Financial Aid Archives - College Countdown

Essential Money Conversations Before College Drop Off Day

Before college drop-off day, make sure you’ve had an open and honest conversation about the following topics if you haven’t already. 1. The overall cost of college There’s no sense…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 4, 2025

Senior Student Using Your 529

Weathering the First-Year Adjustment Phase

First-year students may express specific concerns, for instance, about the quality of food or residence halls, the workload in certain classes, roommate compatibility, or just garden variety homesickness. Some students…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.August 3, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Senior Student

What Can Get in the Way of Your Student’s Financial Aid?

While your student should be enthusiastic, feeding off this contagious vibrancy as they prepare to embark on a new academic year, it may be that this momentum of beginning or…

Richie Gebauer, Ed.D.August 2, 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

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

Affording College

4 College-Saving Tips from a Seasoned Pro

Developed from more than two decades of experience in the higher education financial aid space, these tips may make paying for college more bearable. Start Saving Early. Higher education is…

Anna PetersJuly 1, 2025

Senior Student Student Life

5 Tips to Share with Your First-Generation College Student

College is an amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and make life-changing friends and memories. But since many parents of first-generation college students can’t speak from experience about thriving in college,…

ScholarShare 529June 25, 2025

Junior Student Senior Student Student Life

Invest in Yourself

As your student considers what the college experience will look like for them, I would like to offer a letter of encouragement based on my experience. Now, as a college…

Oscar Espinoza-Parra, Ph.D.June 15, 2025

Affording College

Preparing for the Unanticipated Costs of Freshman Year

If you’re like many families, you spent a significant amount of money this past school year on college applications and senior year events. And when thinking about the upcoming cost…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 31, 2025

Parenting Senior Student

Financial Considerations as Decision Day Nears

Parents and college-bound seniors who have not yet thoroughly discussed the financial elephant in the room will greatly benefit from giving this topic the careful attention it deserves. After all,…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.May 10, 2025

Affording College

Financial Responsibility 101: Earning Income & Managing Costs

Given this, it is refreshing to see an increasing number of students these days who have an understanding, if not appreciation, of the financial costs and career benefits of higher…

Vivian M. Tsai, CIMA®May 5, 2025

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