Planning Ahead Can Save Thousands On College Expenses (Part I)

38 minutes. The average length of time a high school guidance counselor is able to spend with a student discussing college-specific items. 476:1 The national average ratio of high school students to guidance counselors. $1 trillion in student debt that has eclipsed credit card debt for the 1^st time in history.. College costs that rise 6-8% on average per year. A larger and more competitive applicant pool.  These issues and averages are just the “tip” of the college planning iceberg influencing whether today’s “modern” family will be able to actually afford a 4-year college. 

Much of this information has been penned already by many other authors, so I do not want to rehash something that has already been “beaten” senseless into the American public but rather highlight a few pointers that might help folks to mitigate some of their anxieties and fears. Our firm, the College Resource Center, has worked with thousands of families over the years on creating viable plans for how best to pay for college without going broke and while each family’s situation is different, there is a common link amongst them- they are all very concerned with how best to approach what can be an overwhelming process. 

Have a plan. If you don’t, your plan will arrive in the mail when you receive your 1^st tuition bill.  Determine what your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) will be. This is one of THE most important figures to know and basically lets a college know how much per year you can afford to pay to have your son or daughter attend that fine institution.

To get started, you can use our EFC calculator at Free Trial to register for a free trial and learn not only what your personal EFC is, but how much it potentially could be lowered by. (Your free trial will also give you access to an eCalendar to help you keep track of important dates and deadlines in the college admissions process)

Use the promo code: “Impact” to receive 20% off when you purchase any of our 5 components and feel free to contact me with any questions you might have: jay.robie@smarttracktoolkit.com or 800 863-9440 ext. 277. Good luck!

COMING NEXT: More on EFC calculators, admissions deadlines, and more.

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid.  Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Jay Robie is the VP of Business Development in the Corporate and Education channels with the College Resource Center, LLC.  Jay has previous work experience as an Admissions Counselor at St. Lawrence University and Boston College as well as the Director of the Corporate Internship Program at Notre Dame High School.  Jay also has consulted for Road to College as an Admissions Planner.

Tips for Students Headed to Grad School

As a recent Master's Degree graduate, I'd like to share some tips for students headed off to graduate school or even just considering it.

1. Be prepared to not have a free moment. Working and going to graduate school part-time evenings and weekends is nothing like your undergraduate experience. You have to really want this and be truly dedicated. It's incredibly hard to manage your work life, school work, and personal life. Know what you're getting yourself into and make sure that this is 100% what you want to do.

2.  Join professional associations and organizations within your field (student rates are much cheaper!). They will provide you with great resources and professional development opportunities to get involved. In addition, go to professional conferences in your field to learn more and more importantly to network. You WILL graduate before you know it and you need to be active in your field and show your colleagues how good you are at what you do.

3.  Make friends in your program – these are your future colleagues and professionals in the field.  Once you’re employed after you graduate, it’s also great to have someone to bounce ideas off of other than a supervisor or boss – get their contact information and stay connected after graduation.  Also, depending on your field of study, some programs are more project based with more group work than others.  It can be difficult to engage in group work now that you’re probably not living on campus or connected with many other students.

4.  Be involved in class and develop positive relationships with your professors.  Your professors, much like your classmates, are your future colleagues and you’ll probably be asking them for letters of reference upon graduation.  They may also have an in somewhere once you’re looking for jobs.

5.  Complete an internship.  Many Master’s level programs require it.  If they don’t, make sure you are either working in your field already or have some kind of internship experience, whether it’s paid or unpaid (paid is preferred but be prepared for something unpaid, as most are).  You’ll need to get your foot in the door somewhere and have some kind of experience on your resume.

6.  Make sure that this is what you truly want to do.  This is a huge commitment, so make sure you at least work in the field first and understand what being a professional in this specific industry means.  Don’t invest all the time, money, and energy into something unless you really know this is for you.

7.  Choose a college for the quality of the program, not for brand name.  You are most likely paying for this college experience on your own with no help from your parents.  Now is not the time to acquire tens of thousands of dollars of debt.  Even better, try to find a job in your field of study where your employer has tuition reimbursement options available and will help you pay for your schooling.

8.  Understand that it may take more than 1-2 years to complete your program. Some programs will advertise that they are 1 or 2 year programs, but be careful. They are probably assuming you will go full-time (including summers) and are not including any kind of internship or practicum requirements in that time frame. For example, I was told my program was a 2 year program and it ended up taking me 4 years to complete it. If you are working full-time and only taking classes part-time in the evenings and weekends, it will take you longer than someone who can take 3-4 classes at a time because they are only working part-time or are unemployed.

Ultimately, graduate school is a huge investment of time, money, and energy.  Be well informed and do your research!  Please share any additional tips you have!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

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Ways to Get Involved on Campus

Many college bound students don’t realize how important it is to get involved on their university’s campus.  Some view college as one big party where as others appear to be on the opposite end of the spectrum, viewing college as solely an academic experience.  Often times, extracurricular involvement is overlooked by students who gravitate to each extreme end of the spectra.  However, here at College Resource Center, LLC  we feel it is best for college students to find some sort of equilibrium between their academic life and social life in conjunction with their involvement in extracurricular activities.  Thus, we encourage our clients to get involved on their university’s campus because it’s a great way to meet people, make new friends, develop interpersonal skills, acquire different responsibilities and build your resume.  Since there are many opportunities for students to get involved on campus, the following are just a few we recommend.

1. Join a student organization.  Colleges and universities boast about the numerous student organizations and clubs they offer.  Whether you are interested in politics, journalism, different cultures, skiing etc. there is undoubtedly a group just for you.  By joining a student organization, students can meet people, make new friends and gain invaluable leadership and interpersonal skills.  Often times, new students are given the opportunity to run for different positions within the organization.  With these new positions comes the delegation of responsibilities and the opportunity to take on a leadership role.

2. Create a club.  If you have a particular interest that is not represented at your college or university then take it upon yourself to create a club!  This is a great way to bring one of your own passions to campus and to share it with the student community.

3. Join a varsity or intramural sports team.  Did you play a sport in high school?  If so, why not join a team in college?  Most colleges and universities offer both varsity and intramural sports.  If you’re not looking to participate in varsity athletics because of the time commitment or intensity then gather a group of friends and create an intramural team.  Intramural teams are a great way to stay in shape and have fun.  It also allows for flexible schedules with games occurring once or twice a week at night. 

4. Get a job on campus.  Getting a job on campus is a great way to become involved at your university while simultaneously making some extra cash!  A majority of on-campus jobs are allocated to work-study students first, but don’t let that stop you.  Find a job that suits your individual interests or skill set and apply.  Many campus supervisors even allow you to do homework while working.  What a great way to make money and get your school work done at the same time!

5. Participate in service learning.  If your college or university offers service learning, take advantage of it!  This program integrates community service with academics.  Students can earn extra credit by participating in a service learning program where they take their skills from the classroom and apply them in real life situations.  This gives students the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and to give back to their community.

Remember, it is never too late to get involved on your university’s campus!  Join a club, get a job or do some volunteer work!  These extracurriculars serve as resume builders and can make your college experience unforgettable.

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Alecia Coleman is currently a senior at Bentley University.  She is majoring in Accountancy and minoring in Law.  She was recently a recipient of the MSCPA Women’s in Accounting Scholarship and intends to get her Master’s in Accountancy at Bentley University, as well.

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