Choosing a school | Finances | Road Trip | Unexpected Costs
FAFSA Checklist | Financial Aid and "EFC" |

Choosing a school:
This may seem like a simple task.  You must however have a strong opinion about a school or do some research on how some schools select students. You want to find a good match.  If you are a parent, welcome (our family went through this process two years ago). I hope to help calm your nerves with some sage advice.  If you are a student, keep your grades up and by all means take the SAT early to gauge your ability to score.  If you are below 1000 combined, start looking for a SAT prep class.

If you are looking for college and university statistics, a great resource can be found at:
http://nces.ed.gov/COLLEGENAVIGATOR/

More to come...

 
 

Finances:
This section is dedicated to information about the college application process including financial aid and how to fill out the F.A.F.S.A.  The official site for filling out the FAFSA is
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm  There are other sites that appear when you search for the FAFSA. There is no charge for filling out this federal form.  That is not to say these other sites do not add value.  These "FAFSA preparers" can help you get through this paperwork with your nerves intact and save you time.   An example of professional help filling out the FAFSA can be found at www.fafsa.com but you can do it yourself. If you elect to do it yourself, we hope the links below are of help.

Getting ready to Fill out the FAFSA

Financial Aid and the "EFC" (expected family contribution)

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O.K. so I have a list of schools.  Now what?  Now you have to visit some of these schools in order to find out if they are a good match.
Plan plan plan.  If traveling make sure you contact each school on your itinerary so they know you are coming.  make an appointment with the admissions office and take a tour.  They may all seem the same after the third school, but ask your questions anyway.  Once the guide has given you the rosy picture, ask the dreaded question with a frame "you have told us all the great things about the school, what are the things YOU don't like?"  Most of the time you will get a generic answer - the food is awful, the dorm is drafty.  Sometimes you get a jewel - The drop / add process needs work.  Suddenly you are prepared if you should find yourself in this situation.  Don't throw your guide under the bus by running back to admissions asking about the drop add process.  Ask some other students.  If it is a problem, it will surface quickly.

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Surprises can occur that impact cost.  If the school is "out of the way" make sure you take that into consideration.  Going away to school is tough enough.  If there is no major airport nearby, it can cost three times as much to get home as an urban setting.  If driving is the option, all parties need to agree that a car is needed.

If an emergency occurs where the school must close and send students home make sure you have a plan to get home or stay with a friend in the next town.

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