As I always say, it’s not enough to know the stuff. In college admissions you have to know the stuff behind the stuff. As we sail full speed ahead in this FAFSA season, we need to be careful. Not only do we need to fill out all of the line items correctly, we also need to strategize. I, Brian Safdari of College Planning Experts, always explain to clients that, “there is an art form to completing the FAFSA. You have to do it the right way to reap the rewards.” In an article posted by US News this past November we learned that the FAFSA is not always used solely in financial aid decisions. The FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,…
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The Early Bird Gets The Worm: Financial Aid 101
Here are the top mistakes when filling out the FAFSA: FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid Not applying because families “THINK” they won’t qualify Having 1 letter or number wrong on your name, address, or Social Security Number Sending in the FAFSA late (PRIORITY DATE VARIES BY SCHOOL) Waiting until your 2014 tax returns are filed to complete the FAFSA Not having enough time to file correctly Going to the wrong website for the FAFSA I want to remind all local and national families that have a high school senior or transfer student heading to college this coming fall to apply for financial aid NOW. We personally hand hold all income-level families through the college admissions & financial aid process and believe me,…
Proposed Tax Hike on College Savings Accounts: Watch out Middle Class
A new proposed tax hike has been brought up this week, and if are looking for ways to save for your child to go to college… read on. The levy in question would increase taxes on college savings accounts known as “529 plans.” These savings accounts are often set up by parents with some extra money to put aside to save towards future college costs. As you may recall, College Planning Experts has stated in the past that we are not the biggest fans of 529 plans because they are assessed at a higher percentage towards one’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in paying for college and can leave less financial aid eligibility on the table, but regardless of our opinion, many families use them. The…
College Acceptance Season: Did you do everything right?
It is January, so you know what that means. We are now approaching a stressful time for most high school seniors: college acceptance season. As students sit home and wait for their email to buzz or the postman to deliver a large package (not a small envelope—they never want the small envelope from a college), they relish, “Did I do everything right? Were my SAT scores high enough? Did I participate in the right clubs? Did my essay adequately convey my humble, yet confident, yet extroverted personality?” Well, we’re here to tell you to breathe. It will be okay. The college admission process has developed a lot over the past ten years, and more and more families stress whether or not their children will be…
This is the One Question I Always Get Asked at Workshops
When I am presenting workshops several times a month, there are several commonly asked questions parents tend to have. What I like to do from time to time is have a Q & A at my workshops regarding the most pressing concerns. Over the past few months (October-November) I have met with many families with children in middle school. The most common question that parents ask is this: “When is the best time to start the college planning process?” I have seen a common trend of parents starting this process earlier and earlier; so what is the best answer to this question and why is it so important? The answer is simple: START. RIGHT NOW….
Holiday Discount BIGGER Than BLACK FRIDAY or CYBER MONDAY!
Happy Holidays from our family to yours. I wanted to discuss the biggest, most valuable deal you can get for your student. Most families are still getting over the big deals from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but let me point out an even greater deal – saving $144,000 on college. Most families get excited when they find a “doorbuster” Black Friday special on their new TV, but I get excited when I save families $21,000+ per year on college! There are 5 simple steps to receiving a discount on college: Working right – good grades, high SAT/ACT scores, extra-curricular activities, sports, etc. Preparation and planning (starting in 9th grade) Research to find the “best…
Free $50 Gift Card!
Like us on Facebook and/or share a post and enter to win a $50 Gift Cards! Post by College Planning Experts.
College Planning with Major the Lion
Post by College Planning Experts.
New Scholarship for Families Who Make Up To $150,000
Parents, here’s an interesting fact: in the past 10 years UC schools have increased over 190%, CSU’s have increased by 145% and some private schools have skyrocketed up to $70,000 per year. So, parents if you have a college bound student or a student in college already, then this article is just for you. The Middle Class Scholarship is a new program starting this academic school year giving undergraduate students a scholarship for attending a University of California or California State University. This scholarship can range from $2,189 to $4,877. Isn’t this something to celebrate about? All families qualify for some type of financial aid; you just have to know how. The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) will lower tuition at UC and CSU colleges by…
Summer Workshop: Learn how to get FREE money for college
After speaking at hundreds of universities and high schools across the nation and helping thousands of families, I believe that there are 10 core mistakes largely responsible for why most families NEVER receive the FREE money that’s available to them. One of the biggest challenges parents face is not taking the time to understand the current college system. So, what are the 10 core mistakes most parents make while going through the financial aid process? Assuming that they won’t be eligible for financial aid because they own a home or make over $40,000 per year. Focusing their time and energy searching for private scholarships instead of spending their time learning how to qualify for “need-based” or merit financial aid. Assuming only minority students, athletes, and…
