Financial Aid
Divorce and Financial Aid
What happens when parents are getting a divorce and financial aid for their dependent child has yet to be processed for the next school term? Even if parents are just separating, it often requires a student to itemize the income of the student and of the custodial parent on the joint income tax return. If…
Peterson’s: Top Ten Financial Aid Tips for Parents
You won’t want to miss Peterson’s top 10 financial aid tips for parents: Looking for financial aid to help foot the tuition bill? Follow these 10 tips to help you secure the funding help you need and remember — don’t wait until your child’s senior year to start thinking about student aid. The sooner you…
The UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
Qualifying students can take advantage of a new program from the University of California called the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. For California residents whose families earn less than $80,000 per year, this plan will cover your educational and student service fees. Why Did UC Create the Blue and Gold Plan? The University of California…
What is the Berkeley Middle Class Access Plan and Who Qualifies?
In December 2011, UC Berkeley announced the Middle Class Access Plan, or MCAP, a financial aid program targeted towards middle-class families. With over half the students at UC Berkeley already receiving some form of financial aid and tuition rates on the rise (rates have doubled in the past 6 years), the school sought a way…
To Appeal or Not To Appeal
Whether or not to appeal financial aid award offers is a question many students face this time of year. Maybe the award offer was not as much as you anticipated, or perhaps your circumstances have changed since you filed your application. There are several factors to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to…
USNews: 5 Hints to Compare Financial Aid Award Letters
Last year, USNews posted a fantastic article about factors to consider when making the final college selection. Here’s what the article says: It’s crunch time for families in the college selection process. The admissions decisions are in and, with two weeks remaining before the May 1 reply date, students are now turning their attention to…