Ask Joe College

February Podcast Available!

2012-02-06T14:25:10Z

Welcome to February everyone!

This month our college counselors discuss financial aid topics pertinent to this time of year. Have you heard of verification? Do you know why a family may be verified? Do you know what forms you need to provide to the college if you are selected for verification? The answers to these questions and more about verification are revealed.

If your family has filed your FAFSA for 2012-2013 and thinks the financial aid process is complete for the year, you will want to listen in as our counselors share why the process is not over and explain what you should still be doing to maximize your financial aid potential.

Happy listening,
Val

Renewable Scholarships Could Have Certain Criteria to Maintain

2012-02-01T19:27:14Z

In the upcoming months you will hopefully receive some scholarship money, i.e. free money for college. And while you should be excited, be sure to read the fine print. Many of us skip right to the part about the dollar amount and then breathe a sigh of relief that we know exactly where x amount of dollars is coming from to pay college costs. But if the scholarship is renewable (and some are), you need to find out what you have to do in order to maintain those free dollars while you are in college. Oftentimes you have to maintain a certain number of credits, or GPA, or both. You may have to submit your grades to an outside organization (if a private scholarship) or if the college is the source awarding you the money, their financial aid office will check to make sure that you stuck to your requirements.

To read more tips to maintain your free scholarship dollars for college check out this article by U.S. News.

Now is the time to start applying for scholarships if you haven’t already (or to keep applying if you have!) Visit your Guidance Office to inquire about local resources and also check out www.nh93.com, www.nhcf.org and www.iamcollegebound.org. With some hard work, research and advance planning, hopefully you too can receive some free money for college!

Best of luck,
Val

5 Financial Aid Tips

2012-01-31T14:32:09Z

Hi, My name is Crystal Finefrock and I am the President of NHASFAA (New Hampshire Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) and have worked in the financial aid office at Plymouth State University for over eleven (11) years. As the "financial aid season" is now here, I wanted to share a few things that you might find helpful:

#1: MEET DEADLINES

Know what financial aid applications are required and the filing deadlines for each application; this will maximize your financial aid eligiblity.

If your IRS Tax Return is not completed prior to an institution’s filing deadline, file the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with estimated information based on your 2010 tax returns or last paystubs from 2011 to ensure that deadlines are met.

#2: IRS DATA MATCH

Once you have filed your tax return (both the students and the parents) and the IRS has processed the tax return, you must update your information on the FAFSA form. This is easy! Log into the FAFSA, change your tax filing status to "I have already completed my tax return" and you will be prompted to complete the IRS Data Match. Using the IRS Data Match may save you time later on in the process!

Note: Some may not be eligible to complete the IRS Data Match, including the following two examples: "married filing separately" and "married filing head of household." If you are unable to complete the match, manually make any necessary corrections to your financial data and submit.

#3: APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS "OFTEN AND EARLY"

This helpful hint says it all! Visit your High School’s Guidance Office Today!

#4: HOW WILL A SCHOOL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU

It is critical to find out how each of the colleges will correspond with you. Will they be sending everything through the mail, will it only be online, or will it be a combination of both? You don’t want to wait for an award letter or other necessary information and then find out it’s been sitting in a portal on the school’s website for weeks.

#5: FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATORS ARE HERE TO "HELP YOU!"

Financial aid administrators ARE YOUR FRIENDS! Financial aid administrators across the country are ready to help you through the financial aid process. Don't be afraid to pick up the phone, or send that email, to find the answers to all of your questions!

Wishing you all the BEST!!!
Crystal

Sunday School – Week 2!

2012-01-24T19:15:00Z

This week’s Sunday School Radio Show on WTPL 107.7 featured our Center for College Planning’s College Outreach Specialists Kerry and Rich.

As many NH families are currently in the midst of the completing their college financial aid paperwork and truly examining the cost of college, our counselors spend this session sharing some basic information about financial aid and college costs.

If you have any questions about financial aid, college planning or any other college and career related information, please call the Center for College Planning’s toll free number at 888.7.GRADUATE, ext. 119. And remember, you can listen to the College Gurus live on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on WTPL 107.7FM!

Tuned in to Sunday School,
Val

January Podcast Available!

2012-01-23T16:47:40Z

Each month the Center for College Planning counselors share tips and information about various college planning and financial aid topics relating to high school juniors and seniors.

This month our counselors spend time focusing on the FAFSA form and common scenarios that students and families may face when filing it. Some of the scenarios include how divorced parents complete the form and what qualifies a student as an independent student. They also share some scholarship opportunities that students should investigate and apply for to try and earn free money for college.

Have a great rest of your month,
Val

Sunday School Live on WTPL 107.7 FM Radio Show

2012-01-20T18:32:00Z

Did you know that the Center for College Planning now has a weekly 30 minute radio on WTPL 107.7 FM at 10:30 a.m.? Tune in each week to hear college counselors share tips and advice about college admissions, financial aid, funding college, scholarship searches and more! Not able to catch us at that time? No problem! Every week we will also post the content of the radio show here on the Joe College Blog so that you can listen whenever is most convenient for you!

Our first week's show features Tara Payne, VP of College Planning and Community Engagement, and Jay Hauser, Senior College Counselor, talking about how our Center for College Planning helps families in New Hampshire plan and pay for college. They also highlight the www.iamcollegebound.org website and the many wonderful opportunities and information it provides.

Happy listening,
Val

Top Reasons to Apply for Federal Student Aid

2012-01-19T13:39:21Z

It’s January and as you know FAFSA season is upon us. You may question whether or not you should file the form if you think you may not qualify for free money from the government. So should you? Absolutely! But don’t just take my word for it, here is an article that outlines the top reasons that every family should apply for financial aid.

One big reason every student should complete a FAFSA application is to qualify for the Stafford Direct Loan. This loan is a government loan that a student can receive in his or her own name at a fixed interest rate without a co-signer. Financial need is not a factor in receiving this loan, however whether or not a student receives a subsidized portion (meaning it’s not accruing interest until the student graduates or falls below half-time status) is based on the family’s finances. Another benefit to filing the FAFSA? If you are planning to take a parent PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student) loan, your student will need to have filed the FAFSA.

It’s important to file the FAFSA because a student’s financial need can vary from year to year. For instance, let’s say you filed the FAFSA last year for your student and their EFC (expected family contribution) came back at $30,000. If your student was attending one of our 4-year public colleges in the state of New Hampshire he or she would not have a financial need as they cost less than that amount (although he or she could have received a scholarship based completely on merit). But now let’s say that you have 2 children in college for the 2012-2013 academic year. You would file a FAFSA for each of your children and you would find that the EFC drops roughly by 50% (it will vary based on how much each of your children earned from working and what they have in assets). For easy numbers, let’s say that each of your children has an EFC of $15,000. In this case, they may receive some financial aid based on need from their college if this number is less than the school’s yearly cost. You never know, and it’s definitely worth it to find out. Any free money, no matter what amount, is good money!

Want some help filing your FAFSA? Call the Center for College Planning at 888.7.GRADUATE ext. 119 to schedule your FREE 60 minute FAFSA appointment today.

Be financial aid savvy,
Val

The Cost of Skipping Class

2012-01-17T16:19:44Z

Hello everyone,

Most of you have probably just started or are getting ready to start your spring semester. Some of you might be unhappy about your performance in the fall semester. I sometimes have students ask me how to improve their grades in their classes and after a little bit of probing, I often find that these students can start by making a very simple change which is the first step toward any improvement in performance. Many of these students missed quite a few classes—they simply chose not to attend, most likely because they saw no harm coming from that choice. What is the harm of missing class? I usually try to explain that when a student misses class, he or she misses a lot of important information. But that argument doesn’t seem to convince students to make it to class. So here’s a different reason for why you should attend ALL of your classes—it’s a waste of your money not to.

In-state tuition (not including room and board and mandatory fees) at Plymouth State University, where I teach, for the 2011-12 academic year is $9,110. Out-of-state tuition is $16,570. If we do the math, we see that tuition for New Hampshire residents is $4,055 per semester and for non-residents it is $8,285. This price allows students to take between 12 and 17 credits during that semester. Let’s assume students take, on average, 5 courses at 3 credits each. This means that each course costs $811 for residents and $1,657 for non-residents. If a course meets twice a week for 15 weeks, each class period costs a New Hampshire resident $27.03 and a non-resident $52.23. Although these are just estimates for what each class period costs, they are fairly indicative and if you miss a class, you are throwing away some amount of money.

The first step to getting good grades is to attend all of your classes. Make it your goal in the new semester to have perfect attendance. Can you really afford not to?

Cathie

Are 529’s Still a Good Investment?

2012-01-16T16:03:01Z

Do you have a 529 Plan for your student(s) and you’ve seen the market go up and down and not give you a whole lot of return or even a loss? Have you been contemplating starting a 529 Plan for your student(s) and you’ve heard other families tell of the above issues? You may be wondering if 529 Plans are still a good college savings vehicle for students. The short answer: yes.

This article from USA Today explains the continued value of having a 529 Plan in more depth, but know that while the return may not be as significant as you may like, it still has attractive qualities as a college savings vehicle. Overall the market has been pretty volatile, we’ve all seen that with our retirement accounts. The same holds true with a 529 Plan. There are different investment options and many families have their plans fluctuate the amount of bonds and stock investments based on their children’s ages. Doing so is a great strategy to help you grow your student(s)’ college savings accounts.

Compare different 529 Plans available on www.savingforcollege.com. There are different benefits, minimums and limitations for each plan, so be sure to thoroughly research them to ensure that you are investing in the best option for your student and family.

Research your options today,
Val

Information for Parents: Retirement and College Savings Accounts

2012-01-09T19:40:11Z

Here at the Center for College Planning we meet with families that have had to choose between saving for their retirement and saving for their child’s college education. Here is an article that explains that while it is ideal to save for both at the same time, it is not a possibility for every family. If given the choice, parents should consider saving for their retirement before saving for their student’s college costs because there are options available to pay for college; you are unable to borrow for retirement.

So what are some of the ways that families can finance college if they have been unable to save (or have saved, but not as much as they will need to fund college)? There are college tuition payment plans that some families utilize for a portion of the balance. If you as a family know that you can contribute say $100 a month for 10 months, that means $1000 less that will have to be funded through another source. If it’s $1000 less that is borrowed, that’s less money accumulating interest over a 10 plus year period. That can add up to real savings!

Students are able to borrow $5,500 in their own name at a fixed interest rate from the government (for their 1st year of college if attending full time). This loan is called the Direct Stafford Loan and the application for it is completion of the FAFSA form. Some parents choose to take out a loan in their own name from the Federal government. This type of loan is called the Parent PLUS loan and it has a fixed interest rate of 7.9%. For more information on both of these loans, click here.

And hopefully students are awarded scholarship (based on merit) and grant money (based on finances), both free sources of aid. These can be given from the government, college or through a private source. The FAFSA, and possibly the CSS Profile are the applications for all grant money, but students should research scholarship options through their high school, town and private organizations. Check out www.nh93.com for some great local scholarship opportunities. Every little bit adds up and goes a long way to help defray the cost of college. Even if your student is not a senior in high school, but a sophomore or junior, encourage him or her to research these scholarship opportunities. Some are available for underclassmen and even if they are not, it’s helpful to know their eligibility criteria in advance. It may give the students the motivation needed to complete the requirements for the various opportunities.

If your family would like free help completing your student’s FAFSA form schedule an appointment to meet with us in our Concord office. We also meet with families to discuss funding options once students have received their offers of financial aid from their colleges. Call us at 888.7.GRADUATE ext. 119 to schedule your free 1 hour appointment.

Explore college funding opportunities today,
Val

Information for Parents: Retirement and College Savings Accounts

2012-01-09T19:40:08Z

Explore college funding opportunities today,
Val

Need a Book Related to Anything College? We Can Help!

2012-01-04T20:00:00Z

The Center for College Planning Library, located in our Concord Office, has a great selection of books highlighting college majors, the college application process, standardized testing strategies and test samples, college life, financial aid and so much more! So don’t go out and purchase a book that you can borrow from us for free! While we don’t have every college related books, we do have many available for you to borrow. For a complete listing of our CCP Lending Library Catalog click here.

Please stop into our 4 Barrell Court, Concord, NH location anytime Monday-Friday from 8-5 p.m. to reserve and borrow your book(s) from us today!

Happy New Year,
Val

Grades

2012-01-03T15:43:53Z

Hello everyone,

At most universities, the Fall semester has just ended and the end of a semester means that students will be receiving grades. For some first year students, grades at the end of the first semester can come as a shock. Grades mean different things to different people but no matter what you think about grades, they matter to your college career. Although grades do not measure your worth as a person, they are important because they determine your grade point average, which is important for President’s and Dean’s List calculations, for scholarship and internship opportunities and even for finding your first job after graduation. If your grades (and therefore, your grade point average) drop below certain levels, you may even be placed on academic probation or be asked to leave school. If you find yourself in this situation, most schools offer a number of opportunities for quickly bringing your grade point average up and you should take advantage of this. At Plymouth State University, for example, if a student receives a grade lower than a C- in a class, the student can retake the class to receive a new grade. The new grade (even if it is lower) will replace the original grade in the grade point average calculation, although the original grade will still appear on the student’s transcript. Replacement of low grades with higher grades will bring a grade point average up very quickly! Of course, the best way to stay out of academic trouble is to not receive low grades in the first place.

If you are having trouble with some of your classes, seek help as early as possible. At Plymouth State University we have a Writing Center and a Math Activity Center to help students. Find out what resources are available at your school and take advantage of them. They are there to help!

Happy Holidays!
Cathie

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-19T22:09:17Z

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Joe and his friends at the Center for College Planning. We will see you back here in January when we talk FAFSAs and financial aid!

Have a great couple of weeks!
Val

5 Ways to Prepare for Financial Aid Season

2011-12-15T14:04:59Z

Believe it or not Financial Aid season is mere weeks away. With the holiday season also upon us, financial aid may not be first and foremost on your mind; but it should be something that you give some thought to as it may mean more access to scholarships and grants, as well as federal self-help programs such as federal work-study and loans. So what can you do now to prepare to file your FAFSA after January 1, 2012?

1. Determine the FAFSA deadlines for each school the student is sending a college admission application to. Each college has the option to elect different deadlines, so don’t assume that because one college lists March 1, 2012 that they will all have that same deadline; many are due in January and February. (Start a chart with due dates and forms required!)

2. Determine the student’s dependency status. Students can either be listed as dependent (requiring parental information on the FAFSA) or independent (completing the information without parental information). There are certain criteria that would deem a student eligible for independent status, including: the student is over the age of 24, part of foster care at any point after the age of 13, married, has a child of their own that they support more than 50%, has a legal guardian, etc. For a complete listing of criteria that would establish the student as independent visit the fafsa.ed.gov website.

3. Gather your tax information (both parents and students) as well as last statements for all investments (beyond designated retirement accounts and equity in a primary property). You will need all of this information to complete the FAFSA form.

4. Download the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (found on the fafsa.ed.gov website) if you would like to see what kinds of questions you will need to answer on the actual FAFSA form.

5. Establish a PIN number for both the student and one parent (if the student is considered dependent) in order to electronically sign the FAFSA form. You can do that now at www.pin.ed.gov or you can create one as part of the FAFSA signature page before you submit it. Write it down (along with the answer to your challenge question) for use in future years!

If the thought of filing the FAFSA intimidates you, remember the Center for College Planning can help! If you would like one of our College Counselors help you file the FAFSA, call 888.7.GRADUATE ext. 119 to schedule your 60 minute appointment in our Concord office!

Start preparing today,
Val

Finals Are Upon Us!

2011-12-13T18:28:23Z

Are you a college student approaching college finals for the first time? Are you a high school student trying to get everything you need to done before the holiday break? You’re not alone. While the middle of December is an exciting time of the year, it can also mean added stress to finish strong, and possibly make up for a lack of studying that may have happened thus far (hopefully not!).

So how do you properly prepare for those end of semester finals and tests? This article from Huffington Post outlines some great suggestions.

Here are some of the study tips listed:

• Join or start a study group. Having to teach concepts to each other will reinforce the items you know and help you discover which ones you need to spend more time reviewing.
• Try to get some physical activity at least 20 minutes every day. It will help clear your head and has been linked to increased ability to remember things.
• Take short 5-10 minute study breaks at least once every hour. That small amount of time will help you stay focused while you study.
• Mix up your study spots. It may be helpful to switch locations, especially since where you are studying is most likely not the same spot you will take your test or final.

Try not to stress over finals; they will be over before you know it. If this is your first round of finals, you will most likely develop studying and testing strategies that will help you in subsequent semesters.

Do you have any study tips that have worked well for you? We’d love to hear them!

Best of luck with finals,
Val

Financial Aid Discussions With Your Family: There’s No Time Like Now!

2011-12-06T20:32:49Z

You’ve applied to college, or at least you’re in the process, and now it’s time to start thinking about Financial Aid. Have you had the discussion with your parents or student about the cost of college, what a reasonable budget is for the family per year (as well as overall for 2 or 4 years) and how the financing gap will be funded? If not, there’s no time like now to start those discussions.

In our office, we work with many families that do not begin to talk about how much they can comfortably pay for college while managing their other financial responsibilities until the first tuition bill arrives. To make sure your family has a clear understanding about paying for college, you want to have that conversation much earlier so that everyone is communicating their needs throughout the college admissions process and not just when the first bill arrives.

Educate yourself on the free money versus the money offered that does need to be paid back. What’s the interest rate on your federal loans (Stafford Direct and Perkins if you received one)? How do you qualify for a Pell grant and does that need to be repaid? Does the scholarship you are awarded from a college come with conditions in order to keep it in subsequent years? This article begins talking about the basics of financial aid.

The Center for College Planning wants to help and offers financial aid workshops at high schools and other community organizations throughout the state of New Hampshire. Visit the calendar on our website to find a complete listing of the high schools we are visiting. Can’t attend your high school’s Financial Aid Night? No problem! Find another high school local to you and attend theirs. Same information; different location!

Become Financial Aid savvy today!
Val

Another Scholarship Opportunity!

2011-12-05T14:48:15Z

Do you exhibit excellent leadership, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need and are you a citizen of the United States? Then you should consider applying for the GE- Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program as those are some of their eligibility requirements (for a complete listing of rules and regulations visit http://www.reaganfoundation.org/GE-RFScholarships.aspx).

Each year, roughly 20 winners receive scholarships for $10,000 to apply directly to their tuition, room and board at an accredited four-year college or university. And one of the best parts about this scholarship; it’s renewable for up to 3 more years! So in essence, you could win $40,000 towards your educational costs; that’s huge!

Applications are currently being accepted and are due by February 17, 2012. Remember, the more that you apply for available scholarships, the greater the probability that you will receive one (or more!)

Best of luck,
Val

December Podcast Ready for Listening!

2011-12-01T13:15:00Z

So December is here…when did that happen? It seems like just yesterday that we were sitting in September looking to the senior year of high school that was ahead of us? While college admissions was our focus then, we are now switching gears and beginning to prepare for the financial aid season. The College Counselors from the Center for College Planning are still here to help!

This month we begin by outlining the different things that you and your family can do now to prepare for financial aid season. While you are not able to file the 2012-2013 FAFSA (available at www.fafsa.ed.gov) until January 1, 2012, you can start pulling together the information you will need and apply for PIN numbers (for electronic signature of your FAFSA) to make the process easier for you.

Do you have to file the CSS Profile (found at www.collegeboard.org) in addition to the FAFSA form? You’re not alone! Tune in to discover the differences between the forms, helpful tips to fill them out and much more!

Wishing you a happy December,
Val

Thanksgiving Break is Upon Us!

2011-11-21T20:48:56Z

If you are a current college student, you are probably spending the next couple of days wrapping things up at school and packing for the holiday at home. For some, it may be the first time that you have come home since August or September when you arrived on campus and you’re probably pretty excited. If you are a current senior in high school, you are probably looking forward to some time with family and friends, and hopefully some quality time with your college applications.

Either way, enjoy the time with family and friends, but try to leave a little room for some productivity as well. During my college years, I found it very helpful to devote a day, or at least a good chunk of a day, to papers and projects that were due in the upcoming weeks. While it is tempting to only spend time catching up with friends and family, you can help ease some of your end of semester stress by getting a jumpstart on a few of your larger projects. High school juniors and seniors, it’s wise to use some time to devote to your college search and/or applications. You have a few days that will not be spent in class or doing extra-curricular activities. Focus your efforts for a half day or a day on your college application process and you will set yourself up nicely to complete those applications before the December holidays. Leave some time in your holiday festivities to plan ahead and accomplish some of your upcoming tasks. You’ll be thankful you did!

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,
Val