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Authored Blogs by

Michelle Smoley

College Finance Consultant
headshot

Buena Vista University

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Banking and Finance

Cardinal Stritch University

Master's in Business Administration

I began my financial aid counseling career working in a community bank. I provided families with paper FAFSAs and assisted them in completing the application in person. Through the years, the process, products and regulations in the financial aid industry may have changed, but the reward I feel when I help students and families has not. During my tenure at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, I had the opportunity to work with a very diverse group of students working towards all types of degrees from certificate programs to doctoral degrees. From there, I worked in student loan finance and became very passionate about financial literacy. I love educating families about various financial vehicles and assisting them in determining what is the best financial strategy to pay for college.

Featured Blogs from Michelle

filling out student loan application paperwork
COLLEGE LOAN ADVICE

How Much College Debt is Too Much?

two women in back of car
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTING

The Four Kinds of Insurance You Should Consider for Your College Student

woman sitting on bed with laptop and phone
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTING

Five Steps to Help Your College Student Build a Credit History

All Blogs from Michelle

filling out student loan application paperwork
COLLEGE LOAN ADVICE

How Much College Debt is Too Much?

With the average student loan debt around $29,000, it’s important to ask: how much debt is too much debt when it comes to education?

Posted on April 11th, 2024
two women in back of car
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTING

The Four Kinds of Insurance You Should Consider for Your College Student

College students should consider protecting themselves and their assets from risk with these four kinds of insurance.

Posted on February 9th, 2023
woman sitting on bed with laptop and phone
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTING

Five Steps to Help Your College Student Build a Credit History

Before your student sets off to college, it’s wise to help them build their financial health and credit history. Here are some tips from an expert!

Posted on August 9th, 2022
expert collage with headshots
MEET A COLLEGE FINANCE EXPERT

Meet a College Finance Expert: Michelle Smoley

Welcome to our blog series: Meet a College Finance Expert. This series will introduce families to members of the Bright Horizons College Coach finance team.

Posted on July 14th, 2022

Our people make all the difference, and we're all uniquely qualified to help you on your journey.

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