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ACT Mastery Begins with a Schedule: The Importance of Structured Studying

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Having served on the admissions committee at Columbia University, I’ve had the honor of witnessing students begin their journeys into higher education. One essential aspect of college admissions is the role of standardized tests like the ACT. These tests serve as important benchmarks for evaluating a student’s academic potential.

I can’t stress enough the role that a well-structured study schedule plays in achieving mastery over the ACT, which is a test that can greatly impact your future, including your dream college acceptance.

Understanding the ACT

Before we delve into the details of creating your study schedule, let’s grasp the basics of the ACT. This test consists of different sections, each assessing various aspects of your knowledge and skills.

On the ACT, you’ll encounter four main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, along with an optional Writing section. In terms of scoring, it’s rated on a scale from 1 to 36, with your composite score being the average of your section scores.

The Benefits of a Structured Study Schedule

Why is a structured study schedule crucial for ACT preparation? Well, let’s consider the analogy of building a house. Just as a house requires a solid foundation to stand tall, your ACT preparation needs a structured schedule to lay the groundwork for success.

  • Effective Time Management: A structured schedule allows you to allocate your study time efficiently. It ensures that you dedicate sufficient time to each section of the ACT, addressing your strengths and weaknesses comprehensively.
  • Consistent Study Habits: Consistency is key to mastering any skill, and ACT preparation is no exception. A well-structured schedule instills discipline and fosters regular study habits, preventing last-minute cramming.
  • Reduced Stress and Increased Motivation: Knowing what to study and when to study reduces anxiety and boosts motivation. When you have a plan in place, you are more likely to stay focused and motivated throughout your ACT preparation journey.

Assessing Your Starting Point

Before crafting your personalized study plan, it’s essential to assess your starting point. Take a practice ACT test under timed conditions to determine your initial scores. This assessment serves as a crucial benchmark and helps you set realistic improvement goals.

Crafting Your Personalized ACT Study Plan

  • Time Allocation: To create an effective study plan, allocate your time wisely among the various ACT sections. For instance, if you struggle with mathematics but excel in English, allocate more time to math practice. Tailor your schedule to address your unique needs.
  • Incorporating Review and Practice Tests: Regular review sessions and full-length practice tests are essential components of your study plan. Reviewing previously learned material and taking practice tests simulate real testing conditions, allowing you to gauge your progress accurately.
  • Balancing ACT Prep with Other Responsibilities: Many students juggle ACT preparation with schoolwork and extracurricular activities. It’s essential to strike a balance. Consider creating a weekly calendar that accounts for your commitments, ensuring that ACT preparation integrates seamlessly into your routine.
  • Adjusting Your Study Plan: Flexibility is key in ACT preparation. As you progress, periodically assess your study plan’s effectiveness. If certain strategies prove less fruitful, don’t hesitate to adapt and refine your plan to optimize your results continually.

Essential Study Techniques and Resources

In addition to a well-structured schedule, effective study techniques and resources play a vital role in ACT mastery. Consider utilizing online courses and study guides or even seeking tutoring if necessary. Variety in study materials caters to different learning styles, ensuring a holistic and personalized approach to your preparation.

Conclusion

In summary, ACT mastery begins with a structured study schedule. By adhering to a well-crafted plan, you can efficiently manage your time, develop consistent study habits, and reduce stress. Remember that success in ACT preparation is not solely about the number of hours you invest but how effectively you utilize that time.

As you embark on your journey toward ACT excellence, take a proactive and planned approach. Your structured study schedule will serve as the roadmap to your success, paving the way for admission to the college or university of your dreams. So, embrace the challenge, stay dedicated, and know that you’ve got this!

High School Students Interested in Entrepreneurship Should Consider Babson Summer Study

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Babson College, which is located just thirty minutes from downtown Boston, Massachusetts, is an increasingly popular choice for high school students seeking to study entrepreneurship during their undergraduate careers. And what better way to get a taste of what a Babson undergraduate experience could be like than by taking part in a Babson summer pre-college program exclusively for high school students?

High-achieving high school students interested in engaging in an immersive multi-week experiential online summer program during which they are able to discover what it means to be an entrepreneur should certainly consider Online Babson Summer Study, which takes place from July 8 through July 29, 2024. The program helps high school students cultivate core career skills and a sharp entrepreneurial mindset for overcoming challenges in any setting and in any role while earning four college credits from Babson, which is often ranked as offering one of America’s best undergraduate programs for entrepreneurship.

According to Beth Goldstein, the Senior Director of Babson’s Youth Impact Lab, Babson Summer Study is specifically designed for rising high school juniors and seniors (current tenth and eleventh grade students) who want to participate in interactive online sessions with Babson faculty, world renown entrepreneurship experts, and Babson students while designing a social impact solution with peers from around the world. They will also learn how to apply Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® framework for solving problems, and develop the leadership competencies needed to address real-world problems.

Additionally, through Summer Study, rising high school juniors and seniors learn how to assess their abilities and passions to determine which ones they want to strengthen, learn about the U.N. Global Goals and how they connect to challenges in their own communities, and develop prototypes, deliver a Rocket Pitch, and evaluate the feasibility of their team’s social impact solution.

Goldstein encourages prospective students and their families to participate in one of three virtual information sessions taking place over the coming weeks:

  • Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 7:00 PM Eastern Time
  • Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 9:00 AM Eastern Time
  • Monday, February 5, 2024, 8:00 AM Eastern Time

To learn more about the Online Babson Summer Study experience and to register for an information session, visit babson.edu/high-school-programs. The early bird application deadline is February 15, 2024 and the standard application deadline is March 15, 2024.

Elon’s On-Campus Summer Pre-College Journalism Program is Completely Free

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Not all summer pre-college programs for high school students cost a pretty penny. In fact, one such program for aspiring journalists is completely free and takes place on one of America’s most beautiful college campuses!

While year three of the virtual component of the Emerging Journalists Program at Elon University starts tonight – January 16 – in the dead of winter, there is still time for current high school juniors (11th graders) to apply for Elon’s free, fun, and immersive summer journalism experience, which takes place on Elon’s campus from June 17 through 28, 2024.

According to Colin Donohue, Elon’s Emerging Journalists Program (EJP) Director, the on-campus and immersive summer residential learning workshop component of the EJP is open to rising seniors from diverse socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds and is completely free thanks to a generous grant from the Scripps Howard Fund.

Elon University is a private university in Elon, North Carolina, which is a half an hour from Greensboro and an hour from North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh. Last year’s summer EJP cohort produced a newspaper, a forty-minute newscast, and a website. Here’s a video snapshot of what last year’s participants did while on Elon’s campus. Students who complete the summer immersion program are also assigned two mentors — an Elon communications student and a professional journalist — to help identify, report, and produce multimedia stories during their senior years of high school.

If you think the Emerging Journalists Program would be an exciting opportunity for you or your student, learn more and apply at www.elon.edu/ejp. Application review will begin soon and priority will be given to applications submitted before March 1.

55,000 applied to Purdue Early Action; 97% of those admitted submitted test scores

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Cary Quadrangle at Purdue University with an animated Boilermaker on the roof.

Purdue University will release its Early Action (EA) decisions to first-year applicants through each EA applicant’s Purdue Application Portal starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 12. This includes decisions for its long-standing campus in West Lafayette, Indiana and its new campus in Indianapolis, Indiana’s state capital.

After several years of record-breaking enrollment, Purdue saw another uptick in applications received by November 1, 2023. Purdue received more than 55,000 applications by its November 1 Early Action deadline, which represents an increase of 3,000 applicants from the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.

With Purdue’s “test expected” approach to first-year admission, 44,000 Early Action applicants applied with a test score, and 97.2% of the students offered admission through Early Action submitted test scores.

The middle 50% SAT scores for accepted students for Fall 2023 who submitted SAT scores was 1210 – 1450 while the middle 50% of ACT scores for accepted students for Fall 2023 who submitted test scores was 27 – 34, though there was great variation between schools and majors. For instance, Purdue’s competitive Computer Science major had an acceptance rate of just 29.5% for Fall 2023 and the middle 50% of test scores of accepted Computer Science students was 1490 – 1560 on the SAT and 33 – 35 on the ACT. Yet, Purdue’s College of Education had a 74.5% acceptance rate and the middle 50% of test scores of accepted College of Education students was 1070 – 1260 on the SAT and 23.5 – 29 on the ACT. More Class of 2027 admissions data can be found on Purdue’s website.

Students who have not yet applied to Purdue but who want a chance to become part of Purdue’s Class of 2028 have until Purdue’s Regular Decision deadline of January 15 to apply.

As part of Purdue’s effort to avoid over-enrolling students, Purdue is also relying more heavily on deferred decisions for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle; therefore, EA applicants should not be surprised to get a deferral on January 12. Defer is not a deny decision but a method of allowing Purdue to assess space and availability before making a final decision through its Regular Decision review process. Deferred applicants are encouraged to complete a Letter of Continued Interest form in their Purdue Application Portal.

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If you – or someone you know – has been deferred from Purdue, in the video below I share expert tips on how to craft the most compelling Letter of Continued Interest possible to increase your chances of getting in Regular Decision. Good luck!

Colorado College’s unique pre-college program for high school students now accepting applications

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Will you be a rising eleventh or twelfth grade student in Summer 2024 and are you interested in the Block Plan at Colorado College? If so, then through a unique pre-college program, this upcoming summer is the ideal time for you to try Colorado College’s distinctive Block Plan, which is the hallmark of its undergraduate experience.

What is the Block Plan? In short, the Block Plan at Colorado College, which is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, allows students to study what they want, how they want, in ways that they simply cannot at any other undergraduate institution. Each course a student takes at Colorado College lasts three and a half weeks and during those three and a half weeks the student is taking that course and no others. One block is equivalent to one class on a semester plan. A class typically meets from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with additional class sessions for studio, labs, discussions, field trips in the afternoons. Professors have the flexibility to schedule classes in format and timing for optimal learning. Undergraduates typically take four blocks per semester and eight blocks per academic year, plus optional Half Block in the winter and Summer Session during the summer.

Why should all this matter to current high school students? Colorado College’s Pre-College Block (July 8 through 24, 2024) includes an array of academic courses, all taught by Colorado College professors and for college credit, which allows high school students entering grades 11 and 12 in Fall 2024 to get a sense of whether or not Colorado College and its Block Plan would be attractive to them for their full undergraduate experiences. Summer courses are available in areas as diverse as Introduction to Human Anatomy, Entrepreneurship & Business Management, and Introductory Astronomy: Your Place in the Universe.

Colorado College’s summer 2024 Pre-College application is open now, and need-based scholarships are available until March 1, 2024.

More Applying, Fewer Getting Accepted to Tulane Early Decision

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Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana will release its Early Decision I (EDI) decisions tomorrow, December 5, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.

Those about to receive decisions – and those who follow this type of thing – should know that Tulane experienced a 20 percent increase in Early Decision applicants this admissions cycle while reducing the number of Early Decision I acceptances for the second year in a row in order to provide more opportunities for students unable or unwilling to make a binding commitment to Tulane, “particularly those from first generation or low/middle income backgrounds,” according to Tulane’s admissions office.

The vast majority of EDI applicants will receive one of three decisions: an acceptance, a denial, or a nonbinding offer to join Tulane’s cohort of Spring Scholars. Spring Scholars do not have to tell Tulane of their decision until May 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Tulane also received 30 percent more Early Action applications this year than it did last year. Early Action applicants will get their admissions decisions by January 10, 2024 at the latest.

UMass Amherst receives record 30,000+ Early Action applications

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University of Massachusetts Amherst is gearing up to release all of its Early Action (EA) admission decisions on the evening of Wednesday, January 24 during an admissions cycle in which the public university had over 30,000 students apply through Early Action, a new record. Just last year, UMass received 28,461 EA applications, while as recently as the 2018-2019 admissions cycle UMass Amherst only received a relatively paltry 20,440 EA applications.

In the past, UMass Amherst has released EA decisions in waves. This year, all EA applicants will receive their decisions on the same date (January 24). EA applicants will receive an email letting them know when an admissions decision has been posted. At that point, applicants will be instructed to log into their UMass Amherst admissions portal to check their posted admission decision on the “Student Status” page.

EA applicants will receive one of three decisions: Admit, Waitlist, or Deny; UMass Amherst does not defer any EA applicants to its Regular Decision pool.

According to UMass Amherst admissions, and based on EA application volume, it’s likely that majors within the Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences, the Isenberg School of Management, and the Marieb College of Nursing will be the most competitive for admission this year.

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Did you do all you could have done in order to give yourself the best shot of getting into UMass Amherst? Watch my previous video, “How to get into UMass Amherst,” below.

6 Lesser-Known Healthcare Careers to Consider

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The healthcare field is a vast and ever-evolving landscape, offering a multitude of career paths to suit diverse interests and skill sets. Many favor prominent nursing, medicine, and pharmacy roles, but numerous lesser-known healthcare careers promise unique rewards and growth. These hidden paths offer fulfilling alternatives and hold substantial personal and professional development potential.

These underexplored paths offer significant opportunities, showcasing diverse skills and interests for meaningful impact on communities. They uncover a wide spectrum of talents that can truly make a difference in the lives of patients and families.

Here, we will discuss six lesser-known healthcare careers that deserve your consideration.

Medical Illustrator

These professionals are the visual communicators of the medical field. They transform complex medical concepts into clear and understandable illustrations. With a fusion of artistry and scientific understanding, they craft precise visuals vital for education, research, and enhancing patient care.

Medical illustrators collaborate closely with medical professionals, scientists, and educators to create illustrations that meet specific needs. Medical illustrators use traditional and digital media to create intricate anatomical drawings, surgical diagrams, and patient education materials with precision.

Medical illustrators play a crucial role in creating detailed visuals in textbooks and 3D animations to disseminate complex medical knowledge effectively.

Medical illustration offers a diverse and rewarding career path. Earnings in medical illustration vary based on experience, education, and location, with median salaries reaching $83,500 and potential highs of $170,000 in the U.S. According to the Association of Medical Illustrators, individual factors and the nature of the work significantly influence compensation.

The versatile range reflects the value placed on the skills and expertise of these professionals in the medical field.

Speech and Language Pathologist

These professionals are pivotal in assisting individuals facing challenges in verbal communication, voice, fluency, and language development. These professionals work with diverse populations, ranging from children with developmental disorders to adults recovering from strokes.

Through targeted interventions, therapists help clients enhance their communication skills, fostering improved social interaction and overall quality of life.

Ithaca College notes that Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are licensed to treat clients of all ages, addressing communication and swallowing challenges. In adults, issues may result from injury, illness, or conditions originating in childhood, like cerebral palsy. SLPs work across diverse settings, from the NICU to high school, addressing developmental and acquired speech-language problems.

In recent years, speech pathology has witnessed a notable shift towards online education. Aspiring speech and language therapists can now pursue accredited online degrees in speech pathology, providing flexibility for individuals with various commitments. Programs incorporate theory, hands-on experience, and clinical placements, providing students with essential skills and flexibility for their schedules.

Online degrees in speech pathology have become a valuable avenue for those seeking a career in this rewarding field. It breaks down geographical barriers, making education more accessible to a broader audience.

Genetic Counselor

Genetic counselors are essential guides in genetics, offering personalized support and guidance to individuals and families. Serving as empathetic educators and compassionate counselors, they interpret genetic information expertly. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare and family planning in the face of inherited disorders.

These professionals delve into the intricacies of family medical histories, meticulously analyzing patterns of inherited traits and potential genetic risks. Genetic counselors use medical genetics expertise to assess the risk of specific disorders like cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, or certain cancers.

Genetic counselors extend beyond medical information, offering emotional support for coping with the psycho-social impact of genetic details. They create a safe space for expressing fears and uncertainties, guiding ethical dilemmas. In the face of genetic challenges, genetic counselors foster resilience.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 16% increase in genetic counselor employment from 2022 to 2032, indicating rising demand. This growth is attributed to advances in genetic testing, increasing awareness of genetic disorders, and the growing demand for genetic counseling services.

Genetic Counselors’ growing role mirrors a shift to personalized medicine, emphasizing understanding genetic makeup for tailored interventions and optimized patient care.

Music Therapist

According to Everyday Health, numerous studies affirm music’s effectiveness in pain reduction. This decreased sensitivity, or hypoalgesia, occurs when pain stimuli and conscious recognition are disrupted.

The observed effects typically range from a 10 to 20% reduction, similar to anti-inflammatory drugs, albeit through a different mechanism. While the working mechanism varies, the impact of music on pain appears comparable in magnitude.

Music, a universal language that transcends boundaries and speaks to the soul, holds immense therapeutic power. Music therapists, the embodiment of this healing power, wield music to promote physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Through carefully crafted musical interventions, they help individuals of all ages and backgrounds address various challenges.

Music therapists exhibit versatility in various healthcare domains. They contribute to physical rehabilitation by enhancing motor skills and coordination. In mental health, music therapy proves effective for conditions like anxiety and depression, serving as an expressive outlet.

Also, they play a role in addressing cognitive impairments, speech disorders, and pain management, showcasing the broad applications of music in the field.

Health Informatics Specialist

In today’s data-driven environment, health informatics specialists are crucial in bridging the gap between technology and patient care. They are architects of healthcare information systems, guaranteeing accurate data collection and analysis. They enhance patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

Health informatics specialists possess a unique blend of technical expertise and clinical understanding. They are well-versed in various information systems, including electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems (CDSS), and telemedicine platforms.

They leverage medical knowledge to translate complex clinical data, informing treatment decisions and enhancing patient safety. Their expertise optimizes resource allocation in related systems.

Art Therapist

Art therapy is a unique healing approach, harnessing art’s expressive power for physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Art therapists compassionately guide individuals in using art for self-discovery and emotional regulation. This transformative process fosters personal growth across diverse ages and backgrounds.

Art therapists emphasize art’s inherent healing potential, bridging verbal barriers and fostering deep emotional connections. Therapists use diverse art forms to create a safe space for individuals to explore their inner world, express emotions, and gain self-understanding. The therapeutic process unfolds through painting, drawing, sculpting, music, and dance.

Art therapy has proven effective in addressing a diverse range of challenges. It is an evolving field in the healthcare sector. According to Zippia, more than 4,273 art therapists are currently actively employed across the United States. Data indicates potential career growth in art therapy as awareness of its benefits increases, making it a suitable field to explore.

Embracing Diversity in Healthcare Careers: A Tapestry of Opportunities

Exploring healthcare careers reveals six impactful, lesser-known professions integral to a holistic and evolving medical system’s foundation. These diverse careers contribute to individual well-being and reflect healthcare’s dynamic nature, adapting to technological advancements and societal needs. The field continuously evolves with an expanding understanding of wellness.

Embrace lesser-known careers with exploration, curiosity, and recognition that the future lies in those venturing into uncharted territories. Forge paths for a healthier and more inclusive tomorrow.

University of Maryland’s 650-character leap into lawlessness or a legal loophole?

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For years, University of Maryland College Park emphasized grades and scores in its undergraduate admissions review process for first-year applicants.

Then, a few years back, the university that Testudo the diamondback terrapin calls home added some innocuous and incredibly short answer responses requiring students to complete sentences such as, “The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…,”  “If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…,” and “Something you might not know about me is…” In past years students have had as few as 160 characters to complete such sentences.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Maryland suspended its requirement that first-year applicants submit either their SAT or ACT scores in order to be considered for admission.

Then, this past June, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that race-based preferences in college admissions are unlawful. Within hours, University of Maryland College Park’s President Darryll J. Pines and Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice published a letter on the Maryland website about the role of race in college admissions. In it, the two said the court’s decision was “disappointing” and that Maryland’s “already-unassailable commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus must strengthen and grow within the bounds of the law.” They added, “Our Enrollment Management team and campus administration have been preparing for this moment, and we are confident in our path forward.”

When the University of Maryland College Park supplement to the Common Application went live in Early August, the ‘complete the sentence’ prompts returned, but their responses were all given new 650-character count limits and they were accompanied by a new prompt unlike any Maryland has included on its first-year application before. The new prompt reads as follows:

“Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.”

In summary, the prompt encourages applicants’ to show fealty to “one or more components of diversity” in up to 650 characters.

Then, in an email sent to counselors on August 11, 2023, James B. Massey, Jr., the director of Maryland’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, shared the following message:

“The University of Maryland remains committed to a diverse and inclusive campus. As President Pines has stated, ‘we will remain a national leader by encouraging and supporting students of all backgrounds as they apply, enroll and graduate from UMD. The educational value of campus diversity is one we will not sacrifice.’ Our office ‘will multiply our recruitment efforts focused on what UMD offers its students—a commitment to inclusive excellence where all have the opportunity to succeed.’ In addition, within our application we are providing an opportunity for students to share how they’ve learned, grown, been inspired, or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.”

Of course, the new short answer response about diversity is more than an opportunity; it’s a requirement. Since The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race, a number of selective public and private colleges, now including Maryland, have added new required or optional questions or prompts to their 2023-2024 first-year applications, so Maryland is not unusual in this respect. Yet, Maryland’s new prompt is noteworthy because of the way in which it is worded and because applicants are limited to responding in only 650 characters to a prompt that is itself 487 characters long. The high prompt to response ratio, the content of the prompt, the kind of information it is seeking students to provide, and the email to counselors heralding the new prompt combine to make it certainly feel as though Maryland is attempting to use responses to this prompt as a means to “remain” as it was before the ruling. Pines’ and King Rice’s letter stated that before the Supreme Court ruling in June, race was one of “26 unique factors” the university considered in undergraduate admissions. As of October, Maryland’s admissions website indicates it now considers “more than 24 factors” when making admissions decisions, including “Breadth of life experiences,” “Extenuating circumstances,” “Socio-economic background,” and “Special talents or skills.” Is Maryland simply planning to subsume into one of these or other factors considered in its admissions review process a racial experience discussed in an applicant’s response to this new diversity short answer prompt for a student’s self-reported race, which Maryland considered before June’s ruling? And, if so, is that actually legal?

Maryland’s admissions leadership is clearly trying to inspire diverse applicants to write about diversity inclusive of how race may have shaped applicants’ perspectives, character, and overall value systems. Yet, in doing so, how far will Maryland admissions leadership go in taking information provided in applicants’ responses to this prompt to curate what it deems to be a sufficiently diverse first-year class?

Maryland, and all colleges in the US, if they intend to follow the letter and spirit of the law, must adhere to The Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, which included this critical paragraph:

“At the same time, as all parties agree, nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise. See, e.g., 4 App. in No. 21–707, at 1725–1726, 1741; Tr. of Oral Arg. in No. 20–1199, at 10. But, despite the dissent’s assertion to the contrary, universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today. (A dissenting opinion is generally not the best source of legal advice on how to comply with the majority opinion.) “[W]hat cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly. The Constitution deals with substance, not shadows,” and the prohibition against racial discrimination is “levelled at the thing, not the name.” Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wall. 277, 325 (1867). A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination. Or a benefit to a student whose heritage or culture motivated him or her to assume a leadership role or attain a particular goal must be tied to that student’s unique ability to contribute to the university. In other words, the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”

Maryland has not officially stated how applicants’ responses to this prompt will be assessed. So, I emailed the following questions to Shannon R. Gundy, the enrollment management leader at Maryland responsible for all undergraduate admissions:

1. How was the wording of (the new) prompt determined? Who/what offices was/were involved in drafting and approving it to be included in this year’s first-year UMD College Park application?

2. How are University of Maryland College Park application readers/admissions officers being directed to assess student responses to this new short answer prompt?

3. With only 650 characters to work with, students have to take their experience(s) with an important and serious subject and condense it(them) into just a few sentences; therefore, what will be considered a strong response versus a weak response to this new prompt?

4. It certainly feels as though Maryland is attempting to harness many tools, including this prompt, in order to remain as inclusively excellent as it was before the Supreme Court ruling on race in college admissions was released this past June. Will the way students respond to this prompt in any way influence their chances of first-year admission at Maryland? And if so, how?

Gundy did not respond to my email. After three days, I emailed Hafsa Siddiqi, Maryland’s media relations manager, with the same questions. Siddiqi also did not respond to my email.

Therefore, because it’s not clear how responses to this prompt will be assessed by the university’s admissions officers starting in November (Maryland’s Early Action admissions plan, through which the university fills the vast majority of its first-year class, has an application deadline of November 1), members of the public have no way to know whether Maryland’s supplement to the Common App has taken a 650-character leap into lawlessness or into a legal loophole to June’s Supreme Court ruling.

While the court has stated it would be unlawful for undergraduate admissions teams to give applicants’ essay or short answer responses higher or lower consideration based on the racial background or backgrounds applicants choose to write about, what has also become clear since June is that many working in selective college and university admission, and the lawyers and consulting firms advising them, are now doing all they can to draw a distinction between a student’s “racial status” and a student’s “racial experience.” In doing so, certain admissions professionals at selective institutions have publicly stated that Roberts’ opinion gives their institutions the freedom to consider a student’s “racial experience(s)” as much as these institutions would like when making admissions decisions as long as the colleges don’t consider a student’s narrowly defined “racial status.” This perspective may ultimately have its own day in court.

In the meantime, with so few words with which to share anything much of substance in response to Maryland’s newest prompt, the general public – and first-year applicants to University of Maryland College Park in particular – would certainly benefit from knowing exactly how Maryland will be assessing student responses to this new diversity prompt, as 650-characters doesn’t really give anyone the chance to show and tell much at all about an experience, lessons learned, or skills built. Instead, Maryland’s newest application prompt is a recipe for students to only be able to share superficial tidbits about themselves or their experience(s), many of which are likely to only be skin deep.

Fundamentals of Financial Aid for 2024

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If one sentence could sum up the state of financing an American college education in 2024 it would be, “The more things change the more things stay the same.”

While change is afoot, much remains the same. Changes are particularly pronounced with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); yet, with the American economy and many other world economies faltering, it’s important to discuss not only what’s new but also what remains constant with regard to applying for and seeking aid and other sources of financing to fund study at American colleges because more and more American and international families find paying for college difficult.

Let’s dive into some definitions and discuss fundamental financial aid terminology while introducing what’s new this aid cycle and what remains the same so you can successfully navigate the process of funding an American undergraduate education as we approach 2024.

Need-Based Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid is awarded to students based on their demonstrated financial need, which is calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other financial aid applications (most notably, the CSS PROFILE, which is discussed below). Students with significant financial need may receive need-based aid in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and subsidized loans. Grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid, making them a form of “gift aid.” Need-based financial aid is designed to assist students who may not have the financial resources to afford the cost of college. It aims to make higher education accessible to those with limited means.

Merit-Based Financial Aid
Merit-based financial aid is awarded to students based on their individual achievements, abilities, and qualifications, often without regard to their financial need. Common criteria for merit-based aid include academic performance, standardized test scores, leadership, extracurricular involvement, talent, and special skills. Merit-based aid typically does not consider the student’s or their family’s financial situation when making awards. Instead, it focuses on recognizing and rewarding academic or other accomplishments. Merit-based aid is often provided in the form of scholarships and grants. These awards recognize and incentivize excellence in academics, sports, arts, or other areas. Unlike need-based aid, merit-based aid is a recognition of achievement and does not depend on the recipient’s financial circumstances. Merit-based financial aid is intended to attract and reward high-achieving students, whether academically, athletically, or in other areas. It is used by colleges and universities to recruit talented and accomplished students to their institutions.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students in the United States can fill out to apply for federal financial aid for college. The FAFSA is used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine a student’s eligibility for various types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. The information provided on the FAFSA, such as the student’s family’s income and assets, has traditionally been used to calculate what was known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC was measure of the student’s family’s ability to contribute to their education expenses, and it plays a crucial role in determining the amount of federal financial aid a student may receive. Yet, starting this year, the Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI is a new metric to understand the relative amount that the formula estimates a student can contribute and will help clarify how much federal aid and institutional aid a student might qualify for.

As mentioned, colleges also use the FAFSA information to determine eligibility for their own institutional aid programs. It’s important for students interested in receiving aid to complete the FAFSA as early as possible each year because some forms of financial aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The FAFSA typically becomes available on October 1 for the following academic year, but this year the form is not going live until December 1 because of changes that the US Federal Government has been unable to complete on schedule.

The new FAFSA will be able to sync with data from the Internal Revenue Service to automatically populate that tax information in the forms. There will also be fewer questions for families to complete on the new FAFSA. There are different deadlines for submission that vary by state and college. To complete the FAFSA, students and their families need to provide financial and personal information, including tax returns and other financial documents.

Also worth noting is that “Contributor” is a new term being introduced on the 2024–25 FAFSA form. A contributor is anyone who is required to provide their information and signature on the FAFSA form as well as provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred from the IRS directly into the form via direct data exchange. Contributor participation does not indicate financial responsibility, but everyone contributing to the FAFSA form online must have their own StudentAid.gov account. One can create an account at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account. All students and contributors will need their own StudentAid.gov account before filling out the FAFSA form. Students and families should create their accounts as soon as possible, and beginning in December 2023, a contributor can create a StudentAid.gov account without a Social Security number. Students and contributors must provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred from the IRS directly into the form via data exchange. Student and contributor federal tax information will be used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal student aid, and if a student or required contributor doesn’t provide consent and approval, the student will not be eligible for federal student aid even if he or she manually enters tax information into the FAFSA form. In summary, a contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse (stepparent). A contributor isn’t non-adoptive grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, brothers or sisters, and aunts or uncles, even if they helped provide for or raise the student.

Students should go to fafsa.gov to fill out their FAFSA form in December 2023.  Students can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 if they need additional assistance. Note that it’s important to meet all school, state, and federal FAFSA deadlines. More information about deadlines can be found at StudentAid.gov/fafsa-deadlines. It’s also very important to remember your StudentAid.gov account username and password (FSA ID), which will be used to log in to complete the FAFSA form.

Another new element to the FAFSA this year: students will be able to include up to 20 colleges on the online FAFSA form, which is double the maximum of 10 allowed in previous years.

Federal Methodology (FM)
The Federal Methodology (FM) is a formula used in the United States to determine a student’s financial need for federal student aid when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FM calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI), which represents the amount of money that a student and their family are expected to contribute toward their education expenses for a specific academic year.

Here are some key points about the Federal Methodology (FM) and how it works:

  1. Income and Asset Information: The FM takes into account various financial factors, including the student’s and parents’ income and assets. This information is reported on the FAFSA.
  2. Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculation: The SAI is calculated based on a standardized formula established by the federal government. The formula considers factors such as adjusted gross income, untaxed income, and family size. It should be noted that while the EFC also factored in how many other college students were in a family, the new SAI does not do this. According to NerdWallet, the “SAI is used as part of the equation for financial need, which is found by subtracting the Student Aid Index and other financial assistance from the cost of attendance at each school. Your cost of attendance includes tuition, fees and room and board. The equation essentially looks like this: Cost of attendance – SAI – Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Financial Need.”
  3. Need-Based Aid: The SAI is used to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based federal financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and subsidized student loans. The formula subtracts the SAI from the cost of attendance (COA) at the student’s chosen college to determine the student’s financial need.
  4. Cost of Attendance (COA): The COA includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and other educational expenses. It is an estimate of the total cost of attending a particular college for one academic year.
  5. Non-Need-Based Aid: Some federal financial aid programs, such as unsubsidized federal student loans and the Federal Work-Study program, are not need-based and do not rely on the SAI for eligibility. Students can generally borrow unsubsidized loans regardless of their SAI, though loan amounts may be capped based on dependency status and academic year.
  6. State and Institutional Aid: States and colleges may use their own formulas or methodologies to award state and institutional financial aid. However, the SAI calculated using the FM on the FAFSA is often used as a starting point for determining eligibility for these programs.
  7. How low can SAI go?: Interestingly, a student’s SAI can be a negative number down as low as -1,500.
  8. Other changes this year: Child support received will now count as an asset. Family farms and small businesses will now count as assets, less the family’s primary residence if also located on the farm. Finally, the number of family members in college is no longer considered in the needs analysis formula, but it is still a required question on the FAFSA form.

Overall, the Federal Methodology is a standardized way to assess a student’s eligibility for federal need-based financial aid programs, and it plays a central role in the financial aid application process in the United States.

CSS PROFILE
The CSS PROFILE (long version: College Scholarship Service PROFILE) is an additional financial aid application used by many private colleges and universities in the United States to assess a student’s eligibility for non-federal financial aid, including institutional grants, scholarships, and other forms of need-based and merit-based financial assistance. It is administered by the College Board, the same organization responsible for standardized tests like the SAT.

Here are some key points about the CSS PROFILE:

  1. Scope: The CSS PROFILE is typically required by private colleges and universities, primarily those that have substantial institutional financial aid programs. Public colleges and universities generally do not use the CSS PROFILE; they typically rely on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for determining federal financial aid eligibility.
  2. Timing: The CSS PROFILE becomes available in the fall, typically around October 1st, for the upcoming academic year. Deadlines for submission vary by college, and it’s essential for students to check each college’s specific deadline.
  3. Customized Questions: Unlike the FAFSA, which uses a standardized formula (the Federal Methodology), the CSS PROFILE allows colleges to customize the financial information they collect from applicants. This means that the questions and data requested may vary from one institution to another.
  4. Non-Custodial Parent Information: Some colleges that require the CSS PROFILE may also request financial information from a non-custodial parent, especially in cases where the student’s parents are divorced or separated.
  5. Fee: There is a fee associated with submitting the CSS PROFILE, and fee waivers may be available for eligible students. The fee can vary depending on the number of colleges or programs to which the student is sending the PROFILE.
  6. Documentation: Applicants may need to provide documentation, such as tax returns, W-2 forms, and other financial records, to support the information provided on the CSS PROFILE.
  7. Institutional Aid: The CSS PROFILE is primarily used to determine eligibility for institutional (college-specific) financial aid. Colleges may use the information provided on the PROFILE to make decisions about need-based grants and scholarships, as well as other forms of financial assistance.
  8. Supplemental Information: Some colleges may also use the CSS PROFILE to collect additional information about special circumstances or unusual expenses that could affect a student’s financial need.

It’s important for prospective college students to research the financial aid requirements of the colleges they plan to apply to, as not all schools require the CSS PROFILE. Some colleges may also have their own financial aid applications in addition to or instead of the CSS PROFILE. Students should be aware of deadlines and application requirements to ensure they are considered for all available financial aid opportunities at their chosen institutions.

Institutional Methodology
The Institutional Methodology (IM) is a financial aid calculation formula used by some colleges and universities in the United States to determine a student’s eligibility for institutional (college-specific) financial aid programs. Unlike the Federal Methodology (FM), which is used to calculate eligibility for federal financial aid, the IM is specific to the institution itself (often created with the help of data collected in the CSS PROFILE) and is used to distribute the college’s own financial aid funds.

Here are some key points about the Institutional Methodology (IM):

  1. College-Specific Formula: Each college or university that uses the IM may have its own unique formula or set of criteria for calculating a student’s financial need. This means that the IM can vary from one institution to another, and the way financial need is determined may differ.
  2. Additional Information: In addition to the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), colleges using the IM may request additional financial information from the student and their family. This can include details about assets, expenses, and other factors that may be relevant to determining financial need.
  3. Institutional Aid Programs: The results of the IM calculation are typically used by the college to award its own institutional financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities. These awards are often based on factors like academic merit, athletic talent, or other criteria set by the college.
  4. Variable Award Amounts: Because the IM can vary from one institution to another, the amount of institutional aid a student is eligible for can also vary significantly depending on the college they attend. Different colleges may have different resources available for financial aid, and they may prioritize certain types of students or circumstances.
  5. Transparency: Colleges that use the IM are generally required to disclose their financial aid policies and methodologies to prospective students. This allows students and their families to understand how their financial need will be determined and how much institutional aid they may qualify for.

It’s important for students and their families to carefully review the financial aid policies and requirements of each college they are considering applying to, as these policies can have a significant impact on the affordability of attending a particular institution. Some colleges may use only the federal FM to determine financial need, while others may use both the FM and their own IM, or they may rely solely on the IM.

Pell Grants
Pell Grants are need-based federal financial aid awards provided to eligible undergraduate students in the United States to help them pay for their college education. These grants are administered by the U.S. Department of Education and are a crucial source of financial assistance for many low-income and some middle-income students pursuing higher education.

Here are some key features of Pell Grants:

  1. Need-Based Aid: Pell Grants are awarded based on financial need, as determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated from the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  2. Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility for Pell Grants is primarily determined by factors such as the student’s SAI, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), the cost of attendance at their chosen college, and their plans to attend college for a full academic year or less. Students must also meet certain citizenship and educational requirements.
  3. Award Amounts: The maximum Pell Grant award amount is set annually by the U.S. Congress. The actual amount a student receives depends on their financial need, as well as the cost of attending their college. Students with higher financial need may receive a larger Pell Grant.
  4. Annual Limits: Pell Grants have an annual limit, and students can receive these grants for a maximum of 12 semesters (or the equivalent). The number of semesters a student can receive a Pell Grant depends on factors such as enrollment status and the number of semesters they attend college each year.
  5. Non-Repayable: Pell Grants are considered gift aid, which means they do not have to be repaid by the student. This makes them a valuable source of financial assistance, as they reduce the student’s out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, fees, books, and other educational costs.
  6. Application: To be considered for a Pell Grant, students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility not only for Pell Grants but also for other federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
  7. Additional Aid: Pell Grants are often part of a student’s overall financial aid package, which may include other forms of aid such as scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans.

Pell Grants are intended to help make higher education more accessible to students with financial need, allowing them to pursue their educational goals without the burden of significant debt. The specific award amounts and eligibility criteria can change from year to year, so it’s important for students to stay informed about the latest information regarding Pell Grants and other financial aid opportunities. With the new FAFSA, Pell Grant eligiblity is expanding to more students.

Other Tuition Grants
Pell Grants are just one type of grant. A tuition grant is a form of financial aid provided by a college, university, or other educational institution to help offset the cost of tuition for students. Tuition grants are a type of financial assistance that does not need to be repaid, making them a valuable resource for students seeking to make higher education more affordable.

Here are some key points to understand about tuition grants:

  1. Source: Tuition grants are typically offered and funded directly by the educational institution itself. Some colleges and universities have their own grant programs to provide financial assistance to students, while others may receive funding from external sources, such as private donors or foundations, to offer grants to eligible students.
  2. Eligibility: Eligibility criteria for tuition grants can vary widely from one institution to another. Common factors considered may include financial need, academic merit, specific talents or skills, demographic characteristics, or a combination of these factors.
  3. Financial Need: Some tuition grants are need-based, meaning they are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need based on the institution’s assessment of their family’s financial resources. These grants are often intended to make education more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds.
  4. Merit-Based: Other tuition grants are merit-based, awarded to students who have achieved outstanding academic, athletic, artistic, or other accomplishments. Merit-based grants are often used to attract talented and high-achieving students to the institution.
  5. Specific Programs: In some cases, institutions offer tuition grants for students pursuing specific programs or fields of study. For example, a college may offer grants to students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines to encourage enrollment in these fields.
  6. Application Process: To be considered for a tuition grant, students typically need to complete the institution’s financial aid application or scholarship application. This may include providing information about their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, financial circumstances, or other relevant factors.
  7. Award Amounts: The amount of a tuition grant can vary widely. Some grants may cover a significant portion of tuition expenses, while others may be smaller and provide partial assistance.
  8. Renewability: Some tuition grants are renewable for multiple years, provided that the student continues to meet specific criteria, such as maintaining a certain GPA or making satisfactory academic progress.
  9. Impact on Financial Aid Package: Students should be aware that receiving a tuition grant may affect their overall financial aid package, including other forms of financial aid such as federal or state grants, work-study opportunities, and loans.

Tuition grants are an important tool that colleges and universities use to make education more accessible and to attract and retain talented students. Students interested in tuition grants should research the specific grant opportunities offered by the institutions they are considering and follow the application procedures and deadlines provided by those institutions.

Subsidized Student Loans
Subsidized student loans are a type of federal student loan available to undergraduate students in the United States with demonstrated financial need. These loans are known as “subsidized” because the federal government pays the interest that accrues on the loan while the borrower is in school and during certain other periods of deferment.

Here are some key features of subsidized student loans:

  1. Financial Need: To qualify for a subsidized student loan, students must demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  2. Interest Subsidy: The unique feature of subsidized loans is that the federal government pays the interest that accrues on the loan while the borrower is enrolled at least half-time in college, during the six-month grace period after leaving school, and during deferment periods (such as if the borrower returns to school or experiences economic hardship). This interest subsidy means that the loan balance does not grow while the borrower is in school or during eligible deferment periods.
  3. Loan Limits: Subsidized student loans have annual and aggregate (lifetime) loan limits. These limits depend on the student’s year in school (e.g., freshman, sophomore) and whether they are considered a dependent or independent student. The limits can change annually based on federal regulations.
  4. Repayment: Repayment of subsidized loans typically begins six months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. During the in-school and grace periods, as well as during deferment, the borrower is not required to make interest payments, and the interest that accrues is paid by the federal government.
  5. Fixed Interest Rate: Subsidized loans have a fixed interest rate set by Congress. The rate may change annually for new loans, but once a loan is disbursed, the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan.
  6. Loan Forgiveness: Subsidized loans are eligible for various federal loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs that can help borrowers manage their loan debt if they qualify based on their income and employment status.

Subsidized student loans are considered one of the more favorable options for financing a college education because of the interest subsidy, which reduces the overall cost of borrowing. However, eligibility for subsidized loans is based on financial need, and there are annual and lifetime limits on the amount a student can borrow. It’s important for students to be aware of their borrowing limits, understand the terms of their loans, and explore other forms of financial aid (such as grants and scholarships) before taking out loans to pay for college expenses.

Unsubsidized Student Loans
Unsubsidized student loans are a type of federal student loan available to both undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Unlike subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need, and interest begins accruing on these loans as soon as they are disbursed.

Here are some key features of unsubsidized student loans:

  1. No Financial Need Requirement: Unlike subsidized loans, which are need-based, unsubsidized loans are available to all eligible students regardless of their financial need. This means that students do not have to demonstrate financial need to qualify for these loans.
  2. Interest Accrual: The major distinction of unsubsidized loans is that interest begins accruing on the loan from the moment it is disbursed to the borrower. This is in contrast to subsidized loans, where the federal government pays the interest while the borrower is in school and during certain other deferment periods.
  3. Interest Capitalization: While borrowers are not required to make interest payments while they are in school, during their grace period, or during certain deferment periods, the accruing interest is capitalized or added to the loan’s principal balance when repayment begins. This means that the borrower ends up paying interest on the interest that has accrued.
  4. Loan Limits: Unsubsidized loans have annual and aggregate (lifetime) loan limits that vary depending on the student’s year in school and whether they are a dependent or independent student. These limits are set by federal regulations and can change over time.
  5. Fixed Interest Rate: Unsubsidized loans have a fixed interest rate set by Congress. While the rate may change for new loans each year, once a loan is disbursed, the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan.
  6. Repayment: Repayment of unsubsidized loans typically begins six months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. Borrowers are responsible for repaying both the principal amount borrowed and the accrued interest.
  7. Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Plans: Unsubsidized loans are eligible for various federal loan forgiveness programs and income-driven repayment plans. These programs can help borrowers manage their loan debt based on their income and employment status.

It’s important for students to be aware of the terms and conditions of their unsubsidized loans, including the interest that will accrue over time. While these loans provide important access to funding for education, borrowers should consider their overall financial situation and explore other sources of financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, before taking out loans to pay for college expenses.

Private Student Loans
Private student loans, or alternative student loans, are educational loans offered by private financial institutions such as banks, credit unions, and online lenders to help students and their families cover the cost of higher education. These loans are distinct from federal student loans, which are offered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Here are some key features of private college loans:

  1. Lender Variety: Private college loans can be obtained from a variety of private financial institutions. This includes banks, credit unions, online lenders, and some state-based lending programs. Each lender may have its own terms and conditions, interest rates, and eligibility criteria.
  2. Credit-Based: Private student loans are typically credit-based, which means that the borrower’s creditworthiness plays a significant role in the approval process. A good credit history may lead to lower interest rates, while those with limited credit or poor credit may require a co-signer to qualify.
  3. Interest Rates: The interest rates on private college loans can be variable or fixed, depending on the lender and loan product. Variable rates can change over time, potentially leading to higher or lower monthly payments, while fixed rates remain constant for the life of the loan.
  4. Loan Limits: Private college loans may have higher borrowing limits compared to federal student loans, allowing students to borrow more to cover their educational expenses. However, borrowers should exercise caution when taking on excessive debt.
  5. Loan Terms: Private loan terms vary but are often less flexible than federal loans. Borrowers may have fewer options for repayment plans and may not be eligible for federal loan forgiveness or income-driven repayment programs.
  6. Cosigners: Many private lenders require a creditworthy cosigner, especially for undergraduate students and borrowers with limited credit history. A cosigner is legally responsible for the loan if the primary borrower cannot make payments.
  7. Application Process: Applying for private college loans typically involves submitting an application to the lender, providing financial information, and consenting to a credit check. The approval process can vary in length.
  8. Use of Funds: Private loans can be used to cover a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and other related costs.
  9. Less Generous Repayment Options: Private loans often have less generous repayment terms than federal loans. Borrowers may need to start making payments while still in school, and they may not have access to income-driven repayment plans or loan forgiveness options.
  10. Interest Capitalization: Some private loans may capitalize interest during periods of deferment or forbearance, adding accrued interest to the loan balance.

Private college loans can be a valuable resource for students who have exhausted federal loan options or have specific needs not met by federal aid programs. Yet, it’s essential for borrowers to carefully compare private loan terms, interest rates, and repayment options before taking out these loans, as they may not offer the same protections and benefits as federal student loans.

Third Party Scholarships
Third-party college scholarships are financial awards given to students by organizations, institutions, companies, or individuals other than the college or university the student plans to attend. These scholarships are typically offered to help students cover the costs of their education, including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Here are some key points to understand about third-party college scholarships:

  1. Source of Funding: Third-party scholarships can come from a variety of sources, including private foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporations, community groups, and even individuals who want to support students’ educational goals.
  2. Selection Criteria: Scholarships often have specific eligibility criteria, such as academic achievement, leadership qualities, community involvement, or specific career goals. Some scholarships may also be based on financial need.
  3. Application Process: To apply for third-party scholarships, students typically need to complete an application that includes personal information, academic records, essays, letters of recommendation, and other required documents. Some scholarships may require interviews or additional steps.
  4. Competition: Many scholarships are highly competitive, as they attract applicants from a wide pool of students. It’s important for students to carefully review the requirements and tailor their applications to stand out.
  5. Award Amounts: The amount of money awarded through third-party scholarships can vary widely. Some scholarships may cover a significant portion of a student’s expenses, while others may provide smaller awards.
  6. Use of Funds: Scholarship funds are typically intended to be used for educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, and living costs. Some scholarships may have restrictions on how the money can be used.
  7. Renewability: Some scholarships are one-time awards, while others are renewable for multiple years as long as the recipient continues to meet the specified criteria.
  8. Deadline: Each scholarship will have its own application deadline, which may vary depending on the organization offering the scholarship. It’s important for students to pay attention to these deadlines to ensure they don’t miss out on opportunities.
  9. Impact on Financial Aid: It’s important for students to inform their college or university’s financial aid office if they receive a third-party scholarship, as it can affect the overall financial aid package. In some cases, the college may adjust other forms of financial aid to avoid over-awarding.
  10. Search Resources: Students can search for third-party scholarships through various resources, including scholarship search websites, their high school guidance counselor, college financial aid offices, and community organizations.

Overall, third-party college scholarships can be a valuable source of financial support for students pursuing higher education, as they can help alleviate the financial burden of attending college and make education more accessible to a wider range of students. Yet, the amount of time and energy needed to apply for and ultimately secure such scholarships may not be worth it relative to the often larger pots of money students can access elsewhere through other sources of aid.

Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware
“Need-aware” and “need-blind” are terms used in the college admissions process to describe how an institution considers a student’s financial need when making admission decisions. These policies can have a significant impact on a student’s chances of being admitted and the level of financial aid they may receive.

Here’s what each term means:

  1. Need-Aware Admissions:
    • Definition: Under a need-aware admission policy, the college or university takes into consideration a student’s financial need when making admission decisions. In other words, the institution is aware of the applicant’s financial situation and may consider their ability to pay tuition and related expenses as a factor in the admissions process.
    • Impact: Need-aware institutions may admit some students without considering their financial need, especially those who are exceptionally qualified or meet other specific criteria. However, when it comes to students whose qualifications are on the borderline or are not as strong, financial need can play a role in the decision-making process. In some cases, this means that students with high financial need may have a more challenging time gaining admission, particularly if the institution has limited financial aid resources.
  2. Need-Blind Admissions:
    • Definition: Under a need-blind admission policy, the college or university does not take an applicant’s financial need into account when making admission decisions. The institution makes admission decisions solely based on the applicant’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, recommendations, essays, and other non-financial factors.
    • Impact: Need-blind institutions admit students without regard to their financial circumstances. This policy often means that the admissions process is more focused on the student’s qualifications and potential contributions to the academic community. Once a student is admitted, the institution commits to meeting their demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans.

It’s important to note that not all colleges and universities have a strict need-aware or need-blind policy. Some institutions may adopt a hybrid approach, where they are need-blind for domestic applicants but need-aware for international applicants, or vice versa. Additionally, an institution’s financial resources and endowment can play a role in whether they can afford to be need-blind in their admissions process. Students and their families should research the specific admission and financial aid policies of the colleges they are interested in to understand how these policies may affect their chances of admission and the level of financial aid they can expect to receive if admitted.

So, What About Aid Available At Colleges On My List?
As you could probably tell by reading up to this point, the types and amount of aid students can expect varies a great deal based on both the student and the colleges the student is applying to. While no article can become fully personalized to tens of thousands of readers’ unique economic and demographic backgrounds, there are only so many colleges out there, which makes honing in on and better understanding individual college aid statistics so valuable. My favorite sources of such powerful financial aid data are Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy who publish amazing Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based Aid and Merit Aid Stats and Financial Aid for Nonresident Alien Undergraduates Stats each year. Otherwise, it can’t be emphasized often enough, if you have any questions about how a particular college on your list administers or handles financial aid, I strongly encourage you to call or email that college’s financial aid office; nearly all colleges have financial aid officers working Monday through Friday whose job it is to answer prospective and current families’ questions. Take advantage of these expert sources of information at the colleges on your (or your student’s) list so you are able to navigate the the college and financial aid application processes with eyes wide open. Good luck!

Additional Federal Resources
StudentAid.gov
Information, resources, and guidance for students, contributors, and borrowers

Financial Aid Toolkit
Find outreach tools to help guide others through changes to the FAFSA process

FAFSA® Changes: An Overview
A webinar that discusses contributors, the StudentAid.gov account requirement, and providing consent and approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS via direct data exchange.

2024 –25 FAFSA Preview Presentation
An overview designed to help you understand the 2024-2025 FAFSA form and prepare for FAFSA outreach and events. This presentation includes detailed screenshots of the 2024 –2025 FAFSA online form and new user experience.

YouTube.com/@FederalStudentAid
Review the FAFSA video playlists that will be posted the FAFSA’s YouTube channel, which are helpful resources for students and families.