There is no doubt that making college more affordable would ease some of the burden being felt by economically struggling students and families.

Public Agenda is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public opinion research group dedicated to researching and publishing the American public’s opinions on a range of issues. In February, the organization published its findings from a November 2010 phone poll of 1,000 adults living in the U.S.  In the poll, respondents were instructed to identify whether they feel that they are “struggling” in the current economy, and if so, to what degree. Of the respondents, 40% identified themselves as struggling “a lot,” and 42% said they are struggling “a little.” The results of the survey may provide some insight into the situations of average American families who feel that their current financial situations are bleak. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: college admissions, college tuition, cost of college
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You’ve been accepted–and you were awarded money!  From more than one school!  So who has the best offer?  Who provides the most financial aid? Now you have another factor– money–to consider when deciding on your best-fit college. Reviewing award letters can be confusing, so I’ve outlined the key steps to take to determine your best award package:

First Things First
When you receive your award letter, be sure to read it carefully and call the school’s financial aid office if you have questions or if your personal information–like your name, address, Social Security number–is incorrect.  If your Expected Family Contribution is listed, check it against your Student Aid Report and ensure the numbers match. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: award letter analysis, college award letters, college financial aid, cost of college, student loans
Posted in Paying for College | 1 Comment »