Financial Aid Myths: Fact & Fiction

Soccer field sidelines are filled with parents sharing their college expense stories and sometimes “nightmares” that can create misinformation circulating through the community.    Depending on the listening parent’s effort to validate or debunk the information gleaned can determine how useful the shared experience will be in guiding their own children. Here’s a few common myths:

When a Letter of Recommendation Isn’t Just a Letter of Recommendation

Now, that school’s back in session (or about to be back in session), and the excitement of choosing colleges for application can be wearing thin (given that everyone who discovers or knows you’re a senior is asking where you’re applying), so what’s next?  Well, parents, since about July have been asking us about letters of…

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How to Make the Most of A Campus Tour: Creative Marbles in Chicago

All colleges have basic features: classrooms, residence halls and dining commons, people.  How education happens at a college depends on history and culture (i.e. the attitudes, beliefs and values–which can be shaped by history.)   Exploring colleges from multiple perspectives–academics, social life and the culture–will help students and parents make more confident choices about where…

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College Tuition: Is a Private University Always More Expensive than Public?

According to the Wall Street Journal and the College Board, public university tuition is rising faster than private universities around the nation.  “In-state residents at four-year public schools, tuition and fees are up 25.1% from the 2008-09 academic year; over the same time period, tuition and fees at private universities rose 13.2%.”  While public universities…

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Guest Post: Advice about the College Essay from a Graduated Senior to The Class of 2013

About the Author: In a few weeks, Hunter will be a Freshman at UC Berkeley, considering a major in Physics.  He applied to 10 colleges and wrote 18 short answer and full length college application essays in Fall 2011.  _________________________ Tips for writing college essays (from someone who wrote quite a few): Don’t sacrifice your…

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College Rankings: What Are They Worth?

College rankings and lists are not lacking–Forbes, US News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Newsweek–just to name a few.   And, for families already wondering about a kid’s chances of college acceptance, after 12 years of thinking and re-thinking every class, homework assignment and academic opportunity, not to mention the hours spent at sports practices, dance…

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Guest Post: Parent to Parent Advice about College Applications

Norman’s daughter will be starting her Freshman year at the University of Washington in Fall 2012.    He offers the following perspective, having just completing the college application process: _________________________ Applying for college is an exciting time for every family.  It represents all the hopes and dreams that your student has had since he or she…

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