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Welcome to the College Admissions HQ Blog where you’ll find essential information and resources to help you be successful in the college admissions process.
What Are Pell Grants—and Do You Qualify for This Free Money for College?
Pell Grants are federal college financial aid for low-income undergraduate students. These grants do not have to be repaid. The 50-year-old Pell Grant program is the largest source of grant aid for college students in the U.S, providing over $20 billion in need-based aid each year to over 6 million eligible students—approximately one in three undergraduate students. (Continue Reading)
Your SAI: What It Is, How It’s Calculated, and Why It Matters
As families start to dip their toes into the murky waters of the college application process, there’s one thing that’s crystal clear—college is expensive and getting more expensive every year. A family’s best safeguard against being pulled underwater by college costs is to fully understand how the financial aid system works. (Continue Reading)
Discover Your Likely Net Price Before You Apply
If controlling college costs is important to you, then understanding how to calculate a realistic estimate of your Net Price at any college of interest, before you even apply, is your sharpest tool. Knowing this number early helps you avoid wasting time on schools you can’t afford and instead focus on those that best fit your budget. (Continue Reading)
Don’t File the FAFSA Until You Read This!
On October 1, 2025, the federal government will release the 2026-27 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). As always, you’ll hear plenty of warnings that students and parents need to file right away or risk losing out on financial aid. (Continue Reading)
Thoughtful Borrowing: A Guide to Education Loans
Over the past 20 years, college costs have doubled, far outpacing inflation and wage growth, making paying for college more challenging than ever. For most students—and often their parents—borrowing has become a necessary part of covering the cost. Thoughtful borrowing is key to getting the education you want without compromising your financial future. (Continue Reading)
FAFSA Verification: Who Gets Selected and What to Do if It’s You
Each year, the US Department of Education requires that a selected group of students give their college’s financial aid office supporting documentation for some or all of the financial or other information they reported on the FAFSA. This practice is called FAFSA Verification and can be scary for parents and students. Although many FAFSAs are selected for verification randomly, you can reduce your chances of being chosen if you follow certain guidelines. And, if you’ve reported your information honestly and accurately, a verification notice should be nothing to worry about. (Continue Reading)
Are You On the Same Page About College Costs?
8 Essential Money Questions for Every College-Bound Family There are many exciting things to talk about when you begin the college admissions process, but often left out of college discussions are critical questions about what college actually costs, who is responsible for paying those costs, and what student loan debt really means for the family. Establish your family’s financial ground rules before applying to college with answers to these 8 questions. (Continue Reading)
The College Financial Aid Roadmap When Parents Are Divorced, Separated, Unmarried, or Remarried
The rules around college financial aid are complicated, and they get even more confusing when parents are divorced, separated, unmarried, remarried, or widowed. An increasing number of students face this situation—and many families end up paying more for college simply because they don’t understand how the rules apply to them. This article explains how to determine which parent’s information is required in different family circumstances.(Continue Reading)
Make the Most of Your College Visit
Choosing the colleges you want to apply to is exciting! Your research brings to light opportunities, experiences, and a world of possibilities open to you at different colleges and universities. As you begin to whittle down your choices, consider how a college visit can both significantly enhance your research and demonstrate your interest to the college. (Continue Reading)
Get the Best College Recommendation Letter
Letters of recommendation are an important piece of the application for colleges that require them. The most effective letters provide valuable insight into who you are—not just as a student, but also as a person. They provide outside validation that you have excelled—through exceptional commitment, notable achievement, strong character, generosity of spirit, or the ability to work well with others.(Continue Reading)
Ace Your College Interview!
Four Steps to a Successful College Interview The college admissions interview is a tremendous opportunity for you to add color and depth to the basic facts of your application and the chance to set yourself apart from other applicants. An interview also gives you the opportunity to ask questions that will help you decide if that college is right for you. With the right preparation, you can ace your college interview and tip the scales of acceptance in your favor. (Continue Reading)
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