Since Donald Trump started his second term, the federal government has made so many changes that it can be hard to keep track of all of them. But for families with children in college or who will soon be going to college, changes that affect higher education may be of [...]
High school students and parents are often bombarded by well-meaning friends and relatives who think they know it all when it comes to college admissions, the college search process, college applications, essay writing, and more. But truly great advice comes from experts. Here’s a list of podcasts where you can [...]
Last month, the Department of Education announced the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will not be available until December 1. Historically, the FAFSA opens on October 1. But, after last year’s delayed roll out on January 1 and the myriad problems encountered by students, families, and college financial [...]
In 2016, when my first child started college, Harvey Mudd College in California was the most expensive college in the country, with a total cost of attendance of just over $70,000 per year. In 2020, when child number two started school, Columbia topped the list at $81,000. For the 2020-2021 [...]
If you are a high school senior or the parent of one, you likely are aware of the problems that have plagued the new FAFSA since it became available at the end of December. Not only was the FAFSA's release delayed by nearly three months, but there have been several [...]
Just in time for the holidays, the U.S. Department of Education is giving families the gift of a new and improved FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Set to be released in December, an exact date has not yet been announced. But before you add "completing the FAFSA" to [...]
In a 6-3 decision announced on June 29, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of race in college admissions (a.k.a. affirmative action) is unconstitutional. No matter your opinion, the Court's ruling will impact college applicants, colleges themselves, legacy admissions, financial aid and college essays. This blog post will summarize [...]
In a previous blog post, I wrote about how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is going to change this year. Recently, the Department of Education announced the new form might not be ready by October 1, the date on which the application has opened since 2016. [...]
This is my third in a series of blog posts on the increasing cost of college in the United States. In the first post, I offered several reasons why college is so expensive. In the second, I explained that college may not actually be as costly as it seems, as [...]
As 2023 begins, there are several major changes that will impact the college admissions landscape this year and beyond. Below are descriptions of four of them, along with one wildcard. Pell Grant Increase For students and families relying on need-based financial aid, the Pell Grant increase is welcome news. The [...]
