Excerpts from an article by Allie Gasgreen, Inside Higher Education Magazine, 1/26/2012 As students are becoming more financially strained, they’re also demonstrating a greater investment in schoolwork and less likelihood to “engage in non-academic activities that might interfere with academic gains” (read: drinking and partying). While only 39.5 percent of [...]

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, The College Aid Shuffle by Jessica Silver-Greenberg, resulted in a number of reader comments more interesting than the article itself. The author started with numbers on the increasing expense of education and the disappointing performance of 529 plans, then quoted college planning [...]

You are now able to file the FAFSA application to get financial aid for Seniors attending college this fall. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the key to all financial aid – not only from the Federal government, but also the State and the colleges themselves. It’s [...]

Though not yet entirely settled, the federal budget for 2012 currently preserves the maximum Pell Grant at $5,550. That’s the headline, but hidden in the fine print is the cost to families who are just above the lowest income levels. Preserving the Pell is the top priority of the Obama [...]

Inside Higher Ed reports that December 14th the University of California at Berkeley announced a new plan for middle class California families sending their children to the university. Under the plan, those with family incomes of $80,000 to $140,000 would have to pay only 15 percent of that income to [...]

When it comes to financial aid, student assets are a big no-no. They increase the federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by 20% of the reported asset value. Even worse, colleges that use the Institutional Methodology of calculating aid, will count them at a 25% rate. So an UTMA or UGMA [...]

December Start collecting your family’s financial records, which you’ll need to complete the FAFSA and other financial aid forms in early January. Remind your parents to save their year-end payroll stubs that show earnings for the year. (Ref. Step 4 of ’7 Steps to College’) Apply for a federal PIN [...]

Junior Year Fall Semester Planning Steps to consider NOW: November/December Maintain good grades. Review your PSAT results with your counselor to identify your strengths and areas that need improvement. Determine how to improve. Then make a study plan and stick to it! Obtain registration materials and test dates for the [...]

Senior Year Fall Semester Planning Steps to consider NOW: November Send in Early Decision applications, if applicable. Submit your college admissions applications before the deadline set by the college. Ask your teachers, counselors, employers, friends and family for letters of recommendation for your college admissions or scholarship applications. Take any [...]

We looked at Net Price Calculators last month (here) and found they might be so inaccurate as to be useless. Have I changed my opinion since then? In a word: No. Brief recap: the lack of uniformity in the information needed from the family will make real comparison between colleges [...]