Your College Concierge

In this episode, we wanted to cover tips for parents that have teens going back to school. Each year of high school is different, with different goals and expectations. We wanted to help parents understand how to best support their teen in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade.

In the US over the past few months, there have been several incidences of fraudulent behaviors involving parents of college-bound high schoolers. Recently in the state of Illinois, it was discovered that some upper-middle-class and high-income families had been using strategies to get their children to receive federal financial aid when they otherwise would not have qualified. In our episode today, Carla and Peter review what happened and tips on receiving financial aid, even if you think your family won't qualify due to your income level.

Free College" and "Loan Forgiveness" are two hot topics that are floating in the media in the US as the 2020 presidential campaign is starting to take off. They sound great, but what do they mean for college students and families with kids that will be in college in the coming years? Peter Ratzan and Carla Holness explain these topics and what they mean in practical terms.

The college application essay is something that creates anxiety for a lot of students when they are applying to college. We have some tips (do’s and don’ts) for creating a great essay for a winning application. Listen to this episode and hear some of the most useful suggestions we give to our clients.

In the US over the past few months, there have been several incidences of fraudulent behaviors involving parents of college-bound high schoolers. Recently in the state of Illinois, it was discovered that some upper-middle-class and high-income families had been using strategies to get their children to receive federal financial aid when they otherwise would not have qualified. In our episode today, Carla and Peter review what happened and tips on receiving financial aid, even if you think your family won't qualify due to your income level.

Recently the College Board made news headlines in the USA with their announcement of the "Adversity Index" that they will be testing with 50 colleges this fall for making college admissions decisions. This means that admissions officers will be taking into consideration additional factors when deciding to admit a student or not. These factors relate to a student's challenges and life situation (rather than grades, extracurricular activities, etc.). It's become a controversial topic that we wanted to discuss to help you learn more about how it might affect your student.

"Bright Futures" is a scholarship for Florida residents, for students that choose to attend Florida colleges and universities. It's popular among the students and families we work with, as many attend the University of Florida and Florida State. Recently changes were made to the requirements for students regarding their SAT test scores. We'll review what the changes were and how they may impact your student if you live in Florida.

"Bright Futures" is a scholarship for Florida residents, for students that choose to attend Florida colleges and universities. It's popular among the students and families we work with, as many attend the University of Florida and Florida State. Recently changes were made to the requirements for students regarding their SAT test scores. We'll review what the changes were and how they may impact your student if you live in Florida.

Choosing the colleges to apply to can (and should) involve many factors: tuition, scholarships, location, distance from home, opportunities for jobs, campus activities, size, etc. Many families have priorities and constraints when it comes to helping their students get to college. We work with many families that are unsure how to make the best decision based on their circumstances and options, so we made this episode to cover many common questions.

There are several ways students apply to colleges today. Because it’s electronic now, the process has changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years. There are new conveniences but also new challenges. Peter and Carla cover the college application process, and what to know as your child is entering high school (yes, it starts early).