Pam Yip, a columnist for The Dallas Morning News, suggests that parents should look at more than the school's sticker price in comparing financial aid packages. Besides tuition, room and board, the cost of attendance includes "books, supplies, transportation, personal expenses, dependent care and possibly student health insurance and the cost of a computer," Yip notes.
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This blogger shares many of the same tips that I do when I talk to parents and students about college essays: Start early. Pick an appropriate topic. The essay should not mimic the student's resume. Get a good editor. All good ideas.
Here are some tips for understanding and maximizing your financial aid package. One consultant says April is the time to challenge your award, if you plan to ask for more money. May 1 is too late.
If you are worried about the amount of money it will take to finance your child's education, you might want to see this Wall Street Journal item. It offers several points to keep in mind when considering how much debt to take on.
The New York Times took a look at how UT-Austin puts together its freshman class beyond the top 10 percent and what role race plays. The process, known as holistic review, allows the university to shape a diverse class with the interests and talents to make good use of university resources, said William Powers Jr., the campus president. This issue is the subject of a lawsuit against the university that is headed to the Supreme Court in the fall.
The Washington Post reports that although many schools, including the Ivy League campuses, are reporting new low admission rates, some of those results do not reflect accurate reporting. "At most schools in America, most kids who apply get in, and many of these schools are terrific," the paper notes.
My college consultant friend Tam Warner Minton has posted on her blog about a variety of apps that make getting your kids ready for college easier. My favorite among her suggestions is one that lets your child attempt to answer a series of timed, abbreviated SAT questions.
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AuthorLinda Leavell is The Write Coach, based in Plano, Texas. She reads a lot about college admissions and writing essays. And she shares the best stuff. Or you can follow her on Facebook. 
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