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Who doesn't appreciate a good deal?  Whether you're buying groceries, shopping for a car or hunting for a bargain on new shoes, getting bang for your buck is always wise - especially in the current economy.

This is especially true when you're considering college tuition.  With costs as high as they are, nobody wants to throw money away.  Luckily, the fine folks at USA Today and the Princeton Review have teamed up to help families assess which colleges give students best deal around.

Data was based on surveys compiled during the 2009-2010 academic year.  Factors weighed included overall costs (tuition, room, board, etc.), academic ratings, student:faculty ratios and more.  Researchers then analyzed the results and compiled them into a list of the top 100 values in higher education - 50 public schools and 50 private schools.

For more information, just read the article.  But if you want to know which schools were tops in their category, I'll be kind and go ahead and list them below.  Enjoy.  :)

Top 5 "Best Value" Public Colleges

1. University of Virginia
2. City University of New York - Hunter College
3. New College of Florida
4. Florida State University
5. University of Colorado-Boulder

Top 5 "Best Value" Private Colleges

1. Swarthmore College
2. Harvard University
3. Wesleyan College
4. Princeton University
5. Yale University

According to a recent Associated Press analysis, the top five colleges receiving federal Pell Grant money were for-profit schools.

To read more, check out this USA Today article highlighting how much some of the federal government's increased higher education spending is benefitting for-profit centers like the University of Phoenix or DeVry University.  These schools differ from traditional colleges (whether public or private) operating as non-profit institutions, meaning their business isn't conducted with the purpose or making a profit.

This news has people talking, weighing the pros and cons of this trend in education.  Some say the public's money should be going only toward helping people get an education, not to enrich for-profit centers.  They're also alarmed by statistics that show schools like the University of Phoenix generating 86% of its revenue from governmental sources.  When that's the case, the school has incentives to enroll underqualified students in order to maximize profits, potentially diminishing the quality of that education and the government's investment in that student's degree.

Others contend that if we're to help more Americans get a college education, some Pell Grant money simply has to go toward non-profit schools.  The argument is that traditional non-profit colleges simply can't handle the extra enrollment numbers that come from more Americans seeking a degree. In addition, for-profit schools tend to enroll more lower-income students, thus giving some students access to an education they might not have otherwise.

What do you think?  Is this trend positive or negative?  We'd love to hear your thoughts at info@universitydrive.com.

- Marc

 

The University of California higher education system has long been a model for other states around the country.  From a diverse array of affordable educational options to high-level laboratories that have produced Nobel Prize-winning research and tremendous advancements in science, the UC system is a great example of how public colleges benefit society.

That may all be changing.

With last week's announcement of a 32% hike in undergraduate fees (basically, a tuition increase), many are questioning how well the UC system will be able to maintain it's standard of excellence.  Will students still be able to afford their educations?  Will faculty leave?  Will grad students seek other educational options?  Already the PR fallout has been intense, with scores of students protesting the decision and even some arrests.

The tuition hike is a direct result of the state of California's current budget crisis.  The state cut back it's contributions to the UC budget, which meant that money had to be replaced somehow.  From a budgetary standpoint, it may seem like the only solution.  But will the end result be a lowering of the higher education standards in California?  That's a tough question and we may not know the answer for years.  But we do know that instead of award-winning research and advancements in the classroom, all the buzz around the UC schools right now seems to be about tuition hikes and doom and gloom.

Read more about the UC budget cuts here.

It's November as I write this blog.  No doubt you seniors out there are either knee deep in application essays, knee deep in midterms or knee deep in snow.  Luckily for us here at University Drive - located in sunny southern California - we don't typically get snow in November.  Or ever, for the most part.  But we've been high school and college students before, so we know what it feels like to be knee deep!

With that in mind, I want to help you take a break from the grind of filling out FAFSA forms, getting recommendations, spell-checking essays and all the other hard work you might be enduring this college admission season.  It's too easy to get so caught up in the process of applying that you forget about what a wonderful experience you're about to have!  I was reminded of this as I enjoyed a college football game this past Saturday.  I went to San Diego to see my alma mater, TCU, play San Diego State.  Hundreds of Frog fans (that's right, we're the Horned Frogs... what of it!?) showed up to root on the team, including scores of students.  Seeing them enjoying the gameday atmosphere reminded me of how much fun I had not so long ago.  Hopefully, sharing some of my memories will give you an idea of what's to come during your freshman year.

You can look forward to:

Moving all your stuff into a cool new dorm room (or, if you're a guy, a smelly new dorm room)... mistaking your first college textbook for a 25-pound dictionary... learning your school's fight song... learning which bathrooms get the least amount of traffic... FINALLY saying goodbye to Mom and Dad and wondering why you keep wanting to cry... realizing your professor sees you as an adult, not a kid... making the decision to go greek (or not) and then making friends for life regardless of which you chose... staying up as late as you want without anyone making you go to bed!... ruining your first load of laundry because you didn't realize that one red sock made it into your whites... wondering if s/he'll ever call and if you should call first... hoping the cafeteria's mystery meatloaf isn't the only option every single day... thinking you're immune to the freshman 15 and then finding out you're not (this applies to you too, guys!)... thinking you've got it made because your classes only have three grades a semester, then realizing how stuck you are because your classes only have THREE GRADES A SEMESTER!... meeting that new friend who somehow "gets you" in a way nobody from your high school ever did... learning that credit cards are WAY too easy to use... spending 25 minutes on your hair in the morning to get that I-only-spent-25-seconds-on-my-hair look... trying to convince your parents that the $400 bookstore charge was totally for books and not at all for your entire family's Christmas presents too... realizing that 9 am class was a bad idea... realizing that 8 am class was a REALLY bad idea... finding out that drinking coffee is an awesome way to help you stay up late to study and also finding out that IreallylovecaffeinewhoknewitwassogoodIcan'twaitformoregivemeatriplemochalatteILOVECAFFEINE!...

Sigh... and so much more. Hopefully as you move through this college admission season, you've been able to identify what YOU are looking forward to about heading off to college and those things are motivating you through the busy spots.  And when you look back on your experience in 5 or 10 years, may your list be much longer than mine.

 Just when it seems the financial news outlook is getting more positive, we have this piece of news, courtesy of CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/19/pf/college_costs/index.htm):

College: More expensive than ever

Tuition is climbing at a faster clip than the availability of financial aid, putting a degree further out of reach for many Americans.

Did you like how I put that in extra big, bold type, just to make sure you'd notice?!  I don't do this to scare you.  Rather, I want to draw your attention to the fact that, like most pieces of news, the real details here are more complicated than the headline.

Yes, tuition prices are rising across the board.  The average private school is up more than 4% to around $26,273, while publics jumped 6% to $7,020/$18,548 (in-state, out-of-state).   Making matters worse, grant funding is down relative to these tuition increases.  However, around two-thirds of students with demonstrated need are being awarded financial aid that doesn't have to be paid back, which obviously makes a huge difference for them and their families.   That's money these students get to use, free and clear, to pay for a very valuable education.

All of this news underscores one of the biggest pieces of advice just about any financial aid expert will tell you:  "The 'sticker price' of a school's tuition is rarely what a family ends up paying."  Scholarships, loans, grants, work study, etc., all help combine to defray the costs.  So in the end, an average private school student ends up paying just $11,900 a year (a lot, but still less than $26,000!).  And the average public school student pays just $1,600.  These numbers are MUCH more manageable for most working families than the tuition costs I quoted above.  Granted, this recession has made finding every dollar tougher for many parents and students, but I can't stress this enough:  IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE!

We've tried to provide you with resources here on our website and in our video, "College Admission. Simplified.", that help explain ways of making college tuition affordable.  And most high school counselors should be able to help as well by providing guidance or by pointing families toward potential sources of aid.  It's important to do your research, seek the right guidance, make a plan and stick to it.  And don't be frightened by some of the scary headlines you see in newspapers and online.  While it's important to be aware of the ever-changing landscape of college admission, you know the saying:  "Where there's a will, there's a way!"    

 

 

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Webster’s defines a recession as:  a period of an economic contraction, sometimes limited in scope or duration.

Unfortunately for many of today’s college-bound students and their families, our current “economic retraction” is resulting in worthwhile teens having to drop their first-choice college.

A recent study, written about in USA Today, indicates that this year many students are having to forego attending their “dream college” because of simple math.  High costs + little money = unaffordable tuition.

As we discuss in the College Admission. Simplified., students don’t have to attend Harvard to get a great education.  It is amazing how many incredible value options students have today in higher education.  That said, when a student has his or her heart set on attending a certain school, getting the news that it’s just too expensive is never easy.

For many families, timing is the cause.  FAFSA forms, which colleges base their award decisions, are due by February.  Families that filled out a FAFSA in ‘08/’09 used their current financial information on the form.  But many of those families saw their savings accounts lose value, lost a job, or otherwise had their financial situation affected between the time the FAFSA was due and when colleges sent out award letters.  As a result, a once-affordable dream school remained just that:  a dream.

So what are students and families to do?  Simply forego hopes of attending an expensive top-choice college?  Take on an extra job?  Luckily for future students, there may be some hope in new proposals from President Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Again, USA Today reports that Duncan acknowledges the flaws in the FAFSA form and in the college aid process in general.  He proposes simplifying the forms and the filing requirements and finding new ways to get federal loans and Pell Grants into the hands of the students who need them most.  It may be too late to help the class of ’09, but hopefully it signals a somewhat brighter future for the class of ’10 and beyond.

- Marc

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In case you've missed the early advertising blitz -- "Back to School" season is upon us!

I remember getting ready to go "Back to School."  That usually meant new clothes for the year and school supplies galore.  But for this year's senior class, going back to school takes on a whole new meaning.  It's hard to head to class on that first day without remembering that it's the last "first day of high school" - ever.  Seniors kinda have one foot out the door to adulthood, another firmly planted in the high school world.  It can be an emotional time, filled with both excitement, relief that high school is almost finished and dread about what's coming next.

Stress about what comes after high school can only make the year more angst-ridden than necessary.  But with a little head start and some hard work, seniors (and their parents) can ease some of those fears.  NOW is the time to get started on the college admission process!  Of course, it's never too early to start.  But for those seniors who haven't done anything yet, it's not too late either. 

In our "College Admission. Simplified." episodes, we help break down some of the steps you need to take and when you need to take them.  For instance, these final summer weeks before school starts are a great time for students to begin researching schools or maybe even consider visiting a couple.  Once classes begin, meet with your high school counselor to find out how much he or she can help assist with the process of choosing a college, applying and getting in.  Before you know it, October and November will be here and those applications will be due.  Getting started early can make a big difference between feeling like you're up against a monumental application deadline and breathing a bit easier when you click 'send' on that app or drop it in the mail.

Of course, there's a lot more to it than that!  So just consider this your friendly reminder that when those "Back to School" ads play on TV or the radio -- instead of thinking about what wardrobe or school supplies you need to buy, start thinking about where you are in the college admission process!

- Marc

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Have you seen the USA Today article on America’s high school dropout rate?  According to the Education Research Center, it’s now at 25%.  That means 1 in every 4 students does not graduate from high school.  Even worse – in America’s 50 largest cities, it’s even worse.  There, barely half of the students graduate with a diploma.  Plain and simple, this is a situation that needs fixing. 

There’s no way around the fact that too many kids aren’t getting the education they not only need, but deserve.  Obviously the question is, “Why?”  If only the answers were so easy.

Politicians from both parties will tell you they’ve got the solution to this major issue, but often bickering gets in the way of real progress.  And school districts across the country are trying everything they can to fight the problem, but with far fewer dollars and results than they’d like.  It’s an uphill battle.  Educators contend with a lack of resources.  In today’s economy, too many parents struggle so much making ends meet that they can’t give their kid’s education the attention it deserves.  And students, especially in urban neighborhoods, often lack the inspirational examples that drive them to graduate. 

Hopefully articles like this in one in USA Today sound warning bells in people that can make a difference.  Whether it’s parents realizing they must get involved, government coming up with practical, efficient solutions to the problem or neighborhoods uniting together for the common good,  it’s truly time to start reversing this trend. 

I know we’re trying to do our part at University Drive.  With our Buy 1. Give 1. program, each DVD sold means an at-risk teen gets one, for free.  Hopefully that student is inspired enough to do what it takes to graduate, go to college and enjoy the opportunities that result.  But perhaps as citizens we can do more.  Mentor a teen.  Donate used books to schools.  Tell our politicians to make education a true priority.  Who’s with me?

- Marc