Parents are often faced with the decision of whether or not to help pay for their child’s college education. If you ask high school students whether mom and dad should pay for college, you’ll hear most of them shout “Yes!” But should parents be expected to foot the bill?

If you have a comfortable salary with reasonable household expenses and are financially able to cover tuition and other college expenses, there’s probably no reason not to help. Unfortunately, in today’s economy, many parents are not in a position to do this without dipping into their savings or retirement funds.

Before you decide to take out a second mortgage or ravage your savings accounts to pay for your child’s college education, consider some of the following benefits to asking your child to pay for some or all of his/her educational expenses. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Paying for College, should parents pay for college
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Most students are aware of the importance of taking the SAT and the ACT in high school, but there’s another test you may want to add to that list –- the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Why? There are several good reasons that students opt to take this test, and some begin as early as the 9^th grade:
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: National Merit Scholarship Program, PSAT
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Making the transition from high school to college can be challenging, but even more so for those with a disability. While secondary schools are required to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, colleges are only required to provide appropriate academic adjustments to ensure they do not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These accommodations may include priority registration, note takers, course substitutions, extended test time, TTY in dorm rooms, and adaptive software/hardware for school computers.

Although a student is not required to disclose his/her disability to a college when applying, if he/she wishes to receive reasonable accommodations on campus, notification should be given as soon as possible to allow time to implement the required accommodations. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: disability rights, reasonable accommodation
Posted in College Search | 1 Comment »

For many students, living on campus for the first time is one of the most exciting moments in their lives, but with average housing fees ranging from about $8,535 at four-year public schools to almost $9,700 at private schools (The College Board), it’s also one of the most expensive. Most students cannot afford a private suite and should expect to share living space with at least one or two more students to help reduce the cost. While some dorms offer just the basics (a place to sleep, study, shower and eat), some savvy colleges have upgraded their campus housing facilities to provide much more. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: dorm rooms, living on campus
Posted in Life at College | 1 Comment »

Most students know that their high school guidance counselors provide resources for financial aid assistance, such as locating scholarships for college or understanding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But many students don’t take full advantage of what a guidance counselor has to offer. As discussed in Part I, guidance counselors can help you select the right academic classes to ensure you are completing the courses required for college admission; they can also get you on the right track for college admissions testing.

Here are some additional reasons why you should be planning a trip to see your high school guidance counselor… Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: college guidance, high school guidance counselor
Posted in College Admissions | 3 Comments »

We know that high school is hectic and you barely have time to sleep. You may not want to add another meeting to your schedule, but your guidance counselor is someone you should know from the very start of your high school career. He or she will be a valuable resource for everything related to college, as well as someone you can turn to for any issues you may be having at school. Don’t wait until the beginning of your senior year to pop in for a friendly visit, as you may find yourself waiting in line with a bunch of other seniors who didn’t take the time to plan ahead.

Here’s why you should make the time NOW to get to know your high school guidance counselor…

Get on the Right Track. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: college guidance, high school guidance counselor
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October is the beginning of the early decision period for many schools. While the option to apply for early decision may seem attractive, there are many things to consider before taking this route in the college admission process.

Are you 100% confident the school you are applying to is your best fit?

Remember, you can only apply to one college for early decision, and if you are accepted, you are contractually bound to attend that school next fall.  You’ll be required to withdraw any outstanding admission applications from other institutions and may need to put down a substantial deposit, as well. Once you are accepted, that’s it. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: applying early, early decision
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