Wednesday, July 2College Admissions News

Author: Editor

Is Biden Positively Impacting Student Loan Debt?
Financial Aid

Is Biden Positively Impacting Student Loan Debt?

Consider the coronavirus pandemic — and throw in the passage of time and perceived inaction — and it’s clear that student loan borrowers are losing optimism that relief is on the way. About 4 in 10 Americans with education debt now say they expect the President Joe Biden-led White House to positively impact their loan repayment, according to our latest survey of 1,000-plus borrowers. That’s down from nearly 7 in 10 borrowers who said the same in December 2020 as Biden was preparing to assume the Oval Office. Though borrowers’ confidence in federal support, such as mass student loan forgiveness, is waning, a slight majority of survey respondents admit they’re managing their repayment with the potential for forgiveness in mind. More than a quarter of borrowers stil...
Don’t Be Like Most Parents And Waste Time: How To Start The College Application Process Right Now
College Planning

Don’t Be Like Most Parents And Waste Time: How To Start The College Application Process Right Now

  I have a story for you. Two of my close friends recently sent their kids to college back in the 2018 fall semester. This was the first kid either of them was about to put through college so it was an important milestone for both parent and child.   They dropped off their teenager’s suitcase, helped set up the dorm room and then waved goodbye to their little kid, all grown up now and at the very beginning of their new adult life.   Now, both of my friends are well aware of what I do for a living so they each told me about their experience with the whole college process.   One of my friends, let’s call him John for the sake of privacy, is very happy with where his child is going to school. His kid got into her dream school and...
 Enforcement Unit Reconstituted to Protect Student Aid Against Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Financial Aid

 Enforcement Unit Reconstituted to Protect Student Aid Against Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

The Biden administration recently announced the reconstitution of an office designed to safeguard taxpayer-funded student aid dollars and protect students from predatory colleges. The previous administration had “deprioritized” the department tasked with enforcement of student protection regulations within the Office of Federal Student Aid in a move viewed by pro-student advocates as enabling problematic behavior on the part of predatory colleges. The history of waste, fraud, and abuse in federal student aid programs has followed a cyclical pattern, as successive political administrations imposed widely differing regulatory structures that alternately clamp down on or tolerate high-risk behaviors that particularly surface in for-profit higher education. In 1991 and again in 2012, sele...
College Search

A Liberal Education is a Practical Education – Colleges That Change Lives

Table 4 from the latest AAC&U Report, How College Contributes to Workforce Success: Employer Views on What Matters Most As I consider the excitement and challenges for high school students this month, I want to share a message primarily for juniors and seniors, since both groups of students are likely highly engaged in the college search – either at its beginning or in its final stages: Wherever you go, whatever you study, I hope you will seek out an education for the whole person that will last a lifetime. In other words, please consider a liberal arts education! A “liberal” education has nothing to do with political parties and everything to do with preparing for more than a specific job. A liberal arts education teaches students to understand and see connections between cause a...
Where to Find the Best DBQ Examples
College Planning

Where to Find the Best DBQ Examples

One of the best ways to prepare for the DBQ (the "document-based question" on the AP European History, AP US History, and AP World History exams) is to look over sample questions and example essays. Doing this will help you to get a sense of what makes a good (and what makes a bad) DBQ response. That said, not all DBQ essay examples are created equal. We'll briefly cover what makes a good DBQ example and then provide a list of example essays by course. Lastly, we'll give you some helpful tips on how to best use sample essays in your own preparation process. What's a Good DBQ Example? Without a doubt, the best sample resources come from the College Board. This is because they are the ones who design and administer the AP exams. This means the following: Any DBQ essay example that th...
Survey: Not Financially Ready to Resume Payments
Financial Aid

Survey: Not Financially Ready to Resume Payments

Rumblings emerged from Washington, D.C., in early March that the White House was considering yet another extension of the pandemic-inspired moratorium on federal student loan repayment. That would be welcome news for a majority of borrowers nationwide. Nearly 3 in 4 federal student loan holders report not being financially ready to resume monthly payments if the freeze on interest and dues expires as scheduled on May 1, according to the latest Student Loan Hero survey of 1,050 borrowers. (APRIL 6 UPDATE: There’s good news for these borrowers as the moratorium has been extended through Aug. 31, 2022.) The survey also indicates that the majority of moratorium-eligible borrowers have used their monthly savings to pay for basic necessities, while borrowers whose loan...
College Search

Ready, Set, Go! How to Begin a College Search – Colleges That Change Lives

For some, the path to their perfect school is easy and straightforward. For others, the process is a bit more convoluted, perhaps even confusing. Whatever path you’re on, I’m here to tell you it will be ok. No one expects students to have all the answers, and there are steps that can help you gain—and maintain—momentum in the journey to find the best college fit. Take a breath and dream a little. There is plenty of time to research, plan, apply, and decide. At the beginning, you don’t need to have a lengthy college list, decide on a major, or know what questions to ask at a college fair. Instead, you want to set the foundation for your college search by thinking about what you hope to get out of college and imagining what that experience might look like. Then make the time to discov...
College Search

Making the Most of Summer, PART I – Colleges That Change Lives

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”― Yogi Berra Ahhh, summer: It’s almost here! What are you looking forward to the most? Free time? An open schedule? Time with friends and family? The college search? You may not have included “college search” on your list, but you should add it now. Hear me out…. Before you know it, your senior year will be here—along with the college and scholarship application season, which can be hectic. By committing a little time to the college search now, you’ll be better prepared for the process, less stressed in the fall, and thankful you have a plan in place that enables you to keep up with it all and not miss out on all the senior year fun. This is the first of a three-part series about preparing for the college search ove...
Financial Aid

A Student’s Guide to Finding the Best College Scholarships

Raising money for college can seem daunting with tuition, textbook fees, and living expenses to consider. Receiving scholarships and grants can make a big difference toward defraying the high cost of college. College financial aid packages typically don’t cover all costs and often include student loans. Applying for scholarships and grants takes time and patience, but has significant long-term benefits. These awards will help you pay for college without the financial burden created by student loans because unlike student loans, scholarships and grants don’t require repayment. Any funds you receive from these programs are considered gift aid. There are a wide range of scholarships and grants, including need-based awards, merit-based awards, and more. Here are a few simple ways to opt...
Reach, target and safety schools: Don’t slip when creating a smart college list
College Planning

Reach, target and safety schools: Don’t slip when creating a smart college list

A critical part of the college search process is creating an excellent list of colleges, which often includes reach, target and safety schools. Families often slip badly on this extremely important yet tricky task of pulling together a solid college list. If a teenager creates a problematic list, parents can easily pay too much money for college. One of the key issues when creating a solid college list is to understand the definition of these terms: High school counselors commonly recommend that students apply to all three types of schools. This, however, can be a more costly move in many cases. First, let’s break down what each is. Reach schools Definition: Reach schools represent colleges and universities where students have a low chance of gaining admission. The most well-known of the ...
CTCL Names New Executive Director – Colleges That Change Lives
College Search

CTCL Names New Executive Director – Colleges That Change Lives

June 14, 2021 Christine Bowman, Chair of the Colleges That Change Lives Board of Directors, announced today that Ms. Ann Marano has accepted the role of Executive Director of Colleges That Change Lives and will begin her role on June 15, 2021. In this role, Marano will report directly to the CTCL Board of Directors and will serve as the face of the consortium as well as a spokesperson for the value of a student-centered college search process. Ms. Marano will also serve in a pivotal role, as CTCL looks to its mission and its vision while preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary. “I am pleased to share that Ann Marano has accepted the role of Executive Director of CTCL,” Board Chair-elect and chair of the search committee, Crys Latham, said. “We are so impressed by Ann’s enthusiasm...
Moratorium Will Save Borrowers Average of $6,949
Financial Aid

Moratorium Will Save Borrowers Average of $6,949

While the coronavirus pandemic has posed financial challenges for many over the past nearly two years, student loan borrowers have enjoyed some relief in this period. In March 2020, the government paused student loan payments and interest on eligible federal loans. Since then, the student loan moratorium has been extended five times, most recently through May 1, 2022. (UPDATE: The moratorium in early April was extended for a sixth time, through Aug. 31, but this study was based on the May 1 end to the pause.) This long-term, zero-interest forbearance is resulting in major savings for borrowers — $145 billion in total, according to Student Loan Hero researchers. Analysts estimate the typical borrower in active repayment will have kept $6,949 that would have otherw...
Full Guide to Choosing (2022, 2023)
College Planning

Full Guide to Choosing (2022, 2023)

The SAT is offered seven times a year, but which SAT test dates will work best for you and your schedule? What essential factors should you consider before creating an SAT schedule? What are the best SAT dates for juniors? For seniors? In this comprehensive guide, we offer you the most current info on SAT test dates (domestic and international) for 2022-2023. We also give you our top tips for choosing the best SAT test dates for you as well as tons of resources to help you navigate the complicated web of SAT/ACT test dates.   SAT Dates and Deadlines 2022-2023 In general, the College Board administers the SAT on Saturdays, with more tests offered in the fall. If you can't take the test on a Saturday for religious or other reasons, Sunday alternate dates are usually available. Below, we gi...
College Search

Changing Lives. Taking Chances. Always Learning. – Colleges That Change Lives

The Colleges That Change Lives group of schools has worked together since 1998, with admission representatives traveling to recruit students, talking about the life-changing experience of a college education—especially a liberal arts education at a small school—helping students and families keep the college search student-centered. For almost 15 years, CTCL has been recognized as a non-profit organization whose members work together, adapting to the times, to help students and families. For close to 25 years, Colleges That Change Lives has been part of my professional life. How can it be close to 25 years?! And how can this chapter be coming to a close? From representing Clark University on some of CTCL’s first tours and later Eckerd College to serving as Board Chair and then Executiv...
Vermont Student Loans: Debt Statistics
Financial Aid

Vermont Student Loans: Debt Statistics

Vermont borrowers have an average balance of $35,276 in federal and private student loans, 4% below the national average of $36,689. Those going to school in the Green Mountain State can tap into incentives like the Catamount Commitment, which covers tuition and fees — in full — for University of Vermont students receiving federal Pell grants. While both need- and merit-based programs are available, many students lean on federal and private loans to cover the cost of going to college. Here’s a look at Vermont student loans and repayment options. Vermont student loans: Borrowers owe average of $35,276 in federal, private debt College students in Vermont borrow, on average, $35,276 in federal and private loan debt. Compa...