America’s colleges and universities no longer have enough room to accommodate all the qualified students who apply. As a result, schools are forced to reject far more applicants than they accept. The goal of admissions committees is to weed out the qualified masses and fill their halls with resourceful, well-rounded acceptable students. In today’s highly competitive college admissions process, knowing how to present a student to be acceptable not only substantially increases the chances of being admitted, but is an essential factor for success after college.

No one knows exactly how every school goes about the acceptance and elimination process, and no two schools follow exactly the same guidelines. However, it’s safe to assume that they go about their arduous task something like this:

First, the admissions committee assembles around a large conference table. Everyone is handed a huge pile of folders containing student transcripts, applications, essays, and countless letters of recommendations. No more than 15 to 20 minutes is likely spent on any one applicant! They then begin to eliminate unqualified students – those deficient in the numbers.

Next, they look for professionally prepared applications with thought provoking, interesting, and grammatically flawless essays. They are most impressed with student resumes dating back ten years, detailing academic life, extra curricular activities including community service hours, and a cleverly written special essay, perhaps entitled, “Why I Must Attend The University of…” Admissions committees are ever on the alert for uniquely talented students in the arts, or those having demonstrated exceptional athletic potential. These factors all weigh heavily in the final decision.

You cannot give birth to an acceptable student, nor can you adopt one, and I’ve never seen one listed in any mail order catalogue I’ve ever read. Acceptable students are made, not born, by families determined to see their children successful in life. To create one; to insure pre-high schoolers have every possible advantage to succeed and go on to their college of choice, the stage must be set early in preparation for the high school years.

If the student’s home is a circus, and not conducive to studying, it’s time for some major changes. Students must have access to a comfortable place to study with virtually no distractions. A bare minimum of 1½ to 2 hours each night should be devoted to schoolwork, and students should maintain a normal daily routine including a healthy diet and eight hours of sleep.

Ideally, college-bound students should not be left alone without supervision for long periods of time, certainly no longer than 24 hours! They should not spend more than 15 hours each week on non-academic activities, and would be ill-advised to regularly burn the midnight oil. The benefits of a good night’s rest cannot be overstated.

All students should begin by electing to take courses with college in mind. By the time they enter the 12th grade, they will have created the right posture to make admission committees stand up and take notice.

Four years of the core subjects are what all colleges are most interested in, unless the student has a special ability as an athlete, vocalist, musician, or artist. English, Math, a Foreign Language, Science and History make up the core Grade Point Average (GPA) or CGPA. There is also the Honors Point Average (HPA) which includes Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Electives such as Art, Physical Education, Music and Computer Programming are of less importance and should only be taken in conjunction with the core subjects. Students should take as many Honors and AP classes as possible. The risk/reward ratio comes into play here. Colleges are looking for students who take risks and challenge themselves academically and otherwise. The bonus for earning an ‘A’ or ‘B’ or even a ‘C’ is that it adds extra points to the GPA and gives the student that all-important edge in admissions.

Receiving an ‘A’ in a non-honors class is not as impressive as earning a ‘B’ in an Honors or AP class. It demonstrates that the student took a risk and therefore a greater accomplishment is perceived. Admissions officers are as impressed by the challenge taken as they are with the result.

I’m certainly not suggesting that any student become stressed out by taking classes they are not capable of doing well in, or working beyond reasonable limits. However, for families with an exceptionally bright child, it is highly recommended that they take as many advanced courses as they can comfortably handle. An outstanding academic record has always been and is still the greatest bargaining chip.

Students should also pursue extracurricular activities such as clubbing, not to be confused with staying out all night partying. Membership in the Debate Club, Student Council, Key Club and the like is one of the absolute necessities to becoming a well-rounded, acceptable student. Even more beneficial, the student should hold office or take on a leadership role in as many of these clubs as possible. Leadership demonstrates taking a risk and assuming responsibility.

Even students who are super athletes need some diversity, as sports alone is not enough. Students need to avoid the impression that they are one-dimensional, and do whatever is necessary to portray themselves as multi-faceted.

Early on, students must also begin to accumulate community service or volunteer hours. However, don’t confuse extracurricular activities with volunteer work. I define extracurricular activities as in-school participation. Community service takes place outside of school, i.e. scouting, working for one’s house of worship, working with AIDS and/or Alzheimer’s patients, seniors, hospice, involvement with the handicapped, and environmental work such as cleaning up beaches or highways.

By participating in volunteer work with financially, emotionally and/or intellectually challenged people, students demonstrate their compassion and empathy for others, and this will make them shine with admissions officers. Working with those who are less fortunate also gives the student a much broader idea of how life is outside their own environment.

Every college-bound student needs an edge in the admissions process whether they apply to Harvard or their local state college. Competition is fierce, and the painful truth is - no one really cares about any student’s education except the student and their family. It would be ill-advised and unrealistic to expect any favors or kindly ‘ole educators to bend over backwards to ensure the success of any student. Academic achievement is rarely an accident, and creating the acceptable student is the sole responsibility of the student and their family.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It!” For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

For almost three decades, financial advisor & lecturer Reecy Aresty, has helped thousands of families to protect their assets, increase their wealth, and reduce their taxes. During the 1980’s, he turned his attentions to the complex world of college admissions and financial aid. By the end of the decade, he was already saving his clients thousands of dollars on a college education!

He has authored, “Getting Into College And Paying For It,” also available in Spanish. Filled with trade secrets and insider information, it offers solutions for high school and college families guaranteed to give students the all-important edge in admissions, and parents countless legal ways to reduce college costs.

In 2004 alone, Reecy saved families hundreds of thousands of dollars! He has become a major factor in obtaining affordable, quality educations for America’s students. In doing so, he has restored the faith people used to have in one another by proving that there are still people who care, people who can be trusted, and people who actually do what they promise – and get results!

Many parents and students I counsel confuse Early Admission, Early Read, Early Decision, Early Action and Early Notification. How these and the other admission strategies listed below are used, will determine the course of the student’s college years. Understanding them is an absolute must!

Early Admission: Typically, the student applies to college at the beginning of the junior year and simply goes through the process earlier. However, Early Admission is seldom used as it only applies to the most exceptional students who complete all high school requirements prior to the 12th grade, or even earlier. Although it is not binding, I strongly recommend that the student demonstrate a college level of social and emotional maturity before implementing this strategy. Schools often get into a bidding contest to recruit the truly exceptional student, some offering full scholarships for the privilege of having such an accomplished student on their campus! Nonetheless, use with extreme caution!

Early Read: A number of colleges will offer to calculate a family’s EFC, (the expected family contribution; the minimum amount determined by the federal government that a family will pay at any college for each student). This is done without obligating the student to apply to their school. Simply send them all your financial information at the beginning of the 12th grade! Sounds like a good deal, right? Wrong! Wherever possible, keep the schools and the federal government out of your wallet! If the student eventually decides to apply to that school, the aid offer has already been predetermined. Surely, you wouldn’t feel comfortable having the IRS calculate your taxes, so why would you have a college determine your EFC? Avoid this at all costs! Failure to heed this advice will result in paying thousands more than you had to for a college education!

Early Decision: This is a program with earlier deadlines and notification dates than the regular decision process. Students who apply for an Early Decision program commit to attending that school and only that school. This is a binding contract restricting the student to that one school. Once accepted, the student must notify all other schools applied to and request that their application be withdrawn. There is however, an upside. If money is not an issue, and the family will not be applying for financial aid, Early Decision is highly recommended, because it will give the student a decisive advantage in the admissions process! On the other hand, if financial aid is an issue, the danger is that the student must attend that college regardless of the financial aid offered! While Early Decision adds some leverage to being accepted, the financial consequences can be devastating because the student must accept the school’s financial aid package no matter how inadequate it might be! I only recommend Early Decision under very specific circumstances. Also, if you change your mind, rescinding an Early Decision acceptance doesn’t sit well with the schools. This option should only be used with extreme caution.

Early Decision II: Offered by some schools, it is virtually identical to Early Decision except the application deadlines are later, usually January 1st. As with Early Decision, only one school can be applied to. I’m not an advocate of this one either. Follow the Early Decision criteria above and proceed accordingly.

Early Action: Except for Early Decision candidates, I encourage all students to apply for Early Action. Students apply from September 15th to January 1st, and notices usually go out between December 15th and January 31st, (dates may vary). Applying for Early Action has one definite advantage. Since the competition is so fierce, the sooner a student applies the better. For the barely qualified student, this is the only way to go. It would be highly unlikely such a student would qualify in the general applicant pool, as they would be competing against far too many honor students and would pale by comparison. Also, students apply to college at the beginning of the senior year, and any grades beyond mid-term may not count at all! Always implement this strategy! Early Notification: This is similar to Early Action, except that some schools might also ask for a commitment to their financial aid package well in advance of the traditional May 1st deadline. Unless they make an offer you can’t refuse, ask them to extend their deadline until the family has had sufficient time to consider all offers from the schools the student has been accepted to. I would strongly advise against negotiations because the student will be at a serious disadvantage with no other offers to compare and accepting could be a very costly mistake! Avoid this like the plague!

Open Admissions: Some four year, most two year and virtually all community colleges will offer all applicants admission on a come-as-you-are basis. If they have room, as long as you have a high school diploma – you’re in! Implement when available.

Rolling Admissions: (I’ve saved the best for last.) This is a most advantageous school policy for applicants, as colleges offering Rolling Admissions will notify students of their status within a few weeks of receiving all necessary application documents. They usually accept students until such time as their quotas have been satisfied. Check the admissions policies of the schools you’re applying to and by all means implement this strategy whenever and wherever available.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It!” For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

For almost three decades, financial advisor & lecturer Reecy Aresty, has helped thousands of families to protect their assets, increase their wealth, and reduce their taxes. During the 1980’s, he turned his attentions to the complex world of college admissions and financial aid. By the end of the decade, he was already saving his clients thousands of dollars on a college education!

He has authored, “Getting Into College And Paying For It,” also available in Spanish. Filled with trade secrets and insider information, it offers solutions for high school and college families guaranteed to give students the all-important edge in admissions, and parents countless legal ways to reduce college costs.

In 2004 alone, Reecy saved families hundreds of thousands of dollars! He has become a major factor in obtaining affordable, quality educations for America’s students. In doing so, he has restored the faith people used to have in one another by proving that there are still people who care, people who can be trusted, and people who actually do what they promise – and get results!

In case you hadn’t noticed, career colleges aren’t just for learning a vocational trade anymore. Nowadays, career colleges can help you obtain a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or even Doctorate Degree in just about any field of study, or they can even help you simply brush up on skills you might already have on your way to earning a certification or Associate’s Degree. So while some career schools might still specialize in vocational trades like auto body repair, masonry or hair styling, the majority of today’s career colleges are designed to help working professionals meet their career objectives.

Prompted by an inviting and growing selection of career and online colleges, more adults are returning to school than ever before. Whether you’re seeking to advance your current career and education, break into a whole new field, or just enjoy studying something you’ve always wanted to, going back to school can be enjoyable and rewarding.

And yet, many potential students who could clearly benefit from enrollment at a career college are hesitant to do so. The reason? In too many cases, they are being held back by nothing other than their own fear.

The First Step is Admitting It

Let’s begin by getting everything out on the table. Some reservations commonly heard from working adults who are considering a return to college include the concerns that:

They won’t fit in
It’s too expensive
There isn’t enough time in the day
It will take forever to complete a degree
Employers won’t view the degree (or certification) as credible
The coursework won’t be valuable or useful

In reality, just about any student who has attended a career college—whether online or on-campus—will tell you that there really isn’t anything to fear in a return to school. While they may have once had the same fears as you do now, they learned very quickly that those fears were actually unwarranted.

By taking each fear one by one, we can begin to understand what these current students now know and how glad they are that they didn’t let their fears hold them back.

I’m Afraid I Won’t Fit In

It is common for a person in their thirties or forties to worry that they’ll stick out like a sore thumb in a classroom filled with “kids” from the ages of 18 to 25. However, recent information from the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Education states that adult students are the fastest growing educational demographic, revealing that 40% of college students are now 25 or older. Further information from the National Center for Education Statistics points out that students age 35 and older rose from 823,00 in 1970 to nearly 3 million by 2001.

If you’re still worried about fitting in to the classroom as an adult, a few facts that might help allay your concerns include:

With online learning, you’ll be working on a more individual basis and won’t have to worry about ‘standing out’ in a physical classroom; Many colleges, traditional or otherwise, have seen a spike in their ‘older’ students, and it’s likely you won’t be the tiny minority that you expect; and Many older adults actually find it rejuvenating and refreshing to be in a classroom environment with a younger group that is eager to learn.

I’m Afraid It Will Be Too Expensive

Tuition…books…it all adds up. And many potential students get scared off by the investment it requires to earn their degree. But the key to overcoming this fear is to consider it as just that: an investment in your future. Think long term instead of short term. In almost every case, the career advancement you will get after earning your degree will easily make up for the upfront costs of attending school. Besides, many career colleges—especially those online—may be more affordable than you realize. Do your homework and weigh the long-term benefits before deciding not to enroll in a school for this reason.

I’m Afraid It Will Take Up Too Much Time

For the busy working adult, the notion of taking on any additional endeavors can be downright stifling. It’s not always easy balancing work with personal life, and adding school on top of all your other responsibilities might seem virtually impossible.

And yet, it’s not. You’d be amazed at how much extra time you can squeeze into a day. Sure, there will be some sacrifices you’ll have to make, but if you just try watching a little less television, say, or letting your friends know that you won’t be able to make that barbecue next weekend, you’ll be amazed at how much time you can free up. Just remember to keep your eye on the prize, and your sacrifices will all seem worthwhile.

One good option for students who might have a hard time committing to a schedule is to enroll in online courses that are “asynchronous.” The asynchronous learning model works a bit like email in that you can access the coursework, instructor’s lessons and classmates comments at your convenience, then respond whenever you are able. There are no set classes for you to attend, no specific schedules that might conflict with the rest of your day, and, because you’ll be taking classes online, no commute time for you to worry about.

I’m Afraid It Will Take Forever To Complete My Degree

Traditionally, a Bachelor’s Degree takes up to four years to complete, a Master’s Degree requires at least two years, and a Doctorate Degree can take up to eight years or more. That’s all fine and good for someone who can dedicate themselves to being a full time student, but for those who can only commit to part-time status, those timelines might appear too far off the horizon.

But the facts of the matter are that most degree programs at today’s career colleges are based on accelerated learning, meaning that most degrees take less time to complete than traditional learning environments. Coursework is based on shorter semesters—typically five weeks—and delivering a quality education as rapidly as possible without sacrificing the student’s ability to learn and absorb the material. In some cases you can even earn your degree is less than a year!

I’m Afraid That Employers Won’t Take My Degree Seriously

Because their degree won’t be coming from some top-name university like Harvard or Yale, some would-be students decide that it’s not worth getting a degree from a school that employer’s won’t view as credible.

In reality, however, most employers today do view degrees from career colleges as not only credible, but oftentimes on par with their more traditional counterparts. It wasn’t that long ago that many HR professional may have viewed career colleges—particularly online career colleges—as carrying less weight than traditional colleges, but as the online education space evolves and faculty members and curriculums at online schools catches up with those at traditional schools, more and more HR executives are realizing the validity of degrees earned online or through career colleges. In fact, to some, an online degree represents a certain career ambition, technological prowess and commitment to seeing something through to the end on behalf of the applicant.

I’m Afraid I Won’t Learn Anything New Or Valuable

Many potential students are fearful of the fact that their trouble to go out and earn their degree might be all for naught—that the classes won’t teach them anything they hadn’t learned already in their professional experiences.

As anyone who has ever taken so much as a single class at a career college or online school will tell you, however, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth. Classes at any accredited university are taught by qualified experts with lots of experience in their chosen field, while you will also be surrounded by classmates who bring their own, unique experiences to share. Whether the “classroom” is physical or virtual, you will learn more than you ever imagined from those around you.

Another point to consider is that most career colleges are centered around a team learning approach, in which students learn not only from their instructors, but from other students as well. With this approach, you’ll engage in dialogues with other students who have much to share from their own work experiences, and you’ll gain valuable lessons that you can take back and immediately apply to your own work.

Why Make The Move?

In today’s modern learning environment, with numerous career and online schools focused entirely on their educational needs, adults have nothing to fear in a return to school – and so much to gain. Here are some of the main reasons more adults than ever are going back to school:

Career advancement or transition. If you’re not currently working at the job of your dreams, nothing can change that faster than a more advanced degree and additional expertise.

To complete a degree from years ago. Plenty of first-time college students leave before they earn a degree, and a return to college is a supremely satisfying way to take care of that unfinished business.

To set an example for their children. What better way to encourage your growing children to pursue a college education than getting one of your own?

To fully prepare for running their own business. Whether you’re interested in opening a B&B or your own accounting firm, the perfect college program is available online or on-campus.

Returning to school is a big step, but it shouldn’t be an overwhelming one. For those who plan the move properly and take aim on getting all they can out of life, it can be the best decision they ever make.

Matt McAllister is a writer for http://www.searchforclasses.com. To read more of his articles and to learn more about online education visit http://www.searchforclasses.com/newsletter/

I cannot overemphasize the importance of developing strong relationships with high school teachers and counselors as early as possible. An extremely well written, all-telling letter can absolutely make the difference of being accepted or rejected to any college.

Students at the top of one or more of their classes should first ask those teachers to write a letter of recommendation (LOR). However, if a teacher balks, is the least bit hesitant or shows no enthusiasm about the prospect of writing such a letter, another teacher, one who is likely to make the student shine, should be approached instead. A less than exemplary LOR is virtually worthless!

Chose wisely. I often review LOR’s for content and grammar, and am constantly amazed at how careless and lax some teachers, counselors and other well-intentioned people can be with a letter of such great importance! Choose teachers who have expressed a genuine interest in the student’s future.

Most schools require LOR’s from guidance counselors, and some ask for one or more from the student’s English, Science and/or Math teachers. Additional LOR’s, letters other than those requested on the school’s application, are also recommended. I suggest no more than two extras, unless a third is absolutely extraordinary.

Unless the student is an athlete, any teacher is preferable to a coach unless the coach actually teaches a core or standard subject such as English, Chemistry, History, Math, or Language. In some cases, the writer actually asks the student for an outline of what they should write! Each letter should be from someone who knows the student well, such as:

• A college professor (excellent)

• A high ranking military officer (also excellent)

• A member of the clergy

• Chairman or officer of a major corporation

• A member of a volunteer organization where the student worked

• The parent of a handicapped student from volunteer work, i.e. Special Olympics

• A parent whose child was tutored by the student

The LOR can also be from a relative with a different last name if the above criteria is met, but it should not indicate that it’s from a relative to avoid appearing biased.

For LOR’s not written in English, I recommend the English translation be attached and put on top with a preface stating, “For your convenience, the following is the English translation of the attached letter."

The guidance counselors submit all LOR’s originating from the high school. Students should be cautioned not to submit any sealed or unsealed LOR’s that they obtain on their own and outside of their school! Any LOR from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor should be mailed by the person who wrote it, not the student.

All LOR’s should be addressed as follows:

Date (Be sure to include student’s SS# or School ID number.)

[Name of College] [Director’s name if you know it] Director of Admissions [Street or P.O. Box] [City, State, Zip, Zip+4 if available]

RE: Student’s Name

Dear Director: [Unless you know their name]

By following these instructions, students will surely increase their edge – even if they’re a valedictorian! The best students also need an edge because they are competing against other exceptional students! Students with less than exemplary numbers will stand a better chance of being accepted in the admissions process with outstanding LOR’s.

Every student needs that all-important edge in every aspect of the admissions process. Without outstanding LOR’s, the chances of acceptance become proportionally reduced.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It!” For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

For almost three decades, financial advisor and lecturer Reecy Aresty, has helped thousands of families to protect their assets, increase their wealth, and reduce their taxes. During the 1980’s, he turned his attentions to the complex world of college admissions and financial aid. By the end of the decade, he was already saving his clients thousands of dollars on a college education!

He has authored, “Getting Into College And Paying For It,” also available in Spanish. Filled with trade secrets and insider information, it offers solutions for high school and college families guaranteed to give students the all-important edge in admissions, and parents countless legal ways to reduce college costs.

In 2004 alone, Reecy saved families hundreds of thousands of dollars! He has become a major factor in obtaining affordable, quality educations for America’s students. In doing so, he has restored the faith people used to have in one another by proving that there are still people who care, people who can be trusted, and people who actually do what they promise – and get results!

Well, I finally finished my 1st semester of college and I think I did really well. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, possibly with a minor in psychology. I absolutely love school and now often wonder why I didn’t go back sooner. I think school has made me a lot more independent if that is possible. I do love it.

I have learned a lot and met a lot of great people. I have many friends now and they are real friends that I know I can count on, friends I am sure I will have throughout my life. I am also taking two summer classes and really can’t imagine myself being out of school at this point. I may end up being one of those people that stay in school forever..lol. No, I don’t love it that much. The independence and freedom I feel from attending and the confidence in knowing I can accomplish something is remarkable.

I feel anyone considering it should really go for it , what do you have to lose, besides that the people you meet and the opportunities given you by going are fantastic. I have made some great connections with instructors in my area/field and people in general that will help me when my degree is finally obtained, and you cant beat that.

Most of my friends and some family have went back to school also and say it has changed their lives and they think it is something to do that advances you in life regardless of the career and major you choose.

I personally am thinking of being a detective or investigator, but I also love working with kids that are in trouble so that may be the direction I take. I guess it is a long haul for me in deciding exactly what I want to do but I am right on track, and when my 2-4 yrs is up, I will have made a final decision. I would just like to encourage anyone thinking of going back to school or going for their first time to take it, the support from classmates and instructors is great, and I know you can do it and you will accomplish your dreams. Good luck and God Bless Ya.

Vaughn Pascal

To Dakota, my biggest fan..I love you To God and Jesus: Thank you for everything and the many blessings that have befallen me. My love always

If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or “taking a break” I’d like to encourage you to reconsider.

Don’t Let Cost Stand in Your Way

If cost is your primary reason for reducing your college hours or dropping out completely first pay a visit to your school’s financial aid office. Have you applied for financial aid using the FAFSA? Priority deadlines for most colleges is late spring to early summer. However, most of the time students can still get some kind of financial aid as long as you apply before the school term begins.

Another reason for visiting the financial aid office is there may be other sources of aid available to you that you are not aware of. Some colleges participate in state funded financial aid programs and special need based programs that you may qualify for. Your financial aid counselor can give you more information about alternative programs such as these. In addition, the financial aid office may be aware of local foundation and organization sponsored scholarships.

In some colleges the financial aid office also handles scholarships. Other schools run a separate scholarship office. Either way, make sure you apply for all of the scholarships offered at your school.

Many local social organizations such as the Lions Club, Business & Professional Women and Chamber of Commerce sponsor scholarships. Get out your local phone book and start calling organizations in your area. You may be surprised at what type of local scholarships may be available.

Consider College an Investment in Yourself

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, people with a bachelor’s degree earn over 70 percent more on average than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, this will make a considerable difference in overall earnings, standard of living and retirement savings.

The power of a bachelor’s degree becomes even more apparent when seeking employment. Applicants with a degree are much more likely to be hired for a position than those without a degree. Specialized study in college prepares workers for a job field or industry. A general or liberal arts degree will help workers gain employment in a wide range of fields. Often your college major is not as important as just the fact that you have the degree.

Finally, college is a time to explore your interests, talents and grow as a person. The experience you gain working with other students and professors will help you mature and be ready for not just the job market, but for deeper life experiences.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans.

Many current and future college students need help to pay for college. Especially with tuition rates going up every year, students are looking for ways to pay for their college eduction.

Student loans may be a necessity, but there are other sources of funding that will help pay for school. There are many opportunities to be awarded funds that do not have to be repaid, as student loans do.

Many students will qualify for government grants for college. Grants are awards based upon financial need that are given to students by the government.

How do students get money in the form of grants? Students apply for government grants for college by filling out the The Free Applicaton for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the first step in the financial aid process. By completing this application form, students will be matched with aid programs that they qualify for.

The FAFSA is the one application form that is used by all public colleges in the US to determine eligigibililty for both loans and grants. Grants are always free money — that is it doesn’t have to be paid back. Grants may come in the form of federal grants or state grants. Students will learn which grants they have been awarded when they get the results from the FAFSA back in the mail.

Students can also get free money for college by applying for college scholarships. There are many college scholarships available all across the United States. There are resources available to help students find scholarships such as online databases and published directories. Many of these books can even be found in the local library.

There are other ways that students can get money to pay for college education expenses. Students should check with their college’s financial aid, student employment and scholarship offices to find more opportunities to get money for school.

Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out about more Ways to Earn Money for College

(Permission is granted to reprint this article provided that the author resource box AND a live link to the URL are included.)

Many college students and graduates are looking for a solution for their student loan debt. While borrowers may be having difficulty paying back student loans, there is help. Solutions for paying back student loans are available.

What causes difficulty in paying back student loans?

New college graduates may find that it takes them longer to find a job than they expected. While there’s a six month grace period from the time students graduate until repayment begins, sometimes it takes six months or longer to find a job.

Many recent graduates who are employed are underemployed — working part-time or temporary jobs until they find a permanent position. During this time they may need help in making loan payments.

New college graduates can use several strategies to help with student loan repayment. Taking on additional part-time jobs or freelancing may be an option.

It is also wise to keep living expenses low the first few years out of college. Graduates can live with a roommate, or downsize into a smaller apartment. If new graduates are still looking for a job, it may be a good idea not to move until permanent employment is found. Then it will be easier to move to an area closer to the job.

Applying for a forbearance may be an immediate solution for times of difficulty making loan payments. A forbearance is temporary period of suspension of payments on a federal or direct loan after repayment has begun, and if the student does not qualify for deferment.

This means that if a student has already started paying back loans, they can apply for a suspension of payments on the grounds of financial hardship. A forbearance must be applied for through the lender. Being able to hold off payments for a few months can be a big help during a time of financial hardship.

Another student loan debt solution is to consolidate payments. Unless consolidated, each student loan is accounted for and paid separately. When a student graduates they will receive paperwork and payment slips for each loan. 2, 5, 12… no matter how many loans were taken out, they will be billed separately. Adding up all of these individual loan payments could total $300-$1000 per month or more! Not many students can afford such payments.

That’s where consolidation comes in. Consolidation is a process that combines all of the student loans into one loan. Borrowers can dramatically reduce monthly payments of student loans by consolidating. Average monthly payments could be less than $100 to around $250 per month. This is just an estimate. The monthly payment depends on the total amount borrowed, the interest rate and the way that loans are consolidated.

Consolidating through The Income Contingent Repayment plan is designed to help make repaying student loans easier for students who intend to pursue jobs with lower salaries, such as careers in public service. The monthly payment amount is adjusted annually, based on changes in family size and annual income. This program is only available through the US Department of Education, not a lender or bank.

Finally, the Graduated Repayment Plan starts the payments at a low level (usually interest only) and gradually increases the payments until the balance is paid. This is helpful for graduates because payments are low when the first graduate, and increase as earning power increases over the years. This plan is available by consolidating through a bank or other lender.

It is important to note that according to current regulations student loans may only be consolidated once. So borrowers who have already graduated and consolidated with a standard plan cannot take advantage of the income contingent or graduated plans. For borrowers who have already consolidated, a forbearance may be the best option for temporary relief of student loan debt.

Use the student loan repayment calculator from finaid.org to find out what loan payments could be using different types of consolidation.

College graduates can find student debt relief using one of the solutions mentioned above. Discuss loan repayment options with your lender and see what can be done to help you repay student loans.

About the Author: Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out more about Paying Back Student Loans

At last, summer is here! After a school year full of hard work, you can finally put away your books, break out your bikinis, and soak up the sunshine. This is not only what you deserve but in fact what you need: If you have been working to your maximum level during the school year, you owe your body about two weeks off during the summer for a real break. Go ahead and pursue your favorite pastime, relax, sleep, and reflect on the past year and the year to come. Do not, however, get too used to your life of leisure! From a college admissions standpoint, it’s important to be productive during your summer months. Working is looked upon favorably by the more selective colleges; working on your tan is not.

It is important to understand that when it comes time to apply to schools in the fall, you will be competing for admission against a wealth of other students who made the most of their summers by strengthening their talents and skills and/or making up in some way for their weaknesses. Ideally, you have already found something to do for the summer, but if not, here are some summer suggestions.

For the summer after ninth grade, summer school can be a great idea, particularly if you want to get ahead in your curriculum. For example, rising sophomores in the past have used their summers to skip ahead in their math track, some by taking a class that prepares them for an honors or advanced level course, others by taking an intensive math course that spans at least six weeks of the summer. Other students have chosen to use their summers to take composition or creative writing courses to strengthen their writing skills.

For the summer after tenth grade, you might want to try participating in a program designed to strengthen one of your main talents. For example, if you’re interested in engineering, you could try a program that teaches students to design their own autonomous robots, such as Carnegie Mellon West’s seven-week RoboCamp. Students who are artistically inclined may want to try Northwestern’s National High School Institutes (colloquially known as “Cherubs”), during which students who excel in music, theater, journalism, film, debate and/or forensics hone their talents through intensive workshops in their areas of interest. Another great opportunity for prospective film students is through University of Southern California’s Summer Seminars, where students can study either screenwriting, the business and technology of film, or basic animation techniques.

The summer after tenth grade also might be used to go away on a program abroad. Two great resources for finding abroad programs are www.goabroad.com and www.studyabroad.com, where you can punch in specific countries and interests and find hundreds of excellent programs that are off the beaten track. I recommend committing to a program of at least six weeks: A true cultural immersion will usually take more than a month, and it will take two weeks just to get over your jet lag! Also, try to travel to a country where the residents speak the foreign language you’re taking in school. In order to make the most of your experience, try and stay away from programs with too many other Americans, and try to devote yourself to one place for the entire stay. For example, if you’re taking Spanish in school, it’s best to go to Mexico or a Central or Latin American country rather than Spain, which is often teeming with Americans. Also, in cities such as Barcelona, the language of choice is Catalan as opposed to Spanish.

The summer after eleventh grade is a good time to try and find an internship or other type of employment experience in one of your fields of interest. If you’re interested in a sports-related career, let’s say, this is an excellent summer to work for a sports agency or a sports channel such as ESPN. To see the sports world from a different angle, you might even want to try working in a law firm that has a history of representing athletes. Not only would you gain valuable experience that would give you a leg up on even the average college student, you might find a new translation of your passion for sports.

Remember, nepotism is not looked upon favorably, so make sure your work experience is aligned with your interests and not with your parents’ careers. After all, you are not just spending the summer in Dad’s office; this should be made clear to the colleges. Likewise, if you’re holding down a job or internship, the ideal amount of time to do this is for about eight weeks. Given that the typical summer is twelve weeks long, you’ll still have several weeks for relaxation and, of course, working on college applications. IvyWise students in the past have interned in the office of Senator Hillary Clinton, conducted original cancer research at hospitals alongside professors, reported for major and local newspapers, and interned at a variety of companies ranging from law firms to Goldman Sachs.

If you’re a serious athlete with the chance of being recruited for your sport in college, you will likely be spending the majority of your summers on the field or in the gym, where coaches will get a chance to watch you play. Sports camps and workshops are great for serious student athletes; this is the path you must pursue to achieve entry into college- level athletics.

Before you leave for summer break, I also recommend asking your school for next year’s reading list for English and history. Beginning your reading early is a great way to get a jump start on next year’s homework. Also, starting your reading list during the summer will help you gain a deeper understanding of the assigned material: When you revisit your summer reading during the school year, you will be familiar with the basic story and will therefore be equipped to conduct a better analysis of the text. Also, if you choose to remain in your hometown during the summer, colleges will love to see you continuing your school year community service activities through the summer months.

Summer don’ts:

#1: CAMP. Unless you are a focused athlete and you are attending a sports camp, sleepaway camp and camping trips should end before the summer before ninth grade. The only exception to this rule is if a student has the opportunity to take on a leadership role such as a CIT, and even then, the summer before ninth grade should be the last year at camp. Colleges are not looking for experts in the arts of s’more-making and Spin the Bottle!

#2: TEEN TOURS. It may sound great to travel around the country with a busload of other kids in your age group for a couple of weeks, and while it’s true that you would get to sample the cuisine of many different McDonald’s locations across the country, this will not help you get into college. On a teen tour, students can never get to know one place well, and it’s likely that they will be with students like themselves and will therefore not get the opportunity to stretch. Teen tours are so organized and scheduled that it’s nearly impossible for any one student to make an impact in his or her community. Students should make sure that whatever they do over the summer, they are somehow making an impact, whether it be on an organization, a favorite cause, or a foreign or local community.

#3: “IMMERSION” TRIPS. Any so-called cultural immersion trip that lasts three weeks or less, particularly those of the Putney or ASA brand, is not a wise use of summer time. These trips break up a student’s summer and take the place of an in-depth program; they are vacations rather than commitments and are not something to add to a college brag sheet. Again, students should choose a program off the beaten track that lasts for a minimum of six weeks so they have the opportunity to grow and to make an impact.

#4: SUMMER SAT PREP. If you’re a rising junior, the summer is not the best time to start preparing for your standardized tests. Sure, working on vocabulary a few hours a week can never hurt, but devoting chunks of your day to SAT tutoring or a class will only take the place of an activity that you can put on your brag sheet. Furthermore, you are likely to forget a lot of what you learn during the summer; you will absorb far more during the year, when you are in “school mode.”

On a final note, when you are setting aside your personal time, make sure you allow yourself time to have fun! As high school progresses, the courses inevitably get harder and your workload will increases—it’s important to use your summer break to unwind and reflect. While there are always weekends during the school year, there’s nothing like a sunny Wednesday on the beach, so please, make the most of your freedom while you can! Have a great summer, and we’re looking forward to hearing your stories.

Katherine Cohen is a college counselor at IvyWise, LLC, http://www.ivywise.com

I spent the better part of 17 years in and out of higher education. Eleven of those years were invested in taking classes and pursuing degrees. In the process of having to read a lot of books and articles that I didn’t really have time to read, I began asking myself, "Isn’t there a more effective way to do this?" Like many of you, I had a life outside of the academic world. I had a family, jobs, responsibilities, and the desire to enjoy some portion of each week. Reading was necessary, but it wasn’t something I always enjoyed.

That’s the way it is with academic reading… most of the things we have to read are not things we would normally select. We find ourselves falling asleep believing that the words from the book or article will ooze into our brains while our eyes are closed. There has to be a better way to stay alert and actually remember what we read! Try the following ideas:

1. Have a reading place. Create a place that is designated for reading. Don’t select a spot too comfortable or you will fall asleep. Don’t select a spot that is too uncomfortable or you will spend more time thinking about your discomfort than the reading.

2. Pick your time. If you are a morning person, your best time for reading is early morning; night people do better mid-morning to early afternoon. You have pockets of time when you are more alert, so use those times for reading. If you find yourself at work during those times, use your break times or weekends to maximize your effectiveness.

3. Focus on new information. We learn things best when we can connect new information to something we already know. Rather than simply highlighting information, write down questions such as, "How does this concept related to what I read in other publications?" For many people, highlighting sentences is counter-productive because they spend more time trying to make sure the lines are straight than they do paying attention to what the text actually says.

4. Speed up. Many people read at the speed they talk, yet research tells us that our brains process information much faster than we realize. Get in the habit of moving your eyes faster and see if you catch things you didn’t actually verbalize in your mind. You’ll be surprised at how much you actually comprehend when you speed up your reading.

5. Take good notes. In business and academics some texts are permanent fixtures. If you take good notes the first time you read a text, you will be better prepared to locate and use that information later. It is a poor use of your time to reread books and articles you have read before. File your notes so that you can locate them later. You might even stick a note inside the book telling you the location of your note.

Reading is an unpleasant part of our academic endeavors, so do all you can to maximize your efficiency. Time is too valuable to waste! Think about it!

Dr. Terry Hadaway is an author, motivational speaker, university professor, and conference leader who is recognized as a leading authority on elearning, decision-making, and adult education. Visit http://www.rapidfirelearning.com for more information.