School may be out for the summer, but summer is NOT the time to take a vacation from your college planning. Here are a few college planning tasks that we recommend students do during the summer: • Volunteer! Take time to volunteer and build your resume. Volunteering also helps you explore your interests, meet people you might not ordinarily meet, …
College Visits – The Best Way to Evaluate A School
Visiting a college is one of the best ways to determine if the school is a good fit for you. Selecting a college is more than just what’s on paper. It’s about the feel and the information you’ll gather on the visit. Remember, college is a significant investment in time and money so making the right choice the first time …
Actions Items for April and May
The college application process can be daunting. Below are a few sample action items for April and May for Juniors and Seniors. At Lighthouse College Planning, our counselors help students and families break down the process into manageable chunks. Call us at 630-907-9830 for more information on how to get into the college of your dreams! APRIL For Seniors Many …
Questions to Consider When Evaluating Colleges
Selecting the right school requires reflection and investigation. It should be a logical thought process and never be based on friends or parents choices. Below are some questions to ask when researching a school. It’s helpful to put these on a spreadsheet for easy comparison when the schools start narrowing down. It’s easy to get caught up with the excitement …
Public or Private College?
It’s a common myth that a private college costs more than a public college. This is not always the case. Although state schools generally have lower tuition costs, private colleges have more flexibility in offering financial aid that comes directly from the school. Out-of-state tuition at a public university is often higher than private schools. When considering a college, make …
FAFSA and CSS Forms – What's the Difference?
Need based aid is determined by most schools by utilizing one of two forms: FAFSA or CSS. The difference between the cost of education and the estimated family contribution is demonstrated need. “Two distinct formulas assess information reported in the aid application process. The traditional institutional methodology (IM), developed by the College Board and refined annually by economists and aid …
Checklist to Review When Choosing a College
Choosing the right college takes time and effort. It’s not just where your friends or going, where your parents went or who has the best football team. Doing the research up front to choose the right school will save you time and money. What is the quality of the school? Check out more than one ranking. How does the school …
Achieving Success Through Goal Setting
Setting goals helps achieve success. The vast majority of people think about goals, but only 5% write down their goals and have action plans to achieve those goals. The keys to success are writing down goals, having an achievable action plan and have an accountability system. The difference between a goal and a dream is the written word. -Gene Donohue …
Comparing Different College Choices
Comparing different college choices can be overwhelming. Here is a starter list of some questions to make sure you ask. Retention: What percentage of students return their sophomore year? What percentage of students graduate in 4 years, 5 years, 6 years? Majors: What majors are offered? How hard is it to change majors? What majors are most popular at the …
Demonstrated Interest – Why It's Important
Demonstrated interest, according to a recent by the National Association of College Counseling, is considered in the application process in about half of the colleges and universities. Demonstrated interest is how much interest the prospective student shows in the college. The colleges want to ‘save their spots’ for students with the most interest. Plus those with the most interest will …