Jessie's Blog
nutsANDbolts
Wrestling With Creating an FSA-ID? (If you're applying for financial aid, you'll need one of these.)
NEW this year! You will need to create an FSA_ID to apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA). Even if you don't qualify for need-based financial aid, but are planning to have your student take out an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you will need to file a FAFSA. Click here to watch the video.
EFC, CSS, FAFSA — Three Acronyms That Add Up
Last weekend, the FAFSA went live and Prior-Prior is here.Ok, but wait a minute--what do all of these CAPS stand for? EFC. CSS. FAFSA. These three acronyms add up--to what can be a sum greater than what you paid for your home and maybe your pop-up camper, as well. And, while my children will tell you that there are many topics I love to talk about, money and how much of it my husband and I are spending on educating our children is not one of them. Yet, Bertha (that rather larger financial elepha…
The ACT evolves: harder science and math
Founder Jed Applerouth of applerouth, a trusted test prep firm, recently posted this blog. SOURCE: applerouth.com Applerouth is a test prep firm with which many of our students have had success. Founder Jed Applerouth, recently posted this blog detailing how the SAT is not the only test to undergo recent and significant changes. In the May 2016 testing date the ACT was found to have upped the rigor on the science and math sections. If your student is preparing for the ACT they need study accord…
FAQ's — Working with Jessie & CompassU
How can I help my child define a path to success?
The path to success for your student leads to the college that will provide them with the best academic and personal experience, all at a cost that makes financial sense. Jessie and her team at CompassU work with you and your student to find their best match.
What are some of the ways you can help my family navigate this process?
- Identification of Personality Traits and Potential Career Paths
- High School Course Selection
- Standardized Testing…
Can We Afford College? How Much Does it Cost, Anyhow? — Meet Bertha, The Financial Elephant In the Room
College aid formulas expect parents to contribute up to 47% of their after-tax income to pay for college each year. —Troy Onink SOURCE: Forbes
Last week an email came across the IECA Talklist regarding a high-achieving student who was graduating from a private high school but who couldn’t afford to attend any of the schools to which he had been accepted. He had had a significant financial aid package at his secondary school.
While we talklist folks don't know the specifics of this case, we kn…
UMass Ups Merit$ to Out-of-Staters
Photo Credit: Boston Globe, May 29, 2016Read the full article
College Visit Follow-Up Dos & Don'ts
The truth, straight up: Students that engage proactively land in better places. And, they feel better about things, too.
Visited a campus? Met an admissions officer at a college fair? Have a collection of college rep and tour guide business cards? If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, there is a next step, and it isn’t to let the cards migrate under the seat of the car, fall to the bottom of the backpack, or end up under your bed in the pile of college marketing glossies.
Is your goal to…
Testing — Tie a String on Your Finger
The Spring testing season is upon us. Each student's testing schedule is unique. Some have chosen to only prep for the SAT or ACT. That said, if your student is planning on applying to highly selective schools, your student's AP and SAT Subject Test scores matter more than you may suspect. Schools with admissions rates 30{475f6e8ad7be3161114314a988b7e8f491719bdeedead1da50322e1eadee8259} or less fall into these categories. The more competitive the admissions rate, the more these additional test s…ACT or SAT? — Three Considerations for Each
The landscape of standardized testing shifts more often than the faults running beneath California.
Like it or not, standardized tests play a significant role in an applicant’s file. In 2015 the ACT underwent “quiet” changes and in a few short weeks the new SAT will go live, in a “loud” way. Sometimes less information is more, so here are three considerations for each of the tests.
Knowing your students strengths will go a long way when deciding which standardized test is right.
The New SAT and Your Student
Illustration by Roger Chouinard, NYTimes