The College Unraveled Blog
The bulk of college financial aid money comes from the federal government; this aid is distributed by colleges using information supplied by families when they complete the FAFSA, beginning October 1st. However, about 400 colleges, universities, and scholarship programs use an additional form,...
Most students add the names of a couple of likely' schools to their college lists without giving these 'safe' colleges much thought because the applicants don't imagine they may need to attend one of them. However, students should apply only to colleges they are willing to attend (and...
How do College Admissions Work?
Getting into college is a major milestone for many people. This part of life is becoming increasingly important in the modern world, with more and more employers requiring that their teams have degrees. But how can you make sure that you get into college? And more...
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the primary form used by colleges to determine eligibility for need-based aid. A small number of colleges will not even consider an applicant for merit aid unless that student has first submitted a FAFSA. Therefore, the FAFSA should be filed...
Over 450 colleges offer Early Decision or Early Action application plans. Some offer both. Before deciding whether you should apply for Early Decision or Early Action, it’s important to understand the differences between applying through either one of these plans and applying in the...
In an annual CareerCast.com survey of the best and worst occupations in the U.S., mathematicians often land in the top few spots. With an average annual income of about $95,000, enviable working conditions, and considerable autonomy, math majors don’t only rank high, but math-related...
Greetings! I hope you and your loved ones have fared well this summer. It's September, so here is your first issue of the 2021-22 academic year. In this issue, you will find:
After over a year of online learning, most US students will be returning to the classroom this fall. Along with the...
If your first-choice college offers everything you want, but the price tag makes you waiver, don’t give up hope. Instead, consider appealing to the college's financial aid office for more money. Using their professional judgment, individual financial aid officers are empowered to make...
Adding to all the trials of the COVID-19 experience, colleges this year are expected to offer a record-number of waitlist spots to prospective applicants. While it has always been difficult for colleges to accurately estimate yield (number of students who accept an offer of admission), the number...
The chances are good that there’s a MOOC in your future. MOOC stands for “Massive Open Online Course,” and this technology has been impacting education. Although many of you are currently doing some or all of your learning online, you will find that MOOCs are different from...
The FAFSA Simplification Act of 2021 brings a slew of changes to the FAFSA that will begin with the 2022-23 application cycle. Perhaps the biggest change is to the EFC—Expected Family Contribution. The EFC is the number that was calculated by the FAFSA and provided to colleges as a way for...
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