college-admissions
While colleges show you glossy brochures, there's a public document that reveals exactly how stingy or generous they really are. Rachel was doing her homework. Her daughter was a high school junior with a 3.8 GPA, and Rachel was determined not to make the same mistakes other
college-admissions
The college just "awarded" you $45,000. But $30,000 of it is debt you have to pay back with interest. Lisa was ecstatic when her son David's acceptance letter arrived from Riverside University. But the real moment of celebration came when the financial aid package
college-admissions
Your family's financial profile doesn't change. But your "ability to pay" can swing by $40,000 depending on which form the college uses. Jennifer owns a small marketing consulting firm in San Jose. She and her husband earn a combined $160,000 per year—
college-admissions
Your college isn't calculating what you can pay. They're calculating what you will pay. Michael thought he understood financial aid. Fill out the FAFSA, the government calculates what you can afford (your Expected Family Contribution), and the college fills the gap with grants and loans. Simple,
college-admissions
You think you're applying to a college. The college thinks you're entering a marketplace. Sarah was confused. Her daughter Emma had been accepted to three similar private colleges—all ranked within a few spots of each other, all with nearly identical sticker prices of $75,000