Another chart showing college tuition is increasing at a steepening rate: And is causing families to spend a greater portion of the family budget to pay for college expenses, thus making college “more expensive”: (If unable to view chart, click)
Tag: College admissions
Summer = College Essay Writing?
For parents of rising Seniors, summer can seem like the ideal unstructured time to get a jump on college essays. For the average rising Seniors, maybe not so much. Take a listen to our podcast about how to combine summer vacation and college essay writing: For more information about college essay writing, see our previous…
College Tuition Set to Keep Rising with No Relief In Sight
Since 1980, college tuition has risen 945%, in comparison with inflation’s rise of 193% during that same period–meaning all purchases have increased in price, but college tuition has increased at a ratio of 9 to 1–based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems…
If You Need Your Appendix Removed, Go to Oklahoma
As seen in Zero Hedge: “What does an appendectomy cost?” College tuition isn’t the only cost that’s rising in the United States. Source: Goldman Sachs
College Admissions & Financial Aid 101: The Expanded Edition
After facilitating a lively Brown Bag Lunch discussion at Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA called, “College Admissions & Financial Aid 101”, I wanted to l expand on a few answers, as well as offer additional tips for families: About the information college’s review in applications during admissions decision making: The four main areas of…
Meaning Is In the Eye of the Beholder
In reference to the picture below: Proud Momma Duck*? Conversation starter when college students call home to ask for more money? Or teasing refrain uttered by teens as they roll their eyes? Perspective can change meaning. *Referring to the University of Oregon Ducks Photo Credit: Creative Marbles Consultancy, 2013
School + New Town = College
Picking colleges for application or enrollment isn’t just picking a new school. Most likely, teenagers are moving away from their hometowns. Knowing something about the place being moved to as well as the college may add insights to the searching. The Atlantic Cities reported on the “Brainiest Cities” based on an online survey measuring cognitive…
When is “Enough” Enough?
When is “enough”, enough? To answer this question, let’s define “enough”. In my experience, an outside (read: someone else’s) definition of “enough” may provide a starting point, but knowing when I’m “enough” is an inside job. Clients and friends time and again have reinforced the notion that “trusting my own experience” will be the true…
It’s Never Too Early (or Late) to Plan for College Costs
After talking with News10 Sacramento this morning about financial aid and paying for college, thought I’d share a few additional tips and expand on a few points we discussed: Understanding the Family’s Finances: The more parents can understand the family finances, the better planning can take place for the additional expense of college tuition. Some…
What Trends in Public University Tuition Means for College Bound Seniors
Public universities and colleges are partially funded by student tuition and partially by state and local government revenues (i.e. taxes collected), alongside subsidies by the Federal government and private donations. Public funding is then allocated per full time student, as shown in the map below. Alaska contributes the most per student at $14,837, while the…
Choosing Harvard: Thoughts About a “Prestigious” University
As Juniors and their families begin sizing up prospective colleges for application and weighing the value of a college’s reputation, I thought I’d share I came to be a Harvard graduate, along with thoughts about a recent New York Times article, Measuring College Prestige vs. Cost of Enrollment. Quotes from the New York Times article will…
Ever Wonder Where The Day Went?
The following chart represents the average time spent each day on a variety of activities for ALL American adults (people aged 15 or older), from the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent American Time Use study. Might give you some answers to “where did all my time go today?” pondering. Some highlights: Only .47 hours of…
The Student Debt Dilemma
While debt can be a useful tool to finance a college education, potential borrowers (and their families) would be prudent to think through their choices, as we discussed in a earlier 6-part series on fiscal planning. And, to add emphasis on the need to think ahead, Fidelity Investments recently found that, “[e]ven with the…
Greek Life: One Perspective on College Fraternities & Sororities
Clients often want to consider colleges where they’ll be opportunities to join Sororities and Fraternities, also known as Greek Life. In response to clients’ questions, I interviewed Drew, a former Creative Marbles Consultancy client, Fraternity member and soon-to-be-graduated college student with a degree in Biology. He talked with me about how joining a fraternity added to his…
812% = Rise of College Text Book Prices Since 1980
While families know they’ll pay for college textbooks, the actual expense may be seen as, “OMG, ONE more thing I have to pay for?!?” When families may already feel limited in savings and income to pay for rising college tuition, planning ahead can help reduce stress. Knowing the average annual textbook expense at potential colleges,…