Blog for Students & Families

  • 4 Good Excuses for a Financial Aid Appeal

    Is your student ready to write their financial aid appeal but need a little help? Head over to our YouTube to watch How To Write Your Financial Aid Appeal Letter. When your student receives their college acceptance letter, there’s typically a financial aid award letter right alongside it. While most students are fine with the…

  • Attending College in South Dakota: What You Need to Know (Including South Dakota Scholarships)

    For many students, attending college in South Dakota is the perfect choice. The state has plenty to offer students, including breathtaking landscapes, a rich history, and plenty of top-notch schools. However, many students aren’t entirely sure about what to expect as they try to choose between the South Dakota colleges and universities. Deciding on a…

  • How to Graduate Early from College (and Save Money)

    Can you graduate college early? It’s a question many students ask. Once they realize that it’s an option, figuring out how to graduate early from college ends up a priority. Graduating early is challenging, but it is potentially doable. Students simply need to plan for the faster approach, ensuring they can handle the requirements of…

  • Do Colleges Look at Your Social Media?

    Do colleges look at your social media? It’s a question every student should have on their mind when preparing to launch a college search and submit applications. After all, an estimated 90 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 have used social media at some point, and 75 percent consider themselves active…

  • Don’t Forget to Budget for These Hidden College Expenses

    When your student starts exploring colleges, checking out the cost of signing up for classes, getting a dorm room, and picking up a meal plan is typically part of their process. The issue is, this only scrapes there are a surprising number of hidden college expenses. Ultimately, those initial figured might only scratch the surface…

  • How to Reuse Scholarship Essays (the RIGHT Way)

    Many students feel that the most challenging part of the scholarship process is writing the essays. Even if they know how to write an essay for a scholarship, the time, effort, and energy required to create new pieces for every opportunity are often cumbersome. This makes reusing scholarship essays an attractive option. However, figuring out how…

  • 25 Full-Ride National Merit Scholarships for Finalists

    National Merit finalists are high school students who show exemplary academic promise. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation administers the National Merit Scholarship Program, which provides various scholarships, including one-time awards and renewable scholarships, sponsored by corporations, colleges, and universities, to aid academically talented students. Along with receiving a scholarship for becoming a finalist from the…

  • Attending College in Connecticut: What You Need to Know (Including Connecticut Scholarships)

    For many students, attending college in Connecticut sounds like the perfect option. The thing is, actually choosing a school could be tricky, as there are many excellent ones available. Plus, they’ll likely have to contend with financial aid, as many students can’t pay for classes outright. Along with traditional options, they may seek out Connecticut…