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ApplyThe New Ivies in 2026: Academics, Admissions and Affordability
If you’re considering colleges, the “New Ivies” present strong options. Use this guide to explore and compare them by academics, admissions, and affordability. In This Article: What Are the New […]
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College AdmissionsAre Ivy League Schools Worth It? A Father Shares His Advice
This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. I went through the college admissions process last year with […]
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College prepTeacher Tips: How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College
Two of our community members offer their advice. This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. Tips from […]
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FinanceWhat Is FAFSA and How Does It Work?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important components of the college application. This document is what schools use to determine how much financial […]
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College AdmissionsThe Four Most Common Myths Families Hear on the Road to College
Excerpted from Game On: Why College Admission is Rigged and How to Beat the System by Susan F. Paterno by Susan Paterno. Copyright © 2021 by the author and reprinted […]
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College AdmissionsA Guide to Preparing for College Admissions Testing
Many high school students find college admissions testing stressful, but the right preparation can ensure a positive test day experience and good scores. There are several different tools and resources […]
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ApplicationsTips for How to Fill Out the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and Other Aid Forms
Editor’s Note: This article applies to the 2023-24 FAFSA and earlier. The 2024-25 FAFSA has been revamped and uses a metric called Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of EFC. by Kalman A. […]
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Financial aidHow to Apply for Financial Aid for College
by Kalman A. Chany, author, The Princeton Review’s Paying for College. The financial aid application process can seem overwhelming. There is all this new and confusing jargon to absorb. Unfortunately, […]
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Financial aidHow Does Financial Aid Work? Understanding the System
By Kalman A. Chany, author of The Princeton Review’s Paying for College. Applying for financial aid has never been more difficult and competitive given the high cost of college and the […]
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ScholarshipsTrue Stories of Private Scholarship Winners and How They Did It
Paying for college is one of the biggest financial concerns of families today. Finding private scholarships and merit scholarships from colleges–awards you don’t have to pay back–can help. According to […]
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CostsHow College Tuition and Renters Insurance Help Families Plan for the Unexpected
(Interviews are edited for clarity and flow.) Low-cost tuition expenses and comforting myths about “college as a protective bubble” belong to prior generations. The COVID crisis — not to mention […]
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College Life10 Pieces of Advice for College Freshmen
This story first appeared as a post in our Paying for College 101 FB Group. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. I’m reading posts from parents of freshmen about […]
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UncategorizedPreparing Your Freshman for Life with a Roommate
A friend emailed me the other day worried about the fact that her soon-to-be college freshman appears to have nothing in common with the girl who will be her roommate. […]
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College AdmissionsDoes Applying Early Decision to College Increase the Odds of Being Accepted?
Excerpted from VALEDICTORIANS AT THE GATE: Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College by Becky Munsterer Sabky. Published by Henry Holt and Company. Copyright © 2021 […]
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Find ScholarshipsHow My Daughter Got $53,000 a Year in Merit and Financial Aid Plus More in Private Scholarships
This story was originally published in our Paying for College 101 (PFC 101) group. It has been edited for clarity and flow. I’m hoping that the information included here helps other […]
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College LifeWhy Quality of Life in College Impacts Life After College
As founder of Road2College, much of my work centers on helping parents navigate two real concerns–how to get their students into college, and how to pay for it. Still, when […]
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FinanceMom of Four in College Shares Creative Ways to Pay for College!
A mom of six and a member of our FB community shares her advice on ways to pay for college. (Edited for clarity and flow.) I’ve learned a lot about […]
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SATMom Says Daughter’s Average SAT Score Wasn’t Measure of Future Success
From a member of our Paying for College 101 FB Community comes this heartfelt story about watching your child overcome the odds and achieve success. (Edited for clarity and flow.) […]
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College AdmissionsWho Benefits the Most From Early Decision and Why You Need to Know
If your student has their heart set on a specific and highly competitive college, they may want to consider applying for Early Decision (ED). Early Decision (ED) is an admissions […]
