When You Know More, You Won't Owe More!
Build your knowledge and streamline your college planning around three key areas:
Financial Readiness
Navigating the Numbers for greater clarity on true costs and your affordability factor
- Understand college pricing and how financial aid works today (checkout our blog post - 5 Key Concepts...)
- Research schools net prices to estimate aid generosity, reliance on grants vs. loans
- Calculate Expected Family Contribution
- Apply for Financial Aid for every year of college
- Save and invest
College Planning Tools for Financial Readiness
Provides a quick snapshot of how much you could consider saving now to afford future college costs
9 Things You Need to Know About Net Price
Clearinghouse for information among state-administered 529 College Savings programs
Information and tools to understand the benefits of 529 College Savings Plans
A gift registry platform to help recipients save for college and pay down student loan debt.
Reports – Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid
Provides an approximation of the Federal EFC that is calculated when you file the FAFSA form
Office of the U.S. Dept. of Education – tools for understanding financial aid and other college planning topics. Find FAFSA form here to apply for federal financial aid.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: links to state higher education agencies for scholarship and grant information.
School Selection
Expand your list and dig deeper to find schools that are a better fit for your student and your finances
- Academics – school support, quality of professors and mentors who interact with students, quality of the department of the student’s major
- Campus Life – campus community, extracurriculars, internship opportunities and engagement inside and outside of the classroom
- Financial Fitness – includes whether school is financially friendly, offers generous need based or merit based aid, has high 4 year graduation rate and 1st year retention rate, and school itself is financially strong
- Overall Value/Return on Investment – including future outcomes, job placement, income potential, transferable skills, grad school placement and success stories
Student Preparation
“Learning to earning” journey – Building educational and life skills to be better prepared for the college experience, and leading into post education life.
Develop a student profile that stands out in the college admissions process. The goals are to get in, get money, save money and ultimately DON’T overspend. The earlier the start the better, but start wherever you are.
Admission Factors
- Grades – strength of high school curriculum and course rigor (advanced placement & honors classes)
- Test Scores – SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP exams
- Extracurricular Activities – involvement in sports, hobbies, volunteer opportunities, leadership roles as well as work experience
- Essays – showcasing student’s critical thinking as well as comprehension and writing skills
- Letters of Recommendation
- Intention – demonstrated interest in the school and choosing a specific major
- Life Skills – decision making, communication skills, relationship building and money management
College Planning Tools for School Selection and Student Preparation
COLLEGEBOARD.ORG
COLLEGE RESULTS ONLINE
COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
STUDENTAID.GOV
COLLEGEDATA.COM
FAIRTEST.ORG
PAYSCALE.COM
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