June Newsletter 2013: College Budget: Create Your Worksheet Now & More

 

Happy June!

Summer is here and seniors are now graduating. But before you let your student start their summer vacation, sit them down and plan out their upcoming college budget. In this month’s Senior Scoop I give you a few easy steps to follow to make the college budget a breeze.

My next webinar is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th at 9am. I’ll provide parents with information on the steps they can take right now to greatly lower the cost of college even if they have little time to prepare. Reserve your webinar seat today!

June is a great time to encourage your incoming seniors to solidify their thinking about how far away they want to be from home, what ultimate career they’d like, how they want to spend time outside the classroom, etc. Plan to have a top 20 college list identified before summer vacation starts.

All the best,
Beatrice Schultz, CFP®
Westface College Planning 
College Funding Specialist 

College Smart Radio: Tackling the Runaway Costs of College

Tune in to 1220am KDOW – the Wall Street Business Network from 3:00pm-3:30pm every Saturday for my radio show, College Smart Radio – Tackling the Runaway Costs of College. The show can be streamed live atwww.KDOW.biz, too!

Curious what College Smart Radio covers? Tune in this Saturday when I discuss, “Why Hire an Independent College Counselor?” with my guest Nancy Wigley an Independent College Counselor and owner of College Search Strategies.

Listen to our College Smart Radio archives, where we discussed, “Understanding and Managing Student Debt Before It’s Too Late,” with my guest Bill Fay of Debt.org. It’s all important information you won’t want to miss out on. Thanks for listening!

Featured Find: College Retreat on Tuition

Private U.S. colleges, worried they could be pricing themselves out of the market after years of relentless tuition increases, are offering record financial assistance to keep classrooms full.

The average “tuition discount rate” – the reduction off list price afforded by grants and scholarships given by these schools – hit an all-time high of 45% last fall for incoming freshmen, according to a survey being released Monday by the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

“It’s a buyer’s market” for all but the most select private colleges and flagship public universities, said Jim Scannell, president of Scannell & Kurz, a consulting firm in Pittsford, N.Y., that works with colleges on pricing and financial-aid strategies.

Continue reading here.

Photo Credit: CarbonNYC

Upcoming “Tackling The Runaway Costs of College” Webinar & Workshops

Seating may be limited – Register to ensure your spot!

Most parents are not financially prepared to enter the most expensive time period of their lives, covering their child’s college education. Our 1-hour workshops provide steps you can take right now to assure you understand the cost of attendance and how you can afford college without jeopardizing your retirement.

Our next upcoming webinar and workshop are:

• Tackling the Runaway Costs of College – Webinar: Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 9:00-10:00a.m. online.

Parents and students are welcome! Please visit our workshops page to learn more or click here to reserve your webinar seat today!

Senior Scoop: College Budget: Create Your Worksheet Now

As a new college student, managing money can be one of the keys to college financial success. Typically, students receive money in large chunks, either from loans, education savings plans or summer jobs. If a student is managing their money for the first time, it can be tempting to spend big early on. However, students need to make this money last for several months so that they won’t struggle to pay bills later on. Here are a few easy steps any college student can use to stay on track and avoid the end of semester crunch.

Make a Budget Before Starting College

For many seniors, graduation signals the beginning of summer and their freedom. But before your senior goes off and starts their vacation, sit them down and help them create their upcoming college budget. Most students will groan and moan, but making them create a financial plan will save them from running out of money before their next source of income comes in.

Continue reading here.

Photo Credit: Images_of_Money

Advice & Insight

Connect With Us For The Latest News

Are you following Westface College Planning online? Here are just a few things you missed:

What should you do if you are still hoping to get off that wait-list for your #1 college? Here are some tips for what might work and what might not! Check them out on our Facebook page.

 

At a time when many college students and graduates struggle to repay their student loans, a new survey suggests that the root of their struggles begins long before they set foot on campus. Find out the details on my LinkedIn page.

Follow us on Facebook or connect with me on LinkedIn so you don’t miss any additional updates!

About Westface College Planning

At Westface College Planning, we are committed to helping parents through the process of making the right financial choices for their college bound students.

If you are a typical parent with college bound students, you’re probably overwhelmed by all the research necessary to help your sons and daughters make the right choices and prevent overpaying for their education.

You are not alone!

Our information packed one-hour workshops will help you:

• · Understand the true cost of college and how to afford it.
• · Learn the specific steps to take immediately to maximize financial aid.
• · Receive valuable information on scholarships and gift aid qualification.
• · Gain awareness on how to accurately compare the true cost of schools, public vs. private.
• · Develop best practices for school selection, and more!

More information at westfacecollegeplanning.com.