Over the past few months, I’ve been privately working with a non-profit organization. This group reached out to me for help, and I couldn’t stand the thought of not offering support. The non-profit I’m referring to helps single, homeless mothers get back on their feet. These women have struggled to survive after being completely abandoned by their husbands. It’s sad to hear stories of how successful they once were and how far they’ve fallen. Because of their pride these women didn’t initially want to let anyone know of their issues. When these mothers were finally left with no options they turned to this extraordinary non-profit organizations for help. I met with a few of the moms and you would not believe what they are going…
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Beware of 529 Plans
An article posted on Time.com today caught my attention today, and I had to write about it. The article boasted that 529 Plans are a great place to save for college (despite the worry about how it effects financial aid awards). The article sites an expert, Joe Hurley, on this topic. With his advice the article explains that the impact of 529 Plans on financial aid is “minimal.” That is WRONG. While it is true that parent income and assets effect one’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) towards college costs, your EFC is not exactly what you’ll end up paying. Your EFC is what the government thinks you can afford for college, but the school doesn’t have to meet your left over financial need….
How to Keep Your Retirement and Pay for College
One issue we hear many of our families say is that they won’t have enough money to retire if they pay for their children’s college educations. They get stuck between a rock and a hard place because they don’t know how to give their children what they need to better themselves without sacrificing their ability to enjoy their senior years. I decided to write this blog post to explain how to be able to achieve your retirement goals while sending your children to college. First, prioritize. You can’t take loans for retirement, but you can borrow for college. Now, I know that taking loans may not be your goal in how to fund college, but this statement should be understood because you should be…
Why Your Future Beyond College Matters
As the end of the school year approaches, remember this: some accomplishments have been had, but more opportunities await. While it is important to look back and reflect on all that you have done this academic year, it is also important to look to the future. For many, the future includes college plans. College is an important part of adulthood and transitioning to the workforce; however, instead of focusing on college I encourage you all to reflect on your bigger goals. Where do you want to live when you’re 30? Do you want to have a family? What is your dream job? When you look forward to a future beyond college, then college will become a stepping stone to a greater goal–your future life….
How to Afford College
I think it is safe to say that college is expensive, so how does a family afford to send their children to get a great education without sacrifice? There are countless solutions offered on how to minimize student debt, and most recently is legislation that has been created by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. His suggestion is extreme: make college free for everyone by collecting more taxes from Wall Street. You can read more about the legislation here. My question is this: how can we make college more affordable without making society pay more? If we make something free, the money has to come from somewhere, right? How do we do this? Taxing Wall Street may not be the best solution….
College in the Future: Financial Benefits
I read a great article today on FastCompany.com about the future of college. In the article I read about the need for a different skill set in society. Currently students pay by the credit hour and are able to complete a degree once they have a certain number of credit hours under their belt, but the academic content they master doesn’t always translate well into the workplace. Employers want an educated workforce because they value critical thinking skills and interpersonal connections. The trouble is that many degrees out there don’t give the skills employees desire. For many, going to college is a pathway to opportunity. People see the value of a college education because they see potential for a successful career; however, just having a…
How to Create Your Path for College Success
How do you define success? The dictionary would definite it as an accomplishment of aim or purpose, but I want to know–how do YOU define success? College Planning Experts has worked with thousands of families over the years, and I think the first step in the college planning process is to simplify what you’re looking to accomplish. What is your definition of success? Is success, to you, admission at a top 25 school? Is it saving 50% off of sticker price at your child’s college of choice? Is it landing a high paying job right after graduating from college? Again, I ask–what is your definition of success? If you want to create a path to college success, you first need to start at…
Great Way to Save on College Costs!
If you’re worried about the high cost of college, then consider this: college tuition has only increased (never decreased) since 1981. With a ever rising cost commodity, you can only imagine… it is going to get worse. What is one to do? A great way to save on college costs is to get started early. Of course there are things you can do during the financial aid and admissions processes, but we encourage you to consider taking community college courses or AP/ IB courses. The reasons are plentiful. First, if your child takes a class at a local community college (or even an online program through a college), then he/she has an advantage in admissions. By taking college-level work, your child has demonstrated…
How to Pick the Best College
At College Planning Experts we are asked, time and time again, how to pick the best college. Parents and students always want to know what the best college is in the United States. Some argue that it is Stanford with its less than 5% of admitted applicants. Others argue that it is Harvard with its prestige and networking potential. Well… I am here to tell you how to pick the best college. First of all, there isn’t a “best college in the United States.” Colleges are institutions of learning. You go to college to learn about issues, topics, history, scientific breakthroughs, etc… so here is the first thing I must say: there is no “best college in the United States.” Sure, there are lists…
Celebrate College Commitment with Taco Tuesday!
Class of 2015 (and transfer students): This year Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday. That is awesome. So we wanted to take a moment to pause. We want to pause on the stressers out there (like admissions, applications, loans, essays, etc.) to focus on the positive. National College Commit days was four days ago. You have done it. Now take a moment and celebrate! Take today to reflect on your accomplishments and enjoy the future that is to come. You’re on your way to higher education and a new adult life. Take today and avoid over analyzing your plans, your careers, your majors, etc. We want you to enjoy how far you’ve come. You’ve hit a crucial point in your college planning…
