Answers to Your College Questions

Posted by Frank Palmasani on Monday, 12 November 2012 in Paying for College

Most parents of high school students recognize the value of a college education and actively discuss the benefits of getting a degree with their children early on. Before their high school years even begin, parents emphasize the necessity of good grades, strong test scores, and involvement in extracurricular activities to make their student a desirable candidate for college admissions. Unfortunately, there is one aspect of the college process that doesn’t seem to come up in dinner-table conversation: paying for college.

Posted by Frank Palmasani on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 in Paying for College

There has been a great deal written about rising student loan debt. According to the Institute for Student Access and Success, the average student debt in 2011 was $26,600. In 2010, it was reported that the average debt parents were taking on to support their students was approaching $35,000. Thus, one could argue that the real debt per family for four years of college is now averaging more than $60,000.

I do not recommend taking on excessive loan debt. The following ten loan options, when used wisely, can make it possible to take on manageable debt to help you pay for college.

Posted by College Countdown on Tuesday, 30 October 2012 in College Admissions

At what point does the price of a college education exceed its value? Are some college degrees more valuable than others? Our experts answer these pressing questions in this week's blog post.

Considering Cost

Posted by Harlan Cohen on Tuesday, 30 October 2012 in New College Parent

It’s up to you and your child. The best approach is to listen to your instincts, listen to your child, and discuss expectations. Appreciate that it’s not about the quantity of calls, but the quality.

It’s Too Much Calling If…

Posted by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 in College Admissions

Whether you meet a college representative at your school, a hotel, a National Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair, or in a college admissions office, here are some ways to be prepared:

1. Be sure to know the college rep’s full name and the college he or she represents.

Posted by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz on Monday, 22 October 2012 in Choosing Colleges

Before discussing what to do during a college visit, it’s important to note that visiting colleges is a critical part of developing a good college list and making a wise college choice. In addition, college visits offer one of the best opportunities to develop a relationship with the college admissions representative assigned to your high school. This is important because he or she is likely the first person to read your application and possibly make the accept/waitlist/decline decision.

Posted by Frank Palmasani on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 in Paying for College

Here is something that baffles me. Let’s assume that your son or daughter is one of the best basketball players in the country. You probably know what happens when your child possesses that gift: colleges come calling, willing to offer scholarships if the student chooses their school. Generally, student athletes end up choosing the college that provides the most attractive scholarship offer.

Posted by Harlan Cohen on Wednesday, 10 October 2012 in New College Parent

Yes. According to the Higher Education Research Institute, 61 percent of college students reported feeling some sort of homesickness. That’s a lot of homesick students. This number is big, and it’s gotten bigger over the past several years. Forget the flu—homesickness the first year of college is an epidemic. If your kid isn’t getting homesick, he or she is in the minority.

Knowing that homesickness is normal should better prepare you for when your child calls or expresses feelings of homesickness. Instead of being shocked, panicking, or trying to convince your child that he or she isn’t really homesick, you can listen and think, “My son loves home so much it’s making him sick. Oh, isn’t that wonderful.” Or, “My daughter loves home so much it’s making her sick. Oh, isn’t that wonderful.” No, it’s not really wonderful, but knowing it’s normal can help you be a better listener and help cure the sickness.

Posted by Harlan Cohen on Monday, 01 October 2012 in College

Sorority Rush Overview

Typically, rush is called “formal rush” because it’s a highly organized process lasting several weeks. Each institution has its own way of conducting rush, but this can give you a general idea of how it works.

Posted by Dr. Marcia Y. Cantarella on Monday, 24 September 2012 in College

First you need to be sure you understand the basis of the grade. Recheck the syllabus to see how the grades are determined.