Tagged: "student loan"
Are College and Universities Bankrupting Themselves?
NYU and Columbia have announced plans to expand by taking on more debt in these tough economic times. Does this really make good financial or educational sense?
A Caution About Student Loans
Is taking out a student loan a good investment? Some think it is a good idea to stay away from student loans in order to finance a college education.
Student Loans By the Numbers
CollegeScholarships.org has a great new graphic that helps you think about the value (and the cost) of a college education. It’s definitely a great tool to help you conceptualize the costs, and to really consider whether it’s wise to take out a ton of loans to finance your undergraduate education. The folks there said I [...]
New Student Loans Require Payments While in School
Sallie Mae, the largest private lender in the student loan market, will no longer defer interest until graduation. Starting today, all new student loans require payments while in school. Payments while in school will be up to $160 per month. Payments after graduation will also go up, from $250 to $328 (but with a shorter [...]
The Benefits (and Risks) of a GAP Year In Tough Economic Times
The New York Times carried an article yesterday, entitled Delaying College for a Year Could Have Benefits, which lays out a few creative reasons for putting off college for a year. The financial arguments boil down to this: 1. President Obama’s proposed changes to federal student aid may put a few hundred dollars more per [...]
Taking Out a Student Loan? Listen To This First!
OnPoint, a radio production of WBUR and NPR, ran a story this past week called The Dark Side of Student Loans. The featured guest is Alan Michael Collinge, founder of StudentLoanJustice.org and author of the new book “The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History – and How We Can Fight Back.” Publisher’s [...]
Choose the Right College Before Tackling the Financial Aid Form
An article the other day in the New York Times highlights the pain of applying for financial aid. Entitled “The Big Test Before College,” the article raises the issue of whether the intimidating form actually does what it is supposed to do: measure a family’s financial need. While we all love to hate these “means [...]
Advice for Completing FAFSA Form for Financial Aid
One of the most daunting tasks in the college admission and financial aid process is completion of the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A colleague forwarded this link to a great video that explains what the FAFSA is and how to complete it in five entertaining minutes. Have a look. Okay, it [...]
College Shopping Tips: When Out-of-State is Cheaper than In-State Tuition
The financial downturn has high school seniors and their parents running scared. How can we reduce costs? How can we get the best deal? The conventional wisdom says that an in-state college is the cheapest option. As with most conventional wisdom, this assumption is wrong. Let’s compare costs for a Colorado student considering majoring in [...]
Our Team
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Mark Montgomery
A former college professor and administrator, Mark Montgomery, PhD, is a college insider who can demystify universities and deliver solid advice to students and their families.
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Katherine Price
Katherine Price has over 10 years of experience in admissions and student affairs at selective colleges and universities that enable her to counsel students for success.
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Cara Ray
Cara Ray is a former admissions officer, and has a Master's degree in Higher Education. She enjoys helping students navigate their educational path, whether toward small liberal arts schools or large public universities.
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Juliet Giglio
Juliet Giglio, M.F.A, heads our upstate New York office. In addition to general college advising, Juliet specializes in working with aspiring performing artists. She holds a professional certificate in college counseling.
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Andrea Aronson
Leading our New Jersey office, Andrea Aronson holds an MBA from the Wharton School and is a candidate for a certificate in college counseling from UCLA. As a marketing expert, she assists all students in presenting themselves in the best possible light.
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Heather Creech
Heather Creech is an award-winning teacher who with over 15 years of experience in helping students with special needs transition from high school to higher education.