We are pleased to share our thoughts and insights on everything college, before during, and after.
Planning the education to career path after high school begins early and planning is critical.
As parents of our own college students, now young adults with families of their own, we understand the challenges faced by family and work to provide guidance and advice.
The joy of the holiday season is upon us all. Excitement and anticipation of the holiday season, the arrival of snow, and waiting to hear the reindeer land on the roof are what make December a wonderful time. For many, it is the exchanging of gifts, words of happiness exchanged with family, and blessings for those missing or silent.
The excitement holds for high school seniors and those restarting the education pathways. Anticipating the arrival of college admission decisions, offers of acceptance, and a merit scholarship can be more challenging than waiting to hear if one made the naughty or nice list. Hanging such notice on the refrigerator door can silence the age-old question, where are you going to college? The holiday break is also when college students return from campus, many for the first time since departing home. Parents await the arrival in hopes of good tidings and joy.
As we go to print, Admissions Departments at college and universities throughout New England and across the country are like Santa and his elves, busy at work making decisions on who will be part of the incoming Class of 2022. Counselors will be burning the midnight oil reviewing hundreds of applications, essays, and recommendations to deliver the all-important communication; Congratulations, you’ve been accepted! Keep listening for the bell!
May 2022 Graduates
What’s ahead – What’s the Plan?
Journey Beyond High school – College, work, blend of both, what’s the discussion at the dining room table. I currently have three groups of seniors in my private practice, all graduating in May of 2022, all following their paths of interest. They’re college-bound, attending an apprenticeship, and entering a technology position in the workforce. Today, the education to career pathway is opening up new options to meet the demands of family’s and society. As the Class of 2022 will tell you, whatever the direction, it’s essential to have a plan.
Exiting College – the graduating class of 2022 is gearing up for the most exciting time of a student college life, the Spring semester. Now and through the Spring semester, soon-to-be college graduates should take the time to kick start their job search and create a preliminary financial budget. Walking across the stage with a job in hand makes graduating even sweeter. Start networking, schedule information conversations, and seek out introductions to the hiring manager. Also, remember, if you financed your college experience through education loans, repayment begins six (6) months after you graduate!!
Have You Completed Your FAFSA?
If been writing about the FAFSA for the last few months. So, I’ll ask again. Have you completed and filed your FAFSA?
If you graduate high school this May 2022 and plan to continue your education at a 4YR college or university, Community College, Trade and Professional school, and need help with financing, completing the FAFSA is a must. If you are applying for scholarships or might have some skin in the game (take a low-interest federal loan) to pay tuition, room, board, and other costs, the FAFSA is a must for you. It takes 30minutes…The door opener to year 13th of your education journey!!
My First Semester Was a Blast
But what about your grades?
For sure, the holiday break is a time when new, first-year college students return home for the winter break anticipating good food, long naps, and reconnecting with friends. I’ve navigated the “how are you doing” conversation more than once as the parent of four. What I’ve learned (the hard way) is we need to have patience. Yes, it is incredibly vital to know how the new college student is doing, especially if assistance is necessary; however, cracking the shell may require time. Trust me. You can watch and listen to nonverbal, but try to avoid the Q & A session on the travels home from campus. They’re with you till January. http://www.getcollegegoing.com/semester-break-check-time/
Check List, Road Trips, and Crunching the Number
High school juniors and their parents have lots to do at this mid-point of the academic year. Consider these:
Take the Early Planning Quiz
Not to be forgotten, parents of middle school, ninth and tenth grades should be taking the time to begin road testing plans for the future. It is amazing how fast the calendar turns and before you know it, it’s cap and gown time. Are you ready? Take a short quiz.
Managing a Workforce
A lesser-known provision created through the CARES Act signed into law in March 2020 allows an employer to make up to $5,250 in student loan payments for an employee annually. Funds traditionally tied to tuition benefits for new educational courses can now shift in this new direction. Until 2025, funds reallocated to help employees with education loan debt are considered tax-free and excluded from employer payroll tax. So if you’re struggling to hire or retain employees, this might be your differentiator. https://finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/employer-pay-5-250-annually-190007628.html
Finally, in this season of giving, let’s all make a donation or two to a local non-profit or organization helping our citizens, next door or around the US.
Time to Reconnect
Time for family gatherings, a delicious spread, conversation, and giving thanks for all of our blessings. While we are celebrating, it can also be stressful for high school students immersed in planning their journey after high school and college students who have experienced their first semester. Parents need to have their best listening skills turned on to monitor their student’s behavior and when appropriate ask questions gently to determine if everything is going well. Academics, health, and emotions. Whether they’re living at home or returning, prepare a little and have happy turkey daybreak. www.grownandflown.com
Unfreeze my Loan Payment
We are inching closer to the January 2022 deadline for borrowers of Federal Education Loans to return to repayment. In March of 2020, the Administration suspended payments for all federal loans and temporarily reduced interest rates to zero. The freeze will end on January 31, 2022. So it is time to pull out the budget, update the numbers and prepare to restart your loan payment. Need help? Contact your current loan servicer to learn ore your options or StudentAid.gov.
Gateway to Tuition Assistance
Last year approximately thirty-five (35%) of eligible families did not complete and file the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Some may have voluntarily decided to go off to work or the service after high school. If a family selected not to continue their education journey due to cost, completing and filing the FAFSA just might have been the answer. The FAFSA is used to help determine a wide range of financial aid and tuition assistance from sources including schools, private scholarship providers, and others. Completing it can answer the question, is a post-secondary education affordable to me. Don’t leave money on the table. www.fafsa.gov.ed
NOVEMBER CHECKLISTS
Senior Year
Junior Year
Freshman and Sophomore Years
Perfect time to be preparing for the pivotal year, the junior year, when academic and personal readiness turns to thoughts about post-high school goals as well as a family’s ability to pay for college. Lots to learn, research and questions. Information is power.
Transfer & Re-Enter – skies the limit and schools, have you on their radar. Scholarships are now available for transfers, and companies have ways to support their workforce financially. Time is now.
Refi to Manage Debt
Exiting college with educational debt student loans is all the rage. Washington is talking about it and so too are almost every digital and print media outlet. College debt is the result of many things, too many to list here. If you’re carrying excessive debt, high-interest rates, and need assistance, especially with private, education refinancing can help. Turn to a refinancing lender or independent organizations like AAA Northeast to learn how refinancing can help.
Calming the Waters
Have a question. We’re happy to provide our insights and answers. Never a pitch or a teaser. Follow us, learn more, or connect at https://linktr.ee/getcollegegoing.
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Meet and Greet – December 2, 2021, 4 PM to 8 PM – Route One BNG Expo, Springhill Suites Hotel, RT One North, Peabody
Determining how to pay for college, all post-high school education programs is critical. Savings, scholarships, need-based aid, and other tuition assistance all play a role in determining how to meet educational costs. Financial aid is available to help supplement a family’s ability to meet the cost of attending a four-year, two-year community college, trade and professional school, full-time or part-time.
October marks the start of the application filing period and the completion of the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This vital process is part of determining a family’s eligibility for need-based financial aid, including grants, loans, work-study, and many private scholarships.
Financial Need
Complete the form, hit submit, and the FAFSA® process calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an amount of money estimated that a family could contribute to the cost of college.
Cost of Education minus Expected Family Contribution = Demonstrated Financial Need
Many families may feel that the EFC does not represent their ability to finance the cost of college, financial resources available. For many, it does help illustrate the initial cost to a family and is an essential step in finding an affordable educational path after high school.
Affordable College Choice
As illustrated below, three schools with different or similar costs offer varying tuition assistance packages, including scholarships and need-based financial aid. The EFC remains the same; however, the final net price may be different.
It’s essential to consider a range of college options. Each will evaluate a student’s interest and potential compared to their enrollment needs. If interested will offer their investment of tuition assistance in the hopes, a family will select them. The broader the range, the greater the options.
Determining affordability begins with filing the FAFSA
FINDING THE RIGHT EDUCATION TO CAREER CHOICE
The Fall has arrived, school is in full gear, and student activities are filling up the house calendar. It is the time for college planning. Parents of high school juniors and seniors begin the countless hours of managing their student’s journey of selecting the education to career path after high school. Stressful and overwhelming for many, especially for first-time families. Here are some thoughts that might help with the experience:
Create a college plan – dream location, academic, and personal fit, cost, budget, and affordability are just a few of the many areas of the plan. Financing, expectations, goals, and capabilities are fundamental to finding the right college choice.
Turn to resources – schedule and meet with your School Counselor – their role, expertise, and knowledge are valuable parts in determining options and how they will assist through ongoing one-to-one counseling and coaching meetings.
What’s expected – understand the rules, deadlines, admissions requirements, financial aid eligibility, and everything in between. How does a 4-year school differ from a 2-year, community college, or technical school? Be a sponge asking questions and inquiring why.
Learn about college cost – education after high school should be considered an investment. It is critical to understand how college costs differ, private ($56,000) versus public ($29,000), in-state, out-of-state, and what it means to a graduating student’s ROI.
Cast a broad search of potential schools that match a student’s profile and aspirations. Draw on academic strengths, talent (athletic and performing arts), and personal desires to create a list of schools that challenge your student. Use online resources to build a list of college options that can be evaluated by visiting campuses, speaking with admission representatives, and learning about possibilities.
Seek out financial aid – should I apply, make too much money, I’ll never qualify are myths and misunderstandings—everyone tuition assistance, including the possibility of need-based financial aid. Designed to help supplement a family’s ability to meet college costs, need-based financial aid, when added to savings, scholarships, and other resources can lessen the financial burden. But one will never know until they complete and file the FAFSA – Free Application for Student Aid
Finally, communication is vital – as the parent of four and worked with countless other parents; communication is the key to finding the right education to career choice. Everyone involved needs to be on the same page, understanding expectations, deadlines, tasks, and the PLAN.
Download your free College Planning Overview and get a start on finding the right education match after high school!
Over the past few months, I have been reading, updating information, and talking to parents and higher education colleagues. I must confess I am concerned. It appears we are on the doorsteps of another year of College Planning Paralysis (CPP). Coined by Shelley Honeycutt, founder of Pivotal College Years, College Planning Paralysis is a syndrome affecting families of high school and college-aged students. It is discouraging to speak with and learn of the sheer number of parents suffering from CPP.
Most family’s experience a mild case of College Planning Paralysis (CPP), missing a few deadlines, a campus visit, or a task that generally doesn’t cause an issue. Schools are selected, applications submitted (admission and financial aid), and students ultimately enroll. But in other cases, CPP can throw households into a tailspin. Relationships become tested and the mental and physical well-being of the family. Stress, fatigue, anxiety, and panic become part of one’s daily life. CPP can disrupt school and work performance. CPP plays out in many ways, including:
Tips to Avoid College Planning Paralysis
As I mentioned in a previous post, the pandemic has changed the game. So STOP the College Planning Paralysis and get moving today. Understand the rules and processes of admissions and financial aid and how decisions can affect family budgets, long-term debt, and sound education choices.
CALM THE WATERS – Are you feeling anxious? Have questions? As a parent of four working college graduates, having spent my career in college and high school enrollment (admissions and financial aid) and marketing positions, I understand the complexity of college planning. I welcome the chance to provide clarity and insights to your questions. Feel free to reach me by text or telephone at 617-240-7350 or email at tom@getcollegegoing.com.