Do You Wonder if College Admissions Offices are Single-Handedly Keeping the U.S. Postal Service In Business?

Availability of information is not the problem when starting a search for colleges.  The sources of information–admissions statistics, YouTube, college websites, college search engines, Facebook pages, parents swapping stories on the sidelines at the soccer game, alumni returning to high schools to talk about their college experience, aunties and uncles freely offering college advice at…

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How to Reduce the “Yuck” in Preparing for the SAT & ACT

The SAT and ACT are unlike tests students see in high school.  First, teenagers will need to be awake at 7:45 am on a Saturday morning, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, knowing the score will play a role (although how large is unknown) in determining their competitiveness for admissions to colleges of their choice.  Second, teenagers…

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“Demonstrated Interest” & College Admissions

Parents know from experience that relationships and networks can create opportunities in the job world.  Often, moms and dads will apply this same “build a relationship” thinking to the college admissions process, to try and gain an advantage for their rising Senior student.  The theory is that the more the kid makes himself/herself known to…

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Guest Post: The Savings for College Challenge, Part 4 – Saving for College vs. Saving for Retirement

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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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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