College Planning

When you are looking to save for college, it is easy to find yourself mired in an alphabet soup of options — ESAs, 529s, UGMAs, UTMAs, and IRAs. But each of these options comes with a unique set of advantages and disadvantages you will want to know upfront. Choosing the right way to save can…

There are plenty of ways to save money for future college costs, track down financial aid, and take out student loans. And having that money to invest in education is truly invaluable. But what’s even better is decreasing the cost upfront. So you spend less of your savings and reduce — or even eliminate —…

Undoubtedly, the coronavirus is having a significant impact on the college planning process. The vast majority of Americans remain under stay-at-home orders. Universities and high schools alike are shuttered. And students, parents, and teachers have suddenly been thrown into the new world of full-time, remote learning. Predictions vary for how long remote learning will be…

What matters most when you’re trying to get into college? In a word: grades. If you do nothing else in high school, keep your grades up. At a basic level, it really is that simple. More specifically, the factors that matter most to colleges are these: high school GPA grades in college preparatory courses strength…

A college education can be a significant financial investment. So most parents and aspiring students look to financial aid to make otherwise costly institutions affordable options for their families. The majority of students — 85% of them — do receive some form of aid. But the amount they obtain depends considerably on one very important…

Picking a college for your university-bound high schooler is an exciting—and intimidating—process. There are so many choices! You and your child want to choose a school that helps meet his or her needs and goals. And then there’s the significant cost of a college education. It is essential that you select a school that fits…

With more than 4,000 degree-granting institutions in the United States, choosing a college can be agonizing for parents and students alike. The pressure to choose the right school among all these options, then get accepted and figure out how to pay for it, can be intense. But does it need to be? Why not just…