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The content published on our website is written within the context of  existing FAFSA rules.  These rules are subject to change for students entering or already in college in 2024.  Please read our newsletter to regular updates on the status of these proposed changes which, though codified into law, are still subject for revision by the Department of Education.”

The Process of Appealing for More Aid

Many students and parents are aware that, after they’ve been accepted by a college and awarded a financial aid package, they can appeal to the financial aid office to try and get better terms. That’s all good. But that awareness just sets up more questions: Is it worth appealing this award?   More specifically, has the college offered a fair, “market-level” offer?  Or have they already made a great offer that can’t be improved? Is it the type of school that…

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Staying Organized Now Paves the Way to Success Later

If I've said it once, I must have said it a million times: Students, check your email! March is the month where admissions decisions are generally released. Even if students have applied to some institutions early, March is the month that it all comes together. Admission decisions, financial aid awards, portal updates, and deadlines seem to be buzzing around at high speed! So how do families keep all of this information organized? Organization is paramount in accepting the best-fitting admissions…

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Deferred or Waitlisted? Why You Should Write a Letter of Continued Interest

What does it mean that I am Waitlisted? A college has finished reviewing your application and decided to put you on their “waitlist”. You are placed on “hold” in a waiting room of sorts with that college. They may or may not accept you. It is important to do your research and see how many students that specific college lets off the waitlist. Some colleges go through much more of their waitlist than others. Colleges usually begin to accept students…

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The College that Just Sent an Acceptance Letter WANTS You to Ask for a Better Price

“Wait, what?!  People negotiate college prices???” Yep.  All the time. In fact, most colleges wish that more accepted applicants would ask for a lower price. Now pick yourself up off the floor and keep reading.  Because knowing this simple college cost hack may well save you thousands of dollars. You Say Negotiate, They Say Appeal (let ’em have this one) Before we get started – a quick tip about word choice.  Colleges care a lot about keeping up appearances, especially when…

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Why “Safety, Target, Reach” Doesn’t Make Sense Anymore

What is Safety, Target, Reach Anyway? Google “build a college list.” Watch a college search webinar. Read a book about how to apply to college. Guaranteed, they’ll all tell you some version of the same thing: the list of colleges you apply to should include schools that fit into each of three categories: Safety – where you have a 75% or higher chance of getting accepted Target – where you have about a 50/50 shot at getting accepted Reach –…

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Julie Bortoli Headshot

3 Essential Habits of a Successful Collegiate

Approximately 64% of American college students complete a degree within 6 years at an institution where they first enroll. While other students transfer or graduate from another institution, nearly 25-30% of students dropout of college. Reasons for dropping out can vary from person to person but growing trends continue to be for personal and mental health reasons, the rising cost of living, deciding to enter the workforce or failure in school. There are several ways to avoid academic failure, and…

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Billie Jo Weis

5 Steps to Take After You Submit the FAFSA

Now that you have submitted the FAFSA, what’s next? Even though the federal deadline to submit the ‘23/24 FAFSA is 6/30/2024, you will want to submit the FAFSA as early as possible, especially for first-time freshmen. The Department of Education released the FAFSA on October 1st and many families have already completed it or are on the cusp of getting it completed and submitted. Submitting the FAFSA is just step one in the process. Here are 5 steps to take…

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How You Pick Your College Could Cost You Lots

No matter if it’s cars or candy bars, every marketplace has one thing in common.  The seller hopes to influence the buyer’s decision by appealing to their emotions.  That’s the best way to get the buyer to pay more than they would otherwise.  But the buyer knows that if they can keep their emotions in check and stick to a rational comparison of pros and cons, they have a better chance of paying less than they would otherwise.  In every…

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How to resolve issues with your loan servicer

If you have been watching the news, you know Student loan servicers have been under scrutiny from organizations like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They have been staunch advocates for borrowers against deceptive and unethical servicing practices by loan servicers which have defrauded millions of borrowers out of student loan forgiveness. The Department of Education (ED) has made significant changes to “right these wrongs” with their most recent changes and updates to several repayment programs. Every borrower must understand their…

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Federal PLUS Loan – Another option to pay for college

College can be unaffordable for students who cannot secure other funding options. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines a student’s eligibility to receive financial aid. However, the aid offered through the FAFSA application will not be enough to cover most students’ school expenses. Therefore, students must secure other funding sources such as scholarships, grants, and payment plans. Once all other funding options and sources are exhausted, parents can apply for additional loan funding. Parents can ch0ose to…

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