College Planning
How to Make the Most of College Campus Visits
Are you planning to spend your spring break making college campus visits? Spring of junior year is a good time to check out the campuses on your short list, especially if you are considering applying for early decision. To avoid wasting time and money visiting every school on your list, do your homework first. Narrow…
Higher Education and the Governor’s Budget
Have you noticed that tuition rates for California college have been increasing steadily over the past 10 years? From 2008‑09 through 2011‑12, the state of California reduced funding for higher education by $2.65 billion. This has resulted in significant increases in student tuition and fees and declining course offerings, making it difficult for students to…
Calculating Future College Costs
Did you know that parents of a newborn should start saving approximately $700 per month for the next 18 years in order to save enough money to pay for four years of college at a University of California (UC) school? That’s right – with college cost of attendance (COA) at a UC coming in at…
AP Courses: How Much is Too Much?
As colleges get increasingly competitive, students find themselves taking more and more AP (Advanced Placement) classes to gain an edge. Schools can offer up to 34 courses from Art History to Statistics for students to choose from. And why not? The rigorous classes (and a high score on the year-end exams) can boost grade point…
5 Steps to a Finance-Savvy Student
Heading off to college means gaining independence in several ways, and financial independence is one of the most important. Take some time to teach your student to navigate financial waters before they are on their own to avoid trouble with credit cards, overdraft fees and other tricky financial woes. Here are a few steps to…
Prepare Your CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®
While the CSS PROFILE® is required for only about 20 percent of private colleges, for students applying to those schools the application can be overwhelming. Many high school guidance counselors spend most of their time preparing students for submission of the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (which is required for all schools,…