Welcome to the official beginning of the college application season with the opening of the Common App, Coalition App and University of California applications in August.

How Do Real Families Pay for College?
It used to be that getting into college was about finding the “best” schools available and then giving them a shot. Now we all lie awake at night wondering, How will I pay for college?

Everything you need to know about when and how to garner the strongest letters of recommendation + a free template download to use when following up with recommenders.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021! In this unprecedented year in admissions, we saw students accepted to dozens of excellent schools and also had some disappointments along the way. I want to reiterate what I have said to so many of you already: you are more than where you were admitted.

Last week’s blog covered how to read your award letter, but what can you do if the amount you are on the hook for is higher than what you can-- or want to-- pay? Ideally you will have sussed this all out before applying to schools, but the reality is that a school isn’t always transparent about expected family contribution, and even when it provides a cost calculator, the school doesn’t necessarily stand by it.

Many questions arise when you read a college’s financial award letter, but what you must focus on is the bottom line: After all is said and done, what will I be paying? The formula is simple: COA - GIFT AID = EFC