Taking Admissions Tests

Tests are part of the process

Many four-year colleges and universities require standardized test scores as part of the admissions process. These scores are designed to supplement the information provided by your grade point average, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, reference letters and personal essay. It is important to check the admissions requirements of universities, colleges and community colleges to determine what, if any, admissions tests are required. Keep in mind, many community colleges do not require the SAT or ACT for admission.

The most common admissions tests include the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT test. Both tests are timed and average about four hours, including breaks. A fee is required to register for each test.

Sitting through the SAT

The SAT is designed to measure critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and writing skills that students need to complete college-level work. It consists of three major sections: critical reading, mathematics and writing. Each section has a potential of 800 points. The test consists of multiple-choice questions, a written essay and math questions.

The art of taking the ACT

The ACT test is a general education college entrance exam that is based on what is taught in high school. It covers four areas: English, math, science and reading. The test is given in a multiple-choice format, with a score of 1-36 possible for each area, and an overall composite score is given. The optional 30-minute writing test requires students to plan and write a short essay.

Which test is best for you?

It is important to talk with your teachers, guidance counselors and other students about which test may be best for you to take. Some students may feel more comfortable taking a test based on what they were taught in high school (ACT) vs. skills they will need in college (SAT). You can also try out some practice test questions as each standardized test comes with practice test questions on their Web sites. Guidance counselors can assist you in registering for the test. It is also recommended that you take the SAT or ACT in your junior year, so you have the option to retake the test if a higher score is desired.

Start preparing

In the fall of your junior year, you may take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) which helps you to prepare for the SAT. By taking this practice test, you also have a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs. The PLAN is a practice test to prepare students for the ACT, which can be taken by 10th-graders. For more information visit the ACT Web site.

These practice tests will give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on the skills necessary for college study. This information will help you target specific areas on which to focus, study or practice. You can also see how your scores compare with others applying for college and the type of questions and specific directions to expect on the tests.

If you typically do not do well on standardized test, consider taking a preparation class or workshop in your area to improve your test-taking skills. Check out the ACT and SAT Web sites for additional preparation materials as well.

A Better Way: Part 8

How to Speed Up a Glacier

Those suggestions for parents are mere band-aids--they just show how to make the best of a bad set of choices--most brand-name colleges really do treat undergraduates unconscionably.

What could make colleges change? Fear of losing money. Colleges, even private colleges, get a huge chunk of money from the taxpayer. So, when colleges cry for more money, we the taxpayers should be answering, "Not until you provide a quality education, not until you transform dorms from Animal House into living-learning environments, not until you can show that your graduates really do grow enough to justify the enormous cost and time."

A Better Way: Part 7

The following, in my view, are top-value colleges. In addition to a relatively low sticker price, they score well, on average, on these criteria: student quality, location, a campus culture that welcomes true diversity of ideas (not just politically correct ones), and a name that opens career doors. The larger institutions, which I've starred, do suffer from being research-first/students-second institutions, but their low price and desirability on other factors justifies their inclusion.

* Rice: A Big-Oil endowment has created an Ivy-clone college at half the price.

* UCLA: The honors program is a patch of Ivy at a State U price.
Mary Washington College: Like a small private college at a public price--in a Jeffersonian setting an hour from D.C.

* McGill: A great city (Montreal), strong students, and the Canadian 69-cent dollar makes McGill a deal.

* University of Toronto: Easier to get into than McGill.

* Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. California weather, excellent students in its strong majors (e.g., architecture, engineering), $1,500 annual tuition. Safe, quaint town.

* University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Good students, ideal location, great basketball tradition, bargain price.

* University of Virginia: Top students in a Jeffersonian setting replete with colonnades and rolling lawns.

* Santa Monica College: A nearly free two-year college that feeds many students to UCLA and Berkeley. Near the beach and L.A.

You can save the money on undergraduate education without shortchanging the child. That way you'll have money left for graduate school.

A Better Way: Part 6

What to Do in the Meantime

An expensive college simply isn't worth the money. The definitive review of the literature (Astin, 1997) finds absolutely no relationship between a college's cost and the amount of learning that accrues. And a study in the American Economic Review concluded that even in terms of earnings, "What matters most is not which college you attend, but what you did while you were there. (That means choosing a strong major, choosing professors carefully, getting involved in leadership activities, getting to know professors)...Measured college effects are small, explaining just one to two percent of the variance in earnings." A more recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (Krueger & Dale, 1999) produced similar findings: when controlling for student input variables, an Ivy League education confers no economic advantage on its graduates.

This makes sense. Sure the designer-label on an Ivy diploma opens career doors, but put an Ivy-caliber student at Podunk College, and she can accrue benefits that fully compensate. For example, although my daughter was admitted to prestigious Williams College, she turned it down in favor of an easier-to-get into public institution that cost 70% less. There, the honors program functioned as a patch of Ivy, small classes with Ivy-caliber students taught by top professors. Honors extracurriculars extended the elite experience beyond the classroom. Perhaps more important, as a top student, she was taken under wing by professors, got appointed to university-wide governance committees, and got touted for terrific post-college opportunities--she spent a year in the White House writing Hillary Clinton's daily briefings. If she had attended Williams, she would likely have been lost among its many top students--and we would have been nearly $100,000 poorer.

So, unless your annual income is under $40,000, which would make you likely to get significant cash (not loan) financial aid, or are too wealthy to care, your child should apply to colleges with a low sticker price. He will learn as much, you'll save a fortune, and you will spare your child the inordinate stress and waste of time (studying for the SAT, waking at 3 AM to do crew because it will look good on college applications) of trying to get into designer-label colleges that well may not be worth the money and effort.

Shouldn't You Get What You Pay For?

College: America's Most Overrated Product

In my job and working with thousands of students trying to better themselves and find a career I've often heard the words, "I'm paying good money for" ...

Colleges hold teenagers hostage. Because young adults need that piece of paper, colleges know students will come to them no matter how slipshod an education they provide. Employers increasingly demand a college diploma for anything above a McJob.

That insatiable demand for their pieces of paper allows colleges to sometimes provide a mediocre education without fear of losing students. And most colleges, especially prestigious ones, do provide a mediocre education because they are more interested in conducting research than in teaching undergraduates. So, for example, colleges heavily use the cheapest, least-effective method of instruction: herding hundreds of students into an auditorium to listen to a lecture by a professor whose main interest is an esoteric research area, not the basics that undergraduates need to know. Small classes are taught mainly by graduate students, often teaching for the first time. Residence hall life is rarely the living-learning environment so often advertised in colleges’ brochures.

It is ironic that the most prestigious, most expensive colleges are the ones most likely to provide a poor undergraduate education. They can only get away with it because of the institution's designer-label (acquired from its research, not its undergraduate education), and because the students are bright enough to create an interesting experience despite the college's neglect. How obscene to charge $30,000 a year and shortchange our nation's best and brightest.

How to Change it? ...

Step #7: Paying for College

A college education costs quite a bit of money and is often one of the biggest expenses parents and college students have to incur. You can, however, receive help for college costs. This help comes in the form of grants, scholarships and student loans. While, it may take some time paying off a college degree, it is the finest investment anyone can make.

Getting Into College Overview

Getting a college degree is one of the best goals a teen can have. It is, however, also one of the hardest goals to achieve. Here are the steps you can take that will help you achieve the goal of going to college:

• Getting Into College Step #1: Make the Decision
• Getting Into College Step #2: Taking the Right Courses for College
• Getting Into College Step #3: Making the Grade
• Getting Into College Step #4: Choose Which Colleges to Apply
• Getting Into College Step #5: Acing the SAT and SAT II
• Getting Into College Step #6: Filling Out a Successful Application
• Getting Into College Step #7: Paying for a College Degree

Come back each day for another step...

Maximizing Your College Education Investment

The price of four years at a brand-name state university is approaching $75,000. At a brand-name private college, close to $200,000. And most students take more than four years.

With the possible exception of your home, your child’s college education is the largest purchase you’ll probably ever make, especially if you have two or more children. How do you maximize the value of your investment?

Choosing a College

These recommendations integrate the research findings from the Carnegie Foundation combined with my own years of experience as a college and career counselor.

If your child is Ivy caliber and aspires to a career that insists on a designer-label diploma such as investment banking or corporate law, it’s worth paying even the sticker price of an elite private college such as an Ivy or Stanford and certainly the price of an elite public institution such as Berkeley, UCLA, or the University of Virginia. While these schools have large classes taught by research- rather than teaching-focused professors, and these schools can be pressure cookers, the lifetime income and status gains are typically worth it. In addition, students grow a great deal from spending four years around the nation’s best and brightest.

For most other Ivy-caliber students, for example, those aspiring to be physicians, executives, public-interest attorneys, or other careers in a non-profit or government agency, the best payback probably comes from attending an elite public university. There are ample opportunities for challenge by taking difficult classes and honors programs, and the Ivy-caliber student at these institutions will stand out and thus be tapped for campus leadership positions, opportunities to work one-on-one with professors, which in turn, leads to great recommendations and leads on good jobs.

One client I had, for example, turned down Williams College, one of the nation’s most selective to attend UCLA that cost 75 percent less. There, as a brighter star among lesser lights, she stood out and so got leads into a job working for the White House. If she were at Williams, she probably would not have reaped such an opportunity.

If, however, your family income is less than $50,000 a year and are admitted to an elite private college, your child should probably go. In that case, you’ll probably get enough financial aid to justify it.

If your child is not Ivy caliber and your family income is under $70,000, a small private college probably is the wisest choice. You would get little financial aid at a public university and significant aid from the better and well-endowed privates such as Grinnell, Santa Clara, Guilford, Beloit, College of Wooster, and St. Johns (MD and NM). At such institutions, your child will be taught by dedicated accessible teachers in classes small enough to provide detailed feedback on writing assignments, and to require your child to be prepared for class lest he be called on and left dumbfounded. The campus culture at these institutions is also good for promoting student growth as human beings.

If you have a not-Ivy-caliber child and your family income is much more than $70,000, the balance generally tips in favor of attending one of your state’s well-regarded public universities such as Indiana University, Wisconsin-Madison, Penn State, Oregon State, and the Universities of North Carolina and Washington. Consider in-state schools because out-of-state tuition is usually usurious. Why State U? Because for families earning more than around $70,000, the private colleges will offer little aid, and there are ample benefits of the public university: larger choice of courses and professors, more clubs, library and athletic resources, a bigger alumni network. You might ask, “But shouldn’t we decide whether our child should to a large versus small college based on whether he’d feel comfortable in a large college? With a bit of guidance (provided below) it is easy to make a large university feel small and homey enough.

A word about large non-elite private universities such as the Universities of Southern California and Miami, and Boston, Syracuse, and Tulane Universities. These are rarely worth the money. Not only are they nearly as expensive as an Ivy without the prestige, the most frequently taken classes are usually large and taught by research- rather than teaching-oriented professors. If you’re going to spring for the money for a non-elite private college, small one are usually wiser choices.

Helpful Website for Your College Planning 3 of 5

Planning for college can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin? Here are some helpful websites that should make planning for college a little easier.

FAFSA.ed.gov

The first and most important step in getting money for college is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is the form you need to complete in order to see if you are eligible for any kind of federal financial aid, such as grants, student loans, and work-study. Even if you don't think you are eligible for financial aid, you should still fill it out because many states and schools also use it to award non-federal aid. You should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st of the year for which you need aid. When filing the FAFSA be sure to use fafsa.ed.gov because other similar sites may charge a fee to submit the form. Use this site to get information about the following:

1. Before Beginning a FAFSA
2. Filling Out a FAFSA
3. FAFSA Follow-Up

For more information about planning for college, please contact your high school counselor or an expert, like me.

Helpful Website for Your College Planning 1 of 5

Planning for college can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin? Here are some helpful websites that should make planning for college a little easier.

eCampusTours.com

Obviously you are somewhat familiar with eCampusTours.com since you are reading this article, but you may not know about all the resources this site has to offer. All of our services are completely free of charge, and we don't distribute your information to any companies or schools unless requested by you. Just register for an account to enjoy the full benefits of this site:

• Virtual tours. eCampusTours features 360° x 360° virtual tours of over 1,300 college campuses. From dorm rooms to classrooms, these tours allow you to see what college life is really like. If you like what you see in the virtual campus tour, you can search the college website, contact the college's admission office, or save the virtual college tour in your eCampusTours portfolio.
• Book-It-Now. You can schedule actual campus visits online with participating schools via Book-It-Now. Just search for the school to see if it has the option for online scheduling.
• Edadvisor. A monthly college planning e-newsletter, Edadvisor features articles about choosing a college, student financial aid, campus life, career exploration, student loans, scholarships, and more. It also provides monthly reminders for high school and college students.
• Scholarship opportunities. eCampusTours offers a free scholarship search to help you find money for college. You can also register for our $1,000 scholarship giveaway.

College funding guide. You can download a copy of "How to Get Money for College" and get updated financial aid information about Federal Pell Grants, amounts of aid, state aid, veteran affairs, vocational rehabilitation, student loan deductibility, and more.

For more information about planning for college, please contact your high school counselor or an expert, like me.

The Campus Visit

The campus visit is a crucial part of the college decision process. It is a time to ask questions, take a tour, sit in on classes, and obtain an overall perspective of the college's atmosphere. Visiting different colleges will give you a better understanding of which college is right for you. Since you may have various questions about the campus visit, the following should help you when you make each trip.

How should you prepare for the visit?

Before you visit a college campus, you should do a little research on the college. Look through brochures and view the college's website to find out basic information. This will give you more time on the tour to find out information that is not found in the printed material. You should also schedule a campus tour at least two weeks before you make the trip.

What should you bring along?

There are several items you should bring with you in order to make the campus visit a success. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes since you will actually be taking a tour of the campus. You will also want to bring a journal so you can write down any notes that will help you remember the college. Since you may be seeing a lot of campuses, this journal will come in handy if you forget any details about certain colleges. Pictures will also help you remember particular details about colleges so be sure to pack a camera. This will allow you to look back at pictures that can't be found on the college's website or in the brochures.

Who should you talk to?

Try to meet with various members of the campus community. You will definitely want to meet with an admissions officer to discuss the school's requirements, deadlines, and financial aid programs. If possible, try talking to some professors to get a feel of what they expect out of a student. All professors are different so try to talk to as many as you can; you may even want to sit in on some of their classes to obtain a good perspective. Don't be afraid to go up to current students and start a conversation. Find out what they think about the college as a whole. Ask if they are happy with the college choice that they made. Since students are not employed by the college, they will not give you biased answers.

What questions should you ask?

Now that you know who to talk to, you may be wondering what questions you should ask these people. You will want to ask a variety of questions so you will go home with enough information to help you make a decision on where you want to go. Use the following questions as a guideline, and if you think of anymore, be sure to ask.

Academic Aspects
• What academic factors are considered during the admissions process?
• What is the average class size?
• Are professors accessible outside of class?
• What is the typical way to get in touch with a professor? Email? Phone call?
• Do you usually get in all the classes that you need to register for?
• On average, do professors or graduate students teach freshmen level classes?
• Are there academic scholarships available through the school?
• Are there tutoring services available on campus?
• What are the college's most popular academic programs?
• What is the grading system like at this college?
• What is the attendance policy?

Financial Aspects
• What is the cost of attendance?
• If you have financial need, will you be able to get a financial aid package that meets all of your demonstrated need?
• What percentage of students receive financial aid?
• Are there work-study jobs available on campus? Off campus?
• If you don't qualify for work-study, what other jobs are available near campus that you could apply for?

Housing/Food Aspects
• Are you required to live on campus your first year?
• What percentage of students live on campus all four years? Are the dorms single sex or coed?
• Are there community baths in the dorms?
• What are the rules for students living in dorms?
• Do the dorms have laundry facilities?
• Do the dorms have computer labs?
• What types of meal plans are available?
• What hours may students access food services?
• How many restaurants/cafes are on campus?

Social Aspects
• How do students spend their free time?
• What are the most popular extra curricular activities?
• What do most students do on the weekends? Stay on campus? Go home?
• Are there sororities and fraternities on campus?
• How many students participate in Greek life?
• Are parties allowed on campus?

Community/Transportation Aspects
• Do you like the surrounding city or town?
• Is the city or town big enough for your taste? Does it have a variety of restaurants, museums, nightclubs, parks, and movie theatres?
• Is the city or town small enough for your taste? Is it rural and peaceful?
• Will you have to have a car to live on campus? Can you walk to most restaurants, nightclubs, etc.?
• What is the city's public transportation system like?

Athletic Aspects
• Is the college considered an athletic school?
• Are there athletic scholarships available?
• What sports are played at the school?
• Do athletes have to miss a lot of classes in order to participate in games?
• Do athletes have their own dorms?

Safety Aspects
• How safe is the campus? How often are crimes reported?
• How are safety issues addressed?
• Is the campus well lit?
• Are there emergency phones on campus?
• Is there a pick-up service for students walking at night?
• What if you can't visit?

There are always circumstances in which a student cannot visit a college campus in person. If you are unable to make a campus visit but are still interested in finding out about the college, you have several options. You can call the school's admissions office to ask any questions you may have. If they do not have an answer, they will direct you to someone who does. You can also talk to your high school guidance counselor. He/she may have information about the college that you are interested in. If your guidance counselor knows someone who goes to that college, he/she may be able to get you in touch with that student so the two of you can discuss what the college is like. Finally, if you can't visit a campus in person, you can always take a virtual tour of the school.

Not Ready for College? What Now?

It’s May, and if you are the parent of a college-bound high school student, you are either recovering from, or in the midst of, the college search process. During this time, it might become clear to you that your child might not be entirely ready to embark on this next step in their education. This should not be immediate cause for concern, however, but rather conversation. There is another option for the wary pre-freshman: the gap year.

A gap year, or “year out”, is the British tradition of deferring college in favor of a year spent traveling, volunteering, interning and engaging in other forms of experiential learning. Recently, the trend of taking a gap year has been gaining popularity stateside, with more and more opting to take a year off before college. Colleges and universities are supporting this opportunity by making deferring school easier and in some cases, like Princeton, offering their own in-house gap year programs. In most cases, a simple letter to your child’s school of choice explaining their reasoning for taking a gap year is enough to secure their spot for the following school year.

There are many benefits for a student taking a gap year. Parents often list the following as changes they see in their children over the course of a year out:
• Maturation, self reliance and independence
• Recovery from academic burnout / Renewal in eagerness to learn
• Wider world view and global perspective
• Discovery of interests and passions through firsthand experience
• Ridding themselves of the travel bug or the desire to “do some things” before college
• Learning or gaining proficiency in a foreign language
• Real world experience before college
• Better avoid the risk of first year drop/fail out by providing the opportunity to refocus priorities and gain maturity

In this economic climate, taking a gap year can also be a wise financial decision. A gap year allows you more time to let your college savings mature, reapply for better financial aid packages and allow the federal stimulus money time to enter the bloodstream of the college aid programs.

So let’s assume your child is well suited for a gap year. “What now?” you may ask. In short: communication and research. Sit down with your child and speak to them about why they want to do a gap year and where they might want to spend their time. It also helps to have them write down a list of goals to help them focus.

Next, you and your child should look for reliable, structured volunteer or travel opportunities designed for young people. Idealist.org and TransitionsAbroad.com can be good resources for finding both domestic and international organizations. Be sure to research an organization carefully by personally speaking with the volunteer coordinator and asking for references. This will give you peace of mind as well as improve your child’s safety. You can also seek the help of guidance counselors or independent consultants (such as myself) who specialize in helping students and their families choose reputable gap year programs.

Set a budget, keeping in mind students are usually asked to pay a fee for volunteering overseas with organized programs. Be sure to factor in the “extras” like vaccinations, airfare, travel money and international health insurance. Don’t be shy in asking your child to contribute a certain portion of the budget themselves; either through a summer job or fundraising. This gives them a financial stake in their activities.

Try to guide your child without pressing upon them what you think they should do. Set some ground rules i.e. “You may not go to the Congo,” but be sure to allow your child the freedom to make their own decisions about how they want to structure their year out. This will not only empower them to be deliberate but will let them know you trust them to make adult choices.

Before you know it, your child will be off to school, matured from a year of unique experiences and ready to take full advantage of their college years!

Summer School Tips

When looking for a summer school program, here are some important factors to consider:

• How much of the summer do you want to commit to school? Programs range from five days to eight weeks.
• What do you want to get out of summer school? Do you want to turbocharge your academics? Act in a play? Teach young children? Learn how a political campaign is conducted? Polish up a second language? Work with engineers in the computer industry?
• Where do you want to stay? Do you want a residential program where you live in dorms with other students or would you prefer to live at home, attending school only during the day?
• Can you get high-school (or college) credit for summer school courses? Receiving credit depends both on the school where you take the course and on your home school.
• How much can you spend on summer school? If the answer is nothing, are free programs available in your state or school district?

Bottom Line

When evaluating whether summer school is right for you, the real question is what you aspire to learn and what type of summer program provides the best experience for it. For more advice and for information about specific programs, talk to your high school counselor.

Summer School - It’s Not What You Think:

Summer school may make you think of remedial classes for students who slacked off during the school year. But that’s not the whole story. Yes, lots of high schools do have mandatory summer school for students who have underperformed. But summer school can also mean attending classes at a college, in programs students actually compete to get into.

A Variety of Programs and Benefits

These days, there are summer schools for just about every type of student, whether you’d like to work on academic subjects or developing skills such as playing an instrument or sport.

Pursue Your Interests

Use a summer program to develop a talent or interest in the arts, humanities, or sciences. For example, the California State Summer School for the Arts, held on the campus of the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, has programs in film and video, creative writing, visual arts, animation, dance, music, and theater.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program allows you to participate in week-long “Explorations” in engineering, math, science and technology, ecology, outdoor adventure, and a variety of social sciences and humanities areas.

To stay closer to home, check out your local performing arts centers, science museums, and parks; many have summer programs where you can get hands-on experience, ranging from set design to environmental education.

Gain Experience Outside of the Classroom

Summer school programs often involve a lot more hands-on learning than you’ll find in your regular classes. Many residential summer school programs include sports, travel, and social activities in their curricula. Personal development and leadership skills are also major themes.

Improve Your High School Transcript

A challenging summer school program can increase your chances of getting into a competitive college. Attending a challenging summer school program can increase your chances of getting into a competitive college. In fact, some summer school programs are as competitive as colleges, requiring an extensive application complete with SAT or PSAT scores, teacher recommendations, and a personal essay.

While attendance at a high-powered summer school does not guarantee that you will get into an Ivy League school, it does add a certain luster to your college applications. Nonetheless, a cutting-edge internship or a job that requires responsibility and leadership can look just as good on your college applications.

Try Your Hand at Real College Work

If you’re craving more in-depth study of a subject you’re interested in, and high school classes leave you wanting more, college-level classes may be the answer. Or, if you simply want to explore a particular school, or experience college classes, it's a great preview.

Most colleges welcome anyone who wants to learn into their normal college-level classes. Of course, they give priority to students who are enrolled full time, but more often than not room is available. Call the colleges on your wish list. Ask if they have a summer semester and get them to send you a catalog.

If you are motivated and able, it’s also possible to enroll in college classes during your normal school year. But make sure the extra workload won’t interfere with your high school work.

The Cost

Private summer schools can be expensive, but the good news is that Governors’ Schools and similar programs supported by state and federal education funding tend to be less so – some are even free of charge, and most offer financial aid based on need.

If you come from a low-income family or you’ll be the first member of your family to attend college, you may be eligible for an Upward Bound TRIO program, in which you could spend part of your summer at a nearby university or college, essentially getting a preview of campus life while building skills and meeting other students from across your region.

Private summer schools, like the program offered at Harvard, also offer a limited amount of financial aid, so don't cross them off your list just because they carry a hefty price tag.

Tips for Paying for College

Getting admitted to your choice college is only half the battle; the other half is figuring out how to pay for it. The competition for resources can be stiff, especially in tough economic times. The most important rule to planning so that you can take advantage of financial aid is to start early.

1. Start researching aid possibilities sooner rather than later. The competition for aid increases when the economy is weak. Those who plan ahead for the aid process will do much better than those who procrastinate and miss deadlines.

2. Take steps that improve your aid eligibility. For example, if someone in your family has lost a job, avoid the temptation to spend any assets in the retirement plan. In addition to the likely early distribution penalties and additional income taxes, the higher income will reduce your aid eligibility.

3. Apply for financial aid no matter what you think of your financial circumstances — good or bad. Applying by the priority deadlines, even if you think you won’t qualify, will help you if your finances take a turn for the worst. Some schools will only accept requests for reconsideration due to a decline in income from those students who filed for aid on time — even if they were turned down initially.

4. You should still not initially rule out any school as being too expensive. Many colleges — especially the private ones — have increased their aid budgets to attract applicants whose families are now more price resistant given the state of the economy. But have a back-up plan in case the aid is not enough to attend those pricier schools. Most likely this will mean also applying to a public institution in your home state and/or any school where the student can live at home instead of paying for room and board.

5. Pay less for a four-year degree. One way you can save on costs if you attend a community college for two years and then transfers to a pricier school for his or her remaining two years. However, be sure that the college where you want to transfer will accept the credits from the community college.

6. Take as many AP courses as reasonably possible and prepare yourself well for the AP exams. High scores on AP exams can save considerably on college tuition. Many colleges award course credits for them, which can reduce the amount you need to pay in tuition.

7. Apply strategically to colleges. If you exceed the school’s admission criteria, you are much more likely to get a better aid package than a marginal applicant. Be sure to prepare for the standardized tests like the SAT or ACT.

8. Be realistic about how much debt you and your family can incur, given the starting salaries for your probable major and career path.

9. If you have to borrow, pursue federal loans first and avoid having taking private loans at all costs.

10. If your circumstances have a taken a turn for the worst, request additional aid. But expect that the college may require considerable supporting documentation.

Top College Fears and How to Conquer Them – Part 2

I'm can’t make myself get started on my college applications.

Are you afraid your application won’t be impressive? For 95 percent of colleges, you needn’t be a star to get in. Really B- grades, 1000 SAT scores (21 ACT), and, if required, a decent essay (see below) will get you into many, many good colleges, even if you don’t have great extracurricular activities. Just keep reminding yourself how great it will feel to get our applications done and to get those fat acceptance envelopes. That’s not motivating enough? I’m sure that if you ask your parents (and even if you don’t), they’ll be glad to keep nagging you. Maybe you can even get them to agree that if you get your apps done by the deadline, they’ll get you a car…or something. But why not just sit your butt down and start. Chances are, once you start, you’ll keep going. If you get stuck, ask your parent or friend for a little help.

I can't think of a topic for my college essay.

Most essay questions boil down to “How will you contribute more to the campus community than other applicants with similar grades and SAT scores?” You ask, “How can plain ol’ me contribute to the campus community?” One of my clients wrote about his tendency to ask the teacher probing questions. His essay consisted of an introduction and then three paragraphs, each telling the story of an anxious question he asked the teacher, and how the teacher and class responded. Another client wrote about her love of tutoring other kids. A third wrote about being one of the kids in her school who doesn’t drink. What’s something about you that would contribute to the campus community? Many, if not most, college essay questions will allow you to write about that. Be sure to devote most of your essay to giving examples and anecdotes that prove you have that desirable characteristic.

Oh, remember to avoid the Deadly Three Topics. So many students write about these topics that they make many admission officers roll their eyes: 1. How important my parents have been to me. 2. How sports taught me the importance of sportsmanship and leadership. 3. How my trip to another country helped me appreciate diversity.

I worry that my parents can’t afford to pay for college.

Don’t let the college’s sticker price fool you. Most colleges jack up the sticker price so only the rich can afford it, and then offer discounts and low-interest loans to everyone else. Sure, you’ll probably have to take out a hefty loan, but nearly all students can find a good college that – with financial aid – is affordable. Just get your financial aid applications in on time. (Check on each college’s website to learn their deadlines.) If, even with financial aid, your family can’t afford your first-choice college, try to negotiate with the college. They sometimes “find” extra aid, even for average students. And don’t forget about community colleges. Not only are they a bargain, they often have better teachers than at universities because they’re hired and promoted mainly on how well they teach, not how much research they crank out.

I worry that college will be too hard.

If a college admits you, it believes that, if you put in the effort, you’ll succeed there. Also know that, in some ways, college is easier than high school. For example, if you hate foreign language, in high school, you’re stuck. It’s required. But at most colleges, you’re given enough choice that you can usually avoid a dreaded subject. Plus, if you’re falling behind in a course, professors have office hours to help you, and in common killer courses such as calculus, there usually are free or low-cost tutors. The main reason kids fail at college is not that it’s too hard. It’s that they didn’t put in the time. Do that and I’ll bet you’ll do fine.

Ode to the Tutor

Let’s be honest for just a moment. With the current state of affairs in each state and at most colleges, even community colleges where class sizes are traditionally smaller, classes are getting bigger. Lectures halls are built to hold hundreds. And unless you’re a grad student or a special honors student you may never see a class with less than 30 people. That being said, taking a class is a terribly inefficient way to learn.


Think about it: You learn what the professor wants you to learn rather than what you want to learn. The class proceeds at the pace the professor chooses, which may well be too fast or slow for you. By the time you need to apply the knowledge in the workplace (if you ever do), you’ll probably have forgotten it.

Besides, unless it’s an online course, your body must be in that classroom Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 2 PM. What if you can’t focus? What if you are kinesthetic learner and not a visual or auditory learner? That lecture class might not help you understand or “learn” a subject at all.

In contrast, consider the tutor. You learn precisely what you need, at the pace you need to learn it, with all the feedback you need, at a time convenient for you, in the comfort of your home (or dorm, library, etc), and at a cost typically less than that of a college course. You get to ask the questions, you decide what to study, you get to progress into areas you want and decide when to study them.

The Truth About College Costs

The middle class is caught in the middle. The rich can afford colleges' big sticker price and the poor get generous financial aid. But how much money are we really talking about? I know it varies from state to state, but assuming you plan on attending a public university (or reasonably priced privet – yes, they do exist)

Average College Prices 2009-2010 School Year:

Public four-year $7,020 (up 7.5 percent from last year)

On the 4 year plan that’s $28,080 just for tuition and fees…

Students spend an average of about $3,200 on books in those 4 years, and transportation, room and board can add about $4,800 a year (more or less depending on region, housing situations, and spending habits)

That’s a low book average of just about $51,000 for a four year degree.

Now, don’t freak out (I can hear the cries of “we could never afford that” from all the parents), consider the following details:

Did You Know That...

32 percent of full-time students enrolled in public four-year colleges and universities attend institutions that charge tuition and fees between $3,000 and $6,000.

More than $168 billion in financial aid is available to students and their families.

About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid. In 2009-10, estimated aid in the form of grants and tax benefits averaged about $5,400 per student at public four-year colleges.

What's there for the middle class? One option: try for scholarships awarded by non-profits and wealthy individuals. This is good for all levels of economic status, but the middle class tend to need it most. Don’t ever pay for access to scholarship database or website. Remember if they ask for money, then they want yours and are not giving it away (scams are everywhere – it is really easy to make a credible looking and sounding website considering that it is an issue that effects millions every year).

Access huge databases of possible scholarships and grants free at websites like: collegeispossible.com, scholaraid.com, freschinfo.com, collegenet.com, salliemae.com, and srnexpress.com. On each site, you’ll answer questions and receive a list of relevant or possible target scholarships. Competition for such scholarships is always fierce so unless you’re a star or and “underrepresented” minority, it’s only worth applying for perhaps your ten best shots. Don’t waste time or get your hopes up too much.

The real cost of that degree after financial aid opportunities (not including the actual value of what was learned, the experiences, friends and connections made, and the fact that you can sell back the text books once your done) is somewhere around that original figure of $28,000. That’s not bad, considering the average wage right out of college across various occupations is about $31,000 and that’s just entry level jobs…