Відео

This is a really strong conversation. I wasn't a great engineering student but having a relatively strong set of quant skills combined with a strong liberal arts degree has been a really strong career base.

Hi Ms. Schwartz. Great video. Thx so much for posting it. We’re a family that won’t get any need-based aid from Pell grants or the like. When our child applies, should we indicate on the application that we won’t be seeking need-based aid? We will be applying for loans (both student and parent plus). What’s the best strategy here? Thx!

This was really excellent. Thank you!

The most informative college admissions webinar I’ve attended!

thank you for this

We've visited 9 schools so far. All sound the same, all just as expensive regardless of school ranking or location. It's hard to understand which schools are merit generous, and noting that if it's need based, not likely to get any merit. They all sound the same and it's overwhelming!! Class of 2025.

Hi! Is there a way to get the pdf that the speaker spoke about?

Can we borrow less than what the school is suggesting? And for the private loans if you take the whole year are the payments split up by semester then interest starts per semester or is one payment made in August/September and then interest starts there? Specifically this is for College Ave since they hosted this event.

I ran Net Price Calculators at a number of colleges with my child’s first SAT score and got modest merit estimates. Their score went up 140 points the second time and I reran the NPCs - the merit went up and in one case, where there was no merit the first time, there was with the higher test score. It’s a good way to get some insight about merit on an individual basis.

So helpful! Thank you!

1:27:49 Did we get a definite answer for this question?

Thank you so much 😭😭😭😭 You are helping us so much ❤❤❤ Just wanna let you know that all your works are really helping us 😘😘😘 I hope that you will keep going 😊😊😊

I’m glad I watched this video ❤

47:16 Show skills (mentioned even Harvard admission like it)

1:14:58 students

Thank you, this is very helpful, I wish I have this kind of information 4 years ago

This is the most informative presentation I’ve watched on FAFSA! Even though it’s focused on EFC. It is very relevant to SAI.

This video keeps talking about salaries beginning to even out after the first 10 years - as if all's well that ends well. But - the first 10 years are the years for most people that determine how many hours they are able to spend with young children. And - there's no assertion that the losses from those first 10 years are ever recouped. To me, the first 10 years are vital to a young person's well-being.

This is no longer live, but finally have award info from college and here to talk about renegotiating. Thank you for faithfully doing these!

On parents retirement assets page asked after-tax retirement which includes NQ (None Qualified) annuity. On parents investment page asked non-retirement annuities which often is NQ Annuity. So where should fill for NQ Annuity?

Sadly, try as I may I cannot log into your site to even try the free version. I can’t determine if I’m interested in paying for your services if I can’t even peruse what is available.

23:20

9:36

5:44

My DD said the digital was harder than the paper version. It seems patently UNFAIR that “standardized” tests adapt and become more difficult. My DD got a really low score on the math (dropped 100 points) because it included math she’d never seen like Calculus , etc. that was NOT on the prep materials. TRUST me, students Do NOT WANT to get to the harder section!!! BAD ADVICE!!!! TRULY TERRIBLE ADVICE

I appreciate the passing reference to performing arts. Most BFA programs only accept 2-3% of applicants, making the program as competitive as the most selective colleges. Before a student can even audition they must pass the academic bar for that college so academics remain important even for talented artists and performers. And really appreciated the discussion about Naviance, which our school uses.

Where is the link to the merit letter appeal template please?

Could you please add links from the presentation? Such as the link to the merit based appeal template? Thanks!

Hello! How do you add a college in my CCS profile? Thanks!

As of now, we can't even go in and submit additional schools to receive our info. Do you have any idea how that's going to work if the school wasn't on our original list?

We submitted our FAFSA on Jan 3rd and it still hasn't processed so I don't think they are doing anything yet :(

The Trends in Test Score Reporting Behavior slide skips from 2019-2020 to 2021-2022. Shouldn’t there have been a 2020-2021 line?

Very grateful for this resource-thank you so much!

Thank you for faithfully doing these talks each year. I find them extremely helpful.

Bethany we appealed to Marist and only got 2k more. My son was given 15k initially. Sent 4 higher offers ranging from 25k to 30k. Schools comparable in price. They know our SAI is high 60,000. Where do we go from here?

I really don’t understand this idea that only science has a high ROI. Poli Sci and international studies major - lawyer now. Learning how to write well and think about text also can have a high ROI.

BC, BU, Tufts, Duke none of these schools allowed access into dorms. Is that problematic? Thought that’s the standard procedure now.

What % of schools offer automatic merit aid based on SAT and GPA? I have only found a few tables that show the value. Do most schools have this but just don’t post it?

Those who want to get a quick summary.... Here is a summary The discussion primarily centered on the evolving landscape of college education, particularly emphasizing the importance of selecting a major, the role of skills beyond academic degrees, and the strategies for maximizing the return on investment (ROI) in higher education. The conversation highlighted the changing dynamics of job markets, the increasing demand for a combination of technical and soft skills, and the significance of practical experiences such as internships and co-ops in enhancing employability. Insights: The choice of major is important but not the sole determinant of career success; skills and experiences play a crucial role. Networking and leveraging alumni connections can offer valuable insights into career paths and opportunities. Continuous learning and skill development are essential in a rapidly changing job market. Internships and practical experiences are key to translating academic learning into employable skills. Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing their role in facilitating students' transition to the workforce. The Essence (80/20): Understanding the interplay between choice of major, acquisition of in-demand skills, and practical experiences is crucial for navigating the higher education landscape effectively. This includes recognizing the value of internships, networking, and continuous learning to enhance employability and ROI from college education. The Action Plan: Research and select a major with an understanding of future job market demands. Actively seek internships, co-ops, and practical experiences related to the chosen field of study. Engage in continuous skill development, focusing on both technical and soft skills. Utilize college career services, alumni networks, and professional platforms like LinkedIn for networking and career guidance. Regularly review and adapt career goals based on evolving job market trends and personal interests. Blind Spot: There may be an underestimation of the value of liberal arts and humanities degrees, which can foster critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability-skills highly valued in various sectors, including technology and business. Book Recommendations: "Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein. "What Color Is Your Parachute? 2022: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success" by Richard N. Bolles.

I was an English major and my husband at an average state university. And both of us are well into high 6 figures now. So don’t give up on humanities. !!!

If a student doesn't have a major in mind, then go to community college until they figure that out. Show me an Engineering Student who attends Harvard, and I will show you a fool.

At 1:07-1:08 they say here that if the UGMA or UTMA is for the student for whom the CSS Profile is about, it should go under student assets. But I called and spoke with someone at CSS Profile today and they said "No, the student's UGMA goes under the parents assets." I asked "so under the student I put 0 because it is included under parent assets?" and she said "Yes" (via the Help line at CSS Profile)

At around 49:44 she says "no home equity loans" but it says in the instructions that you DO include home quity loans

What will be the FAFSA adjusted gross income (AGI) threshold for reporting assets for AY 2025-2026 and AY 2026-2027?

Thank you so much!

Ron Lieber mentioned on your channel last year that applying early action or early decision gives you less of a chance of receiving any merit aid since you’re signaling to the school that your level of interest is high giving the school less of a reason to offer any kind of merit aid. They prefer to save those merit aid dollars for regular decision applicants that are trying to choose between multiple schools where the ability to give more merit aid may sway a decision towards their school. Makes perfect sense to me. At about 21:00, Luanne states the exact opposite of this idea. If I’m buying a car and I let the salesperson know I absolutely love a particular car and want that car from their dealership no matter what, would the dealership be inclined to offer any kind of deal on the car? Probably not, since I already told them I want that car from them no matter what. Conversely, if I don’t signal intense interest and let them know I saw the same car in 3 other dealerships…. All of a sudden it’s let’s make a deal time. As I see it, it’s the exact same thing with these schools. EA/ED makes sense if you want a better chance to get admitted and are willing to pay whatever they want you to pay. Otherwise, no way. RD is the way to go. Am I misunderstanding something?

Scenario: parents divorced, mother is unemployed and father pays child support, so from my understanding, the father's info should be on the FAFSA. However, the child lives with grandparents that provide the majority of her financial support. Would I use the grandparents tax information to fill out the FAFSA?

Great info but hard to listen to. I can’t say exactly why this bothers me but you say “um” every 4-7 words, which is very distracting. But otherwise great info👍

I am a US citizen, as is my daughter who is already a Freshman at a private college in CA. We are dual US/New Zealand citizens. We live in New Zealand. I pay NZ taxes, but file both NZ and US taxes every year. I pay NZ tax, not US tax. How do I input my and my partner's NZ incomes into the new FAFSA form? My US tax form will not show our joint NZ incomes.