Step One

Understand College Costs

You may think you know the cost of college, but do you REALLY know everything you'll have to pay for? Familiarize yourself with the extras, like additional fees, so you won’t be surprised when the bill comes.

What You Need to Know

Financial Aid and More: How to Pay for College With No Money

For many families, saving up enough money to cover the entire cost of their children’s higher education just isn’t possible.

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

Start Here for Everything You Need to Know About Admissions and Financial Aid

Deciding where to go to college, and how to pay for it, are two of the most important decisions students

Understanding College Tuition and Fees

 The price of attending a college found in Google searches and on college and university websites can often be deceiving.

What Is Room and Board?

When you’re looking at how much it costs to send your child to college, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by

How to Bring Down a College’s Sticker Price

This is reality and where I encourage people to look pragmatically at the magnitude of two things related to college:

Step Two

Assess Your Financial Readiness to Pay For College

Once you know the costs, you can better assess your ability to pay. Research financial options, and be creative.

What You Need to Know

Financial Aid and More: How to Pay for College With No Money

For many families, saving up enough money to cover the entire cost of their children’s higher education just isn’t possible.

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

Start Here for Everything You Need to Know About Admissions and Financial Aid

Deciding where to go to college, and how to pay for it, are two of the most important decisions students

Paying for College 101: College Financing Best Practices

Sending a child to college is never easy—financially, logistically, or emotionally—but going at it alone is even more difficult. To

FAFSA and Divorced Parents

As divorced parents—or even as married ones—figuring out an equitable division of labor can be tough, but when it comes

How Family Finances Sway College Admissions Decisions

Excerpted from WHO GETS IN AND WHY by Jeffrey Selingo. Copyright © 2020 by Jeffrey Selingo. Reprinted with permission of Scribner, a

Step Three

Search for Scholarships

Merit aid is lovely, but sometimes, it doesn’t come through. There are other options to fill some of the cost gaps, like private scholarships. Although researching these takes perseverance, the effort can pay off.

What You Need to Know

Teen Jobs May Come With a Bonus: Scholarships

This story was originally published in our Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) group. It has been edited for clarity

Financial Aid and More: How to Pay for College With No Money

For many families, saving up enough money to cover the entire cost of their children’s higher education just isn’t possible.

How to Make Affordable Colleges Even More Affordable

This story was written by Elizabeth, a member of R2C’s Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) Facebook group, where it

How to Find Scholarships

Everyone wants to know how to find college scholarships. The first step is to understand what type of scholarships you’re

Scholarships With February Deadlines

Here is a list of scholarships, all of which have February deadlines. Association of Women in Mathematics Essay Contest Amount:

Penn State University Merit Scholarships

Finding individual college merit scholarship information can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the statistics you need to

Step Four

Create a High School To-Do List & Course Overview

What does your child’s blueprint of high school courses look like? Discuss it together—it will help as they begin to strategize their college plans.

What You Need to Know

High School Is Stressful: A Mom Expresses Concern and Our Community Responds

A Stressed Mom Speaks Out (A version of this story was first published anonymously by a mom in our Paying

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

Online AP Courses: Pros and Cons

You’ve weighed the pros and cons of the AP program, and you would like to have your student try out

Junior Year – 11th Grade College Planning Checklist

The content from this article has been moved to this new link.

High School Classes to Teach Teens Life Skills

High school is an important part of any teenager’s development. Outside of school, it’s a time when teens get their

The Importance of the School Profile

Have you ever heard of the school profile? Did you know it should be included in your child’s college admission

Step Five

Make a Test Prep Plan

Creating a test prep plan goes hand in hand with a course overview. Mapping out a schedule and following it can help reduce stress. Will it be AP classes or a hybrid plan? Will standardized tests be part of the bigger picture? Now’s the time to decide.

What You Need to Know

What to Know About the Digital SAT

This post was originally published in our Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) group. It has been edited for clarity

An Expert Shares How Your Student Can Improve Their SAT Score

This post was originally published in our Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) group. It has been edited for clarity

SAT and ACT Prep: Your Guide to the Best Free Resources

SAT and ACT prep doesn’t have to be expensive; in fact, many of the best resources are free. Below, I’ve

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

Important Test-Day SAT Tips

The benefits of preparing academically for the SAT are obvious, but many families underestimate the importance of preparing emotionally and

Preparing for the SAT

As the parent or guardian of a college-bound student, you have probably done at least a little worrying about the

Step Six

Schedule Extracurriculars & Summer Activities

Once your student has their course overview out of the way, they can fill their extra time with sports, the arts, hobbies, projects, and more. It’s never too early to plan what the summer months will look like as well.

What You Need to Know

Teen Jobs May Come With a Bonus: Scholarships

This story was originally published in our Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) group. It has been edited for clarity

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

Volunteering in High School Means Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards for Your Child

Not every student is an A-team athlete or the star of the school play, nor do they have to be

Certification Classes for Teens, High Schoolers

Whether your child is thinking about taking a few classes before college, in between semesters, or even jumping right in

Summer Programs for High School Students

Summer programs for high school students offer opportunities ranging from local college classes to programs around the world. As college

What Should You Put in a Brag Sheet for College?

The brag sheet is an integral piece of the college application process, and yet it’s not talked about often enough.

Step Seven

Set Financial & Academic Expectations

Conversations with your teen will be much easier if you make them aware of the realities of your family’s finances. Set expectations about money and grades, so they know what their part of the bargain will be.

What You Need to Know

Financial Aid and More: How to Pay for College With No Money

For many families, saving up enough money to cover the entire cost of their children’s higher education just isn’t possible.

High School Is Stressful: A Mom Expresses Concern and Our Community Responds

A Stressed Mom Speaks Out (A version of this story was first published anonymously by a mom in our Paying

College Planning Checklist for 11th Grade

Junior year of high school is an important time for students in the college admissions process. Use our college planning

You Should Be Asking These Questions About Financial Aid

This article was sponsored by College Ave Student Loans. College Ave takes the stress out of paying for college so

Money Management for Teenagers

As a mom, I’m learning that “the money talk” with teenagers is about more than money—it’s about family values and

What Is Yield Protection and What Does it Have to Do With College Admissions?

Your student isn’t the only one worried about college acceptances. Schools are as well–they want to know the rate at

Tools & Services Recommended for You

There may come a time when you realize you can’t do it all alone. Use any of the many tools in our toolbox to assist you on the road to college.

Become a Member

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