Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Three questions you must ask!
Here's a short, 3 minute (and change) video about the three questions you must ask every college years before you apply for financial aid. Check it out so you're not blindsided when it's too late!
Visit our website for more info on other questions you must ask re: financial aid, the FAFSA and other college planning topics! (If the link does not work, cut and paste this into your browser:
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com)
- "College Pete" n Andy
College Planning Specialists of Florida
1825 Main Street
Weston, Florida 33326
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com
*For more information on our free, community workshops, please visit:
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com)
- "College Pete" n Andy
College Planning Specialists of Florida
1825 Main Street
Weston, Florida 33326
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com
*For more information on our free, community workshops, please visit:
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events
Friday, June 12, 2009
Free Advice Turns $9,500 into $37,500
Did you know that one little piece of free
advice turned $9,500 into $37,500?
A short while ago, a successful, well-
known Miami entrepreneur attended one
of "College Pete's" free community workshops on
college funding.
This woman, I'll call her Amy, listened
attentively and took notes. She learned
information such as:
* The three questions you must ask each
college years before you apply;
* The "double-secret" formula used by
the financial aid offices to determine how
much aid you'll receive; and
* What to do if you feel like you got stiffed
by the financial aid office.
Amy walked away from that workshop a
determined woman. Her daughter had received
a paltry $9,500 award from a prestigious
university in the Northeast, but felt she
deserved more - a whole lot more.
Amy took one simple strategy that Pete
shared at the workshop and tried to implement
it with the financial aid office at this university.
She recently emailed Pete the result:
A financial aid package worth $37,500!
I bet you're wondering what the "golden
nugget" from Pete's lips was, right?
He'll tell you at the next workshop. He's
holding two this month - one in Weston,
one in Miami.
If you're stressed about how the heck you'll
afford to pay for college, especially given
the latest news about tuition hikes, you should
register now before it's too late. Seats
tend to fill up quickly.
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events
Amy felt that this tip literally changed her
daughter's life. Don't miss this opportunity to do
this for your son or daughter. Claim your seat
today.
For more information, visit our website,
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com.
advice turned $9,500 into $37,500?
A short while ago, a successful, well-
known Miami entrepreneur attended one
of "College Pete's" free community workshops on
college funding.
This woman, I'll call her Amy, listened
attentively and took notes. She learned
information such as:
* The three questions you must ask each
college years before you apply;
* The "double-secret" formula used by
the financial aid offices to determine how
much aid you'll receive; and
* What to do if you feel like you got stiffed
by the financial aid office.
Amy walked away from that workshop a
determined woman. Her daughter had received
a paltry $9,500 award from a prestigious
university in the Northeast, but felt she
deserved more - a whole lot more.
Amy took one simple strategy that Pete
shared at the workshop and tried to implement
it with the financial aid office at this university.
She recently emailed Pete the result:
A financial aid package worth $37,500!
I bet you're wondering what the "golden
nugget" from Pete's lips was, right?
He'll tell you at the next workshop. He's
holding two this month - one in Weston,
one in Miami.
If you're stressed about how the heck you'll
afford to pay for college, especially given
the latest news about tuition hikes, you should
register now before it's too late. Seats
tend to fill up quickly.
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events
Amy felt that this tip literally changed her
daughter's life. Don't miss this opportunity to do
this for your son or daughter. Claim your seat
today.
For more information, visit our website,
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's gonna cost me HOW MUCH????
"College Pete" and I hear that question virtually
every time we give our community workshops
on college funding. Thanks to the latest news
from FAU and other colleges who have decided
to jack their tuition by 15% this year, practically
every parent of a college-bound child is
buzzing about college costs now. This is a good
thing.
See, most parents don't really focus on the
cost of college until their children's senior
year. This is a mistake.
Why?
You wouldn't shop for any other major
purchase without having some idea of the price
before-hand, would you? A car? A house? A
Jack LaLanne Power Juice-o-matic?
Do you think that college tuition is the only
cost you'll pay for your little Einstein?
You're dead wrong.
Tuition is only a fraction of the picture. A
small fraction at that, in some cases.
Kid's gotta eat, right? And live somewhere?
What about books, health insurance, auto
insurance, gas, even spending money for
"personal" expenses (some would call this
"beer money.")
And then there are the fees. Oy, those fees!
So you'd better get a handle on ALL of these
costs looooooong before your child even
thinks about applying.
Most colleges publish their "total cost of attendance"
for one year of college, per child, on their websites.
Typically, they also describe their financial aid
policies.
Do your research.
We hold free community workshops around
South Florida - Weston and Miami this
month; other locations include Pembroke
Pines, Davie, Coral Springs, Parkland, Boca
Raton and elsewhere. Sometimes we
even hold webinars.
Please click here to view our upcoming
schedule - we typically book up a few days
before each workshop so you should
pre-register before it's too late:
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events.
Hope to see you there!
every time we give our community workshops
on college funding. Thanks to the latest news
from FAU and other colleges who have decided
to jack their tuition by 15% this year, practically
every parent of a college-bound child is
buzzing about college costs now. This is a good
thing.
See, most parents don't really focus on the
cost of college until their children's senior
year. This is a mistake.
Why?
You wouldn't shop for any other major
purchase without having some idea of the price
before-hand, would you? A car? A house? A
Jack LaLanne Power Juice-o-matic?
Do you think that college tuition is the only
cost you'll pay for your little Einstein?
You're dead wrong.
Tuition is only a fraction of the picture. A
small fraction at that, in some cases.
Kid's gotta eat, right? And live somewhere?
What about books, health insurance, auto
insurance, gas, even spending money for
"personal" expenses (some would call this
"beer money.")
And then there are the fees. Oy, those fees!
So you'd better get a handle on ALL of these
costs looooooong before your child even
thinks about applying.
Most colleges publish their "total cost of attendance"
for one year of college, per child, on their websites.
Typically, they also describe their financial aid
policies.
Do your research.
We hold free community workshops around
South Florida - Weston and Miami this
month; other locations include Pembroke
Pines, Davie, Coral Springs, Parkland, Boca
Raton and elsewhere. Sometimes we
even hold webinars.
Please click here to view our upcoming
schedule - we typically book up a few days
before each workshop so you should
pre-register before it's too late:
www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com/events.
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
SAT myths
Pete and I just recorded a free video, "8 SAT Myths." It will be available on our website, www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com in the next day or so. Please visit our site if you're interested in this, or other college planning (like financial aid!) topics!
- Andy
- Andy
Friday, June 5, 2009
Florida's official tuition hike...and what do do about it
It's gonna cost how much?
From the "Insult to Injury Department," Florida's state universities are going to cost more. A lot more.
Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a 15% tuition increase for all state universities, to compensate for a budget shortfall faced by the state university system. The same shortfall that forced classes and faculty, administrative layoffs, larger student-faculty ratios, lower professor salaries and frozen enrollment.
The annual 15% increase will continue until Florida’s tuition, currently the lowest in the nation, is on par with the national average. This will take years to achieve, if it ever is, so we can expect a 15% yearly increase for the foreseeable future.
Great. what about Bright Futures?
To make matters worse, the Bright Futures scholarship program will not cover the increase. Parents with high achieving kids will now have to fork over the difference created by the tuition hike.
At the same time, Stanley Tate, acknowledged as the "father" of Florida Pre-Paid College program (it's named after him), warned that the tuition increase will kill the pre-paid program, making college unaffordable for Florida’s families. He's spent a reported $500K in full page newspaper ads urging consituents to oppose the tuition hikes, but to no avail.
So what's the best way to deal with these official college cost increases? Through the financial aid system.
Strangely, more than 53% of eligible families never even apply for financial aid! Yes, you read that right - more than half of families that deserve financial aid never even bother to apply!
Why? Here's a clue, directly from the lips of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (Harvard grad and Obama pickup hoops buddy): "You basically need a Ph.D to figure that thing out."
What's "Jump Shot Arne" talking about? The FAFSA - the federal form used to apply for aid. A lot of parents are intimidated by that form. It's long and complicated and full of landmines, so we understand.
But "College Pete" and I think there's one more, big reason why most eligible families don't bother to apply. It's because they think they won't qualify, because they're middle class families. That's just flat out wrong, but this letter is long enough already so we won't get into it.
Here's the bottom line - your "College Bailout" has been right under your nose the whole time - the Financial Aid system. Everyone should apply for financial aid. Period.
Best,
"College Pete" and Andy
P.S. We host free community workshops for parents of college-bound teens. If you’re stressed about how you’re going to cope with rising college costs, you owe it yourself to come. We'll go over the "secret formula" used by the FAFSA to determine how much aid you'll receive, and whether you can improve your odds. Register at:
www.collegeplanningadvice.com/events
P.P.S. Bring a friend if you like! Just forward this blog onto them.
From the "Insult to Injury Department," Florida's state universities are going to cost more. A lot more.
Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a 15% tuition increase for all state universities, to compensate for a budget shortfall faced by the state university system. The same shortfall that forced classes and faculty, administrative layoffs, larger student-faculty ratios, lower professor salaries and frozen enrollment.
The annual 15% increase will continue until Florida’s tuition, currently the lowest in the nation, is on par with the national average. This will take years to achieve, if it ever is, so we can expect a 15% yearly increase for the foreseeable future.
Great. what about Bright Futures?
To make matters worse, the Bright Futures scholarship program will not cover the increase. Parents with high achieving kids will now have to fork over the difference created by the tuition hike.
At the same time, Stanley Tate, acknowledged as the "father" of Florida Pre-Paid College program (it's named after him), warned that the tuition increase will kill the pre-paid program, making college unaffordable for Florida’s families. He's spent a reported $500K in full page newspaper ads urging consituents to oppose the tuition hikes, but to no avail.
So what's the best way to deal with these official college cost increases? Through the financial aid system.
Strangely, more than 53% of eligible families never even apply for financial aid! Yes, you read that right - more than half of families that deserve financial aid never even bother to apply!
Why? Here's a clue, directly from the lips of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (Harvard grad and Obama pickup hoops buddy): "You basically need a Ph.D to figure that thing out."
What's "Jump Shot Arne" talking about? The FAFSA - the federal form used to apply for aid. A lot of parents are intimidated by that form. It's long and complicated and full of landmines, so we understand.
But "College Pete" and I think there's one more, big reason why most eligible families don't bother to apply. It's because they think they won't qualify, because they're middle class families. That's just flat out wrong, but this letter is long enough already so we won't get into it.
Here's the bottom line - your "College Bailout" has been right under your nose the whole time - the Financial Aid system. Everyone should apply for financial aid. Period.
Best,
"College Pete" and Andy
P.S. We host free community workshops for parents of college-bound teens. If you’re stressed about how you’re going to cope with rising college costs, you owe it yourself to come. We'll go over the "secret formula" used by the FAFSA to determine how much aid you'll receive, and whether you can improve your odds. Register at:
www.collegeplanningadvice.com/events
P.P.S. Bring a friend if you like! Just forward this blog onto them.
Monday, June 1, 2009
7.5 Tips for Your Summer College Visits!
"College Pete" here:
Many families like to use the summer months to visit colleges. While we recommend that students visit colleges during the school year when regular classes are in session, this is not always viable, and the free time offered by summer vacation is a strong temptation. Below are some tips to consider when visiting schools, whether you are planning to visit colleges this summer, or you’re scheduling a trip in the fall.
1. Do your homework before you go. Use tools like DISCOVER (something I use in my practice when I work with students) to research the school, and visit the school’s website. Make sure the school offers the major of study that interests you, as well as any other programs that you desire in a college. These may include music, athletics, drama, political organizations, etc.
2. Make an appointment to take the tour. On certain days of the week the tour may not be offered, especially during the summer. The tour may take you to parts of the school that you may otherwise overlook, so you won’t want to miss it. You’ll also learn about the school’s history.
3. Be your own tour guide. Once the tour is over take some time to walk around yourself, perhaps without your parents (you’ll meet them later). If you can, drop into a class or two, especially in an area of academic interest.
4. Get a soda or coffee in one of the student lounges. Ask students questions about the school, what they like and dislike. Students love to talk about their school, and there is no better source of information than current students.
5. Check out the library, computer lab, gym, and laundry. Even though this isn’t directly related to what you’ll be studying and your major, you’ll be spending plenty of time at all of these areas, so be sure to take a look at them as well.
6. Visit the career counseling center. The tour probably will not take you here. You’ll want to know what resources are available to current students, as well as graduates, upon graduation. What kinds of employers recruit on campus? What sorts of internship opportunities are available to students?
7. Schedule appointments with “highly relevant” individuals. You’ll need to do this in advance. These individuals include the orchestra director if you play music, an engineering department chair if you are interested in engineering, a drama department chair if you are an aspiring thespian or an athletic coach if you are an athlete. These folks may assist you in the admissions process by influencing the committee on your behalf. Be sure to get their contact info and send a follow up letter thanking them for their time.
7.5 Enjoy your trip! Have fun -don't stress - chill!
P.S. Want more info on college-related stuff, like financial aid? Visit our site, www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com!
Many families like to use the summer months to visit colleges. While we recommend that students visit colleges during the school year when regular classes are in session, this is not always viable, and the free time offered by summer vacation is a strong temptation. Below are some tips to consider when visiting schools, whether you are planning to visit colleges this summer, or you’re scheduling a trip in the fall.
1. Do your homework before you go. Use tools like DISCOVER (something I use in my practice when I work with students) to research the school, and visit the school’s website. Make sure the school offers the major of study that interests you, as well as any other programs that you desire in a college. These may include music, athletics, drama, political organizations, etc.
2. Make an appointment to take the tour. On certain days of the week the tour may not be offered, especially during the summer. The tour may take you to parts of the school that you may otherwise overlook, so you won’t want to miss it. You’ll also learn about the school’s history.
3. Be your own tour guide. Once the tour is over take some time to walk around yourself, perhaps without your parents (you’ll meet them later). If you can, drop into a class or two, especially in an area of academic interest.
4. Get a soda or coffee in one of the student lounges. Ask students questions about the school, what they like and dislike. Students love to talk about their school, and there is no better source of information than current students.
5. Check out the library, computer lab, gym, and laundry. Even though this isn’t directly related to what you’ll be studying and your major, you’ll be spending plenty of time at all of these areas, so be sure to take a look at them as well.
6. Visit the career counseling center. The tour probably will not take you here. You’ll want to know what resources are available to current students, as well as graduates, upon graduation. What kinds of employers recruit on campus? What sorts of internship opportunities are available to students?
7. Schedule appointments with “highly relevant” individuals. You’ll need to do this in advance. These individuals include the orchestra director if you play music, an engineering department chair if you are interested in engineering, a drama department chair if you are an aspiring thespian or an athletic coach if you are an athlete. These folks may assist you in the admissions process by influencing the committee on your behalf. Be sure to get their contact info and send a follow up letter thanking them for their time.
7.5 Enjoy your trip! Have fun -don't stress - chill!
P.S. Want more info on college-related stuff, like financial aid? Visit our site, www.CollegePlanningAdvice.com!