Monthly ArchiveMarch 2008
collegeplan admin on 31 Mar 2008
Preparing for a College Education
You’ve probably heard that by the time your child graduates high school it will take a fortune to go to college. While public colleges and universities are reasonable for many families right now, the cost is expected to rise to over $100,000 in 18 years from now. Want to send your child to that same private school you attended? Be prepared for a tuition of close to a quarter of a million dollars.
But if you start right now, you are going to be just fine. Time is the biggest factor in saving a large amount of money. It can work for you if you start today. If you wait until you child is in high school, it will not be your best friend — it will just move too fast.
I don’t know where to begin, you may be saying. So many parents aren’t saving for their children’s education because they really don’t understand what they will be facing. Many expect grandparents or other relatives to help out. But they don’t realize that 18 years is a long time and a lot can happen.
Start saving now. Every little bit counts. Remember that the early you start, the less it will cost you. Interest works for you in many ways. Even a few dollars a week can end up buying several classes later on.
Start by estimating what your child’s education will cost. At 5% inflation, the average public university may cost around $24,000 a year in 18years. If you have older children, the cost in ten years will be around $16,000 using the same calculations.
Use these numbers to get you motivated. And yes, some of the education costs may be covered by scholarships and financial aid, but you never know. It is better to save too much than not enough.
You can simply use an online calculator to determine how much you will have to save each year to reach your goal. Remember, interest is working for you here, so it isn’t as simple as dividing the goal by the time you have to save. You will find that the sooner you start, the less you put in.
Keeping this in mind, a savings account or money market account doesn’t pay very good interest. Most advisors recommend that if you are starting early, you should be aggressive. Stock funds out-perform other investments over the long term. Remember, this is an investment that requires your attention. Don’t just put it somewhere and leave it. Pay attention to the performance of the funds. As you get closer to your child’s high school graduation, start moving the money into more conservative investments.
Many people want to know which is more important, saving for retirement or for a child’s college education? You can do both. Make your retirement your priority, but don’t ignore the savings for your child. Parents that are disciplined in saving money will teach a child a lot in life. Just as the college experience will.
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Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, an Internet consumer banking marketplace. RateEmpire.com is a destination site of personal finance, investing, taxes and mortgage rates. RateEmpire.com provides mortgage guides and financial rates and information. RateEmpire.com also operates a financial portal #1 American Financial, found at http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com and San Diego loan portal http://www.LendingSanDiego.com |
collegeplan admin on 30 Mar 2008
San Antonio Independent School District Gears Up for College
San Antonio Schools held two college fairs as part of its GEAR UP program to help the class of 2012 get ready for college.
GEAR UP Fairs in the San Antonio Area
Current Sixth Grade students and their families attended college fairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Participants learned about basic college requirements, entrance examinations, and how to find financial aid. To add a little local flavor to the occasion, school cheerleaders and mariachis performed and refreshments were served.
GEAR UP
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federally funded grant given to states to increase the number of low income students enrolling in college. The grant provides funding for six years in order to promote one class of students in college readiness from sixth grade through twelfth grade. Some GEAR UP funds go toward college scholarships for needy students.
GEAR UP isn’t just for schools. Local businesses and community groups, including those with religious affiliations, can partner with local schools to provide college information for students. Each school or organization, however, is expected to match federal funding dollar for dollar, meaning that the non-federal contribution must be at least 50 percent.
Student Selection
GEAR UP funds can be used on a variety of student population groups by focusing on either a “cohort” or “priority students.” Each cohort must satisfy one of the following requirements:
All of the students in a particular grade level at a participating school that has a seventh grade and in which at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Act.
All of the students in a particular grade level who reside in public housing.
Priority students, on the other hand, are students who are eligible to be counted under one of the following laws:
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Title 1)
Free or reduced price lunches under the National School Lunch Act
Assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Title 1 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996)
Private school students also have a chance to participate if they meet any of the above requirements. In order to do so, a local education agency must act on their behalf and either an institute of higher learning or a local education agency is in charge of their finances. For private school students to participate, the private school itself must also be a partner in the grant.
Opportunities for the San Antonio Independent School District
The district has a lot to gain from the GEAR UP program in targeting students and their parents early on in the college decision making process. Beginning with sixth grade students, the program allows parents and students to develop gradually in undertaking the many responsibilities that come with applying for and paying for college. The class of 2012 is on its way to making a smooth transition into university education.
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Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on San Antonio schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/San-Antonio/index.html |
collegeplan admin on 29 Mar 2008
Personal Statement for College An Investment for Your Future
You have heard it a thousand times over: how education is one of the most
important things that you should invest in for your future.
Once you have finished high school and the rush of activities have passed,
the next thing that you need to think about is college - where to go and
which field of study to take. Taking up undergraduate studies can both be a
torture or a lot of fun, but it is a mere preparation for the things that
are in store for you when you go to college.
The next thing that you, as a student, will prepare before applying for a
university is your personal statement or college essay. The outcome of your
personal statement for college will reflect whether you found writing it a
breeze - or a chore.
Even if you are not a future novelist and you are not good with the pen, you
can still come up with a decent college essay that will reflect your goals,
give the reader an overview of who you are as a person, how you have
overcome some obstacles in your life and how important education is for
you.
Take a look at the following tips on how you can compose a readable,
concise and heartfelt personal statement for college which you can surely be
proud of:
1. Study the essay question and answer it.
Treat your personal statement for college like a job interview. Answer the
essay question directly and do not beat around the bush. You can go on and
on about how you really want to get into the university that you are writing
the essay for, but if you did not answer the essay question, your personal
statement will not earn you any plus points.
2. Follow technical guidelines to the letter.
One mistake that most college essay writers make is that they do not conform
to the requirements. They either write a very short essay thinking that
’short and sweet’ should do the trick. Or, they write a very long and
tiresome essay, which is not what examiners are looking for. If you are
required to write a three-page long essay, then stick to the rules. Other
minor details like the size of the paper used, your grammar, punctuation and
overall presentation of the essay will count as well.
3. Be honest and direct.
Your personal statement for college should give the reader an insight into
your mind and personality. A list of your accomplishments is not enough. Add
some anecdotes from your life which will show how you have become the person
that you are now. Make sure that the essay reflects your confidence in
yourself, your positive traits and how you view education in general.
4. Rewrite if necessary.
It a rule for colleges and universities to accept only the best students.
Show in your personal statement that you are the student that they are
looking for. After having a draft of your essay, re-read and rewrite if
necessary. Have somebody else read it for you, to get an outside feedback on
how your essay would read to others.
Once you have written a good personal college statement, you can be on your
way to getting into the college or university of your choice.
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Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in |
