Capstone Educational Consultants

Helping Students and Families Navigate the College Journey

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College Fair: Waste of Time?

When it comes to attending a local college fair, is it a good idea or simply a big waste of time?  Sometimes it’s difficult to determine.  After all, it’s a night out, usually at a local high school gymnasium and filled with scores of people . . . some of which may even recognize you!  Heaven forbid!

Regardless of whether you are a high school sophomore, junior or senior, attending a local college fair can actually be a waste of your time, but it can, and should be the best use of two hours as an investment towards your future.  The key to which it becomes is found in how you manage the moment.

The evening only becomes a waste of your time if you show up, walk around, pick up brochures from this college or that college, grab a complimentary cookie and dart for the exit sign.  The only thing of any value added to your college journey is nothing more than what you could have gained by spending an equal amount of time drifting through some college websites.  Oh, but you did get a cookie!

Great value in the evening comes when you engage the college representatives and make a point to learn about the many possibilities and opportunities that simply wait for you around each corner.  So truly, hitting your local college fair is never a true waste of time so long as you are walking away with information, conversations and insight — perhaps a personal connection even.

In fact, as you engage the college representatives, here are the top 5 things you should consider asking them:

Top 5 Things To Ask A College Representative At A College Fair
  1. What are your strongest majors and why?
  2. What do students typically do on the weekends?
  3. How much help is available from the professors outside the classroom?
  4. Why should I consider attending this college/university?
  5. How would you describe the student culture on campus?

By asking these top questions both you and the representative will have a great deal to talk about together!  You’ll have a better understanding of the college and their answers will likely cause you to think of something else that piques your curiosity further!

 

 

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FAFSA Changes Create Confusion

FAFSA PicIn order to understand the changes forthcoming, let’s take a brief look into how the system works currently.  For many, this review may prove helpful since these changes have no impact on this year’s senior class (2016).  For the class of 2016, parents and students will begin the arduous task of completing the current FAFSA as soon after January 1, 2016 using financial data from their 2015 tax returns (prior-year).  The sooner it can be completed the better.  A logistical processing change will affect this group and future groups as it will be required by all to register and sign-in with a personal username and password — better known as a *FSA ID.  This will be required of both the registering parent and a separate FSA ID will be required for the student.

Current sophomores (2018) and juniors (2017) are facing some of the biggest changes ahead. They too will be required to create a new FSA ID, but that’s where the similarities end.  Beginning with the current juniors (2017), completing and submitting the FAFSA will be possible as early as October of their senior year.  This is huge!  The ramifications of this early filing means families will have a better understanding of their EFC (estimated family contribution) and financial aid awards can be determined before making final college choices are complete.

Further, and likely most significant, will be the year in which the FAFSA will be based.  Starting with the current juniors (2017), the tax year to be used in the calculations will be what is termed the prior-prior year.  What does this mean exactly?  For current juniors (2017), this means this year’s taxes (2015) will be used for this year’s juniors when it comes to completing the FAFSA in October of 2016.

**What if you have a current senior (2016) and a current junior (2017) in one household?

Under the recent changes, this family will be using the same tax return for both students.  For their senior (2016), they will file the FAFSA as early as possible (January-February) in 2016 and again in October of 2016 for their junior (2017).   YES! They will file twice in one year!!

*To learn more about creating your new FSA ID click here!

**To learn more about how these new changes impact your family, complete the following form and we’ll follow up with you promptly:

[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

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The Time Is Now!

If you’re a junior in high school, the time is now for you to begin making that critical list of colleges.  There is a key to finding the right college and it’s found in good planning and through creative discovery.

By making this list now — hopefully before spring break — you and your family can swing through a campus or two while on that family trip!  Have fun — it’s an exciting time!

Let us know if we can assist in getting the right colleges on that list!

-Mark Cruver

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Applying For Admission

With time and careful planning, finding the right college to attend can be a great deal of fun!  It doesn’t have to be stressful and most certainly shouldn’t be a bore.  The journey to fulfilling your dreams is one application away from coming true!