How Your 529 Plan Can Pay for College
Today, I’m breaking down what a 529 plan is and how it can help pay for your child to go to college. A 529 plan is a college investment account. You put money in, it grows with the market, and…
The 6 Key Terms for the Real Cost of College
Paying for college can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with a maze of financial aid terms, acronyms, and formulas. Whether you're a parent trying to plan ahead or a student preparing for the next big step, understanding the language…
How the Big Beautiful Bill Changes Financial Aid for College
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has worked its way from the House to the Senate and back again, and it's now been signed into law by the president. So, in today’s video, I’ll break down what’s changing and what’s…
4 Reasons to Use Student Loans (even if you don’t need to)
Today, I want to explore an important question many families face during the college planning process: "Should I take out a student loan if I don't need it?" Surprisingly, the answer might not always be straightforward. Even if you can…
How to Apply to College for Free
Hey, guys! It’s Eric at Solution Prep, and today we’re talking about how to apply to college for free. Submitting a college application can cost anywhere from $35 all the way up to $95 for a single college. So if…
6 Ways to Save off College Textbooks
With a lot of our students heading off to college this month, today I’ve got 6 great ways to save money off the cost of college textbooks. Students spend up to $2,000 a year on these according to the College…
The SCOTUS Call on Student Debt
We’re back today to discuss how another Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling is affecting college students, both present and past, in regard to student debt. President Biden made a campaign promise of reducing student loan debt for borrowers. And in 2022,…
Do You “Qualify” for the FAFSA?
One question I get from parents is asking if they qualify for the FAFSA, and the answer is yes! Every American citizen and green card holder meets the FAFSA qualifications and can fill out the free application at FAFSA.gov. The…
4 Numbers to Ignore When Looking at Colleges
Last week we discussed the four numbers to consider when looking at colleges, and today we are talking about the four numbers to ignore when looking at colleges. The first number is their SAT and ACT score ranges. Colleges show…
Need Blind vs Need Aware
Today I am going to tell you how Financial Aid may impact admissions at some colleges and dive into Need Blind vs Need Aware. Some schools are what’s called “Need Blind”, which means the Admissions and the Financial Aid offices…
Should You Do Work Study?
Today we are discussing Work Study, a job you have in college while you’re enrolled. Federal Work Study specifically is federal dollars given to your college to employ you based on what you filled out in your FAFSA and you’ll…
Subsidized vs Unsubsidized: How Student Loans Work
Now that the college bill is due, it’s time to talk about the difference between Subsidized vs Unsubsidized student loans. If you filled out the FAFSA, you’re offered $5,500 in a direct loan that is often called the “Stafford Loan”,…
Student Loan Rates Are Up HOW MUCH!?
Today we’re talking about student loans. New student loan rates are in for the ‘22-’23 school year, and like everything else these days, they’re going up. On the federal side, the Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loan, often called the…
The 9 Costs of Attending College
One question I get asked a lot is, “Where do colleges come up with their cost of attendence?” That’s what they call their “COA.” There are nine categories of expenses in that “COA.” Let’s run through these costs of attending…
How to get more FINANCIAL AID
Today I want to talk to parents of seniors about your student financial aid award letters and how to get more. You’re starting to get some of those letters, and some of them may have a lot less free money…
Where to Look For Scholarships
Today we’re talking scholarships. Here are two places where you should look to find scholarships: One is from the college itself. Based on the strength of your application, like your essays, grades, and scores, maybe your extracurricular activities as well,…
Why EVERY Student Should Apply for Financial Aid
Today I want to tell you why parents of every incoming college student should apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA, which is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA.gov. In the 2019–2020 school year, the…
What to Know About FAFSA Changes (Filing in 2021 for the 2022-2023 School Year)
Today is October 1st, which means it’s the day that the FAFSA opens at FAFSA.gov and we can get a first look at the supposed changes. That’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s your first step for…