-
College List BuildingUC Berkeley Common Data Set
Sifting through a college’s Common Data Set can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the most important information from UC Berkeley’s most recent Common Data Set to provide you with the information you need at a quick glance. This guide contains key information from UC Berkeley Common Data Set 2025-2026. Berkeley Common Data…
- ACT
- Advice
- Apply
- Careers
- College Admissions
- College Financial Planning
- College List Building
- College prep
- College Sports
- Community College
- COVID-19
- Curated Articles
- Family Journeys
- Federal Loans
- Finance
- Financial Aid Appeals
- Find Scholarships
- Gift Ideas
- High School Academics & Activities
- ICYMI
- Learn
- Merit Scholarships
- Military
- News
- Paying Off Loans
- Plan
- SAT
- SAT Prep
- Season
- Standardized Testing
- Student & Parent Loans
- Student Athletes
- Survive
- Test Taking
- Uncategorized
- Vocational schools
- What You Need to Know
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Shouldn’t I Have a Say in My Daughter’s Major Since I’m Paying?
Dear Roadie: My daughter is smart and hardworking but doesn’t always make the most practical decisions, so I’m considering asking her to sign a contract with me. I’ll pay for her college education, but only if she chooses a practical, well-paying field that’s worth my investment. I’m thinking science or engineering since she’s done so…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Will My Son’s Marijuana Arrest Ruin His Chances of Playing College Football?
Dear Roadie: My son finished his junior year in the top 10 percent of his high school class. He also was named an all-state quarterback. So far, so good, right? Here’s the problem: He was arrested two months ago for a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. His father and I have had several serious talks…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: My Father-in-Law Will Pay for My Daughter’s College – With a Big ‘But’
Dear Roadie: My father-in-law has generously offered to pay for our daughter’s college education. I was thrilled when he first told us. But then he quickly added a stipulation: She must do the first two years at our local community college. He explained that he had read a lot about this issue and concluded that…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Should I Let My Insistent Daughter Apply to Expensive Out-of-State Colleges?
Dear Roadie: My daughter is dead set on attending an out-of-state college. The tuition is far more than for in-state students, and we’re not wealthy people. I worry about the loans she will have to take out. I’ll also admit that I don’t want her to be so far away. She’s been a responsible young…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Should I Get A Second Job So My Daughter Can Graduate Debt-Free?
Dear Roadie, I am flabbergasted at the cost of college today. My daughter is a stellar student, and the last thing I want to do is hold her back from attending a great school simply because we can’t afford it. She’s not looking for Ivies, but even our highly ranked state flagship college is pricey…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Do Parents Need to Become College Admission Experts? I’m So Lost
Dear Roadie, I’m the mother of a 10th-grader, and I’m realizing I need a crash course in college admissions. I just read that Ivy League schools can cost $80,000 or more per year and don’t even provide merit scholarships. Is that true? After seeing that article, I feel like I don’t know anything about paying…
-
AdviceDear Roadie, My Son Returned From Orientation Hating the College He Chose. What Now?
Dear Roadie, I’m a bit freaked out. My son returned from his two-day college orientation and said he hated everything: the people, the distance, the campus, all of it (it’s a 6-hour flight from home). He says he made a mistake and no longer wants to attend. The school isn’t cheap, but with merit money…
-
College List BuildingHow Many Colleges Should You Apply To? Use This Method
Today’s students apply to as many as 10 to 20 colleges to ensure they have a good option when the dust settles. However, some students apply to only a few. Who’s right? Is there a magic number of college applications you should submit? This article covers the strategic factors that affect how many colleges you…
-
AdviceDream School Too Expensive? Consider Other Options — Or It Will Cost You
A recent post in the Paying for College 101 Facebook Group mentioned a student who was admitted to her dream college, but her parents were denied the Sallie Mae loans they were counting on. They were looking for options to bridge a $40,000-per-year gap between the amount their child could take on with a Stafford…
-
AdviceDear Roadie, My Daughter Wants Me to Spend a Small Fortune Decorating Her Dorm Room. How Much Is Too Much?
Dear Roadie, My daughter tells me that all her friends are putting a lot of effort and money into decorating their dorm rooms, and by the looks of her Pinterest board, it sure looks like this has become the trend among college co-eds. But we are not wealthy people. It’s enough that we’re paying for…
-
College Life6 Types of Insurance for College Students and How to Save on Them
Students have multiple insurance options when they head off college. Most have health insurance, but many families may not be aware of other types of insurance for college students. For example, only 55% of U.S. renters have renter’s insurance despite its affordability. This guide covers six types of insurance for college students, including tips on…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Should We Reveal That My Daughter Has Autism, Anxiety, and Depression?
Dear Roadie, Is it okay to tell a college or university that my daughter has autism? She was accepted at a liberal arts college, received a scholarship, and paid the deposit. Since she is under 18, I need to fill out her health form. She has autism, anxiety, and depression, all of which are formal…
-
ApplicationsCollege Application Resume Guide and Example
High school seniors, put one more item on your to-do list. It’s time to prepare a college application resume. This isn’t the kind of resume you’ll need when you look for your first post-college job or a brag sheet you’ve put together for someone writing a letter of recommendation, but a resume designed for a…
-
Standardized testsAchieving a Good Score on the SAT: How the Test Works and Tips for Success
The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test administered by the College Board. U.S. colleges widely use it as one piece of their admissions processes, along with GPA, course rigor, letters of recommendation, essays, special talents like athletics and music, and other factors. Achieving a good score on the SAT can make you…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: My Daughter Keeps Failing Classes. Should I Keep Paying for Them?
Dear Roadie, My husband and I do not qualify for anything through FAFSA. We always said we would pay for four years of college for our kids, and if they can’t graduate in that time, they’d need to figure out how to pay for the rest. We paid for our daughter’s first year out-of-pocket. She…
-
Student & Parent LoansAn Expert Discusses How Student Loans Work
Having to learn about the Basics of the Student Loans at the point during the college admissions process when every parent is “just, plain exhausted” can seem like cruel and unusual punishment. But, if you know you will need to borrow money for your child’s college education, understanding everything you can about loans will only…
-
College Financial Aid Costs and StatsThe Best Colleges for Merit Aid
For many families ineligible for need-based financial aid, figuring out whether a college is affordable means researching whether it offers merit aid, how many students receive merit aid, and how large the merit awards are. What Exactly Is Merit Aid? Merit aid isn’t based on a family’s financial need but on a combination of a…
-
AdviceDear Roadie: Should I Switch to a College Job to Get Tuition Discounts for My Kids?
Dear Roadie, I’m a 41-year-old mom with twin 17-year-old sons. My husband and I are concerned about their college expenses. I have a good job in marketing, but I’m thinking of applying for another job at a local university 30 minutes from home. Would it be worth it for the tuition discounts that all employees…
