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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Financial Aid Reality Check (That Won’t Cost Your Checkbook)

We’re hearing from parents of seniors, who’re looking through their check registers and not seeing $30,000 to $60,000 available for next year’s college expenses, nor in their savings or investments.   Actually, we’re hearing from parents of juniors, parents of sophomores, parents of freshmen and parents of pre-schoolers about the continued rise in costs and…

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Potential Can Be Nurtured with Effort: More about College Selection

“Doing your homework”  when it comes to choosing colleges is essential.  A former client and current college freshman’s mom, recently shared her experience how to do that “homework” and how pleased she is with the family’s final choice for her son–UC Santa Cruz.   Her son is growing, even in an unexpected triple roommate situation, and…

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Guest Post: A Parents’ Perspective Times Two

About the Authors: Anne’s & Dan’s two daughters both moved away from home this fall to start college–one as an upper division transfer at University of San Francisco and one as a freshman at Baylor University.  Their experience helping both daughters’ pay college expenses was featured, along with Creative Marbles, in the October issue of Comstocks…

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“ARRRRGH! Why is High School So Stressful?!?”

The worry that comes with trying to understand how actions today will affect one’s unknown future can create stress for anyone.  Now, add that one is 15, 16 or 17–with limited life experience–trying to predict their future based on their academic performance on one class assignment today, and there’s even further cause creating stress.  …

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“My Student is Average. Where Can She/He Get In?”

First, “average” doesn’t mean “not admissible to any college, anywhere.”  What is  important for an “average” (and I use “average” loosely) student and their family is the college selection process–just as important as for EVERY student wanting to go to college.    The selection process for the “average” student may include a different scrutiny of…

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Gaining Scholarships & Paying for College is a Process

The recent October Comstock’s Magazine–a business publication in our Sacramento region–featured Art’s & Jill’s advice to plan for rising college expenses and answer the all-important how to apply for scholarships question.  Click here to read more. Financing a college education is a series of choices–sometimes over years.    However, waiting until the first tuition bill arrives…

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What’s the Least Amount I Will Have to Pay for College?

Free.  How do we find a free college education or at least greatly reduced from the published price?   Makes sense families are concerned about the costs of college and their ability to pay for those continuing-to-rise costs. Scholarships seem like the likeliest possibility for reducing the out-of-pocket costs.  They are free money…(i.e. you don’t have…

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