yet, as with any investment, it is not necessarily the initial outlay, but the increase in value, the profit, the big payout over time.

That Rolex may increase in value, returning a hefty sum, provided that toddler from Generation Next for whom you are looking after said timepiece doesn't run it over with his tricycle. A college education as investment, on the other hand... Well, the value of that investment over a lifetime could be priceless.

That's why planning for college, choosing the school that's right for you or your child, finding the perfect fit, the movement in time and space akin to that fine Swiss-made timepiece you so admire and covet, is so very important, and getting into that college, to foster that investment, so very significant.

For high school seniors, now tweaking essays and fine-tuning applications, it's crunch time. For juniors, and those first starting out in their high school careers, time may seem to stand still.

For those in the throes of the crazed frenzy of the college application and admission process, it's just a matter of time. Dig in. Get those applications out. Hold tight to every glorious moment in time.

For the junior, sophomore, and even the low man on the totem pole freshman, now is the time. The time to start planning, using valuable time as a means to hone skills, to broaden horizons, and to prepare to become an investor, of sorts, in your own right -- a college student.

Unlike that Patek Phillippe (I'd like to buy a vowel, please), you actually do own the time you spend preparing for college. More than that, with that sheepskin in hand, from the college of your choosing, you own the future.

What are those lyrics? Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future... Spend your time wisely. Invest in your tomorrows. This is your time. Seize the moment!

Oh my. Is it that time already? My trusty Timex tells me, there's no time like the present. Tick. Tick. Tick...

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Timing Is Everything. . . Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

The College Whisperer, renowned for his wit and witticism on all things college, will host an open forum (sponsored by College Connection, the one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support) on Twitter (@GetCollege), answering your questions about college applications, the admissions process, personal statements and essays, the how and where of finding and getting the big bucks you need to pay for college, and, really, any aspect (well, almost ;-) of college life.

When: Friday, November 12, 2010 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Eastern time)

Where: On Twitter @GetCollege

Why: Because we like you, and want to help you not only navigate your way to (and through) college, but to painlessly (okay, more than a flossing, less than a root canal) foot the tuition bill as well.

Stay informed. Become enlightened. Be entertained. Above all, get educated about the facts, the fictions, the myths and the realities of getting into and paying for the college of your choice.

So grab hold of your laptops, iPhones, Blackberrys and iPads. Join The College Whisperer @GetCollege and dare to ask the questions. Tweet with the best of 'em for all the answers to your most pondered college queries.

See you on Twitter @GetCollege!
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For those who may be unable to join The College Whisperer for this live College Chit Chat session, post your questions anytime @GetCollege, or send an e-mail to info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com. Questions and answers -- in 140 characters or less (the pressure is on) -- will be tweeted @GetCollege.
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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 to the exalted rank of Modern Major General, Bykofsky was recruited by the Sorbonne to prepare a handful of exemplary students for graduate study and careers in business, medicine, international relations, the arts and undecided studies. While it is true that virtually all of Bykofsky's students excelled in their coursework and future endeavors, it must be noted that one student in particular, Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, fell short.

Returning to the United States by way of the Mexican border, where he pole vaulted an electrified fence along the Arizona state line for a World Record that still stands today, Bykofsky hitchhiked to California, where he landed an internship in Sushi preparation -- at a Japanese Internment Camp.

After the war, Bykofsky trekked through some of the great universities of America -- Stanford, Northwestern, Princeton, Yale, College of the Ozarks -- from which he was quickly escorted and sent on his way. Back on the east coast, Bykofsky gained notoriety as an activist, advocate and sometimes provocateur, often credited with having formed one of the nation's first labor unions -- the IMGWU -- International Mens Garment Worker's Union. It didn't catch on.

Settling on Long Island, where his dedication to education has been continuously demonstrated through payment of some of the highest school property taxes in the land, Bykofsky married his childhood sweetheart, the former Joan Silverblatt and the latter day saint, a tax accountant, with whom he raised two beautiful and, dare we say, brilliant daughters, Francyne, a School Pyschologist, and Melissa, a budding journalist.

Seth Bykofsky earned a Bachelor's Degree, Soonah Cum Lateh, from Queens College of the City University of New York, and a Juris Doctorate from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University.

In addition to advising and mentoring the college-bound, while calming the frayed nerves of moms and dads everywhere, Bykofsky speaks frequently on matters near and dear to prospective college students and their parents. Through college planning workshops, seminars, lectures and private sessions offered through College Connection (The Official Sponsor of College Admission Success), Bykofsky has helped countless students successfully navigate the road to -- and through -- college.

Through the blogosphere, Bykofsky a/k/a The College Whisperer, brings his passion, aptitude, common sense and funny bone to the masses yearning to apply and be admitted to their college of choice.

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

If you haven't started looking for money to pay for college (assuming that tree you planted in the backyard last spring has yet to bear fruit), now is definitely the time.

The following websites are great places to start:

Fastweb

meritaid.com

scholarshipexperts.com

Be sure you complete the profiles in each scholarship search engine, and then search and apply for all scholarships you may qualify for. Check for new scholarship opportunities regularly. Read all e-mails carefully. And keep at it, religiously.

Whether you are applying to college or are already in college, assuming you need to pay your way, in whole or in part, it's go time on the scholarship front!

Also, a reminder that many colleges require the completion/submission of the online CSS Profile in order to consider eligibility for a financial aid award, including scholarships, grants, work-study and federal loans. This is for new students (Fall 2011 Freshman) as well as returning students (you do realize you have to pay again for Sophomore, Junior and Senior years, right? ;-).

You can check HERE to see if the colleges you have applied to, are planning on applying to, or are currently attending are on the list of CSS Profile schools. [Do check with the school's Financial Aid Office, if you are already in college, for required filings, submissions and deadline dates.]

For those now applying for admission, the CSS Profile should be carefully and fully completed and submitted as soon as possible after you submit your application. [The CSS Profile is IN ADDITION TO the FAFSA, which can be filed beginning January 1, 2011.]

If all (or any) of this seems confusing, you can call us at COLLEGE CONNECTION. 516-345-8766. We're always here to help you not only navigate the road to (and through) college, but also to find the money to pay the tolls along the way!