College Costs Are Soaring!!

Colleges, year by year, are becoming more financially dependent on parents paying for out-of-pocket expenses than ever before! Endowments have taken a big hit, which has left even elite schools, including Harvard and Yale, facing steep cost-cutting. State universities are also facing steep slashes in government funding. All of which means  it will be even harder for colleges to meet demands for financial assistance next time around.

The bottom line...parents and/or student are going to need to find money to pay for college some how!

The current aid crisis only underscores the never-ending problem of soaring tuition costs. As MONEY magazine and many other publications have frequently pointed out, colleges are jacking up tuition costs at twice the rate of inflation; education expenses have far outpaced inflation for more than two decades.

Meanwhile, most families are less prepared than ever to meet those bills. Numerous surveys have shown that few have the cash stashed away to pay the five-figure tuition amounts required by many schools. So expect aid applications to soar again!

If there is ever a time to seek the help of college funding professionals, it is now!

How To Attend College "TUITION FREE!"

Did you know that there are OVER 100 colleges that will allow your student to attend TUITION-FREE?  Harvard is a good example!  If you make less than $60,000 per year but make excellent grades and score high on the ACT/SAT...you may qualify to attend TUITION-FREE!  It's called the "Harvard Initiative."  Another good example is College of the Ozarks!  As a "faith-based" school, it is also called "hard-work U."  Students work on campus instead of paying tuition.  This saves the student gas money and tax dollars, not to mention thousands of dollars in tuition costs!

For more information, call me at 816-739-9894 today!

How To Survive "The College Funding Maze!"

DID YOU KNOW...   COLLEGE COSTS HAVE BECOME THE "2nd LARGEST DEBT" IN AMERICAN SOCIETY TODAY?

Congress has correctly referred to it as "A CRISIS OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS."  As the cost of college continues to skyrocket and the financial aid dollars continue to dwindle, it has become more and more difficult for parents to get some kind of financial assistance. While there is more than $143 billion dollars available, only those parents who can understand the college funding process and use that knowledge to their advantage are going to receive the maximum amount of money possible. It is not uncommon for low income families who have assets in the wrong place to lose out on financial aid. And, it's not uncommon for families who make over $100,000 per year in income to receive some form of financial assistance. The real difference is their understanding of the process and what they need to do to position themselves to double, or even triple, their eligibility for aid.

You see, as more and more students enter college, the financial aid offices of these colleges are being forced to use their limited financial resources to attract the strongest applicants or to save their government-funded resources for the most needy. The strongest applicants and the most needy typically end up winning at the college funding process. However, like I said before, you can have a low income ($25,000 per year) and still NOT receive any assistance. It depends on a lot of things...things most parents aren't aware of.

15 Most Lucrative College Degrees Today!

According to a recent 2009 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (which tracks college graduates and their job offers), the following are 15 of the highest paid areas for new college graduates:

1) Petroleum Engineering - $83,121
2) Chemical Engineering - $64,902
3) Mining Engineering - $64,404
4) Computer Engineering - $61,738
5) Computer Science - $61,407
6) Electrical Engineering - $60,125
7) Mechanical Engineering - $58,766
8) Industrial Engineering - $58,358
9) Systems Engineering - $57,438
10) Engineering Technology - $56,447
11) Actuarial Science - $56,320
12) Aeronautical Engineering - $56,311
13) Agricultural Engineering - $54,352
14) Biomedical Engineering - $54,158
15) Construction Management - $53,199

Of course, not every student earning an engineering degree is going to receive a large paycheck. However, graduates with a technology degree do have an advantage over many other fields.

8 Critical Tips To Securing A Scholarship!

1) Apply only to those scholarships that best fit your profile! Find as many as you can, then weed them out until you can find the 10 best-fit applications.

2) Pay attention to deadlines!

3) Send the application in with a "thank you" cover letter!

4) Provide answers and items to the committee in the order they are listed on the application!

5) Add extra items to your application (if not prohibited). These "extra" items could include any letters of recommendations, a short essay on your career goals, an acceptance letter from a college, and school transcripts.

6) Sell yourself!!! Find every little thing you can to brag about yourself. Get your parents to help you with this.

7) Proof-read all the materials before sending the application in and make sure everything is in a neat order.

8) Submit your application land and other information in a clear plastic folder with a slide-locking binder. Make sure the "thank you" cover letter is on top, followed by the application, followed by the extra informatioin.

Cover Letter For Scholarships

August 17, 2008

John Doe, President
XYZ Scholarship Committee
1234 Expressway Park Rd.
Kansas City, MO 11111

Dear Mr. Doe,

This letter is to introduce myself, (your name) , and my desire to participate in the XYZ scholarship program. I have been accepted to (name of college) for the fall of 2009.

I would like to thank you and the XYZ Scholarship Committee for your interest in helping college bound students with an opportunity for financial assistance through your program. I am enclosing my application form, ACT results, school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other information you requested.

If you should have any further interest in additional material, I would be more than happy to submit that to you as well. Once again, thank you for all you do on behalf of myself and the students of our great state.

Most Respectfully,

(Your Name)

The 15 Steps Students Must Take!

Here is a list of the 15 steps students must take to make sure they increase their opportunities for more funding and a better transition to college.

1) Try to increase your ACT/SAT score.
2) Take as many AP courses you can.
3) GPA and class rank are important. Work on them.
4) Participate in extra-curricular activities
5) Take a Career Assessment test.
6) Determine the Right School For You.
7) Research Schools
8) Apply to Schools Before Deadline.
9) Apply for Scholarships before deadline.
10) Visit Campus with a Checklist
11) Meet Financial Aid Counselor
12) Meet Major Department Head
13) Make sure all paperwork is submitted.
14) Take advantage of all orientation opportunities.
15) Get dorm choice early.