Don Betterton was in admissions and financial aid at Princeton University for 30 years. As the principal in Betterton College Planning, he advises families on all aspects of the college-going process. Besides extensive experience in both admission and aid matters, he is also a Certified College Planner and an expert in all aspects of making the task of paying for college easier, from need-based aid for low and middle income families to tax savings for the more affluent.
Applying for Financial Aid
January 1 may be the date when you switch to a new calendar, but perhaps more importantly, it is also the date when the "financial aid year" begins. This means that if you are a high… More »
This post is specifically for high school and college seniors who:
have applied for financial aid and are waiting to receive both admission and aid decisions, or,
have already heard from their colleges, but have yet to make a final… More »
Financial considerations — where is the money going to come from?
I touched on this subject briefly in the prior section, but let me go into more detail here.
There is no doubt that the drop in the stock market… More »
The college's competitive level compared to your attributes. Let's assume you've followed previous advice and have a preliminary college list that consists of schools where you can see yourself as a challenged and satisfied student on the way to a… More »
All the regular stuff.
Even in the best of times it is tricky to know where to start in coming up with your preliminary college list. Poor list-making often means finding yourself at a college where you are unhappy, and… More »
It is a good time to discuss how our nation's economic problems might influence the process of applying to college and finding the money to pay for it.
Speaking mainly to those who have a year or two before college,… More »
By now, nearly all high school seniors who plan to attend college have chosen their school, paid a deposit, arranged for their first year courses, and talked with their new roommate who they hope will be as nice as he/she… More »
If you are like 75% of parents in a recent poll, you think that you child has the grades or the talent to win a college scholarship. The truth is far different. Only about 25% of total gift aid (scholarships… More »
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Federal loan information: All colleges participate in the Direct Lending program, which means a student enrolled at that school receives their federal student loans (including Stafford, PLUS and GradPLUS loans) directly from the school instead of from a lender.
