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College Admissions Junior Student Senior Student

Spotlight on the California University System

CSU boasts many accolades related to quality and value and, while each of the 23 campuses is unique and compelling in its own way, they all share a common focus…

Bright Horizons College CoachJune 20, 2025

Parenting

A Parent’s Go-To Bag for College Move-In Day

In addition to carefully mapping out the trip, knowing you’ve put together a thoughtfully curated "parent go-to bag" to soothe and nurture yourself during what can be an emotionally and…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 4, 2026

Affording College

Worried About College Costs? Read This First.

If you're like most families visiting College Countdown, you've been saving for years. Now, you're approaching a moment of truth— that point when a voice in the back of your…

Cassandra DiBenedettoJuly 26, 2026

Parenting

Don’t Forget the Pets: Five Four-Legged Considerations Before Your Child Leaves for College

Whether it’s the much-loved dog that faithfully waited by the front door after school or the precious cat that curled up next to your child for comfort through the years,…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.July 21, 2026

Affording College Senior Student

3 Reasons to Fill Out the FAFSA

As the name implies, the FAFSA is completely free and gives you access to federal aid to make paying for college easier. Three reasons to fill out the FAFSA: 1.…

ScholarShare 529July 20, 2026

Parenting Senior Student

Before They Ask for a Job, Teach Them to Ask for Advice

For many high school and college students, that season is right now. Students sometimes assume they need a polished resume, a perfect LinkedIn profile, or a formal internship posting before…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDJuly 1, 2026

Parenting

Why “Networking” May Not Be What You Think It Is – And How to Help Your Student Do It Well

It feels forced, awkward, and a little transactional. Something you do when you need something, not something you build over time. That framing is problematic. Because what hiring managers understand,…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDJune 21, 2026

Parenting

Supporting Younger Siblings When an Older Child Leaves

The period leading up to college isn’t just a time of transition for the student who’s leaving and for their parents. It’s often the first time that younger siblings begin…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.June 21, 2026

Senior Student Using Your 529 Videos

529 Tax Benefits Explained

How will your kid pay for college when the time comes? Unsurpassed tax benefits for families using a 529 plan can make a real difference. Learn more about the benefits…

ScholarShare 529June 1, 2026

Using Your 529

Trump Accounts vs. 529 Plans: Key Differences

Families have a new child savings option to consider. But before parents assume Trump Accounts and 529 plans are the same thing, understand how each one is designed to work—and…

ScholarShare 529May 19, 2026

Strengthen Your Student’s Growth Mindset

Parenting Student Life

The Summer Before They Leave: Five Conversations to Have

One day, you're excitedly dropping your child off at preschool for a few hours, and the next, you're on the hunt, with a heavy heart, for extra-long twin bed sheets…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 17, 2026

Using Your 529

Preparing for Expenses That Go Beyond 529 Savings

As you likely know, funds accumulated in a 529 plan account can be used to cover a wide range of the costs your child will soon face. These include tuition,…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 11, 2026

Parenting

Exhaling as Your Collegebound Teen Takes Flight

From campus tours and application season to financial aid forms and the long wait for admissions decisions, to the painstaking task of deciding which school to attend and how to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 4, 2026

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