financial aid – Carol H Cox

The statistics are frightening. Americans hold $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. This represents years and years of hefty loan payments for millions of citizens. High School students and college students, need assistance understanding the financial aid and student loan process so that they can make the best financial decisions for themselves.
There’s a startup company that wants to be a sort of financial-aid-counselor-in-the-pocket for students. It’s called NextGenVest, founded by Kelly Peeler. According to a NerdWallet analysis, in 2014 as much as $2.7 billion of free federal financial aid went unclaimed by students, mainly because of either a failure to file or incorrect completion of the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This is free money that students didn’t receive. And what is more, in 2014 graduating college seniors carried $28,950 in student loans with them when they left school (the Institute for College Access and Success report).

Continue reading “Help Is a Text Away for Students Sorting Through College Financial Aid and Loans”

By Carol H Cox

Not long ago, I attended my daughter’s high school College Information Night. It had been over 7 years since I’d been to one of these. At first, I was going to skip it, but then I reconsidered how things may have changed in the college admission process. I was glad I went. I learned a lot, and I thought I’d pass some information on to you all.

Below, I’ve shared some web links, resources, and thoughts regarding the college application process that might be helpful to Junior and Senior high school students and their families. The timing listed below is approximate. Depending on where you are applying to college, the dates may be quite different, and if students are applying early action or early decision to college the timing will be earlier. Hopefully, this list will get you thinking about what’s coming up on the horizon.

Continue reading “Checklist for Applying to College”