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College and Retirement: The Perfect Storm
2007-08-08 02:57:00
Somewhere out there, a perfect storm is brewing and its name is not Katrina; it is college. Like... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Retirement , College , Storm , Perfect , Retire

Emily University and Brian College: Selecting a College
2007-07-31 20:12:00
College is not about names or ratings?.It is about fit. The way the deal works is that parents... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , University , Emily , Brian , Select

The College Ratings Game Takes a Hit
2007-07-24 17:07:00
On May 7th of this year, Paul?s Corner featured comments called The Coll ege Ratings Game : The Tail... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com

Minority College Dropouts: A New Perspective
2007-07-17 18:43:00
Not long ago, I reported on a study which showed an astonishingly low rate of graduation among... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Perspective , Coll , Minor , Drop

Financial Aid Awards: An Ambiguous World
2007-07-11 18:29:00
Mark Kantrowitz, a veteran authority on financial aid, has written a sensible plea for transparency... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: World , Awards , Financial , Ward , Finan

Divide and Conquer: Some Thoughts on Independence Day
2007-07-02 19:51:00
Think about it. We Americans spend too much energy pointing fingers at our neighbors or at the... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Thoughts , Independence , Independence Day , Epen , Conquer

Teacher: A life worth living
2007-06-29 18:05:00
In my other life, I was a teacher. I taught government to ninth graders in Weston, Connecticut, a... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Life , Living , Worth , Teacher , Ving

Need Blind Admissions: Vassar College Injects New Life into a Fading Conce
2007-06-25 19:08:00
For years, the true meaning of ?Need Blind Admissions? has been eroding. Most colleges still admit... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Life , College , Mission , Once

The College Cost Reduction Act: A Sign of Congressional Action on Behalf o
2007-06-19 19:46:00
Flying somewhere under the Paris Hilton headlines is the emergence of the most important college... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Action , College , Cost , Sign , Redu

Commencement 2007
2007-06-11 18:37:00
I want to take a moment to exercise what may be described as a touch of executive privilege. As a... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
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College Admissions and Summer Vacation: Sand, Sun or Schooling
2007-05-29 18:21:00
The days are getting warmer and longer and the beach is beckoning. But, looming in the background... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Summer , Vacation , Sand , College Admissions

College and Minorities: College Opportunities Unevenly Bestowed
2007-05-10 20:54:00
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an interesting and unsettling article featuring college... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Minorities , Opportunities , Coll , Minor

The College Rating Game: The Tail Wags the Dog
2007-05-07 20:53:00
One of the more destructive annual rites is the college rating system used by The Princeton Review,... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Game , Tail , The D , Coll

College Admissions Late Decision: When the Well Runs Dry
2007-05-04 17:56:00
In its always useful education supplement, the New York Times included an article about ways to... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Decision , When , College Admissions , Sion

AP Courses: Another View
2007-05-02 19:08:00
In the April 27th issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, David Oxtoby, the President of Pomona... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: View , Course , Another

Selecting a College: The Final Choice
2007-04-23 18:59:00
It's that time of the year when students across the nation must choose a college. Oddly enough,... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: College , Final , Choice , Selec , Choi

The Student Loan Controversy: Letting the Light Shine In
2007-04-19 23:16:00
Dallas Martin, the leader of NASFAA, has done a good thing by sending a letter of apology to Andrew... Please continue reading Paul's Blog at TuitionCoach.com
More About: Student , Loan , Controversy , Shine , Light

College Admissions: Parents fuel the frenzy
2007-04-16 20:56:00
In his Newsweek column, using a novel titled, "Acceptance", by Susan Coll as a backdrop, George Will mused about the college admissions "craziness". The novel chronicles the pre-college world of a bright kid in a high-rent neighborhood of families where getting into the "right" college is nothing short of a compulsion. While the novel is fiction, it mirrors life pretty closely. The college admissions arena is very competitive particularly among the most selective colleges. That is bad enough. But when you fuel this combustible mix with the energy of parents who really believe that the U.S. News & World Report's rating of their kid's college somehow validates their parenting, the atmosphere becomes explosive. As a long-time college counselor I have watched in horror and sadness as students are forced to miss their adolescence because of the pressure their parents exert to get into the "right" colleges. I have watched the process tear families apart and lead to cynicism and...
More About: College , Fuel , Missions , Miss , Parents

Self-Help Financial Aid: A Reality Check
2007-04-13 10:28:00
Lots of parents don't want their kids to have a job while in college and thus turn down work/study offers in the financial aid award. The reasons are usually pretty rational: It takes time and energy from studies; it crowds their schedule; the pay isn't enough to justify the effort. All of these make sense but they may also needlessly raise the cost of college. The vast majority of families with college-bound kids need some form of financial aid. The colleges try to fill that need by providing a financial aid award that typically contains two kinds of aid, self-help aid and free or grant money. Naturally, families love the free stuff but balk at the self-help aid, loans and work/study but here's the deal. Put yourself in the shoes of a college financial aid person. You have a family that has a demonstrated need of, say, $20,000. You then create a financial aid award of $20,000 that contains a student loan of $3,500 and a work/study offer of $2,000. Then the family,...
More About: Reality , Financial , Self , Check , Help

Preferred Lenders: Fraying the Edges of Trust
2007-04-10 21:11:00
As in any family, there emerge from time to time differences that result in some alienation and discomfort. That is the case in the broad family of pro-education people and institutions in these early days of 2007. A large number of colleges across the nation provide a list of “preferred” lenders to families in search of student loans. For many, that list is a helpful and convenient guide to needed funds. But an increasing number of agencies and people, notably the Attorney General of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, are looking into the practice because of alleged payments to the college by some preferred lenders. While illegalities are an open question, for many the practice doesn't pass the “smell test”. The sad spin-off is that many heretofore allies of college education are now painted as adversaries while the issue plods through the legal system. What could be a costly and convoluted legal issue could probably be diffused through a ray of sunlight ...
More About: The Edge , Trust , Edge , Ferr , Ender

Education Tax Benefits (Part III)
2007-03-28 23:01:00
Here we will look at a few more items related to college costs that could result in a tax saving for hard-working parents. Again, TuitionCoach strongly recommends that if any seem to apply to you and your family it would be prudent to seek the advice and support of a tax professional or respected tax preparation software. Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) These are savings accounts one can establish to put aside money to pay for education expenses. The account can grow tax-free and the beneficiary will not have to pay tax on the distribution if they are applied to qualified education expenses. Limitations: Can only contribute to plan at the rate of $2,000 per year per beneficiary. You can have as many ESAs as you wish but only one per beneficiary. If there are more than one Coverdell naming the same beneficiary, the total aggregate contribution to all those Coverdells may not exceed $2,000 a year. Conditions: These plans while not likely to be huge advantages in...
More About: Cat , Tax , Part , Bene

Education Tax Benefits (Part II)
2007-03-22 21:29:00
Last week, I provided a brief overview of the tax benefits from the Hope and Lifetime Tax Credits along with a heads up on how to report Scholarships and Grants. This week, in Part II of our three-part series, we will look at student loan interest deduction, tuition and fees deductions and tax benefits of Qualified Tuition Programs (QTP) often referred to as 529 plans. Remember, it is always a good idea to seek the advice of a tax professional or approved tax software if you are in any way confused. You should also look at IRS Publication 970 for greater specificity and discussion on any of the tax benefits that may apply to you. Student Loan Interest Deduction Students and their parents can lower taxable income. Limitations: Can take the deduction for the length of the loan payback period. Under certain conditions, you can reduce your taxable income by a maximum of $2,500 annually. Parents can deduct qualified education loans used for their student dependent if the parent ...
More About: Education , Cat , Bene

It?s That Time Again! (Part I)
2007-03-15 20:38:00
Families with students attending college should always try to stay abreast of current tax benefits. An annual review is a good starting point. This article, the first of three over the next two weeks, will review in somewhat broad strokes this year?s array of benefits. You should always work with your tax professional or tax software for more specificity. Our overview will help you to frame your questions. In addition, we recommend that you look through IRS Publication 970 which lists the benefits in more detail. The Hope Tax Credit: This is a Clinton administration tax credit that provides tax relief for certain qualifying expenses for yourself or your student. Up to $1,650 credit per eligible student. (100% of the first 1,100 and 50% of the next $1,100.) May be used for the first two years of college (or any post-secondary education). Limitation: Two years only per eligible student. Conditions: The student must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or educational credent...
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529 Plans: A Moving Target
2007-03-05 01:18:00
Kathleen Pender?s column in the February 15th issue of the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted the murky world of 529 plans. On its face, a 529 college savings plan is a good idea. Money can be put aside tax free; it can grow tax free; and in some states it can be used to pay for college tax free. All of this is good news but once one starts to look under the wrapping, for some, it may be an unwelcome lump of coal. The benefits of a 529 plan are uneven. For the very wealthy, those who are not likely to qualify for need-based financial aid, it is a bonanza despite the often high administration fees and the loss of control over how the funds are being invested. For middle income families it is a mixed blessing and for low income families is an out-of-reach illusion. High income families benefit in nearly every way from a 529 plan. It was designed for them and the design fits like a fine leather glove. What high income families are looking for is any way to make college cost...
More About: Moving , Plans , Target , Plan , Ving

It?s All in the Timing: Deadlines are only a part of the story
2007-02-14 23:07:00
For those students in California and other states, financial aid deadlines abound. In California, for instance, there?s a magic date of March 2 which means that if the fafsa and the grade point verification forms are not submitted by that day, the student will not be eligible for some forms of state aid. In the case of Californians, that could mean that an otherwise deserving student could miss out on the Cal Grant program which pays amounts of up to the entire tuition at California State University campuses and the UC system. In addition, it pays amounts of thousands more if the student attends a private college in Califirnia. Other states have similar deadlines. Every family would be well advised to review the key dates in its state. But there is more when it comes to financial aid and it too has something to do with timimg. Many families tend to wait until either their taxes are done or even worse, until their student actually accepted to a college. In both cases, the de...
More About: Story , Deadline , Dead , Stor , Part

Student Loans and College Choice
2007-01-19 19:00:00
The new Congress kept some of its promise to lower student loans rates. It voted to lower the interest rates on need-based student loans to 3.4% over the next five years. But what it didn?t do was to also lower unsubsidized student loans and parent loans as well, thus placing middle-income families at continued risk. It seems illogical to not help the very people whose tax money has funded the college financial aid system since its beginning. Moreover, while the new rates are a welcome start, Rep. Michael Castle, a Republican from Delaware who supported the legislation, had it right when he was quoted in the NY Times as saying, the bill "....barely skims the surface of the true problem of how we can help increase access and affordability for all students." He is correct and a coherent argument can be made that the most at-risk population is the middle class which does not enjoy the benefits of the billions of dollars in college support programs provided to low income families....
More About: College , Student , Loans , Loan , Student Loans

US Department of Education Grants: Alphabet Soup
2007-01-11 05:31:00
How great would it be to have someone else pay for you to attend college? That's the idea behind grants, which do not have to be paid back. Let's take a look at where we can find this sort of financial aid. Not surprisingly, the U.S. Department of Education is a major source of grants available currently to citizens and eligible non-citizens. Typically, these grants are intended to help low and modest income families. However, it is appropriate that everyone be aware of them since families with more than one child in college at the same time can also find that the eligibility ceiling rises dramatically. Pell Grants: These are typically awarded to low income families, based on need and not scholarship, and primarily go to students seeking bachelor?s degrees. In some cases, Pell Grants are given to graduate students seeking a career in teaching. Maximum Award: $4,050 for the 2006-07 academic year but this may be increased by the new Congress for 2007-08. Federal Supplemental ...
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Older Students Entering and Reentering College: It's Never Too Late!
2007-01-02 06:41:00
Today, I received an email from Sara, a devoted parent from Tennessee. In her note, she said that she needed to get re-educated in order to survive. She had spent a lifetime as a parent and wife and had provided for the children but now there was nothing left. She was frightened and discouraged. Was this how her life was to end? Was awaiting death in a state of poverty her reward for being a loving parent and wife? She had tried before and applied for financial aid but had been turned down even though she had an annual income of about $25,000. The system in which she had placed her trust had abandoned her at her most vulnerable point. First, the college financial aid system is in place for all people, regardless of age. Anyone at any age who wishes to continue education, to get a degree that may have been put on hold years ago, or a person who wants to change careers, or anyone with a passion for learning can and should apply to a college and financial aid. It is time for ...
More About: College , Student , Students , Ring , Ever

Imagine - A Holiday Message
2006-12-25 08:39:00
In the holiday season, it might be a good idea to pause between trips to the mall and reflect upon this world we inhabit. Imagine what it must be like to be a child in Darfur, to be awakened by shouts and gunfire and to see relatives and friends randomly slaughtered by faceless, armed thugs. Imagine what it must feel like for a child to see a parent slowly die of AIDS in some foul, unsanitary place devoid of medicine and doctors. Imagine how a child here at home must feel when his mother goes to the front door of the house to be greeted by uniformed men who tell her that her husband won?t be returning from Iraq, ever. Imagine how it must feel, as a child of Katrina, to be celebrating yet another holiday season in a cramped, impersonal assembly-line trailer. Imagine being a child and dealing with the loss of a leg or eyesight, the collateral damage from a religious zealot?s suicide bomb. Imagine a child being taught to hate people he has never met in order to satisfy the twist...
More About: Holiday , Essa , Message , Sage

The Gap Year: A Meaningful Detour
2006-12-23 03:34:00
If I controlled the world, I wouldn?t let a kid go to college until he or she took a year off. The catch phrase would be ?We interrupt this schooling to bring you a year of education!? School can be and is great but ?seat time? in a class may not be providing the kinds of education that provide long-lasting relevance in the life of a human being. To wit: Is there a high school class that teaches self-esteem? Independent living and decision making? Initiative? Values based upon real life experience? Interaction with people of all ages, beliefs, and languages? Basic survival and living skills? Probably there are ?no?s? across the board. The kinds of life-altering gap year experiences do not usually include taking some courses at a local community college or bagging groceries at a local supermarket. Rather, it is designing an internship away from home or travelling or becoming a low-paid member of an archeological expedition or interning with a regional theatre company or f...
More About: Tour , Meaning , Year , Meaningful , The G