I don't know what to do after college!?! It's one of the most common questions I hear - from high school grads, to college students, to even some nearing college graduation. If you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what to do after college,” you are not alone. The truth is, most college grads have a "now what" moment. You've basically lived your entire life to-date in some type of educational setting.  Even if continuing on to grad school or some form of post-baccalaureate education is not...

Are you ready to take control of your financial future? You don’t need a financial advisor to develop your own financial plan. In fact, YOU are the best person to put one together. When you’re directly involved in mapping out your finances you’ll be more likely to actually stick with your goals. Plus, you’ll have a keen awareness of where you stand financially and what it’s going to take to get you to the next level. Here are six elements of a strong financial plan.

Demonstrated interest refers to the ways a student indicates interest in a specific school. This includes visiting campuses, reaching out to admissions officers, participating in prospective student events, and even interacting with the school’s online resources. Let’s face it: the college admissions process is notoriously competitive. Over the past few decades, getting into college has become increasingly difficult, with the average acceptance rate hovering just under 70% across the US. Gone...

If you drop a class or drop out of college, you may have to repay all or part of the financial aid you received. How much depends on the type of financial aid and when you dropped the class or left school.  Even though the Federal Pell Grant is a grant that normally does not need to be repaid, you may have to repay all or part of it in certain circumstances.  And let's face it, even the best students may drop a class here and there. So here's what you need to know about the impact on your...

The average cost of tutoring can vary based on a number of different factors. While it used to be something only the wealthy could afford lower costs and new technologies are making it more accessible. For example, working with a private tutor in a large city, will likely be more expensive than working with a tutor remotely.  This article dives into tutoring costs and some of the things you’ll want to consider before you begin working with a tutor.

Today's episode is a live stream interview with GradGuard CEO John Fees. We talked about tuition insurance and when it makes sense, and then covered dorm room renters insurance. There was some listener Q&A mixed in! Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

Did you know that you can start investing with $100 or less? Most people think that you need thousands of dollars to get started investing, but that's simply not true. In fact, I started investing with just $100 when I started working my first job in high school (yes high school).  It's possible to start investing in high school, or in college, or even in your 20s. Even more food for thought - if you invested $100 in Apple stock in 2000, it would be worth $25,000 today. Or if you invested in...

Life during college often comes with many ups and downs. Sometimes, life throws an unexpected curveball that requires students to withdraw from school mid-semester. If you’ve already paid for classes, you might not get a refund. That’s where tuition insurance can help. Whether you are a parent or student, tuition insurance can be a worthwhile way to secure your investment. In partnership with GradGuard, let’s take a look at five common reasons you should consider tuition insurance. GradGuard...

As high school graduation approaches, you might find yourself at a crossroads. Should you take the conventional route and go straight to college, or have you been dreaming about taking a break from school to try something new? Either option holds its value. While fewer than 5% of high school students in the U.S. choose to take a gap year before enrolling in college, the Gap Year Association reports that “students who had taken a gap year were more likely to graduate with higher grade point...

A tuition payment plan is a lesser-known way to pay for college as you go. It breaks your tuition bill up into smaller payments, allowing you to pay in installments over time.  Remember, how you decide to finance your college education is going to be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. While a lot of students opt for student loans or financial aid packages, that isn’t the only way to pay for college. In this article we’ll dive into how tuition payment plans work, how...

Did you know: marital status can be a factor when determining financial aid eligibility. If you are making your way through college after tying the knot, your financial situation will likely look different than that of your single peers, which could impact your access to financial aid. But everyone’s situation is unique. We explore some of the potential benefits for married college students below. 

The college admissions process is notoriously competitive. The last several decades might even indicate that getting into college has become harder, overall. College acceptance rates hover at a national average of 68%, though the rate at some of the nation’s top institutions is a shocking 3%. Let’s put that into perspective, though. Of course, acceptance rates drop when more students are applying, and colleges have largely seen nonstop growth since the mid-twentieth century. There are roughly...

In recent years, many colleges and universities have adjusted their campus pet policies to meet the changing needs of students. Having a pet in college was once a rarity, but pet-friendly campuses are now more common as colleges work to create a more supportive environment for their students. That said, having a pet as a college student is a big commitment in terms of financial responsibility and time commitment. From explaining common pet policies to reviewing current trends on campuses, we...

Ever wonder which schools are considered "Ivy League", and where the term came from? Ivy League schools are an elite group of eight private universities based in the northeastern U.S., best characterized by their historical campuses, rigorous academic programs, and strong alumni networks. From explaining the term “Ivy League” to discussing the current global influence of this network of schools, we’ll walk you through the history of Ivy Leagues over time, including how they’ve impacted higher...

It can be confusing to understand whether you're a dependent or independent student for FAFSA and financial aid purposes. Given the current cost of higher education, college students need all the help they can get when paying for college. There are a variety of different ways to pay for college, including paying your own way, scholarships, grants, and student loans. Nearly all forms of financial aid start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that is made...

Getting an inheritance is the epitome of a mixed blessing. You receive a financial windfall, but the cause is the death of a loved one. On top of complicated emotions, you may be dealing with the largest sum of money you’ve ever seen. Nobody is born knowing how to handle an inheritance, and few people are prepared to handle one. But if you’ve received an inheritance, you can take a few steps to use the money wisely.

College meal plans are a way to prepay for your meals while on campus. This can be a convenient way to get food, as most college dorm rooms do not have kitchens.  Depending on the college, they may offer a variety of different college meal plans, ranging from pay as you go to an all-inclusive meal plan that covers all of your meals.

If you're looking for additional funds to pay for college, you may be looking at Federal vs. private student loans. After you're admitted to college, you’ll receive a financial aid package that breaks down your cost of attendance minus any grants, scholarships, or other sources of financial aid you’re eligible for. This financial aid package includes federal student loans. Many students choose to cover their college expenses with Federal student loans, but it's not the only way (or you may...

Sharing a living space with someone for the first time, whether it’s your best friend or a total stranger, can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. There’s a lot to navigate that exists outside of your control: habits, personalities, cuisine, culture, and a number of other lifestyle factors shared in a tight space. You’re not alone in your concerns, though, and it’s likely your roommate has been thinking something similar. Finding harmony in your college roommate experience requires...

Social Security (SS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) are three federal benefit programs that can provide income to Americans who aren't able to work. SS, SSI, and SDI are all are managed by the Social Security Administration. Each of these programs, however, have different purposes and eligibility requirements. However, when it comes to taxes and financial aid, it can be confusing to understand how each work. For example, do you need to...

A common question we see every year is "can you take out more student loan debt than you need?" It sounds crazy, but some people want to take advantage of the low fixed costs and loan forgiveness options than may come in the future. With the rising costs of tuition, fees, and college living expenses have made financing a college education increasingly difficult. The fact remains that most of us will apply for student loans at some point in life. And while loans provide essential financial...

With college becoming more expensive, how can parents afford to send a kid to school? More than a decade after completing college, 7% of Millennials still have more than $50,000 in student loan balances. Facing our reality of digging out of debt and knowing our friends' horror stories, many millennials are motivated to help their kids get through college debt-free.  While we can’t promise that you’ll be able to help your child avoid debt, we’ve got realistic tips to cover the cost of college...

Does the "Sell in May and Go Away" philosophy for investing considered to be superstitious or does this theory actually have any legs? 

Property taxes are typically your largest homeownership expense after paying your mortgage. Any way to save on your property taxes can be a big win for your budget! Homeownership can be a true joy. The thought of holding your very own keys in your hands and being able to point and say “That’s my house”. That’s until it’s time to pay property taxes. The average property tax in California is $4,694 per year whereas in places like New Jersey and Connecticut, it ranges from $6,400-$9,300 per...

Bad credit can limit your ability to do a lot of things, including purchasing a car, home, getting a credit card, and in some cases, even a job. Being creditworthy certainly has its advantages. If you don’t have good credit, there are steps you can take to fix it. The process is called credit repair. You can do it by yourself or have someone help you, for a fee of course. We break down your options here!