Top Mistakes Students and Families make now
by Rod Bugarin
If you thought applying to college was stressful, applying for financial aid is even more daunting. Applying for financial aid can be challenging because you are sharing sensitive financial information on long and complicated forms.
As seniors and their parents put the final touches on their financial aid applications, learn from the following mistakes that many families make about financing a college education—even though you are not applying for financial aid.
Research financial aid options and opportunities while researching college opportunities
Most students and families believe this sequence: get into college first, then worry about paying later. Unfortunately, with the average cost of a four year degree from a private college easily exceeding $160,000, students and parents should not only find schools that are the right fit academically and socially, but also financially. Unlike admissions, where there is relative consistency in how one applies, there is greater variation in how financial aid and scholarship funds are administered from school to school. Also, nothing is more upsetting than when a child gets into his dream school and realizes that the college does not have the scholarships or financial aid available to make his educational dream a reality.
Realize that paying for college is a long-term investment
Due to the costs of education, many students and families regularly take out education loans to make an undergraduate education possible. Education loans are good! Paying for college is an investment, where you’ll reap the returns over time. Families and students should expect that it will take about ten years to pay off their education loans. Stretching college payments make the high costs of college manageable for all families.
Liquidating assets to pay for college
Most families do not want to take education loans. On the other hand, education loans are the only loan that the Federal government provides families. Usually, government backed Stafford and Perkins loans do not collect interest while a student is in school. Also, government loans for parents (called PLUS loans) have a relatively low interest rate (8.5% fixed). In times of distress, students and parents can ask for forbearance on loans—this is usually not the case when a family misses a mortgage, car or credit card payment.
I recommend using a balance of assets and loans to pay for college. Your financial manager can help you decide what balance is appropriate, keeping in mind, short and long term goals. Do not liquidate all your assets to pay for college, under any circumstance. Some assets, particularly home equity and retirement accounts, should not be touched at all!
In the next newsletter, I will have more tips that will help you and your parents avoid common mistakes when paying your college tuition expenses.
Rod joined IvyWise in August 2007 and will be responsible for all marketing and business development functions including public relations, website management, and event planning.
Throughout his career, Rod has conducted workshops on college admissions, financial aid and information technology to students, parents and professional colleagues. He has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, such as:
* Webmaster, New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC)
* Member, Marketing and Technology Committee for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
* Treasurer of the Association of Black Admissions & Financial Aid Officers in the Ivy League and Sister Schools (ABAFOILSS
In his free time, he enjoys college sports (Go Tarheels!) New York City's cultural resources and finding ways to earn more frequent flier miles. www.ivywise.com/
