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The new Simplified FAFSA is here! Here’s a quick video with some tips that will help you get through it with a minimum of chaos and maximum of financial aid. 🔗
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Early Decision and Early Action
Early Decision is a binding commitment that if you are accepted to the school, you will attend and will withdraw all other college applications. Early Action, on the other hand, is typically simply a quicker response from the school that still gives the student until the regular admission deadline to respond.
Financial Aid Basics
There’s a ton of talk about the FAFSA right now, which on the one hand makes sense because it will be available next week. (Yes, all evidence to the contrary, time does continue marching forward with the result that Oct. 1 arrives next week.)
Let’s Talk College: The Student Budget
I had the privilege to participate in the Let’s Talk College webinar series organized by Olivia Pura, a graduate student at the University of Chicago who is using her platform as Miss Illinois USA to advocate for the inclusion and equality of women in STEM fields.
EFC Formula Guide for the 2021-2022 FAFSA
The FAFSA won’t be available until Oct. 1 but in the meantime you can download the EFC Formula Guide for the current year and calculate your Expected Family Contribution.
Preparing for the FAFSA
A lot of people ask about how to prepare for the FAFSA. Doing the FAFSA is a lot like doing your taxes. You can absolutely wait until April 15 to fill out your 1040, but you’ll probably save some money by thinking about your taxes in the fall and taking some steps before the end of the year to mitigate the bill.
The College Financial Lady Podcast
Announcing my new Podcast! I’ll be interviewing experts on a wide range of topics covering the world of preparing for college from admissions and academic preparation to athletics, gap years and more.
College Financial Health
COVID’s impact on college budgets is pushing many schools to the brink. Learn about a college’s financial health.
The FAFSA’s Asset Protection Allowance
If I were the betting type, I’d bet that the Asset Protection Allowance is the part of the FAFSA that gets the most attention. For this fall’s FAFSA, there’s a little bit of good news: It’s finally going up! This should be tempered by: Not by much!
Unemployment for Degree Holders
While you’re waiting for acceptances (seniors) or starting to get more serious about particular schools (everyone else), you might want to check out student loan default rates at the schools you’re interested in.
Unemployment for Degree Holders
The most recent unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics once again reinforce the value of a college education. While the overall unemployment rate was 13.3% nationally in May, the rate for those with only a high school diploma was 15%. The unemployment rate for those with at least a bachelor’s degree was less than half that, 7.2%.