As a graduate of one small college (1,000 students in a town of 10,500) and former employee of another (900 students in a town of 10,000), I want to make a suggestion as your students are exploring colleges: Don’t be too quick to cross small-town and rural colleges off the list. I compiled a bunch of advantages with the help of some small-town college alumni. Here are just a few: 1. Tuition and housing prices may be more attractive. Enrollment at small colleges fluctuates from year to year and a lot of them have sizeable endowments. This means that they tend to give large amounts of merit ..read more

For parents of college-bound students, the cost of higher education can be a significant concern. While financial aid and grants might be more common, merit-based scholarships provide another valuable avenue to help offset the expenses of college. There are many different ways to find merit-based scholarships and a few key notes to keep in mind when applying for scholarships. Ultimately, merit-based scholarships can ease the financial burden on both you and your college-bound student. Understanding Merit-Based Scholarships Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students based on their achiev ..read more

Thanksgiving break is the perfect opportunity for high school seniors to catch their breath and tackle important college application tasks. With Early Action 1 deadlines in the past, Early Action 2 deadlines quickly approaching, and admission results on the horizon, it’s a critical time for college-bound students. As parents, you can help your child make the most of this break with some practical advice. In this blog post, we’ll outline Thanksgiving break college application tips to ensure your child’s time off is productive and well-spent. Organize Your Application Materials Your child is in ..read more

College is a thrilling and transformative period for young adults. It’s a time when students are not only expanding their knowledge, but also developing crucial life skills and figuring out who they are and where they may fit career-wise upon graduation. An excellent way to enhance this experience is by obtaining part-time employment while pursuing a college degree. Though balancing academics and work may seem daunting, the benefits of employment during college are vast and can significantly impact one’s future success. Below are some of the most notable benefits to working while in college. F ..read more

Ghouls and goblins aren’t the only thing lurking around the corner this season. Big changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and they may be just as frightening! The FAFSA Simplification Act has resulted in many changes meant to make it easier for students to file. The application is being streamlined to reduce the number of questions from 108 down to 46, and depending on a student’s answers, some questions may not be asked at all. How this simplification will change the landscape of federal student aid remains to be seen and is giving some the shivers. One o ..read more

For the first time in about forty years, some significant changes have been made in the FAFSA rules. Low-income, and even some lower-middle income families, will definitely benefit from increases in Pell Grants and a higher income protection allowance. Though not much will change for high-income families, financial planning for college will be much more problematic for middle-income families. Many of the benefits that were helpful to these families under the old rules, are no longer going to be available to them. Some of the new rules, however, will also offer some new opportunities for savvy ..read more

For parents of college-bound students, the cost of higher education can be a significant concern. Fortunately, there are financial aid opportunities available to help ease the burden. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) are essential tools in securing financial aid for your child’s college education. In this article, we’ll provide you with valuable tips on filling out these forms, including deadlines and common mistakes to avoid. Understanding the FAFSA The FAFSA is a necessary document if your family wants to consider ..read more

  As the college application season kicks into high gear, parents of college-bound students may find themselves trying to figure out which of the various deadline options are best for their student. Two of the most common application deadlines are Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA). Understanding these options, their differences, benefits, and important deadlines is crucial to help your student make informed decisions about their college journey. In this article, we’ll break down the distinctions between Early Decision and Early Action and provide you with the key dates to keep in ..read more

The long-awaited changes under the FAFSA Simplification Act will finally see the light of day in December when the U.S. Department of Education releases the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2024-2025 academic year. One of those changes will be welcome news for grandparents with the means and the desire to help pay for their grandchild’s college education. Previously, any money that grandparents gave a grandchild for college had to be reported as student untaxed income on the FAFSA, potentially lowering the student’s eligibility for financial aid. Un ..read more

As the back-to-school season kicks off, students and parents of college-bound students are gearing up for one of the most crucial aspects of the college planning process: the application itself. One of the most popular (and common) application tools is the Common App. Developed to simplify the application process for students, the Common App has become widely used by more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States and around the world.  The Common App allows both first-time students and transfer students to apply to multiple colleges at once, eliminating having to repe ..read more