Blog

How Hard Is It to Get into College?

July 10, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Admissions, College Application, College Planning, Tips for High School Students Comments Off

The answer to this question depends on the school you want to go to. Local community colleges will take just about any student who is willing to pay tuition. Private universities are much more selective. This is especially true when it comes to elite colleges that offer programs that are considered exclusive. Here are some […]

The Four Types of Direct Student Loans

July 6, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Funding, College Loans, College Planning, College Tuition, Debt Reduction, Financial Aid, Tips for High School Students, Tips for New Students, Tips for Parents Comments Off

The primary system in place for getting federal student loans is the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. When you receive a student loan in this manner, it is the U.S. Department of Education that is loaning the money to you. The program consists of four loan types. Here is some more information on each […]

3 Tips for High School Freshman Planning on College

June 26, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Admissions, College Application, College Planning, Tips for High School Students Comments Off

If you are planning on going to college, you can start the early planning process even as a freshman in high school. Here are three things that can help you get into the school you hope to attend: Have the right schedule – First of all, colleges will care about the classes you take in […]

Three Tips for Funding Your Child’s College Tuition

June 19, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Funding, College Planning, College Tuition, Debt Reduction, Financial Aid, Tips for Parents Comments Off

Financial aid, student loans, and scholarships all account for part of a student’s time in college, but much of the burden falls on parents. How can you make smart decisions while trying to fund your child’s tuition fees? Here are three important reminders. Have an emergency account – Set up a savings account just for […]

Why You Need to Stay in the Good Graces of Your Teachers and Counselors

June 12, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Admissions, College Application, College Planning, Recommendation Letters, Tips for High School Students Comments Off

You’ve got the perfect credentials, and you wrote a stunning essay. However, there is another key element those college admission officers are going to be looking at to get an overview of who you are as a person – letters of recommendation. You need to stay on the good side of high school teachers and […]

The Shocking Trend in College Tuition Costs

June 5, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Funding, College Planning, College Tuition, Debt Reduction, Financial Aid Comments Off

College tuition is really expensive – that’s not a shocking statement. Everyone knows that it costs a small fortune to go to college, and everyone knows that the cost of school continues to go up. That’s been going on for a century, and it is why financial planning is so important. The really shocking thing […]

5 Tips for Building a Balanced College List

May 29, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Admissions, College Application, College Planning, Tips for High School Students Comments Off

How can you build a balanced list of colleges to apply to? We’re about to give 5 solid tips for making sure you know which schools should be on your list before you even begin the application process. Review your goals – What do you want from the college experience? Knowing your goals and what […]

When You Earn Too Much to Get Financial Aid for College

May 22, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Funding, College Planning, College Tuition, Debt Reduction, Financial Aid, Tips for Parents Comments Off

For a family of four in the United States, you may be considered to be on the high end of middle class if you earn between $50,000 and $100,000. But you may not feel like you’re on the high end of things if you have a big mortgage payment, and you have two kids in […]

5 Tips for Selecting the Right College to Apply To

May 15, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Application, College Planning, Tips for High School Students Comments Off

Choosing the right college is going to be one of the biggest decisions you will ever have to make. So how can you be sure that you are choosing the best school for you? Here are 5 suggestions for selecting the right colleges to apply to. Determine your priorities – Make a list of things […]

Understanding “Need-Based” Financial Aid Formulas

May 8, 2018 By: slcps In: Blog, College Funding, College Tuition, Debt Reduction, Financial Aid, Tips for High School Students, Tips for New Students, Tips for Parents Comments Off

No one pays full price for college. It’s not a rule, but between aid-based and non-aid-based funding sources, everybody should get something. Today, we’re going to tackle a complicated subject as simply as possible, how your family’s financial need is calculated. The Financial Aid Formula The basic formula for need-based financial aid looks like this: […]