Articles

Using Your 529

Reflecting on the Impact of Your 529 Investments

With college in the not-so-distant future, it’s a perfect time to stop and reflect on the positive effects your 529 investments have had -- and will continue to have --…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 1, 2025

Parenting Senior Student

Preparing Your Student For Peaks And Valleys

Along with the heights and delights of being a part of an educational community, there are also moments that bring obstacles. Sometimes those challenging days stand alone, and in other…

Jonathon Yorkowitz, Ph.D.August 1, 2025

Parenting

From Parent to Coach: Support Without Smothering 

There’s a strange silence that follows the college drop-off. One moment you’re figuring out financial aid and twin XL sheets, the next you’re in a quiet kitchen wondering if they’re…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDJuly 23, 2025

Affording College

Insider Tips for Parents Navigating Financial Aid

1. Start your scholarship search early. The best time to search for scholarships is during your child's junior and senior high school years. Most scholarship deadlines fall between January and…

Anna PetersJuly 22, 2025

Parenting

Parent Tips for Navigating Senior Year

...but with some pre-planning, the long-term rewards of helping your child navigate through this pivotal year can outweigh any short-term stress along the way. Here are four tips to help…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.July 14, 2025

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 10, 2025

Parenting

Love is Saving for the Long-haul

This was the outcome I had been planning for. It took nearly two decades of saving up, and a relatively few short years of spending, but my sons are now…

Vivian M. Tsai, CIMA®July 8, 2025

Parenting Senior Student

Build Your Transition Team: How to Help Your Student Flourish in College

It’s overwhelming, awkward, and much harder than anyone admits. That’s why high-level executives never go it alone when they step into a new role. They build a Transition Team—a small…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDJuly 8, 2025

Affording College

8 Ways to Help Your Student Stretch Every Dollar in College

We’re talking books, housing, mystery fees, and $7 coffees your student swears are “essential.” For low-income students, every dollar has to work overtime. But here’s the secret: with a little…

Cassandra DiBenedettoJuly 7, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Senior Student

Paying for College in California

Despite best efforts to save and utilize cash flow, many of us face a shortfall when it comes to paying the tuition bill. Fortunately, the state of California offers a…

Bright Horizons College CoachJuly 6, 2025

Parenting

Change is Inevitable

I have served in higher education for almost 20 years in various settings, from a small private school to a large state school. Through my diverse experiences in student affairs,…

Jason Castles, Ed.D.July 2, 2025

Senior Student Student Life

Dorm Room Shopping: Tips to Enjoy this Rite of Passage

As you embark on this adventure together, keep the following tips in mind to make the most of your experience. 1. Make a detailed list before you shop. Most schools…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.July 2, 2025

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