Most people (and my daughter especially) are still moving a little slowly this week, the 2nd one back from all the ‘holiday revelry’.  Not so me.  Once the ball dropped, I got buried in financial aid applications.  Which is where I presently find myself.  And after preparing quite a few already,  I’ve got good news […]

Happy Friday!  Here’s a new college acronym for you to ponder this weekend (as if you needed another one).  It’s IDOC, and if your student has/is applying to an out-of-state college, and you recently submitted the CSS Profile, there is a chance that you have or will soon be contacted about IDOC. If this is you, […]

Interesting story in last week’s New York Times:  ‘Getting Out of Discount Game:  Small Colleges Lower the Price.”   Now that’s an optimistic headline for me to end one year and kick off a new one! If only it were that simple… Truth is most schools will continue to follow the prevailing marketing model… the one […]

I received several questions this week about Bright Futures, the popular State-awarded merit scholarship funded by our Lotto dollars.  The 2014 application for Bright Futures officially opened on Sunday (Dec 1), so high school guidance counselors across FL have been talking to 12th grade students and parents today about how to apply. Here are a few important notes about the Bright Futures program: – Bright Futures scholarships are […]

‘Application season’ is in full swing (FSU’s first Admissions deadline is Wednesday), and financial aid season is officially open (for Early Decision applicants!), and yes, I’m buried!   BUT, I wanted to take a moment to clarify one of the questions I get asked most this time of year:  Will APPLYING EARLY help my chances? […]

For College Tuition, Many Families Don’t Have To Pay Full Price NBC 6 Reports on what Families Can Do To Offset The Rising Cost of College.

Some Good News/Bad News For Florida Financial Aid Applicants…   First, the Good news!  Florida students will NO LONGER be required to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to qualify for a Bright Futures Merit Scholarship.  This reverses legislation from 2011 that required ALL Bright Futures applicants to complete a FAFSA, regardless of whether they […]

With school starting Monday and everyone (in my house, anyway) in a tizzy, I thought I’d cut right to the chase today.  Below are 5 things you should be considering when it comes to your families’ college plans.  Please feel free to email me with any questions: 1. There is what college costs, and then […]

I’m thinking this article might stir a few pots, so I’m gonna give a standard disclaimer – every case, indeed every student, is a little bit different.  There are times when one student gets admitted to a school over another seemingly equally (or more) qualified student.  Or gets a better scholarship offer than the other. […]

The Senate voted yesterday to reduce student loan rates.  From 6.8% to 3.86%. Really. Haven’t we heard this one before? Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that the very same Senate allowed the rates to double to 6.8% (from 3.4%) in the first place?  (That’s rhetorical, by the way — just like this new […]