Category Archives: test prep

test prep

Evaluating Test Preparation Options

Today I’m sharing a post from Akil Bello, owner and founder of Bell Curves, LLC, an educational services company in New York. Akil does a great job of explaining the test prep options you have for your college-bound teen. He has graciously allowed me to post his original article from his blog.

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When people say “test prep,” what they mean varies greatly, and it’s usually limited to what they did themselves or what they’ve heard of. As part of this blog, we hope to provide a bit more insight into some of the options for test preparation. Our team has blogged quite a bit about free prep resources (check out our two most popular post on test prep here and here), so it’s high time we devote a little space to the commercial products.

First, let’s establish why you should consider using commercial preparation programs: expertise. While you can prepare on your own, if you work with a good test prep company you avail yourself of their expertise and thus usually save yourself a lot of time or money, or both. It’s just like hiring a professional for anything; you can probably do it yourself, but maybe not as quickly and probably not as well. That established, let’s get to the matter at hand.

There are three typical ways to prepare for the SAT (and this applies to most other test as well, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SSAT, ISEE, ACT, MCAT, etc): tutors, courses, or self-study. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and you should carefully assess which method works best for you. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a person or company to work with.

Courses

This is by far the most common approach to test preparation. Courses offer the best balance between time and money, since they are typically more efficient than studying on your own (since you have the help of an instructor to answer questions), and they are cheaper than a tutor (but provide professional instruction). Preparation courses come in many different sizes and shapes, and you should be sure to compare all characteristics before making a decision. The courses I’m discussing here are commercial courses offered by companies that specialize in test preparation (not a course offered at a college or by a HS teacher). The factors that generally impact learning most are:

  • Instructional hours
    Instructional hours refers to the actual time spent getting instruction, and does not include time spent taking diagnostic or practice tests. Some courses have as few as 12 hours and some have as many as 40, but the market average tends to be around 20 hours. Generally speaking, more is better.
  • Teaching method and focus
    Each company has its own teaching methodology and focus, with some companies focusing on teaching strategies or “tricks,” and others focusing on teaching content. Understanding the teaching method that will work best for you will enable you to choose the best company for you to work with. In general, students scoring at the extreme ends of the scoring scale will benefit more from content-based instruction.
  • Class Size
    As in most educational settings, smaller class size typically allows for greater personal attention, and for test preparation, which requires many non-intuitive strategies, greater personal attention will allow for more effective learning environments. Typical classes will range from 15 – 25 students.
  • Diagnostic Testing
    Research and experience have shown that the greatest improvements are achieved by students who not only learn the content of the test and practice testing strategies but who also take several timed full-length practice tests under simulated testing conditions (not at home while eating dinner) in order to become comfortable with the test setting and procedures.

Tutors

Because tutors offer the opportunity for individualized instruction and focused review, tutoring tends to achieve the greatest improvement for students. Tutoring also offers the greatest flexibility of scheduling and location. A good tutor will be flexible, accessible, personable, proactive, and responsive.  Many people claim to be SAT tutors yet have little experience working with the SAT other than the fact that they took it years ago to gain admission to college. Keep in mind that a person’s score only tells you how well they performed, not how well they will teach others (check out this post for more info)! It is important to know as much as you can about the history, training, and qualifications of any tutor you work with. A few key factors when choosing a tutor are:

  • Experience
    If you choose to hire a tutor it’s important that you hire someone with the experience to assess problem areas and recommend effective strategies for overcoming those problem areas. A tutor with limited experience or training will be less likely to understand the nuances of the test and student performance.
  • Curriculum
    A good tutor also will provide a comprehensive curriculum and lesson plan. Tutoring should consist of more than simple Q&A, and should be structured, planned, and focused.
  • Diagnostic testing
    A good tutor will provide opportunities for diagnostic testing and evaluation of those results to help guide and revise preparation, and improve your performance and skill set. There is really no substitute for taking simulated full-length practice tests.

Books, Video, and Online Study Aids

Online and offline study aids come in as much variety as do tutors and classes. Included instructional content ranges from books or online written instruction to video or interactive lessons. When evaluating what preparation works best for you, consider the format of the instructional content, the amount of included paper-based practice, and amount of included live supporte. Other major factors to evaluate are:

  • Style of presentation
    When choosing self-study material be sure to compare various styles of writing and presentation. Does having a cartoon character teach you math annoy or amuse you? Will watching a moving pencil while listening to a voice over engage or upset you?
  • Depth of instruction
    Since self-study material rarely includes the opportunity to ask questions, the instructional content must be complete and clear. Check out samples of 2 or 3 topics before buying to see whether you can follow the way it’s written and understand how to apply the strategies and information provided.
  • Practice versus Preparation
    Look for a fairly even balance between preparation material (instructional content) and practice content. To properly prepare for the test you must have some of each, since neither alone will usually get you the great score improvement you want or need.

We hope this helps you make the best decision possible when choosing your preparation. If you have questions or comments please post them below, we’d love to hear from you! And of course, we think we offer the best preparation available for most people and encourage you to come to one of our free SAT, GMAT, or LSAT information sessions to learn more or to sign up for one of our courses!

college guidance, test prep

College Helper #3-Akil Bello

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In his own words…Akil is “father, husband, GMAT-SAT-ACT-LSAT guru, aspiring abecedary, neophyte preceptor, inchoate pedagogue”. For those of you who are not linguists–that is a bunch of synonyms for “teacher”! Akil, along with his father and brother, started Bell Curves–a completely minority owned test prep company.

What sets Akil apart from the others (other than the fact that he looks snappy in that elf suit?)–is his absolute commitment to help your college-bound teen be prepared for those standardized tests. Not only does he believe that the test is more than a test–it’s a teaching and learning tool. But Akil is snappy with the wit, the words and with the expert advice on test prep.

Akil has a word for the wise to parents: “Use a test prep organization for the same reason you hire a plumber and with the same caution.”

Follow Akil on Twitter if you want to ROFL (and learn a few things in the process) and follow his company Bell Curves for the latest in test prep advice and counseling. The information you gather will be invaluable to you and to your college-bound teen!

Thanks Akil for always making me laugh, adding words to my vocabulary, AND helping kids prepare for standardized tests!

test prep

SAT "Eureka" Moments!

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When you’re a parent of a college-bound teen you have a ton of questions. Every day brings a new list of “how do I…, where do we find…, how do we do….; you get the picture! And if it’s questions you have and answers you need, one of the best places to go is #CampusChat on Twitter. Each week, @collegevisit hosts some experts in the field of college admissions and this past week was no exception.

This week’s guest was the ever flamboyant, always pithy, and never disappointing @akilbello of BellCurves.com. Since Akil was a captive expert about everything you wanted to know about standardized tests but were afraid to ask, I took the opportunity to listen (or read since it was a TweetChat) and soak up all his knowledge. And of course, the ever sharing, always helpful Parent College Coach that I am—I wanted to share the information with my readers.

Akil began by saying:

Test prep involves 2 things: learning to use the nuances of the test to your advantage and ensuring you have the information tested. If the student has one but not the other they will probably “not test well” but too many people see the test format as the problem.

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Eureka! I can’t tell you how many parents say their teens just don’t test well (I was guilty of that one myself!)

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When queried about the need for standardized tests, Akil replied:

Standardized tests are the buzz saw used in open heart surgery.

The SAT is fair in the way that a free throw contest is fair. It’s still a bad way to choose a basketball team.

Whether its requirement to wear a pink tutu or the SAT, colleges will always have some deterrent—they must!

Imagine trying to review 10,000 high school transcripts to find 1,000 students and not knowing if the school is inflating grades.

———

Revelation! Although none of us “like” those stress producers, they do serve their purpose in allowing the admissions officials to level the playing field and narrow down the applicants.

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Then, I asked a question of my own–

What should parents/students look for when choosing a test prep company?

Look for type of focus: test-taking tricks (guessing strategies, pacing) or content (teaching vocabulary, math rules) duration of the program (courses range from 18 – 40 hours), quality of material, and type of people hired (smart or good teachers).

Don’t let “our teachers score perfect” sway you. Go see the teachers in action. Some smart people are horrible teachers

Avoid really large classes, really short classes, and classes taught by people with no testing experience.

——–

Finally! A straight, concise answer to a question that so many parents have asked me.

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Then, if that wasn’t enough, he tacked on an article to boot:

Here is a good post on teaching

http://gmat.bellcurves.com/blog/2010/03/13/einstein-cant-teach-me-physics/

The bottom line–

Akil said, “Use a test prep organization for the same reason you hire a plumber and with the same caution.”

Akil delivered! Check out his website (http://sat.bellcurves.com/) and show him some love on Twitter (@akilbello). It’s always great to find an expert in this field that openly provides advice and help.

Eureka!

admissions, test prep

Test Optional Colleges

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What is a “test optional” college?

It is a college and/or university that deemphasizes the use of standardized tests by making admissions decisions about substantial numbers of applicants who recently graduated from U.S. high schools without using the SAT or ACT. Some schools exempt students who meet grade-point average or class rank criteria while others require SAT or ACT scores but use them only for placement purposes or to conduct research studies.

“Testing hall of shame” proposed by FairTest.org

This week at the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, Mr. Schaeffer, public-education director for FairTest, described his plans to compile a “testing hall of shame” — a list of colleges that use cutoff scores in their evaluations of applicants. According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education:

He hopes that the list will persuade such institutions to stop relying on minimum ACT and SAT scores, a practice that the National Association for College Admission Counseling, among other groups, has condemned. Mr. Schaeffer predicted that more and more colleges would go test-optional as the “demand” for such policies grew among future applicants. If nothing else, the “testing hall of shame” would make for a memorable press release in a world of bland press releases. Mr. Schaeffer, who hopes to publish the list in the fall, said it would include only colleges that explicitly state their cutoffs (some institutions use them without saying so). This would be one distinction that colleges probably won’t tout on their Web sites.

The controversy over the benefits of using tests and not using tests for admission standards will no doubt continue. However, if your college-bound teen’s SAT scores are less than stellar, you might want to check out the list of colleges at FairTest.org. The list is growing with Colorado College and Marist College adding their names to the list.

admissions, college planning, test prep, Uncategorized

Is the SAT just a test?

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Preparing for the SAT/ACT tests cause panic and stress for college-bound teens and their parents. Why? Because colleges use those test scores as part of the college admissions evaluation process. Some parents are willing to shell out massive amounts of money to assure that their teens do well on those tests. But controversy around the “cost vs return” swirls.

I had a Twitter conversation the other day with Elizabeth King, an SAT coach and author of “Outsmarting the SAT” and she made a profound statement:

I’m just ideologically opposed to test prep without educational value.

She makes an excellent point. As parents, we worry and fret about those scores and often nag our teens to “study” for the SAT. Is it all about the score? Or are we concerned that they improve their vocabulary, writing and math skills? Do we worry that they might not have that high score or worse yet, fall into that “average” category. Are we so concerned about the score that we forget there is little value in any test prep that has no educational value?

Jenn Cohen of Word-Nerd.com, a free SAT vocabulary prep site, makes a valid point in her recent blog: The SAT and Me, Me, Me. She proposes that it’s not the test itself that is flawed, but the inability of parents and students to accept the concept of being “average”:

…a test that generates primarily average scores must be a bad test in the culture of narcissism, so it’s roundly criticized for its inability to capture the “unique” abilities of average students.  The SAT awards scores that separate students from each other, and trophies are certainly not awarded to everyone.  Tests that might make our children feel less than extraordinary are awful, and should be eliminated… Accepting the test as an opportunity, rather than an act of persecution, can open doors and motivate students to live up to their actual potential.

Let’s look at the big picture here. As parents, we have a tendency to demand and expect the best of our children. That “best” often translates into indulging them and often overlooking their failures and faults. We will do just about anything to see that they get into their first choice college. But will we encourage learning? Or will we drop a bundle on test prep as a means to an end–a high test score? Will we criticize the test because it levels the playing field and gives those students with poor grades a chance to shine? Or criticize it because it says that our college-bound teen is “average”?

The bottom line–Promote learning and not just your version of success. Remember that even “average” students excel in life. Encourage your teen to read and expand their vocabulary. The benefits will produce more than just a good test score.

If you liked this post, you might also like:

Creating an SAT Study Plan

Outsmarting the SAT

college guidance, college planning, test prep

Knewton SAT Prep

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Recently I received a tour of Knewton’s SAT Prep portal online. I have to admit, I was skeptical. Based on personal SAT prep courses with my daughter, I always felt those type courses were too expensive and didn’t significantly improve her SAT scores like they promised.

However, I was pleasantly surprised with Knewton’s services. Here’s why I liked them:

  • The parents have access to the student’s progress and receive a weekly email report outlining what the student has done
  • It’s a 1-year membership allowing 24/7 access to all their resources
  • It’s flexible as far as addressing everyone’s time constraints–live and on demand
  • It evaluates the student’s progress and analyzes their strengths and weaknesses
  • Affordability

A student can take the practice tests from the College Board’s blue book and input their answers online at Knewton. The tests are then graded allowing the system to recommend a study regimen after evaluating the student’s strengths and weaknesses. They read and grade the essays and give the student feedback.

The student will attend 10 sessions with 2 lessons per session. They can review the material ahead of time if needed and they can watch the class session on demand while stopping, fast forwarding and rewinding. If they can’t make a specific class, they can chose a more convenient time and attend another session.

Knewton also offers a money-back GUARANTEE if your student does not receive a 150 point jump in their overall SAT score after completing their online classes.

Knewton is offering a $200 price reduction off their $490 fee, making the 1-year membership only $290. Just enter the code: SUMMER200 at checkout. This code expires on June 30th so don’t delay! Plus, anyone can have a 14-day FREE TRIAL which includes jumping in on live classes. Based on other SAT prep courses, that’s a bargain in my book!

Here are some screen shots of the program:

Email Update

Student’s My Work Page

Parent Progress Report


admissions, college planning, parenting, test prep, Uncategorized

Top 5 Test Prep Sites

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Your college-bound teen MUST do some sort of test prep. It will improve their scores and give them confidence when they take the test. Preparation and familiarization with the test and its formulas will give them an edge over the students who choose not to prepare.

Here are my recommendations for test prep sites:

elizabethonline

1. TutorsForTestPrep–Elizabeth writes a blog that gives some great tips and discusses the nuances of the tests. She takes the test herself every year and is familiar with its content and knows how to help your teen improve their scores. Read what Elizabeth said about her services:

Outsmarting the SAT

wordnerd

2. WordNerd–Sheldon walks your teen through practice tests, smart sets (words that go together), study roots (prefixes and suffixes) and gives a “nerd” word of the day. This is a good practice site to improve vocabulary. Read Sheldon’s advice on SAT prep:

Creating an SAT Study Plan

mindfish

3. MindFish—Your teen can play an SAT test game to help them master skills and you can dialogue with test prep and admissions professionals and other interested parents.

collegeboardsattestprep

4. CollegeBoard SAT Test Prep–The College Boards FREE test prep site for the SAT with practice tests, question of the day and sample practice questions.

allenprep

5. AllenPrep–Get an Ipod/Itouch/Iphone App here for just $9.99 and your teen can use it to improve their SAT vocabulary. They also provide testing software and offer a 2-day FREE trial to check it out.

college planning, test prep

Creating an SAT Study Plan

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When it comes to studying for the SAT, most students don’t know where to begin.  The easy way out is to head over to the local branch of one of the big prep companies.  But, that route can be inefficient time-wise, not to mention extremely expensive.  The good news is that you can create an SAT course yourself!  All you need is some good materials and a little organization.   Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Be sure to get started early, ideally at LEAST three months before test day.  Unless you’re prepping over the summer, school and other activities take up most of your day.  Allow yourself a long time frame so you don’t have to cram for eight hours a day the week before the test.
  2. Plan to average about 30 a minutes a day over that time.  Note that’s an average, not a rule.  Spend a half hour here and there, with maybe couple of hours on the weekend.  Grab fifteen minutes before soccer practice.  Keep a journal of what you’ve done, what still needs to be done, and how much time you’re spending.  And be honest!  You might be amazed how much (or little) time you’re devoting.
  3. Take a timed, as close to real as possible, practice test for starting your prep.  I always recommend downloading the free SAT from the College Board’s website and using that as your pre-test.  Be sure to use the printed version.  Don’t take the online version, since you won’t be taking the real thing online!  Use your results as a guide for your prep.
  4. As for materials, there are unlimited options.  There are online courses, books, iPhone apps, podcasts, computer programs and on and on.  Check out a few options, and see what makes sense for your learning preferences and budget.  The only must-have is the Official SAT Study Guide from the College Board.  It should be your primary source for practice sections.  Use any other resources you like to learn strategy, review math and build vocabulary.  Of course, I am biased towards Word-Nerd.com for SAT vocabulary.
  5. In the early stages of your prep, do practice questions at your own pace.  Treat it as an open book test.  When you make an error, analyze it.  Always learn from your mistakes, as well as your successes.  The same types of questions appear repeatedly on the SAT.  So analyze those errors.  When you encounter a similar question on test day, you’ll know what to do!  If you’re stumped by a particular question, ask a friend or a teacher for help.  Or hire a tutor for an hour or two to get you through the tough stuff.  Wyzant.com is an amazing source for tutors nationwide if you need ideas.
  6. Lastly, ramp up your efforts as the big day nears.  By the last couple of weeks, you should be taking practice sections from the Official Study Guide under timed conditions.  Just be sure to give yourself a break the night before the test.  Nothing will hurt your score more than being tired on test day!

If you have a question I haven’t covered, feel free to send me an email at jenn@word-nerd.com – your question may be the topic of a future post on The Fat Envelope, Word-Nerd’s test prep and college admissions blog.  Good luck everyone!

Today’s guest post is by Jennifer Cohen, President and Chief Word-Nerd at Word-Nerd.com. She offers some great (realistic) tips on preparing for upcoming SAT’s. Word-Nerd.com is your best resource for efficient, fun SAT and PSAT vocabulary prep.

admissions, college guidance, college news, college planning, extracurricular activities, financial aid, scholarships, social networks, test prep, Uncategorized

50 College Info Websites

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1. ParentsCountdowntoCollegeCoach.com–You will find the MOST information here on our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and college news. Come here first to find the latest and best tools to help you navigate the college maze.

2. UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.

3. Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.

4. Zinch.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.

5. Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.

6. MeritAid.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.

7. SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.

8. MyCollegeCalendar.org–Interactive college admissions counseling program designed for both high school students and their parents.

9. Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.

10. MyUSearch.com–An excellent blog with tips for parents and students about college; also provides college matching and scholarship searches.

11. FindTuition.com–Help finding money to pay for college, along with articles related to college financing.

12. EntrepreneurEdu.org–This is an excellent resource for students who are interested in colleges who offer entrepreneurial programs.

13. TutorsForTestPrep.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.

14. Bookrenter.com–Rent college textbooks and save up to 75% over purchasing them new.

15. TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.

16. UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.

17. CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.

18. BetterGrads.org–A network of college student peer advisers and a resource filled website presenting honest accounts of the college experience geared toward high school students.

19. Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.

20. NYTimes-TheChoiceBlog–Demystifying college admissions and financial aid by providing articles and Q&A by experts in the field.

21. GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.

22. USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.

23. Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

24. CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.

25. PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.

26. NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.

27. FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.

28. SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.

29. UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!

30. SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.

31. CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.

32. CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.

33. InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.

34. CollegeXpress.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)

35. ECampus.com–Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.

36. TheRealCollegeGuide.com–Four blogs about college life: the dorm, lifestyle, academics and heath and fitness.

37. DesignYourDorm.com–A free online, interactive resource for designing and organizing your college-bound teen’s dorm room.

38. CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.

39. GradeFund.com—Students invite their friends and family to sponsor their drive for good grades. Sponsors choose grade levels and sponsorship amounts for each grade (as low as $5) to help students raise money for their college education.

40. CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.

41. Number2.com–Free online test prep (SAT/ACT) with vocabulary exercises and help.

42. VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.

43. KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!

44. BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.

45. FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.

46. TheCampusBuzz.com–An online clearinghouse for national college news; find all the college news in one place!

47. BigFuture.collegeboard.org–A planning tool to help parents and students get ready for college.

48. CollegeFocus.com/colleges–A virtual clearinghouse of blogs related to college life, parenting, college searches, etc.

49. Word-nerd.com–An PSAT/SAT vocabulary prep tool.

50. YourCollegeKid.com–A site with parent forums and other college prep tools.

admissions, college costs, college planning, extracurricular activities, financial aid, parenting, scholarships, social networks, test prep, Uncategorized

How to raise $15,000 for college

 

A few weeks ago I attended a virtual college event at CollegeWeekLive. I was impressed with the simplicity of the information and wanted to pass it along to all my readers who might not have had the opportunity to attend. This particular session was conducted by Kim Clark, staff writer for U.S. News and World Reports. She outlined some simple steps to raise $15,000 for college:

  1. Up to $2500 from Uncle Sam–via tax credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning Credit)
  2. Child labor–put your teen to work at a summer job ($8 an hour x 40 hours a week for 9 weeks=$2880)
  3. Student loans–Stafford Loan ($5500 max per year at 7%); after student leaves college can sign up for payments based on their income (less than 15%)
  4. Family savings–cut teen to occassional driver and save $; food bills will decline; stop subsidizing entertainment (food and insurance can =$300-$400 a month)
  5. Scholarships and grants–leverage grades, test scores, athletics, arts for merit-based grants; apply for local scholarships
  6. Friends and relatives–ask for college fund contributions instead of presents
  7. Corporate sponsorship–some employers subsidize education for employees and families; UPromise
  8. Reduce college expenses–reduce dorm costs (share with other students); watch meal plans; buy used textbooks or rent; earn cheaper credits at community college, AP classes or dual credit classes; sell student’s car (won’t need one at college)

The bottom line: $15,000 or MORE! Here’s how it all adds up:

  1. Tax break-$2500 per year
  2. Student loan-$5500 per year
  3. Student job-$3000 per year
  4. Parent savings-$4000 per year
  5. Relatives-_____ (fill in blank)
  6. Scholarships-____(fill in blank)
  7. Corporate sponsorship-____(fill in blank)
  8. Reduction in college expenses-_____(fill in blank)

By piecing together all these separate components, there is no limit on how much you can raise for college costs. At the very least you can raise $15,000, at the very most, the sky is the limit!

You can check out U.S. News and World Reports education section: Paying For College for more information and tips.