The number of private scholarships have increased significantly over the last four years, making it easier than ever to win a scholarship. The total number of undergraduate scholarships grew from 1.56 million in 2015-2016 to 1.88 million in 2019-2020, a 20% increase. The total amount of private scholarships has also grown, from $6.1 billion in 2015-2016 to $8.3 billion in 2019-2020, with the average scholarship amount increasing from $3,852 to $4,338. These statistics are based on an analysis of data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), a quadrennial study about how stu ..read more

Front-loading of financial aid like grants and scholarships is a form of bait-and-switch, where a college gives a better financial aid offer to freshmen than to sophomores, juniors and seniors. When a college practices front-loading of financial aid, the average grant per recipient decreases after the first year and/or the percentage of students receiving grants decreases. This means students get smaller grants and/or fewer students get grants. Even if a college keeps the grants unchanged, the net price will increase as college costs increase. Front-loading of grants causes the mix of grants ..read more

When you’re getting ready to attend college, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the college application process. You start by considering state schools, liberal arts colleges, and other post-secondary options, then you apply to your short-list of schools. After some long waits, you'll start to hear back about acceptance decisions and financial aid packages. The whole process is so complicated and drawn out that it’s easy to skip the final step of the application process, withdrawing your application from schools you won’t attend. Withdrawing applications is a courtesy to other ap ..read more

Applying for college can be a stressful time. It’s time-consuming and expensive to turn in application after application without knowing whether you’ll be accepted. This is where college admissions calculators come into play. Before filling out your application — and paying a fee — you could potentially see whether you have a good chance of getting into the school of your choice. But are these college admissions calculators accurate? What can you expect when you use one? Let’s look at how these calculators work to determine whether they’re a good gauge of what you can expect when applying ..read more

There are many different ways that you can choose a bank. You might look at a bank that offers a wide variety of products and features that you're interested in, particularly high interest rates for its savings accounts, or exceptional customer service. A bank that has physical locations near you might also be worth checking out, though the prevalence of online banking may make this a less important factor. The size of a bank may also play a role in helping you decide which financial institution to bank with. While bigger may not always be better, it can be nice to know that a bank has been ..read more

Depending on where you go to school your class schedule may follow a semester system or a quarter system. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing one that works for you can help you succeed in your academic career. It can give you the flexibility you need to take more classes, change your major, or manage school with other obligations like a job or family. This article will dive into the differences between these two systems and what you should know about them. Table of Contents What Is The Difference Between A Quarter System And A Semester System? Is A Quarter Sys ..read more

The newest age group entering the workforce is Gen Z. And like most generational differences, they have a different approach to many things - including money. So, how are Gen Z doing financially? What's the average net worth of Gen Z? Let's dive in. First, it's important to realize that the Gen Z Age Range today is 11 to 26 years old. For the sake of talking about money and net worth, we're only going to focus on 22 to 26 year olds. Because, let's be honest, the net worth of 12 year olds isn't going to help us understand much. Why should we can about Gen Z's net worth? Well, like the millenn ..read more

Getting into college these days can feel like a big task. How do you stand out? How can you increase your chances of getting a scholarship? One way to get help is to work with a college admissions counselor or consultant. However, a college admissions counselor can be costly. If you decide to use a college admissions consultant, it’s important to understand what you need in terms of help and what your goals are. Here’s what you need to know about college admissions counselors. Table of Contents What is a college admissions counselor? How to choose a college admissions counselor When i ..read more

You might be asked to choose a major as you apply to different colleges and prepare to attend school. Depending on the college or university you apply to, your plans for a major can impact your admission chances. As you think about where to study, consider the difference between colleges that offer schoolwide admission versus admission to a specific major and what that difference might mean for your acceptance chances. Table of Contents Schoolwide Admission Or Admission By Major Why Do Some Schools Admit Students Based On Major? Deciding On A Major Applying To A Major Bottom Line S ..read more

Getting into and paying for college can feel like daunting tasks, especially in today’s competitive environment. Playing a niche sport is one way to give yourself an edge when applying to a college that might be difficult to get into or a scholarship that many are vying for. Niche sports are those that aren’t widely popular and that might provide you with opportunities to bolster your admissions and scholarship applications. Here are some of the best niche sports that might help you get more bang for your college admissions buck. Best Niche Sports For College Fencing Lacrosse Water Polo ..read more