{"id":2093,"date":"2013-01-30T10:02:17","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T15:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/?p=2093"},"modified":"2013-12-05T14:22:43","modified_gmt":"2013-12-05T19:22:43","slug":"college-omg-good-thing-ive-done-all-the-research-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/2013\/01\/30\/college-omg-good-thing-ive-done-all-the-research-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"College: OMG! Good Thing I\u2019ve Done all the Research for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Stressed\"<\/a>If you had told me when I was 25 that I would one day spend the better part of a week considering the pros and cons of a 15-student SAT course versus a one-on-one, I would have told you that you\u2019re crazy. But now that my daughter Abby is getting ready to apply for college, I\u2019m finding that the list of things to think about and research is only growing (for the record, we ended up choosing a 4-student class). There\u2019s just so much involved with college prep these days, and even though we started early, with easy activities like visiting universities during family holidays when Abby was younger, it can be hard to feel confident that you\u2019ve covered and prepared for everything.<\/p>\n

In this article, I\u2019ve tried to put together some solid information on a variety of topics that are relevant to your child\u2019s college journey. I\u2019ve found a lot of this to be useful in our own planning and decision-making for Abby and I want to pass along some of the important issues we\u2019ve considered and the lessons we\u2019ve learned (and have yet to learn).<\/p>\n

Although there is an abundance of information out there, I hope the resources here can be of help to you and reduce any stress and feelings of not knowing where to start and what you should be doing next, so that you can enjoy the college prep process for what it is: an incredible and important milestone in both your life and your child\u2019s life. Make sure you click through all the\u00a0 links in this article so you can get the most out of it!<\/p>\n

Financial Planning<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Saving for College will give you an overview<\/a> of the different savings accounts you can use for your child, and some of the benefits and special considerations for each one. I chose the 529 plan for my kids when they were very young, but another option might be better for you.<\/p>\n

Already at the application phase? Eight Tips for Reducing the Financial Burden of College<\/a> is geared both for parents of students who are already applying and for those who are thinking ahead. There\u2019s so much to consider when planning a financial strategy for college, and this article covers some of the most critical basics, such as residency, tax breaks and federal programs, and investment strategies.<\/p>\n

Check out A Winning Strategy for College Scholarships<\/a> for even more practical advice. This article outlines 6 important tips about making the most of you child\u2019s scholarship and financial aid opportunities, including how to get them involved and things to think about when applying to colleges.<\/p>\n

Wealth Management<\/a> also has some great tips for tackling financial aid, and I recommend the article The Ticking Time Bomb<\/a>, which directly addresses common pitfalls that people experience in filling out (or forgetting about!) the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It\u2019s written by Lynn O\u2019Shaughnessy<\/a>, bestselling author of The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price<\/a> and Shrinking The Cost of College<\/a>, a workbook for families looking to reduce the price tag of higher education. You might find the book to be a useful resource as you plan your child\u2019s college journey.<\/p>\n

Finally, no article about college would be complete without mentioning The College Board<\/a>, a very informative website devoted to higher education.<\/p>\n

ACT vs. SAT<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Which admissions test is the right fit for your child? The Princeton Review<\/a> and Peterson\u2019s<\/a> both have quick guides that highlight the main features of each test and give some guidance on deciding which is best for your child (most universities accept either). While\u00a0 the ACT and SAT are similar in many ways, there are some differences that might help you strategize so that your child\u2019s abilities are best highlighted. However, a lot of kids take both tests, so you don\u2019t have to choose just one. In our case, Abby is taking the SAT for now, but she might take the ACT later on as well. Also, you might find this ACT\/SAT score conversion chart<\/a> helpful when trying to understand how each test score is equivalent to one another.<\/p>\n

Application Time<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Applying for College<\/a> outlines the general application process and timeline that you\u2019ll most likely be facing. This article also sheds some light on important topics that can be confusing for many people, such as the differences between various early admissions programs and their potential costs and benefits.<\/p>\n

Peterson\u2019s also has a wealth of articles about choosing a college<\/a> and the application process<\/a>. Clicking through these links could help you strategize any current applications and help you prepare for the future if your child is younger.<\/p>\n

While it can feel overwhelming at times, the college application process can be smoother and more manageable with some strategizing, good information, and planning. I hope these resources can be of help to you, and I wish all of us good luck as we prepare to send our kids into the next chapter of their lives!
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\nphoto credit: katiew<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a>
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To learn about retirement savings, download my free eBook, \u201c10 Tips You Need to Know About Your IRA Rollover<\/a>.\u201d This short book is packed with critical information that will help you make the right decisions about your retirement savings.<\/div>\n

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If you had told me when I was 25 that I would one day spend the better part of a week considering the pros and cons of a 15-student SAT course versus a one-on-one, I would have told you that you\u2019re crazy. But now that my daughter Abby is getting ready to apply for college, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[384],"tags":[804,803,386,774,795],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2p1nA-xL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2286,"url":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/2014\/02\/06\/how-to-potentially-save-tens-of-thousands-of-dollars-on-college-tuition-this-is-a-must-read\/","url_meta":{"origin":2093,"position":0},"title":"My Personal Experience On How To Save Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars on College Tuition!","author":"Bradford Pine","date":"February 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"My daughter Abby applied to college this year and as the acceptance letters start coming in, we\u2019re getting to the stage of choosing a school. Of course, we\u2019re thinking about important factors like education, quality of life, and location; however, like most parents, we also have to consider cost. Our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "College Scholarship"","block_context":{"text":"College Scholarship","link":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/category\/college-scholarship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/6RwE-Gw_E-s\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2541,"url":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/2015\/11\/30\/from-college-graduation-back-to-their-childhood-bedroom\/","url_meta":{"origin":2093,"position":1},"title":"From College Graduation ~ Back To Their Childhood Bedroom!","author":"Bradford Pine","date":"November 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Will you have to support your kids when they graduate from college? As anyone who has a child in college right now knows, this is a scary time to be a twenty-something. 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We started saving early on, opened 529 accounts, began campus visits when my daughter, Abby, was a freshman in high school, and signed up for her SAT training well ahead of time. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Retirement Planning"","block_context":{"text":"Retirement Planning","link":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/category\/retirement-planning\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/6RwE-Gw_E-s\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2532,"url":"https:\/\/blog.bradpine.com\/2015\/10\/15\/3-junior-year-strategies-for-college-admissions-and-3-for-retirement-success-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":2093,"position":4},"title":"3 Junior Year Strategies for College Admissions and 3 For Retirement Success","author":"Bradford Pine","date":"October 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"School has started again, which for my family means a fresh start on the college planning roller-coaster. 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