The new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now "periodically available" (meaning, "not available because it's glitchy") and many parents wonder, "Should I even bother to fill it out?"

Our stock recommendation is to file, for the following reasons:

• You may actually be eligible for aid, even if you don't think you are
• If you're not eligible but want to show financial strength to your child's colleges to make him a more attractive candidate. Filing the FAFSA could help him get in.
• Some (not all) colleges require you to file the FAFSA in order to be considered for MERIT (non need-based) aid.  Check each of your college's requirements.
• In the event that you are considering borrowing any amount in federal loans, you should file the FAFSA
• If you are not currently considering borrowing any amount in federal loans, but want to be safe and preserve your options -- if, for example, you suffer a Black Swan economic blow such as loss of job or a huge customer leaving your...

It's Christmas Eve, so I thought I'd dust off this not-so-updated, yet borderline classic entry from the Lockwood archives:

Twas the night before FAFSA

And all through the nation

Parents were sweating bullets

Over the cost of higher education

“These forms are so annoying!”

One poor father cried

As he sat shuffling papers 

While a part of him died

“Honey, what’s the big deal?” 

The mother inquired

“Our daughter always gets the best

Even if you can’t ever retire!”

“I’m all for a great college”

The father sniffled and sobbed

“But I’d hate to pay for rock climbing and safe spaces

Unless they help her get a job”

The mom stopped and stared

And gave dad the stink-eye

So he turned back to his FAFSA

With a shrug and a sigh

But he just couldn’t let it go

Because in his assessment

College is a huge  rip off

With no return on investment

...

Hidey-ho, we just went L-I-V-E with our encore financial aid "loopholes" and "landmines" webinar.

This Bud's for you if you're you-know-whatting a brick about how you'll possibly afford tuition next year for your kiddo(s)...

...and want to avoid costly, self-inflicted mistakes on the FAFSA and CSS Profile and throughout the process.  Here's where to jump in:

LIVE WEBINAR

See you in class!

-Andy Lockwood

Tutoring | Financial Aid

Early Decision results are in and, like every year, we've seen a mix of great results as well as some disappointments.   

To the untrained eye, the college application process seems arbitrary and unpredictable.  Actually, it's not.  

Most kids and parents don't see the big picture.  Meaning, who else they're competing with  -- all over the country, not from their high school -- and how they stack up. But if you know the competitive landscape, things are much easier to predict.  The more you know, and implement based on that knowhow, the greater your odds of success.  Here's what I mean...

The academic component - GPA, rigor of course load and standardized testing -- equates to approximately 60% of the application.

The other 40% consists of stuff that's in your control -- extracurricular activities, essays, demonstrating interest -- and stuff that's out of your control, such as the high school you...

Tutoring | Webinar

Good morning, quickie reminder that we're running a free session on everything you need to know about financial aid -- specifically, how to comfortably afford college without loading up on debt, cutting back on your lifestyle or feeling like you need to sell a vital organ on the dark web --- but were afraid to ask!

Or didn't even know what questions to ask, because this schnitt is muy complicatedo!

Here's where to sign up. 

(Feel free to rope in any of your pals who are wondering how on god's green earth they'll possibly be able to afford to send their kid(s) to college, too. Just forward this note to them.)

And here's a little more re:  tonight's agenda....

• 10 deadly, self-sabotaging, money-losing mistakes you need to know about BEFORE you send in your FAFSA, CSS Profile or any other financial aid application
• When are the d-mn things due, anyway?
• How six figure-earning families can  qualify for tuition discounts of 56.4% even...

Tutoring | Webinar

Tomorrow night, we're holding an "encore" performance of our Financial Aid Loopholes and Landmines webinar to help you cope with the "seismic", even "tectonic" changes in college  financial aid.

If you have a class of 2025 or younger child who is headed to college, you'll want to join the fun and get this valuable information that you simply cannot get anywhere else.

The Supreme Court and the Department of Education caused major changeroos in college admissions and financial aid, so this tomorrow night we'll be working our way through the ones related to financial aid -- and what they mean for you. Topics on tap:

How six figure-earning families can  qualify for tuition discounts of 56.4% even If their child did not crush the SAT, bribe a proctor or cure a pandemic over the summer

The strange reason an expensive private college can cost LESS than a “cheaper” state university

The 529:  “Friend” or...

This is the time of year when I offer the following thoughts and rants about Early Decision, and, what happens if you don't get in?

First, the whole ED thing is a scam that benefits colleges, not applicants.  How can something that restricts your choices be beneficial?  Not just a trivial choice, obviously.  A choice that can impact the trajectory of a kid's life, not to mention the enormous financial impact of that choice on the whole family.

Here's the dirty little secret:  Early Decision was invented to help colleges lock up their incoming class for the following year. To reduce stress on THEM, not students.

Putting that aside, who cares if you don't get into your top choice college?  Dumb question, except that there is not much evidence to suggest that it matters where you go to college (See Dale and Krueger).  Sure, there's anecdotal evidence that going to an Ivy League or Ivy Plus college can quote unquote open doors.  I don't dismiss that...