Bob Proctor asked:


The majority of high school parents count on their school’s guidance counselors to steer their child in the right direction. Although not a bad option, is it enough? Most high school guidance counselors are already dealing with the normal emotional issues of a diverse group of teenagers, along with other serious issues such drug or alcohol abuse. Many simply don’t have the time to be college planning advisors, as well.

Because college-bound students and their parents are so overwhelmed by the process of finding the right college to attend, they’ve increasingly asked high school guidance counselors to provide help. The national organization of guidance counselors suggests a ratio of 250 students per guidance counselor in a high school setting. That ratio is far from an ideal situation, but where I live (the Western suburbs of Chicago) it is even worse. Looking at various websites of schools in our area, you’ll see that guidance counselors often have responsibility for 400 students or more!

Serious issues such as teenage pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse are increasingly being placed in guidance counselors laps. It is a struggle for counselors to find time to deal with the majority of teenagers whom only have the “normal” issues of a journey towards adulthood. Although they valiantly try to step up and help with the college planning process, with their workload, there is only so much they can do.

I’m going through this college-planning process with my own children. One is already in college and the other is a high school senior currently evaluating colleges. Here’s what I found out. The process takes a lot of time and students need attention. If a guidance counselor has over 400 students, how much time can they truly dedicate to an individual student?

The entire “College Planning Process” actually involves multiple steps. The first is to identify your student’s interests, abilities and preferences through some sort of testing. This will also identify potential careers that line up with your student’s “profile.” The next step would be to find those colleges or universities that would be a good match for your student’s profile and possible careers. And because somebody is going to have pay for that education (usually we parents) advice on how to pay for college without going broke is the next step. I can’t even begin to guess the number of hours my children and I spent on this process.

To expect guidance counselors to provide countless hours of advice for each of their students is unrealistic. The emergence of professional college advisors has enabled many college-bound students and their parents to suitably manage this process. Like most families, if you are overwhelmed by the college search process, hiring an “expert” will bring you peace of mind in knowing that you’ve explored all available options for your student.



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Bob Proctor asked:


Everything surrounding college today is BIG business – and expensive! Like health care costs, the cost of college has been - and is expected to continue - increasing at twice the rate of inflation. If college expenses increase 7% per year, they will double in 10 years! So if the University of Illinois costs approximately $20,000 per year today, in ten years it could be $40,000.

If your own compensation/wages increase at a rate closer to normal inflation, how can one afford to send a child to college? Unfortunately, college, besides being expensive, is essential. Studies have shown that a person with an undergraduate degree will earn on average $1,000,000 more in a lifetime than a non-graduate.

To manage these high costs, you first and foremost must learn and understand the process. Nearly 99% of parents take on the task of helping their students get into college and figuring out how to pay for it without a clue as to how the system works.

In the age of the internet, you would think there would be plenty of good and practical sources on career planning, college search, college selection, and college funding. However, that is not the case. In your search, you will find scattered pieces of information; but this information alone does not help you to thoroughly understand the process. To benefit you, these bits of information need to be converted to knowledge of the process.

You need to learn and understand the role the Department of Education plays in the process. In effect, they tell you what you can afford to spend for collegiate expenses. Their formula is elaborate, complicated, and very unfair to those families with higher levels of debt.

Don’t believe the many myths about the world of financial aid. Aid takes many forms and to assume you won’t qualify could be a huge mistake. One key is to learn how to tap into endowment funds. This information is very beneficial, but not easily found.

Make sure you file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each January. It is your ticket into the game - it makes you a player. Without it, financial aid or endowment scholarship money is not likely to come your way.

As we said before, college is big business. In many ways it’s David vs. Goliath when parents embark on this endeavor. To increase the odds in their favor, many parents today are engaging the services of professionals to help their students for career planning, college search, and college selection. Many of these highly specialized firms will also devise tax-favored funding strategies to help pay for collegiate expenses.

With college costs increasing at record rates, and the long term costs of not achieving a degree at over a million dollars, many parents feel employing these specialists is a small investment. The use of college planning advisors gives them a better understanding of the process, peace of mind, and ultimately, minimizes the total cost of a college education.



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Bob Proctor asked:


Many parents assume their child would never meet the criteria for financial aid. Financial aid comes in many forms and failing to at least try to qualify for it is a huge mistake made by numerous parents of college bound students.

One of the many myths we hear is that parents believe their income is too high. Granted, a high level of income will not help you qualify for a large sum of free financial aid, but you need to understand that income is only part of the equation. The overall formula used by the Department of Education is complex and confusing. Do not let a high level of income deter you from attempting to qualify.

Another often heard excuse is “my student’s grades are too low”. Unless your child is failing, aid has nothing to do with grades. The intricate government formula simply does not include grades. If your child is failing, would college be a wise pursuit anyway?

Sixty-five percent of American families own their own home. One of the myths is that this eliminates families from aid consideration. Again, this is baloney. On the federal aid form (FAFSA) you will not find a space to insert information about your home.

“Aid is only for special groups” is another popular argument. Again, the formula for qualifying does not ask about where you are in relation to society – the criteria are strictly based on certain financial numbers the Department of Education requires.

Probably the biggest misconception we hear is that guidance counselors and financial aid officers (or your accountant) can do all of this for you because it is an easy process. First of all, it is not an easy process. Secondly, if you think doing your taxes every year is complex and time consuming let me introduce you to another phase of government you will love to ****. The colleges pray that you will go through this entire process unarmed and will take advantage of your ignorance. Going to them for help is analogous to going to the IRS to complete your taxes. Yes, they will do them - but in whose interest are they working?

Those who know and understand the process win the financial aid game. To master this game you’ll have to maneuver the complex formulas, rules, and regulations the Department of Education has devised. This information is not readily accessible and provides no guidance as to the best way to ultimately pay for what is referred to as the “expected family contribution”.

Professional college planners offer parents the opportunity to tap into their expertise at a nominal cost. You’ll benefit by sending your student to college for a reasonable amount of money while fully complying with all forms and procedures. And, you can accomplish this without going broke. By employing professionals, you’ll achieve peace of mind knowing that everything that could possibly be done for your child is covered.



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Bob Proctor asked:


Imagine your student waking up in her dorm next August and setting out for her first day of class. As she’s walking, she realizes she really doesn’t have a clue as to why she’s in college and even more puzzling, why she’s at that particular university. Unfortunately, this is a scenario that plays out all over the United States. Is the student seeing the bigger picture or is she there by default and is not really engaged in the experience college can offer? This situation can be avoided with a little forethought and strategic professional planning.

Nearly 50% of college freshman will not graduate. Yes, I said almost 50%, and let me say that the other 50% take, on average, 5.5 years to complete their undergraduate degree. If you accept the fact that a typical private college today (cost of attendance) is approximately $30,000 per year, this endeavor is fraught with peril. A student attending two years and leaving without the degree leaves you around $60,000 lighter in the bank! However, this $60,000 pales in comparison to the potential loss in future income your son or daughter miss out on because the degree was not earned. According to some studies, a person with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, $1,000,000 more than a high school graduate over their working career.

Is degree attainment only an economic consideration? Certainly not. A college degree can also lead to greater personal growth, cultural awareness, and increased social awareness. It is critically important for your student to go to college knowing why he/she is there. Unless the proper steps are taken to ascertain what the goals are (career planning), which institutions are best suited to attain those goals (college search), and which school is the best fit (selection) your student may not graduate.

As parents, we’d like to believe that the present system would not let this happen to our children. However, the reality is that the system is broken. How else to explain the data? College today is BIG business, expensive, and essential. Relying solely on the present system is a recipe for failure.

So what is a parent to do? Many quality companies have stepped forward to take on this challenge and provide needed expertise in the areas of career planning, college search, college selection, and college funding. They exist, not to replace what the high schools and colleges may provide, but to complement their efforts. Most of these companies will begin to work with your student, if you choose, as early as freshman year in high school.

Studies indicate 50% of people are not happy in their career choice. Perhaps many of them showed up on campus like lost sheep or perhaps they left college before completing the task. At this critical stage of their life, taking advantage of professional help can give our children a better future - both financially and mentally



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