College Admissions Can Test Even Your Last Nerve

Colleges that don’t have early admissions deadlines sometimes review applications in batches and send out acceptances AND denials in groups, starting in the fall and winter, even though the admissions office website says that admissions decisions will be sent in March or April.   There may be no particular rhyme or reason why some applications…

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The Human Element of Learning

In the relationship between the student and the teacher, when the personalities are in sync, then you know it.  A conflict–temporary or more on-going–can skew learning and create longer lasting consequences than just the school year.  Understanding any conflict, objectively, takes some effort on the teenager’s, parent’s and teacher’s parts.    What’s a general complaint?…

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No Free Lunch: A Student Loan Borrower’s Tale

My student loans were just paid-off this year–13 years after I first assumed them**.  I originally borrowed $18,500 to pay for graduate school, plus a $740 loan origination fee.  I ended up repaying about $29,500, which includes interest and principal–approximately $10,260 was paid in interest alone. I’m not particularly attentive to my expenses or money…

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Northwestern University’s 2012 Common Application Supplement Essay Defined

Northwestern University includes one essay question as part of their Common Application Supplement.  The question is designed to gain insight to the student’s interests and their potential match with Northwestern, which reads: What are the unique qualities of Northwestern – and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying – that make you…

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The (*$%^&@!) YOWCH of College Admissions

To the Senior and possibly their parents, who’ve been anxiously awaiting December 15th early admissions notification deadlines, checking their email every 30 seconds from midnight, a college admissions denial email can sound like: “We received a record number of blah, blah, blah–oh, my goodness, JUST TELL ME IF I’M IN OR NOT ALREADY–and while you’re,…

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The Six Figure Cost of College: In Dollars & Sense

The words, “financial aid,” can send chills down any parent’s spine, as they wonder, “How in the (insert expletive) are they going to pay for college, without going bankrupt?”  Many American families approach college, like other purchases in their lives–dream big and figure out how to pay later.    Parents often believe, “If my kid…

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Guest Post: The Savings for College Challenge, Part Three – How Much to Save in a 529

About the authors: For over 25 years, Cynthia S. Meyers, CFP®, MBA, has assisted people with their Lifetime Financial Planning–helping to build and preserve wealth in every area of life.  Jenny Hood, CFP® has been a paraplanner with Cynthia S. Meyers for five years and enjoys being a part of the financial planning process.   _____________…

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“College Admissions Speculation”: Let the Comparisons Begin

Every Senior and his/her parents want to know, “Which college is going to accept me and which college is going to deny me?”—for although, the Senior and their parents, say out loud that college is about getting a good job, moving away from home etc, a college acceptance or denial also can feel—internally—like a validation…

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