November 2012: Get on the Ball this Fall

Happy Thanksgiving!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it may be difficult for you and your child to stay focused on all the upcoming college deadlines. To avoid having to rush or being shut out of opportunities, both financial and academic, keeping a plan in mind is key.

On this Saturday’s College Smart Radio – Tackling the Runaway Costs of College show, we will discuss answers to the question, “Where Should I Be Saving for College?” Tune in to KDOW 1220 am at 3:00pm on Saturday to listen to the show.

Our next public college funding workshop is this Saturday, November 3rd at 9:00am. Make sure to reserve a seat at  WestfaceCollegePlanning.com/workshops/.

The college planning process is full of difficult questions and potentially expensive pitfalls. Whether your student is already in college, is a senior in high school or just starting their elementary school years, planning for college can never start too early. Reserve a seat for an upcoming college funding workshop to take the first step in the path to creating a clear college funding plan.

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 3pm-3:30pm every Saturday for my radio show, College Smart Radio – Tackling the Runaway Costs of College. The show can be streamed live at www.KDOW.biz, too!

Curious what College Smart Radio covers? Tune in this Saturday at 3:00pm – 3:30pm on KDOW 1220 am to learn where you should be saving funds for college. Next Saturday, our show will discuss how to find scholarships when your child’s grades aren’t the best and you’re broke. Listen to our past shows in our College Smart Radio archives too. It’s all important information you won’t want to miss out on. Thanks for listening!

Featured Find: College Costs Going Up At Slower Rate
Sticker prices at America’s four-year public universities rose 4.8% this year, well below steeper annual increases in recent years, a report out Tuesday, October 23 finds. But the rapid growth of federal grant aid in recent years also appears to be leveling off, and tuition continues to outpace inflation and growth in family income.

“We would expect that the economy is changing, family circumstances are changing, something would be changing in higher education as well,” says economist Sandy Baum, author of the report, released by the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center.

Baum urged families to focus not on sticker prices but on net prices — the amount families pay after scholarships and other grant aid is considered. About two-thirds of students receive some form of grant aid, which Baum estimates this year at about $5,750.

Read more here.

Upcoming “Tackling The Runaway Costs of College” 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.

Here are our upcoming workshops:

• “Tackling the Runaway Costs of College” Workshop: Saturday, November 3, 2012 from 9:00-10:00a.m. at our new location, 990 Industrial Road, Suite 112, San Carlos
• “Tackling the Runaway Costs of College” Workshop: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 from 6:30-7:30p.m. at our new location, 990 Industrial Road, Suite 112, San Carlos

Parents and students are welcome! Please visit our workshops page to reserve your seat.

Senior Scoop: Get on the Ball this Fall

Photo Credit: The Italian Voice

For some parents, the 2012 school year is not just another year that they send their kids off to school – this is the last year they will do so. Senior year in high school is a year where your children become young adults, and keeping them focused on school becomes a daily challenge. Figuring out where they are going to go to school and how you are going to pay for it is no longer a distant problem but today’s reality. Even though your child won’t be attending their first college class for another 12 months, the laundry list of items that you and your child need to accomplish is long and in many cases time consuming. To avoid having to rush or run the risk of being shut out of opportunities, both financial and academic in nature, you should begin the process this Fall. We have put together a Fall calendar to help you stay organized during this hectic time.

Read more here.

Advice & Insight: Connect With Us For The Latest News

Are you following Westface College Planning online? Here are just a few things you missed:
Helping your student find the best college for them can seem a bit daunting. This article shares 5 tips to navigate the process. Do you think any important factors are missing? https://tinyurl.com/c6zcubk

A new study shows that student loan debt is at a record high. Here’s the scoop.

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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.