There was a time when it was very easy for me to convince people of the danger of private student loans. I would tell families that private student loans almost always require co-signers and usually that was enough to scare them away. If that didn’t work, I could point out that private student loans are [...]
Anytime a college admissions office requires something in the college admission process it creates work for admission officers and support staff. As such, they are not going to do something unless the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. This is why over 1,100 four-year colleges in the US require at least one teacher recommendation in the college [...]
Last month I received a call from a college counselor in New York. Five minutes into the call, he said, “My kids are hearing at school that they should apply to 30 colleges. What do you think?” We are caught in a revolving, pernicious cycle and there is no end in sight. Here is [...]
Sometimes, transferring is a prudent decision, but students often don’t realize until they arrive at their new college that a lot of their credits don’t transfer. How can you avoid this dilemma happening to you or someone you care about? Transferring is extremely common, and often it makes sense. I recommended transferring to four or [...]
If you currently have a kid in college, or if you have had a kid in college for the last three years, you should be getting/or have been getting between $1000-$2500 per kid refunded back to you. This article uses questions and answers from an IRS document to answer the most frequently asked questions [...]
Early Action (EA) is a method of applying to college that is being offered by more and more colleges. In this article I explain what EA is and why 90 percent of students should apply through an EA program when it is offered. I also share the reasons why some students should not apply [...]
Students face incredible stress going through the college process. Their very self-worth is at stake. This article shows four things students and parents can do to diminish the stress and make the college process fun One of the biggest problems I encounter in my coaching practice is unduly stressed out-students who see their college [...]
Parents and students are often surprised to find out that a college major is not as important as they think it is when it comes to getting a desired job. This article debunks this myth with evidence and it also points out just what it is that employers are looking for when they hire [...]
I am fascinated with why some students graduate from college and others do not. I know that so many times it boils down to the family support, or lack of family support, a student has. Students who are mentored by college graduates never even consider the fact that they won’t graduate. This produces an aura [...]
I don’t want you to think I put my clients’ business on the street. My client is very thoughtful and considerate, so when I asked her if I could share what happened, she urged me, “Please do.” She said, “I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else.” It was Tuesday, and [...]
