FAFSA

College application deadlines are rapidly approaching. Whether you use the Common App or go directly to the schools, there is usually an essay requirement. Most students anticipate this activity with dread, but some see it as a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd. Think about what you want to write, gather input from others, take a deep breath and begin. Here are a few tips to help you ace the essay portion of the college application process: 1. Show Your Uniqueness: Admissions counselors are reading hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of essays. Make yours the essay that causes them to think, “Interesting point.” There are hundreds of students who are having very similar high school experiences to yours. Try to personalize yours just a little, inject a bit of humor, or show its impact on you. Which do you think would be more interesting to read – “How I learned to pluck a chicken and save the world” or “My mission trip to Honduras”? 2. Avoid Generalities: Try not to blather on about all the wonderful teachers, counselors and relatives who have impacted your life. Instead focus on one specific incident and show how that had an impact on you. Something like “One exhausting fishing trip that taught me the true meaning of perseverance” is likely to raise an eyebrow or two. 3. Make New Points About Yourself: If there is room elsewhere on the essay for extracurricular activities, don’t waste time in your essay reinforcing the same information. Use this opportunity to take a different approach, even for a negative situation – maybe something like “How losing by 25 points taught me the importance of teamwork.” 4. You’re Not Trying to Get Sympathy: You’re trying to get admitted to college. Sure you’ve had a tough life, but so have a lot of other kids. How have your experiences impacted you in a way that will benefit you and the college you attend? Any life story can be turned around, as demonstrated by the homeless girl who got accepted to Harvard. 5. It’s About You: Don’t try to tell the admissions officers that attending their highly-ranked college will be good for you; they already know that. Tell them how taking their science classes will enable you to study something of interest, or how their semester abroad program is going to make a difference in your life. Study the school, find a reason why you really want to attend, and then tell them about it. Other areas of the application are really short essay questions in disguise. Don’t get lazy and use one word answers when you have an opportunity to expound. Always proofread your work and ask somebody else to check it for you, too. For help finding a way to pay for the college you’ve worked so hard to apply to, contact a professional College Financial Aid Advisor. Contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) or visit my About.com website, Paying for College.

As a high school senior, you may be getting ready to start applying to various colleges. Some admission deadlines are coming up quickly, so you need to be prepared. There are several ways to apply to college, so it is important to check the website for colleges you are interested in, or ask the admissions office, to find out which format they use. College application options include: • Direct to the College: Some colleges want you to apply directly to them, and have their own admission requirements. Carefully study their website to make sure you do not omit anything. Students in certain disciplines may be required to prepare portfolios or videos of their work. Don’t wait until the last minute to pull all of this together or to request any letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, advisors, employers, and community organizations. • The Common Application: The Common Application is a non-profit membership organization that serves students, member institutions, and secondary schools by providing applications that students can submit to any of the 549 schools that currently use their services. There were some glitches last year with the online application process, which caused many problems for students. The organization has also been in flux this year as the CEO has been replaced, and they have recently announced that they are eliminating the requirement that colleges which subscribe to their service conduct holistic admissions processes. This process required colleges to review candidates in ways that went beyond numbers, most typically with essays. But this change doesn’t mean that you should place any less emphasis on your essays. For the colleges that do use them, you need to write essays in a way that will make your application stand out. Even if your colleges do not require essays, it is important to pay attention to your writing skills on all areas of the Common App. Make sure you write about your activities in a way that best shows off your capabilities. Also check to see if your college has any supplemental requirements that you need to provide. • The Universal College Application: This is a relatively new for-profit organization which sprang up in competition to the Common App, partly in response to some of their ongoing technological issues. Students applying as incoming freshman, as well as transfers for the fall of 2015, can now use the Universal College Application. It consists of five main data entry pages, which students must complete to submit their applications online. This application option currently serves over forty colleges including such top institutions as Brandeis University, University of Chicago, Colgate University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emerson College, Harvard College, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, Rice University, Tulane University, and Vanderbilt University. Next Step: College Financial Aid A big part of the college application process is securing the maximum amount of college financial aid available. For more information on how you can afford college, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) or visit my About.com website, Paying for College.

It’s that time of year again when high school students are trying to decide whether they should take the ACT or SAT, both, or neither, as part of their college application process. Although similar in nature, the two standardized tests do measure different capabilities. Most colleges will accept either test, and some are even test-optional, so what path is best for you? According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, the number of students taking the ACT has increased dramatically, and now equals or exceeds those taking the SAT, although some students may be taking both. Here is a brief description of each test to help you decide what your next step should be: • SAT: Test length is 3 hours, 45 minutes. There are ten sections – three which measure critical reading skills, three math areas, three writing, and one experimental section, which is currently unscored. The total score can range between 600 and 2400 depending on how many scores are included from the three subject areas. The SAT has a stronger emphasis on reasoning ability and vocabulary, which is good if English is your strong point. Upcoming SAT exams are scheduled for November 8 with a regular registration deadline of October 9 and a late registration deadline of October 28. The next tests are scheduled for December 6 and January 24. The College Board is redesigning some areas of the SAT, beginning with the tests scheduled for the spring of 2016. • ACT: Test length is 3 hours, 25 minutes, including the writing test. There are four Sections – English, math, reading, and science, plus the optional writing test. Although the writing test is optional, many schools do require it, so it is best to check with the schools on your application list. Each section is scored individually, and then averaged for a total composite test score between 1 and 36. It is said that the ACT focuses more on exacting knowledge because it has a science section, while the SAT doesn’t, tests more advanced math concepts, and its questions also tend to be a bit more straightforward. The next ACT exam is scheduled for December 13, with a registration deadline of November 7. The next test after that is set for February 7. Overall, the ACT measures achievement, while the SAT is more likely to measure aptitude. You can discuss preferences with the admissions office at your selected colleges. It may also help to assess your strong areas with your guidance counselor, or to take some practice tests, to decide which is best for you. Financial Aid Matters Once you have determined whether your school requires a test, or achieved a test score that is sufficient for admission, the next step is to secure the financial aid you need to help pay for the college you want to attend. For more information about maximizing financial aid, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) or visit my About.com website, Paying for College.

Perhaps you are a parent who has already taken steps to get your high school student into a great college, or you might be one of those who are wondering what all the other parents mean when they toss out abbreviations like FAFSA, SAR and EFC. If you’re not sure about what to do next, here are some monthly suggestions that might make the process a little easier: • September: Your child will probably need to write a few essays in the next few months, so encourage him or her to start now. If your child is applying to colleges that use the Common Application, there are essay prompts. These essays must be between 250 and 650 words. There is also an Additional Information area to share any relevant information that is not captured elsewhere in the application. If the selected school does not use the Common Application, look online for their application and essay requirements. There may also be some scholarships which require essays, so don’t throw out any ideas. • October: On October 1 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA goes LIVE.  Usually it is best to do this as soon as possible to make sure your child gets the maximum amount of aid available. If your child has not taken that SAT or ACT yet, or is not satisfied with their scores,  they can sign up to take the SAT or the ACT in August, September and October.  • November: If your child is set on a specific school, you can suggest trying for early decision or early action, both of which have November deadlines (check with your child’s desired school for the specific date). Early decision is binding and requires your child to attend that college, depending on a suitable financial aid package. Early action is a little more flexible and allows your child to apply to more than one school. • December: If your child didn’t take advantage of any early decision or early action opportunities, then December is action time, as most regular application deadlines are January 1. This is also the time to get going on the search for college scholarships. There will be a little time while you wait for decisions from the schools, but keep looking for scholarships and start thinking about the financial end of paying for college. A professional college financial aid advisor can guide you along each step of the way. For more information about maximizing financial aid, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA).

College campuses are springing back to life. For the freshmen, it’s an exciting new time in their lives, while the other students are one step closer to achieving their dreams. You might see many approaches to studying, from those who don’t study at all to those who spend all of their time holed up in the library. You want to try to achieve a balance between getting good grades and being involved in the college experience. Good grades will make sure you get a good return on your tuition investment when you go out to look for a job down the road. But they can also get you good rewards now if you took out a private student loan from Discover® Student Loans. You can actually receive a cash reward for getting good grades! Students who earn at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) will be able to qualify for a one-time 1% cash reward of the disbursed principal balance on their loan. Here are a few tips to help make sure you get your reward for good grades: • Attend Classes: This might seem like a no-brainer, but it is surprising to see the number of students who don’t attend their classes regularly. They are definitely not going to get the best return on their investment, and they are usually very surprised when they get low grades. Attending classes and taking notes is your best way of getting the information you need, and some professors even award a few extra points if you are there consistently. • Get to Know Your Instructors: Most instructors are interested in helping you learn the material. You might be surprised at the help that is available if you just ask. Be sure you understand their writing style and requirements so you don’t lose points when you turn in assignments. • Start Early: Some students say they like the pressure of working on a last-minute deadline for assignments, but this is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. If you have a project that isn’t due until December, map out a schedule for yourself to accomplish something each week. • Work with Others: Get to know students in your classes so you can form a study group and prepare for exams. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a tutor if you’re just not getting it. Think Ahead In addition to the possibility of getting the cash reward from Discover Student Loans, you’ve got a lot of other great reasons to study hard and get good grades. You’ll have a better shot at landing your dream job, will probably be able to make better decisions in life, and will definitely make your parents even prouder of you. Not bad for spending a little time hitting the books! If you need more information about the college financial aid process, or would like to learn more about federal and private student loans, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA).

Students heading off to college in the next few weeks have plenty of motivation to get good grades. There is the sense of accomplishment you feel when mastering new information. Good grades increase the opportunity for a better job in your future. And it keeps mom and dad off your back about working harder! As if those weren’t enough reasons, students who have taken out a private student loan from Discover® Student Loans have even more reason to study harder now. They can actually receive a cash reward for getting good grades! It sounds too good to be true, but it is. Students who earn at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) will be able to qualify for a one-time cash reward on each new Discover student loan. Here’s how the Rewards for Good Grades program works: • Apply for a Discover Student Loan: To be eligible for cash rewards you must submit an application for a Discover Undergraduate, Health Professions, Law, MBA or Graduate Loan on or after May 1, 2014. You must have been approved for, and received, the loan. You will be eligible for only one reward for each new Discover Student Loan. • Study Hard: You must earn at least a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent. Visit the Discover Student Loans website to find the exact Grade/GPA requirement for Rewards for Good Grades at your school. Discover may request additional documentation to verify your GPA. • Request Your Reward: You will need to complete and sign a Redemption Request Form within six months after the academic term covered by the loan has ended. If your loan covers several academic terms, you will have to wait until the end of the final academic term covered by the loan to submit the Redemption Form. • Receive Your Reward: Within six to eight weeks after your request is submitted you will receive a 1% cash reward of the disbursed principal balance on your loan. It is your responsibility to notify Discover if you do not receive your expected cash reward. You can call 1-800-STUDENT at any time, 24/7, if you have any questions about Discover’s Rewards for Good Grades program. A Lifetime of Benefits Although some people are able to achieve success with lower grades, or even after dropping out of college, most find that there is a direct correlation between grades and their income. For example, WallStreetOasis.com conducted a study of 3,401 employees of both large and small investment banking firms. They found that a first-year associate who had a GPA between 2.9 and 3.1 made an average total compensation of $79,700. If the GPA was between 3.2 and 3.4 the compensation was $99,700, and with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7 compensation would increase to $137,400. If you need more information about the college financial aid process, or would like to learn more about federal and private student loans, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA) or visit my About.com website, Paying for College.

As another school year begins, parents of high school juniors and seniors are just embarking on the long road to achieving the college dream for their children. You may have already poured over the brochures, taken some trips this summer, and started narrowing the list down to your Top 10, but have you done anything about the financial end of college yet? If you pay attention to the news media, you might think the cost of a college education is spiraling out of control. But a New York Times article by David Leonhardt points out that the government is making the same mistake many first-time parents of college-bound students make. To prove how college costs have increased dramatically the government often relies on published tuition figures, without taking college financial aid into consideration.  Since the deciding factor in college affordability is the amount of financial aid received, here are some tips to get you started: • The FAFSA Matters: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the entry point for federal student aid and often for state, college and private financial aid as well. It is important to complete this form quickly and properly. Visit the government’s website now and learn everything you can about this form. It is usually available online beginning in October, but you can start collecting your information now. When the forms are available, file as soon as possible because some aid is limited and only available on a first-come, first-served basis. • Search for Scholarships: After the grants and financial aid from the federal government and the college, scholarships are one of the best ways of bridging the financial gap. Search for scholarships early and often. • Work-Study Programs Help: These programs help students earn money for college, and they also prepare them for life. Inside Higher Ed reported on a study by two Columbia University researchers which found that, “Students who participate in the federal work-study program are more likely to graduate and be employed six years after college than their similar counterparts who don’t participate in the program.” • Learn About Student Loans Now: Don’t wait until your child needs money to learn about the differences between federal and private student loans. Invest the time to research them properly now so you can make smart financial decisions later. Talk to Financial Aid Professionals There is no need to deal with all of the financial aid decisions on your own. Talk to your high school guidance counselor and the financial aid office where your child is applying. If you need more information about college financial aid, or would like to learn more about federal and private student loans, contact College Financial Aid Advisors (CFAA).