We talk a lot about what to do as part of your college admissions process. This week, we have some cautionary tales of mistakes some have made in the hopes that you can avoid making similar bloopers. In Officer Hours, we’re answering your college admissions and finance questions.

Guest post from Sabrina Manville, Co-founder and COO of Edmit

When talking about student debt, many people cite the average student loan burden of bachelor’s degree graduates these days, which is around $30,000. But this number omits an important reality: the fact that many parents are taking on more of the financial burden to pay for their children’s college. And increasingly, this burden is in the form of additional debt. 

Scholarships are a way to close the gap between the cost of attendance at a college and a family’s own resources. Among the many scholarships that students can apply for are those that are established to support students based upon the ways they define themselves. There is no comprehensive list of identity-based scholarships; professional associations, companies, non-profit entities, religious organizations, political groups, and colleges and universities are among the many sponsors of scholarships that may be awarded in part based upon a student’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or presence of a disability. Bright Horizons College Coach wants to help ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to the resources they need to achieve their educational goals and has therefore launched this monthly scholarship series to help students pinpoint funding opportunities based upon their unique identities. Check out the below resources, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover funding sources that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

Did you know that eighty percent of female entrepreneurs were once Girl Scouts? The Girl Scouts of Central Texas recognizes high-achieving student leaders as they pursue educational dreams beyond high school.

Scholarship: Founder’s Scholarship

Guest post by Dr. Steven Tolman, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Georgia Southern University

The transition from high school to college brings many exciting adventures, yet it also poses a new environment with unfamiliar or unspoken expectations. With the imminent beginning of the new semester, a question on the minds of many new college students is, “What do I call my college professor?” Let’s begin by better understanding the type of faculty you’ll have in college.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Well, truly, it was neither, but it was the most confusing of times.

Let me tell you about two students I’ve been working with this fall:

Seniors: your applications are in. What can you do now? We’ll talk about steps you can take on the admissions and finance side while you wait for your decisions.  Juniors: you’re up! We have advice for starting the college process in earnest now that you’re in the second half of junior year.

by Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

Winter is an exciting time for high school seniors and their parents. Even (and maybe especially) in this unusual year, the receipt of a college acceptance is cause for celebration. For many families, however, the initial elation of a college acceptance is quickly tempered by the receipt of a financial aid offer and the realization that, even after the awarded financial assistance, a given college’s cost is still out-of-reach for your family. While disappointing, that inadequate financial aid offer is not necessarily the end of the story, nor the end of your child’s relationship with that school of choice. The college aid application is, while daunting, necessarily limited in scope and does not paint a complete picture of many families’ financial circumstances, especially in these complicated times. For that reason, colleges are given latitude to use their discretion in considering families’ special circumstances when awarding both government and institutional aid. Consider if you may have had any of these special circumstances that would warrant an appeal to the Financial Aid Offices for special consideration:

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

Freemont Scholars are outstanding student leaders with a proven track record of leadership and community engagement. If you have plans to attend or are currently enrolled in a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and have an interest in the sciences this may be an opportunity for you!

Scholarship: Freemont Scholars Award