As of March 2022, most Americans have returned to some semblance of a normal work-life–“normal” being the operative word here. Most of us are working remotely, in a hybrid setting, or, if back in the office, have adjusted our mindset towards the traditional “office grind.” Due in large part to profound changes to the American…
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Many students base their college lists on what their friends are talking about, their parent’s alma mater, or high-profile college sports on ESPN. This may be a decent way to begin the conversation about college, but it’s certainly not the way to end it. Ultimately, it’s wise to be informed and strategic about your college…
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This post was updated on January 31, 2022. It was originally published on August 14, 2019. In-State College Is Not Always Cheaper When I was in high school growing up in Vienna, Virginia, my parents told me “Tim, you can go to any school that you want……but it has to be in Virginia.” So, I…
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Updated on January 17, 2022. Originally posted on May 16, 2019. What is a prepaid tuition plan? A prepaid tuition plan is a type of 529 plan, not to be confused with the savings variety, that allows account holders to lock in future tuition costs at today’s rates. According to Investopedia, “Timing and age [are]…
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Every year thousands of students graduate high school in Puerto Rico with aspirations of a Stateside college degree and the Stateside college experience. The college application process and college aid process are stressful and confusing for most and can be even especially overwhelming for residents of US territories like Puerto Rico (#colonialproblems). This article looks…
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No Time for Modesty: Scholarships & Award Season Personally, the arrival of Hollywood Awards Season always reminds me that many families are immersed in applying to colleges, choosing the best college fit, and, most importantly, figuring out how to pay for it. Specifically, the Academy Awards in late winter (late March this year) serve as…
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After giving hundreds of college funding workshops in schools around the country and online, one of the most frequent questions that parents ask is some version of the following: “In basic terms, can you explain all this EFC stuff?” It’s a simple question that should have a simple answer. Per the FAFSA website, the EFC…
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This post was originally published on May 13, 2019. It was updated on November 29, 2021. Learn the Rules of the FAFSA and CSS Profile Back when I presented our college funding workshop in person, I could always count on one audience reaction: a multitude of very audible sighs once we started going through the FAFSA…
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College Is Expensive: The Soapbox The sticker shock of attending a four-year college can be enough to make many prematurely draw a conclusion that financially supporting a child or loved one is impossible. The cost of attendance for just one year can be enough to make you reach for the Alka-Seltzer. The tuition bills themselves…
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Understanding EFC & Need-Based Aid Every year families go through the tedious process of filling out financial aid forms in hopes of getting enough money to make college affordable for their student(s). Despite putting in the work, most families do not receive enough aid to help them cover the costs of college. The good news,…
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