Analyzing Financial Aid Awards

People often think of April 1 as April Fool's Day, but for high school seniors, it's an important date for another reason: April 1 is the deadline for colleges to notify students of their admissions decisions (at least if the college requires students to make a deposit by May 1).  [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:27+00:00March, 7, 2018|FAFSA, Financial Aid, Scholarships|0 Comments

Should Computer Coding Be Considered a Foreign Language?

In his State of the State address in January, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper discussed the need to incorporate more skill-based training into the state's education system to prepare students for 21st century jobs.  To that end, he proposed that high schools should offer computer coding as an option to meet [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:27+00:00February, 1, 2018|College Admissions, College Preparation|0 Comments

You’ve Applied to College. Now What?

High school seniors across the country are breathing a sigh of relief.  Having spent a significant part of the fall writing essays and filling out applications, most have now finished applying to college.  If you applied regular decision, now you have to endure the long wait until decisions are released, [...]

Should You Take a Gap Year?

With January 1 behind us, most seniors have finished submitting their college applications.  Now, some of them are turning their attention to the prospect of taking a gap year, an option that has long been popular in other countries but is becoming increasingly common in the U.S.  Younger students may [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:27+00:00January, 10, 2018|College Admissions, College Preparation|1 Comment

New Year’s Resolutions to Increase Your College Prospects

Many people have a tradition of making New Year's resolutions.  Common resolutions include exercising more, eating healthier, and being more financially responsible.  If you're a high school student with a goal of attending college, the following resolutions could increase your chances of being admitted to your dream school: Get better [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:27+00:00January, 4, 2018|College Admissions, College Preparation|1 Comment

Pro-Active Parents Reap Rewards

Guest blog post by Jay Murray, Certified College Planning Specialist Parents who begin their college funding process early receive much larger need-based awards than those parents who choose to wait.  This is because of recent changes in the formulas colleges use to calculate need-based aid.  Financial aid is a function of [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:27+00:00November, 15, 2017|College Preparation, FAFSA, Financial Aid, Scholarships|0 Comments

Can AP/IB/Dual Enrollment Classes Save You Money?

Many high school students take advanced classes to challenge themselves, prepare for college, and become more competitive in the college admissions process.  Depending on what is available at their high school, students might take Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual-enrollment classes (classes offered in partnership with a local [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:28+00:00November, 7, 2017|College Admissions Tests, College Preparation|0 Comments

What You Need to Know About College Merit Aid

I recently wrote an article for Your College Advisors about merit scholarships.  The article explains that merit aid -- which can be based on a number of factors -- is a great option for students and families who don't qualify for need-based financial aid.  I offer tips on finding colleges that offer [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:28+00:00October, 5, 2017|College Research, Financial Aid, Scholarships|0 Comments

Smartphones and Teens’ Mental Health

Smartphones have made many aspects of our lives easier and more productive.  I honestly don't know how I'd live my life or run my business without my phone.  I use my phone's calendar to keep track of appointments, social events, and even tasks I need to accomplish; I primarily use [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:28+00:00September, 11, 2017|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Take Advantage of Colleges’ Visits to Your High School

As school gets underway, so do college admissions counselors' visits to high schools.  As with college fairs, these visits give students the opportunity to learn about different colleges and to connect with the people who read and make decisions about applications.  Unlike a college fair, an admissions officer's visit to a [...]

By |2020-08-24T15:52:28+00:00September, 7, 2017|College Research, College Visits|1 Comment
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