Are you living with your total opposite? It’s amazing how different two people sharing the same (tiny) room can be. Even the littlest things can drive you crazy after awhile! You eat Big Macs and chicken wings while your roommate swears by tofu and beans; you like Coldplay and your roommate cranks up Tim McGraw. You’re East Coast; your roommate is West Coast. Whatever your differences (and there are bound to be a few), you need to figure out what you’re willing to live with and what’s fair to ask your roommate to change.

Your roommate may have an accent that grates on your nerves, but that’s not something you can ask a person to change. It’s also not fair to expect someone to change his entire personality to suit you. It would be great if we could snap our fingers, and BAM, instant personality makeover! Not gonna happen. So, you need to separate personality traits from irritating habits. You won’t transform your roommate into your new best friend, but you can make things a lot more bearable. Here are a few ideas:

Talk. If something’s bugging you, bring it up in a non-defensive way rather than assume your roommate can read your mind. Nothing can change unless you acknowledge it. It’s possible that your roommate may not even be aware of the problem.

Focus on behavior, not personality. It’s not reasonable to ask people to change who they are, but you can ask them to tone down how they express themselves, especially when it’s invading your turf. So, you can’t criticize someone for being “perky,” but you can ask for someone not to talk so much while you’re studying.

Stay flexible. It’s not your job to fix anybody else, and it helps to recognize that no one is perfect. Be willing to look at your own behavior. Consider what you could do differently to help the situation instead of only blaming your roommate.

Start with one pet peeve. What can you absolutely not deal with? What do you find extremely irritating, but could live with if you had to? There are probably tons of things your roommate does that get on your nerves. But nothing kills a relationship faster than listing dozens of reasons why you don’t like a person. Instead, both of you need to list your number one pet peeve and focus your energy on solving that first.

Consider the positives. Before you decide that life would be better with a roommate exactly like you, think of what you could gain by living with your opposite. We’re often attracted to people who are different from us because they represent qualities we wish we possessed. If you’re shy, maybe being around a more outgoing person will force you out of your shell. When one person’s strength makes up for the other’s weakness, being opposites is an advantage.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell (Adams Media). More college survival tips are listed on her site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

When you speak, do residents listen or ignore you? If you’re having trouble commanding respect, it could be the way you’re saying it. Here is a list of words that can sabotage your effectiveness as a communicator. See if you recognize any of these red flags in your speech:

Should, Have to: These come across as condescending. Instead of telling people what they should do, offer suggestions. Then let them decide.

Always, Never, Everyone, Nobody: These words rarely paint an accurate picture and come across as over-dramatizing. You’ll lose credibility. Instead, use words such as “sometimes,” “occasionally,” or “some people.”

But: This negates everything that comes before it and can make you sound like you’re talking out of both sides of your mouth. Replace it with “and.”

Try: This is one big escape clause and makes others question your commitment. Don’t try, just do it.

You: Starting sentences like this comes across as attacking and blaming. Instead, be accountable by starting with “I.”

Okay: Tagging this word onto the end of sentences makes it sound like you’re asking permission: “I’m upset right now, okay?” Lose it, or people won’t take you seriously.

These changes may seem small and subtle, but you’ll be surprised what an impact they can have on how people respond to you. You may also start to notice that when you react negatively to someone, it’s because he or she has used some of these phrases.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate From Hell" (Adams Media). She offers my college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

Here are some benefits to studying for your college classes the right way: more leisure time, less stress, less pressure from your parents, less debt, better grades, and better career opportunities. Sound worthwhile? That doesn’t mean there isn’t work involved, but it’s how you accomplish the work that matters. You can either work smarter, or keep spinning your wheels while barely hanging on to passing grades. Follow these tips to make the most of your time and mental resources:

Establish Successful Habits. Here’s a simple formula: Successful habits lead to success and unsuccessful habits lead to failure. Commit to studying by establishing a set time and place. Eliminate distractions, turn off your cell phone and for that time period dedicate 100 percent of your energy to learning.

Get Roommate Cooperation: Discuss with your roommate the best times for you to study. Make that time off-limits to guests and loud distractions.

Prepare. Read the topic chapters before the lecture. (If you haven’t purchased the book yet, now is the time to do it!) This will get you familiar with the material and give you an indication of what the professor thinks is most important by what is stressed in the lecture.

Take Notes. As you read, write notes on what you think are the important points. Then, during the lecture, use a highlighter to mark your reading notes when the professor touches on the same points. Take new notes on material that is not in your book or that you did not already write down.

Study More Often for Less Time. Cram sessions are the least effective way to learn and retain information. It may sound cool to pull an all-nighter, but actually, you’re wasting your time as it prevents your brain and body from functioning at peak levels. Break up your study sessions into 45-minute blocks with a 10-15 minute break in between. Grab something to eat, stretch, or go for a walk. This gives your brain a chance to absorb the material. Of course this requires that you plan ahead instead of waiting to crack open your book the night before!

Study in Groups. Studying with other people helps to reinforce the material by discussing, clarifying, and repeating it in your own words. In addition, it also forces you to commit to a time and place to study since other people are counting on you.

Relate it to Real Life. It’s much easier to digest and remember information in the context of a story or personal example than memorizing a bunch of unrelated facts. Whenever you can, relate the material to real life. Find examples in your personal experiences, music, books, current news stories, business, pop culture, or case studies. Need help? Ask your professor!

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell" (Adams Media). She offers more college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, studying abroad or going to college in your hometown – it’s natural to have a period of adjustment when you leave home. Experiencing new things and meeting different people can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Sometimes, it can make you feel a deep desire to return to the people and situations you know best.

The good news is that homesickness goes away eventually. As you gradually get used to your new surroundings, you’ll grow more comfortable. You’ll also gain a sense of confidence and independence by knowing that you can learn to adjust. Here are some tips to help ease your transition.

Accept that things will be different, but different isn’t bad or wrong. Part of maturing is learning to be flexible in different situations, so this is all part of the process of preparing you for a fantastic future.

Bring a piece of home. Pack special items that remind you of home and give you comfort like your pillow, stuffed animals, pictures, posters, music, and specialty food items.

Focus on what you’re gaining. Instead of thinking about everything you’re missing, focus on what you’re gaining by being away. Think about all the new experiences you can share with friends and family when you return.

Know that you’re not alone. Everyone who is new is in the same boat so find a buddy to go exploring. Walk around and learn the campus and city. The more familiar you become with your new surroundings, the more your feelings of homesickness will fade.

Keep in touch. You’re never more than a call or click away from friends and family. Make an effort to explore and learn new things about your environment so you can share your experiences with them.

Get involved. Join a club, study group, or find a part-time job that will get you involved with other people. Knowing that you will see the same faces and interact on a regular schedule helps a lot.

Plan a visit. Invite friends and family to visit you and act as their tour guide. It also helps to schedule a trip back home, but avoid going home every weekend. You’ll gain more confidence by sticking it out and finding new things to do.

Talk about your feelings. Homesickness is natural. It doesn’t mean you are weak, only that you have experienced love and security in your home life – and that’s a good thing! If you find you are having trouble coping, talk to a friend, roommate, RA, or a campus counselor. It’s important to acknowledge your feelings rather than keep them inside. You are definitely not the first student to experience homesickness, and by sharing what you’re going through with others, you’ll find even more ways to start to adjust.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell" (Adams Media). She offers more college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com

The introduction of the Government’s Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in September 2004 meant that more young people from poorer backgrounds could afford to stay on in further education instead of being forced to find work.

But the scheme brought with it an extra administrative burden for further education (FE) colleges. They now have to manage enrolment in the scheme, monitor attendance and notify the Assessment and Payment Body of their decisions to pay EMA students, or not pay, where applicable.

It is estimated that about half of all 16-year-olds studying in England qualify for the EMA. To receive the allowance, students must attend at least 12 hours of supervised further education courses each week. Payments are £10, £20 or £30 each week, depending on the income of the household. Students may also receive bonuses depending on the progress they make.

Attendance Management

Because attendance is a key factor in making payment decisions, FE college administrators need an accurate and efficient means of monitoring and recording this activity.

A system is therefore needed that gives FE college administrative staff the flexibility to choose the data capture methods that best suit their specific requirements. The software applied to control this document management needed to adapt to paper registers, direct data entry and remote entry using Web registers.

This flexibility is also needed in any reporting application, as users would need a wide range of report options. The most streamlined system would naturally allow users to create and save reports on the Web.

As well as offering Web reporting, the ideal software would also contain a Web portal with restricted access, password permissions allowing access to relevant information, plus the ability to Process EMA bonus payments and EMA documentation. Secure web access for attendance data entry and Web-based attendance reporting would complete an ideal system.

Tokairo specialises in delivering attendance tracking software and document management systems to Further Education colleges in the UK.

Visit http://www.tokam.co.uk for further information REF=TO3EZ

The application essay is the most crucial piece of writing the student will submit to the colleges, and, if not done impressively, it will also be their last. In most cases, it is the college’s first actual exposure to the student, and first impressions have a habit of lasting. A memorable essay contains all the student’s Kodak moments interlaced with some less than blissful adventures to create the necessary drama in the writing.

Students must begin by choosing the right topic, meaning the right topic for them, and one that will be well received by the admissions committees. The subject matter chosen and its degree of difficulty say volumes to the school about the character of the author. As the quality of the essay is dependent on the student’s ability to respond to the subject matter, making the correct choice is absolutely essential.

Students should select a most thought-provoking and stimulating subject to write about, and it helps greatly to view the task as a “we dare you to compete for the privilege of attending our school” challenge from the college. In other words, if there’s a literary masterpiece inside the student crying out to be written and read, this would be a good time to unleash it!

Students writing about their favorite anything should be passionate about it. It’s not enough just to say you love something or someone. It must be explained why in no uncertain terms. If writing about how a particular relative was admired by the student above all others, then how that person influenced the student’s life, how the student apprenticed that person or fashioned their lives in their light should be factored in.

Students often write about themselves as the subject matter is well known to them and requires no research. However, as this is certainly not the road less traveled, a necessary and serious effort is sorely needed to make the journey stand out amongst all the other students doing the same. Be it overcoming adversity or how the past summer was spent, the writing should be uniquely appealing to the reader and not the same old, same old. However, the essay should not be overwritten.

One of my students wrote about being molested when she was eight years old. She wisely chose not to go into the horror in her accounting of it, but rather focused on how she overcame being victimized. The essay was most compelling and was well received. She is now pursuing a medical career at a very prestigious West Coast university.

Students should avoid writing too vividly about any traumatizing experience. The essay can be gripping but not horrifying. Remember, the object here is to write an essay that captures the reader’s imagination and begs to be read in its entirety. Highly controversial subjects such as abortion are best avoided.

One of my honor students wrote a “Pro Life” essay and expressed her views with such intensity that reading it left me with the impression that she might be viewed as a danger to others with strong “pro choice” convictions! At first, when I advised her to rewrite it, she flat out refused. I explained that she was losing site of her goal – to be accepted to the college and not to win points on her take of the anti-abortion issue. She finally realized the wisdom of my words when I reminded her that after she was accepted, she could protest and exercise her freedom of speech in any way she chose, but first, she had to get into the school.

Students must keep their eye on the prize and never lose sight of the main objective – getting an admission ticket!

My all-time favorite essay question is the University of Pennsylvania’s, “You’ve just written your 300 page autobiography. Tell us what’s on page 217?” I advise students who choose this essay to go back in time five or six years (about a third of their life), recall where they were and what they were doing in that time period, and then begin writing about it.

A most effective and creative approach is to begin the page in the middle of a sentence, preferably ending the thought by leaving the reader in a quandary, i.e. “…because that’s the way it was arranged.” Remember that this is page 217 from your autobiography. Open any autobiography, or any book for that matter, to page 217. It probably won’t start with a fresh sentence or a new paragraph. It is also important to leave the reader hanging at the end of the page, i.e. “…As he ran into the street, the car continued to…”

I often critique essays for students I counsel, but never write the essay for them. I cannot advise strongly enough against employing the services of a professional essay service or writer! Not only is this first degree cheating, but the risk/reward ratio isn’t worth it. The admissions committees and the application readers are neither stupid nor naïve, and they’re on to that scam. Students should never take the chance of throwing their futures away for the want of a better paper! If you’re qualified to get into college, than you’re talented enough to write your own essay.

Some years ago, a wealthy family who chose not to take my advice in this regard, did just that. They apparently felt it would be the sure-fire way for their son to get into an exclusive East Coast school. He had good grades, good SAT I scores and would have otherwise been acceptable, but his writing skills were, at best, slightly below average. So, they hired a professional, and their son was accepted to his college of choice.

After the third week in English Comp, his teacher couldn’t believe that someone with his limited writing skills could have ever been accepted. The professor went to the admissions office and reviewed the student’s application and essays. His suspicions were confirmed after reading the three much too professionally written essays that were in his file. He concluded that none of them could have been authored by the student.

The young man was summoned to the Dean’s office and confronted with the evidence. Left with no choice, he reluctantly confessed that his parents had hired a professional to do his essay writing. Consequently, he was given the option to immediately withdraw from classes – or be expelled for the fraud he had perpetrated on the school.

Students should also avoid the much too popular topics that everyone else usually writes about such as, How the death of a loved one or a pet had a profound affect on their life, or How growing up in an Italian neighborhood was difficult because they were from a different ethnic background. Growing up in the ghetto or in a refugee camp is a far better topic, because if you did, then you actually did overcome a life-challenging situation – and that will make a far more impressive essay.

Always be sure to adhere to the requirements of the essay. If a 300 to 500 word essay is asked for, don’t write 501 words! Schools often do a word count if they suspect an essay is over the limit, and students should always (I said always) follow the instructions!

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!

It is highly recommended that early in the college selection process, parents and student(s) visit some schools to determine if they’ll be suitable. The criteria that must be considered before any college is applied to include:

• Average GPA, SAT I, class rank for acceptance
• The school should offer enough choices in the event the student changes their major
• Size, location, Greeks, religious affiliation
• Percentage of freshmen that return for year two
• Percentage of freshmen that graduate in four years
• Percentage of financial need met
• Percentage of gift aid/self-help awarded
• On or off campus job opportunities
• Meal plans and dietary situations met
• Name recognition
• Student/teacher ratio
• Average class size, semester or trimester
• Percentage of professors who teach and percentage of teaching assistants
• 2 or 4-year college or university
• Co-ed dorms
• Freshman cars permitted
• Handicap accessibility
• Cost of the sheepskin

It is also recommended that you determine if the school uses a need-blind or need-sensitive admissions policy. Need-blind is a practice where the student is evaluated without any regard to family income or assets. Need-sensitive is a shameful policy used by a host of elite schools such as Duke, Emory and Stanford. These schools will admit a less than qualified rich kid in anticipation of a large contribution to their own endowment funds. In essence, the wealthy family has bought an admission ticket to a school where their student might never have otherwise been accepted!

It’s anyone’s guess how many other schools enrich their coffers in this deceitful, unprincipled manner. Duke has even been brazenly open about this policy, and I find it curious that shortly after reaching their $2 billion fund raising goal in 2003, they reduced their freshman acceptance percentage from 7.5% to 4%. The words of Former U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) come to mind here, “When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.”

Parents and student(s) should make the official unofficial visit to potential schools no later than the 10th grade. Colleges are always impressed when a 9th or 10th grader pays a visit. By keeping in touch with officials you’ve met, in essence, you will have added points to both your GPA and SAT I scores by establishing a rapport. When the time comes, administrators will be able to associate a face with your application. This helps a merely qualified student become a far more acceptable one.

However, before packing your bags and filling up the SUV with gas, make a checklist that includes the following:

Confirm that everything you plan to visit will be open and, ideally, that school is in session. Ask plenty of questions and be an attentive listener. Consider bringing a video camera or tape recorder for your notes no matter how good your memory is. Find out who reads applications from your area and, if possible, try to meet with a reader and be sure to keep in touch with them.

Student athletes should meet with a coach or two. Listen to the school radio station and get a copy of the campus newspaper. If the student has Greek intentions, visit some frat or sorority houses. Students should check out the dorm unannounced, introduce themselves to attending students and pick their brains.

Have a snack in the cafeteria. After all, their food is what the student will be eating for the next four years! Students who have decided upon their course of study should make every effort to arrange a meeting with the head of that particular department and audit a class or two. This may require an overnight, giving the student a greater opportunity to check out the dorm.

These are some college selection websites I recommend:

• For alternative criteria go to www.fairtest.org or call 617-864-4810. They have a list of some 300 schools that apply non-traditional guidelines in the Admissions Process.

• Afro-American schools: www.blackhighereducation.com/hbcu.html

• Jesuit schools: www.ajcunet.edu

• Jewish affiliation: www.hillel.org

• Trade and vocational schools: www.overview.com/colleges/

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!

H.G. Wells once said, “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe,” which emphasized the importance of continued schooling. As the fate and future not only of any great nation – but the world, is dependent on the education of its youth, a far brighter light is cast upon the college application process.

It is in the application process, more than anywhere else, that the academic future of any student is determined. There is only one moment in time when the student’s stuff shows up in the admissions office – and it better shine! Negligence in this arena leads to failure, and this cannot and must not be an option in any student’s life.

The first item that is reviewed by admission committees is the student’s transcript. It immediately determines whether or not the student is qualified. Simply put, it either contains qualifying grades and scores or it doesn’t. If not, the rest of the student’s stuff, no matter how carefully prepared or impressive – will be tossed in the waste basket!

Given the student passes round one, the next item carefully examined is the application. I strongly advise all of the families I counsel to avoid the Common Application unless the school being applied to doesn’t have it’s own form. I also highly recommend the use of Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or higher to prepare the application. In my view, the PDF file format is the most professional looking document you can submit. Using the school’s form and preparing it with Adobe silently announces the student’s intention of making a very positive first impression.

If for any reason you cannot use an application in a PDF file format, contact each school and have them send you their application packet. Be careful not to make the all-too-common mistake of trusting that sincere sounding, reassuring admissions person who promises that the application package will be mailed immediately. Leave nothing to chance. Be creative and take steps to insure that it actually does get mailed quickly. Offer your credit card to pay for a $15.00 overnight or $5.00 second day delivery.

Wherever possible, do not rely on school administrators in the application process, and keep your own thorough and accurate records for all schools applied to. Do not anticipate and rely on documentation from the schools.

Those with Adobe Acrobat should go to each school’s website, download their application, and save it on Desktop or in the My Documents folder, then complete it. Before printing it out, the application should be scrutinized as it must be submitted without a single mistake or inconsistency. The application is a test within itself, and you don’t want to lose the ballgame before you even get up to bat! Close attention should be given to all questions so that they are answered correctly and properly.

I cannot overstate the importance of following directions! Each application must be submitted letter perfect! Be particularly careful with questions that call for a checkmark for the answer. Do not ever use an ‘X’ as that would be seen as not following instructions, and this is the most common cause of rejection! Never lose sight of the fact that the schools are knee deep in applications from qualified students and are looking for reasons to reject!

It is not necessary and definitely not recommended that you volunteer any information on questions that are marked, “Optional.” Providing the wrong optional information seriously jeopardizes the student’s chances of being accepted. The only thing you want to provide that is optional – is a photo.

Given that you have carefully prepared the application, print it out and have at least two family members review it. Once you are certain it is mistake free, that all answers are consistent and all instructions have been followed, mail it either overnight or 2nd day with signature guarantee.

Although I am not a proponent of applying online, I have been assured by people I respect that the schools have finally mastered the problems they’ve experienced with electronic applications over the years. Nonetheless, if I were a student, I’d use the mail. The inexplicable disappearance of an application, no matter how rare, not only could cost the student acceptance to their college of choice, but the time lost resubmitting could cost families thousands of dollars in financial aid.

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!

At this point, except for the waiting, the worst is basically over! However, the way you submit the student’s stuff is just about as important as the stuff that’s being submitted!

The correct order is: (1) The application is first (2) followed by the essays, which should be attached to the application unless there are specific instructions to the contrary; (3) Next is the resume, which should be stapled together, but not to the application or the essays; (4) The special essay(s) follow and should be paper clipped to the resume as opposed to being stapled to it. Attach a large paper clip to all of the above to ensure everything stays in the proper order, and then send the entire package overnight or 2nd day with a signature guarantee. Whew!

If by any chance you’re planning to submit the application electronically, consider this very carefully before you click the submit key. You may accidentally send the application before it’s completed, or send it with errors. What will you do then, and how will you get a copy for your records?

I’m a firm believer in Murphy’s Law, that if anything can go wrong, it will. No, that’s not pessimism, it’s realism. The transmission could get garbled, arrive incomplete or disappear from the face of the earth, all without your knowledge. The application could arrive with your name on the “address” line, and all the rest of your information pushed down, out of place, never to be processed!

As I said in a previous article, despite claims that all of these bugs have been exterminated, if it were my student, I’d mail it. Any risk is too much of a risk that the application will not be received, be received with errors and inconsistencies, or be received incomplete. In any case, if anything goes wrong, anything at all, whatever the excuse is, it will not be acceptable to the school and an otherwise qualified applicant will be called out on strikes before they even get up to bat! Don’t let this happen to you!

The following actually happened to one of my students. He applied over the Internet, received an email confirmation and shortly thereafter received a hard copy acknowledging that his application would be processed. No reason to be concerned yet.

The following April, the college sent out its letters of acceptance and rejection. His friends, who had all applied around the same time but not online, received their notices, yet he was still waiting. Just to be on the safe side, he called the admissions office, but alas, it was too late! He was politely informed that there had been an unfortunate computer glitch at the time he applied, and that his application was among several dozen that had been permanently lost!

Needless to say, the family was devastated. How such a thing could happen, how often accidents like this occur, who or what was responsible, and all of the apologies in the world make absolutely no difference whatsoever – you’re still up the creek without a paddle! Just learn from this and act accordingly.

Another submission problem that should be mentioned here is, if for any reason you can’t make the deadline, the student, not the parent, must call the school in advance of the deadline and give a valid reason why it will be impossible to meet it. They will almost always extend it another two or three weeks. Admissions officers are not totally without compassion. However, I strongly suggest that the student ask for a written or email confirmation and write down the name of the person who granted the extension. As I have said in many of my articles – leave nothing to chance!

OK. You’ve prepared all your stuff, completed all requirements, checked and re-checked that everything is letter perfect, mailed all the applications and have confirmations that everything was received by each school applied to. Take a deep breath, but don’t get too comfortable. It’s time to prepare for the student interview.

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!

In today’s highly competitive college admissions process, families must never lose sight of the fact that nothing is more important to parent or child than the student’s acceptance to college. Your second priority is how to pay for it.

Planning for college can begin as early as birth, and for that matter, even before birth. Financial planning in the early years can make all the difference in the world when it comes time to have to cough up all that cash! The following are some of the best ways to save for college:

Custodial Accounts: With Uniform Gift or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act Accounts (UGMA or UTMA), parents, grandparents, etc. can each contribute up to $11,000 per student per year (2005). This money can be used for college or any other purpose. Although the money remains in the student’s name, the custodian, usually a parent, has absolute control over the account – i.e. stocks, bonds, mutual funds, savings, etc. UGMA accounts accept cash only. UTMA accounts accept cash and property.

The Downside: UGMA and UTMA accounts are irrevocable gifts that are considered student assets. Since students have no asset protection allowance, these assets are assessed at either 25% per year at schools that employ the institutional methodology, (Ivy League and high profile private colleges), or 35% per year at all the rest that employ the federal methodology! Therefore, this option must be used with extreme caution!

Education IRA’s a/k/a EIRA’s: Single parents with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of up to $110,000, and joint filers with AGI’s up to $190,000, can contribute up to $2,000 annually to an EIRA. Earnings accumulate tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free without penalty to pay for a private elementary, secondary, or college education.

The Downside: With the current limit of $2,000 (2005), fees can eat up much of the gains in the early years when balances are small. Contributions to EIRA’s are not tax deductible and all colleges consider EIRA’s student assets and apply the 25% or 35% assessment when calculating financial aid. What’s even worse is what happens when distributions are made from these accounts. Financial aid is automatically reduced dollar for dollar, because in addition to being an asset, the funds have now become a resource! When these funds are legally repositioned outside of the financial aid formulas, then none of the money is assessed!

State Plans a/k/a 529 Plans: Anyone can open a 529 Plan in his or her own name and designate a student as the beneficiary. Up to $50,000 ($100,000 jointly) may be contributed over five years to a maximum of $246,000. Funds grow tax-free and withdrawals since 2002 have been tax-free as well.

Downside: Monies contributed are not tax deductible, and there is little or no control over how the funds are invested. Also, there is a 10% penalty for withdrawals not used for college, and 529 Plans can actually decrease chances for a large grant or scholarship – and that’s not all. When there are distributions from these accounts, financial aid is automatically reduced dollar for dollar! As with EIRA’s, having the funds legally repositioned elsewhere, will result in no assessment whatsoever!

Retirement Plans: An IRA, HR10 (Keogh), Pension, SEP, 401(k), 403(b), 457 or any other qualified retirement plan should also be considered when saving for college. Such plans are not regarded as assets and are outside of the financial aid formulas. While the account value is not considered an asset, the annual contribution made is added back to the AGI for an income assessment! The big print giveth, but the small print taketh away!

Non-Qualified Savings Plans: These are accounts strictly set up to provide funds to be used to pay for the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or any unanticipated college costs. Families need to set up these accounts as early in the student’s life as possible, so there will be adequate money to pay such costs when the time comes.

Remember, by the time students enter high school, consideration should be given to reducing “high risk” investments. Never gamble with money that’s earmarked for education! And, never lose sight of the fact that all monies saved for college in the early years will not serve their purpose unless the student prepares for and successfully completes the admissions process.

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!