Hunting for Scholarships – Are You??

by Tom O'Hare | Feb 10, 2025 | Uncategorized

Are You Hunting?

For some, it might be considered the last refuge to pay for college; for others, it is the saving grace to reduce borrowing and out-of-pocket expenses. Out of the gate, the harsh reality is that it takes time, and there is no single resources to help uncover programs. That is true, but…..

Every years scholarship available to first-time and returning undergraduates, grades and professional students seem to go unused.

Eligible programs are provided by local and regional businesses, nationwide companies and high-power brands, your local and regional Chamber of Commerce, trade groups or foundations, employers, and philanthropic groups. All aim to provide financial assistance to students and families.

But …. yes, it takes time, patience, and some grit to find, determine eligibility, apply, and potentially be awarded valuable financial resources. Right, there are no guarantees, but

When to start? 9^th grade. Most students and families are encouraged to begin hunting too late, in the senior year of high school. You have lost precious time! Yes, you apply then, but the blocking and tackling of finding them conflict with preparing for the final preparation of submitting admission and financial aid applications. Plus, the excitement of ending senior year – everyone is burnt out!

Where to Look?

• HS Guidance—awarded at graduation, the guidance department lists all local scholarships, application guidelines, and some from outside resources. Knock on their door and ask for a copy of the list. Find out if it is an invitation-only scholarship or an open application for the entire 12^th Attend a session where many guidelines are reviewed for rising 12th-grade students and families.
• Internet – a vast number of scholarship programs can be found by running queries on the Internet. Schedule time during your day, evening, or weekend. Create your search queries or subscribe to search engines (lead generation companies) that will supply you with programs they have compiled.
  • Register with one or more national scholarship engines, including Fastweb, Going Merry, iGrad, Bold, Scholarship America, and Big Future – provide leads to programs that offer opportunities to research and apply.
    • Note these organizations may share or sell your demographic information.
  • Register with Google, setting daily and weekly alerts.
• Newspapers, radio commercials, last years winners 

Mechanics – Build a list, check it twice, and be ready to apply before deadlines. The longer the list, the more chances of securing financial resources – Scholarship Cash. Create a spreadsheet listing the eligible programs, documentation, and application requirements, including if a recommendation, essay, HS transcript, financial aid details (SAI), or an interview is required. Most importantly – deadlines. Apply on time!!

HINT: Applications are available now!
Double Hint: Many applications are available to returning college students in their second, third, and fourth years. Keep on hunting!

2025 – Life After High School

by Tom O'Hare | Jan 2, 2025 | Uncategorized

WOW – 2025 – I hope you are waking up every day with excitement in your step and joy in your voice as you take on the challenges and opportunities of the new year.

For many college-bound high school seniors and their families, the waiting game has ended with the arrival of acceptance and scholarship offers. More are still on their way. Fear not if you’re not heading to college—many exciting paths await. Tune in next month to learn where.

Work to Do Before September

The hard work of applying now turns to investigating and narrowing choices to reveal the final selection for September 2025. Here are a few things to help get to YES to my college:

• Finalize your financing plan, combining what has already been awarded with savings, monthly disposable income, FAFSA-determined financial aid, and external scholarships.
• Visit campuses and schedule meetings (administration, faculty, academic advisers, and coaches (for talent)) to confirm that educational, social, and personal needs & expectations align with the college’s offerings. Be a consumer!
• Keep hunting for scholarships, a meaningful way to close the gap.
• Look ahead to the spring to organize legal and medical documents to protect your 18-year-old student and the family.

What Does My Crystal Ball Say for 2025

 Fearing FAFSA—Over 40% of all eligible high school students and families* have not filed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Why? Entering the trades, military, or workforce after high school is OK. The curious mind says no, that’s not the reason. Many students and families fear sharing personal information on an application that will go into a national database. Such fears will impact low-income, first-generation, and unsuspecting victims of poor information, who are the most financially needy. Support completing and filing the FAFSA in your community and workplace. If you need any resources, call me! *National Center for Educational Statistics

Free Tuition—More colleges will offer free tuition tied to family income. Several states, including Massachusetts, and up to fifteen colleges nationwide have announced plans to provide free or discounted tuition for accepted students who meet income thresholds. Read the fine print to understand eligibility requirements, as many vary based on income levels, tuition and fees only, and residency.

The decline in HS Graduation – We are fast approaching the point when a steady decline in high school graduates will happen nationwide. Regions of the country, including the Northeast, will suffer the greatest losses, resulting in closures and mergers of colleges and universities. It will also open up opportunities. Something we will explore next month. *National Center for Educational Statistics

Educational Cost—The business logic of supply and demand will continue to be evident at many private and flagship public institutions, which exceed their application and enrollment levels while successfully marketing their brands. In 2025, these colleges will hit $100K (private) and $35K (public) for total educational costs. Knowing their attractions, many of these will be even more conservative in distributing and awarding institutional aid. The wise college-bound consumer will evaluate their “buying strategy” with a new eye on college enrollment.

Life After HS—2026—When should I start planning? Yesterday. Whether we are talking about enrolling, enlisting, or seeking employment after high school, the process takes time, research, and a strategic plan. How to pay, where to go, and get in with a keen lens specific to the needs and capabilities of students and families. The outcome is finding the right path for the right reason at the right investment.

Business Leaders

What is your role in 2025? If you have employees, clients, or customers experiencing stress, confusion, or a sense of paralysis about managing their own educational goals or decisions for their students, consider introducing resources to your EAP or consumer benefits. Simple things like programs on financial literacy, saving for college, managing education debt, and other awareness programs can significantly improve attitude, loyalty, and revenue. Call me to learn how to turn stress into gratitude!!

2025

We are back to our routines, working, serving as drivers, attending sporting and dance events, and stressing to make a buck. Don’t forget the importance of community, kindness, and sharing talent. And please, keep asking WHY.

CALMING THE WATERS—Do you feel paralyzed or anxious about managing life after high college planning? As a parent of four and having spent a career working with families and college and university administrators, I understand the complexity of planning for life after high school. If you need clarity and insights into your questions, tools to manage the process, or individual one-to-one assistance, reach out. Feel free to reach me by text or telephone at 617-240-7350 or email at tom@getcollegegoing.com.

SUMMERTIME CHECKLIST-11th &12th Grade

by Tom O'Hare | Jul 15, 2024 | Uncategorized

We’re halfway through the year enjoying the wonders of the summer months. When I look around, I see how busy everyone is. In our house, we have already celebrated our youngest daughter’s wedding, our 44^th anniversary, a long weekend in Savannah, and had a chance to attend college graduations for students who started with me four years ago. I’ve taken on new students and rising seniors to prepare for their application process and introduced 11th graders to what is in store as they look to begin their planning in October.

Recently, I spoke to a Forbes staff writer while researching an article on paying for college. We discussed the problems families experienced with the 2024-2025 FAFSA Application and the hope that we will return to some normalcy in October. I have my fingers crossed . Here are five other tips and observations I shared.

1. Financing for college-bound students in year one, and they’ll be enrolled the entire time. Up to 25% of first-year students leave college, and financing years two through four is one of the three reasons.
2. Using any amount of disposable monthly income in the form of an interest-free monthly tuition payment plan is a financially savvy move. Plans are offered through colleges.
3. Don’t stop hunting for scholarships; philanthropic donors don’t just love first-year students.
4. If there are financial changes to income (decreases) in the household, alert the Financial Aid Office ASAP—no time to be shy.
5. Paying for college is no different than buying your first home, car or saving for retirement. It needs to be guided by realistic and family-centered planning.

Midyear Standouts
It is a great time to look back to plan forward.. Here are a few things that stand out from this past admission and financial aid cycle.

• FAFSA issue set aside: three out of five families I talked to are unaware of the cost of college, how to finance the journey, and why some colleges provide little or no tuition assistance. Plus, 80% find out in the spring of their senior year. You can’t wait!
• 75% of all students applying for admission, including in my practice, were accepted when they applied early. 90% of all students in the top 30% range of a college’s acceptance criteria were accepted.
• Highly selective schools remain in their category by pumping up their application volume without adjusting the number of enrollment slots. Remember, they represent about 300 of the 3400 schools open for business.
• 30% of colleges bought students’ names to generate prospects and leads, mainly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. This mail-it (email) and they-will-come marketing approach might open a student’s eyes to an option but is not increasing acceptance rates. Get to know a college Admission Counselor before applying.
• SAT and ACT are creeping back in for admissions, GAP Year, Apprenticeship Programs, and ROI for the ROE, which are common questions and the focus of conversations with families.
• For the wrong reasons, students and families continue to be influenced by a hope-and-dream-admission mindset. The waitlist and declined volume went up significantly at REACH schools; not enough was applied to their authentic MATCH, while applications at SAFETY schools doubled.

My Advising Approach 
To help students and family’s find the right education pathway at the right school for the right reason at an affordable investment.

As a parent of four and having spent a career working with colleges and families, I understand the complexity and emotions that comes with planning for a students life after high school. Questions need answers, inquiries need clarity, and sometimes you need some to walk with you. Everything starts with a conversation-call/text at 617-240-7350 or email at tom@getcollegegoing.com. Learn more at www.getcollegegoing.com

March Madness

by Tom O'Hare | Mar 3, 2024 | Uncategorized

Are your brackets ready?

Squares are purchased, initials marked, and the Boards are ready. Yes, all eyes turn to the NCAA Tournament and college hoops. This year, the tournament comes to our backyard as Boston plays host to the East Regional Finals at the TD [Boston] Garden at the end of the month.

March is a busy month across the higher education landscape.

• Graduating classes are gearing up for finals, marching, and the next stages of their lives
• 10^th and 11^th-grade students are watching and enjoying the feeling that they will soon take their next step.
• Transfers: those who need a new look or individuals looking to restart should be finishing applications
• Parents should calculate their ability to contribute to the student’s education costs and, if need be, what Plan B will be.

The FAFSA dilemma is not over…Sorry.. Student/family financial aid data is coming to colleges, universities, and accredited post-secondary schools. Fingers crossed

In the meantime, students and families must focus on what they can control-maintaining their mental well-being. Families of 12th-grade students bound for college in September should use this valuable time to prepare for pending decision time.

• Watch and follow up on all information on your student’s colleges, universities, and other accredited post-secondary schools’ portal.
• Analyze financing strategies, including running Net Price estimates for public and private institutions.
• Begin comparing cost, merit scholarship received, and personal resources (including 529 college savings funds and disposable monthly income) to project financing gaps at each school. Spreadsheet available at www.getcollegegoing.com/resources
• Invest at least one-hour daily hunting for non-college, independent, community, and philanthropic scholarships. Make it a family affair!
• Evaluate your credit standing to ensure that, if needed, you can serve as a co-signer on a last-resort private college loan.

DID YOU HEAR 

Colleges are now moving to eliminate Dean Lists – in the face of rising mental health issues on campus, two high-pressure institutions. Schools like Cornell, Penn, and others are moving away from the Lists. I’m not sure how I feel.

Discover Exits the Student Loan Industry – It’s all about making them more profitable for the sale to Chase. If you’re a Discover customer, watch your accounts – print your last private student loan statement.

New employer-employee education benefit programs to help workers manage education loan payments. As part of the January 2024 Secure Act 2.0, changes permit employers to shift financial resources to help with monthly loan payments and add college advising benefits to EAP.

Standardized test scores will return to college admission requirements for 2025-2026; plan accordingly as you develop your student’s college search list.

Are You Saying YES to the College

Here are five criteria that I ask all students and families to consider when choosing the final college, university, or accredited post-secondary school to attend. Yes, and you have your match – fit!!

The school will:

Advance my academic learning and skills to the next level
Meet my personal needs
Provide me with a socially safe community to learn and live.
Be affordable, with limited educational debt
Prepare me for a job and Career on the way out.

To learn more about who we are, our services, and our approach to planning and funding your student’s educational pathways after high school, visit www.getcollegegoing.com. Start a Conversation- the office is always open.