Some Unethical Advice I Just Gave
I never do this, but I wanted you to look over my shoulder for this client conversation about the anti-Israel protests. Actually, this is a mash up of three-four similar conversations I've had in the past few days with Class of 2024 families.
The gist of the conversations: I'm reluctant to put down a housing deposit at [college] because of the out-of-control, anti-Israel, antisemitic protests. What do you think?
Obviously this is guesswork, but I'll share my thoughts.
First, I hope and suspect that, as the academic year winds down and ends and college kids return home, the protests at most colleges will organically peter out. I would guess that the summer reprieve will give college administrations time to discuss and implement actions to ensure order on campus in the fall, unlike what's happening at Columbia.
This may be a bit of a leap, but I don't think we'll see as much strife on campus next year. But of course...
More FAFSA Fails [LIVE]
Good morning!
We're hitting the airwaves this morning -- 10:00am EST -- for College Coffee Talk, our live show about college admissions and financial aid news that you can use!
Pearl is away on special assignment, so I will do my best to pick up the slack. Today's show topics:
Oddball FAFSA fails and a new grounds for appealing your award. Plus, what's the deal with the parent "Brag Sheet?"
Grab a cup of joe and I'll see you at 10am EST (recorded if you can't make it)
- Andy Lockwood
Deadly Dastardly College Prep Mistakes
I'm going negative with this email. Apologies in advance.
I just tweaked my presentation for tonight's live, local (not live streamed) presentation I'm running at the Bryant Library in Roslyn NY. Most of the material, as it turns out, is about mistakes. Easily avoidable, self-sabotaging mistakes.
Some mistakes are of the commission variety -- things you affirmatively do -- that hurt odds of college acceptance or merit scholarships.
Some are mistakes of OMISSION, meaning things you do NOT do, but should.
If you're local to the Long Island area, and you want to avoid costly errors that can severely impact your/your children's chances of getting into competitive colleges...
...as well as gaffes that could hurt or eliminate your ability to get merit aid or financial aid, then tonight is a terrific, unprecedented opportunity to learn up on all this stuff -- for free --- for reelz...
...that you definitely will NOT ever, never ever hear a...
A Surprise 154K FAFSA Penalty
From the FAFSA Sh*t Storm Files:
Over coffee early this morning, Pearl told me a shocking story, one that we've experienced a few times already this year. Let me pass it along to you as a cautionary tale: it goes a little sumthin' like this:
Family files FAFSA. Family hears back from college financial aid office.
Message: no soup for you. Pay full price.
But here's the thing...
On a courtesy call with a financial aid office, the officer reveals that the FAFSA indicated that the family's income was more than $400,000.
But the family's actual income, filed with the IRS for 2022: $250,000 and change!
Why the 150K+ artificial penalty?
Just another glitch! Too bad, so sad.
Apparently 10% of all FAFSAs filed this year have inflated family's income, wiping out millions of potential eligibility.
This glitch is, of course, part of the FAFSA "simplification," designed to streamline the process. Nice job, guys.
The most...
Financial Aid "Secrets" Revealed
Closely-Guarded "Secrets" Revealed - How any family...even six and seven-figure earners...can slash college costs by more than 56%
If you have a class of 2025 or younger child who is headed to college...
...and your stomach is in a knot and your hands clammier than on your first date, because you're just now realizing how freakin' much college will *actually cost* you...
....I've got GREAT NEWS! Tonight, we're walking you through all the ins and outs of how financial aid and merit aid works, in a brand new, free webinar! Yay.
On tonight's webinar, you will discover the (legal and ethical) ways to cut your college costs so that you can comfortably afford tuition without scrimping on your lifestyle, loading up your kid (or you) with high rate, high fee student debt or selling a vital organ on the dark web. Bold promises, but we will deliver.
Topics on tap:
- How six figure and seven-figure earning families can ...
Extracurriculars that "sell," not bore
Nary a week goes by without a question about a summer program, service trip opportunity or other similar queries. Here are my thoughts:
The world of extracurricular activities is divided into two parts: Typical and Atypical. Nothing against typical activities, but they won't move the proverbial college application needle. Examples:
Playing a sport is great for many reasons, but unless you're a recruited athlete, it will not help your kid get in anywhere. He doesn't have to step up his private tennis or fencing lessons to six times per week for college application purposes.
Being a member of National Honor Society is nice, but if your child qualifies, she will be joining the rarefied air of the top 70% of her peers. Not a game changer for the college apps. It's a participation trophy.
Enrolling in a service trip to Hawaii, the Dominican Republic or some other tropical paradise requiring travel by air -- instead of offering your...
Applying for Financial Aid: Hurt Odds of Acceptance?
Hello my College Planning Amigo,
During College Application Season, it’s unusual for a month to go by without a parent asking me whether they should check the “yes” box on the Common App, to indicate that they want to be considered for financial aid.
What do you think? Will it hurt your odds of getting in? Or…
Is that the right question? Here are my thoughts.
Most colleges are “need aware.” Meaning, they consider whether you need financial aid as ONE of the 25 ish factors that go into a college application.
So whether you need aid or not isn’t a make or break question across the board. However, it definitely is one of the considerations that could get you in or keep you out when it comes down to the wire, when admissions committees are making their final cuts.
On the other hand, a relatively small number of colleges, typically Ivy and other elite private colleges, purport to be...
College Essay Announcement
A week ago, the folks at the Common Application announced that their essay prompts will be the same as last year's.
On a related note, Class of 2025 students will write the same crappy essays as last year's college applicants.
One big error revolves around choice of prompt. I'll share which one is the worst in a moment, but first let me give you a little overview if you're new to the wonderful world of college essays and applications.
The Common Application comes out August 1. The overwhelming majority of the colleges your son or daughter will apply to accept the Common App (Georgetown University is one notable exception that has its own application).
The Common App really isn't that big a deal. A lot of it is rote - name, address, parent info, list of honors, etc.
However, the areas that require thought and attention are 1. essay writing (the personal statement and supplemental essays) and 2. the Activities Section.
In my...
Your "Burning Questions" About the SAT and ACT
Top of the morning,
Quick reminder that we're doing a live, unscripted Q&A tonight on everything you need to know about the SAT and ACT, especially in the face of the confusion, half-truths and urban legends about the world of test-optional policies.
Wondering which test is best? We'll help you figure that out tonight.
Wondering which test colleges prefer? Ditto.
Other issues on tap include:
*Are high school teachers who moonlight as SAT or ACT tutors best suited to help you "crush" the test?
*Should you allow the College Board to send your SAT score to colleges, no charge?
*Do colleges see how many times your kiddo took the SAT or ACT?
*Do colleges care how many times she took the SAT (or ACT)?
*How many times does he need to take the SAT or ACT?
Tonight, we will answer these and any of your "Burning Questions" about the SAT or ACT, when you join me and our head tutor, Marissa U, for our SAT and ACT Town Hall meeting.
You can pre-submit your...
SAT and ACT "Town Hall"
The latest ACT scores have started coming out, and the Internet is abuzz with questions and comments like:
*Why was her score so low? She's got a 94 average in school!
*Should we take the SAT instead?
*Which one do colleges want?
*Is there any point in taking the SAT or ACT? Aren't colleges test optional these days?
*How many times does he need to take the SAT or ACT?
*Do colleges see how many times he took it (SAT or ACT)?
*Is it OK to sing a sad song with an upbeat tempo?
*Do colleges care how many times she took the SAT (or ACT)?
Just kidding about that second to last one, I wanted to check if you were reading all the way down there.
Tomorrow night, we will answer these and any of your "Burning Questions" about the SAT or ACT, or college admissions, scholarships, financial aid if you insist. I'm hauling in our head tutor, Marissa U, for our first ever SAT and ACT Town Hall meeting.
You can pre-submit your questions ahead of time (as opposed to...
