Got College
How to Support Your Freshman After the “I Want to Come Home” Call
A Letter to the Parent That Just Got That Phone Call Dear Parents of College Freshman, Hi!...
How to Use a Net Price Calculator to Estimate College Costs—and Why There’s a Better Option
Understanding Net Price Calculators & Finding A Better Option Navigating the college application process can feel...
Your Future Self Will Thank You: The Smart Financial Planning Move You’re Overlooking
Why Everyone Needs Financial Planning: Breaking Down Common Misconceptions At AssetAlign, we start every consultation with...
College Prep: The Olympic Sport You Didn’t Know You Were Training For
Could College Prep Be A New Olympic Sport? I love the Olympics! I’ve spent as much...
From College Planning to Financial Advising: Confidently Conquer Analysis Paralysis
Hello. My name is Kevin and I’m a recovering Analysis Paralysis (AP) sufferer. For as long...
Financial Advisors for All: AssetAlign Helps Everyone Achieve Their Goals
Our goal at College Aid Pro is to help students and families find colleges that...
I’m Movin’ Out: 5 Things To Bring To Ensure a Successful College Move-In Day
As a former freshman in college, I can attest to the fact that move-in day...
Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: 5 Budgeting Tips for Broke College Students
5 Budgeting Tips for College Kids Hi there! My name is Claire, and I’m currently a...
Unlock Your Success: Building a Personal Brand for College Applications to Truly Stand Out
Your Personal Brand Matters Attention high school students and parents! I want you to understand that your...
The Alarming Reality: Why College Costs So Much
Are you frustrated or even outraged that college is so expensive? I can assure you......
5 Crucial Things Every Parent Needs to Know About the Summer Before College Begins: Thriving Not Just Surviving
Parents of high school seniors - Do you want to enjoy this summer before college? Here...
The College Roadmap Modern Parents Are Craving: FREE College Success Bootcamp
College Success Bootcamp - Learn How to Tackle College Planning In 3 FREE Sessions! Is College...
A Beginner’s Glossary for College Admissions: 25 Terms You Need to Know
When My Oldest Started Applying, I Was Lost in College Lingo If I had a dollar...
Top 20 College Financial Aid Terms Every Family Should Know
Understanding Financial Aid Terms Before You Dive In To College Planning Let's face it - the...
College Cost Clarity: Sticker Price vs. Net Price
Sticker Price vs Net Price: Making Sense of College Costs Are you a parent of a...
Unlocking College Affordability with MyCAP: A Personalized Approach to Financial Planning for Higher Education
I think we can all agree on the importance of college for some students as...
Smart Strategies for Using Your 529: From College Tuition to Roth IRA Contributions
Congratulations on having saved for college. The addition of 529 savings to your plan gives your...
College Planning For the International Student – An Interview With Kristi Steele
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kristi Steele of KC360, who specializes in...
Pre-paid Tuition Plans – Is it Smart to Buy In?
What is A Pre-Paid Tuition Plan? A pre-paid tuition plan is an account to save to...
13 Ways To Successfully Pay Your College Bill
So your student has been accepted to college - Congrats! Celebrate their accomplishments and then...
What is A Financial Safety School? Should You Have at Least One on Your College List?
A “financial safety” school is a college that you know your family can afford. It...
Are Summer Programs at Universities Worth it for High Schoolers?
Every parent wants their high schooler to have a smooth transition to college. They want...
Decoding Dual Enrollment and AP Classes for High Schoolers – Is There an Ideal Option for You?
Students are increasingly being given the opportunity to take advantage of advanced courses in high...
College Aid Pro Reviews
College Aid Pro Reviews Our mission is to end the student debt crisis. We aim to...
Will Saving For College Hurt My Financial Aid?
https://youtu.be/uPtAdmQ7XZg Is Saving for College a Bad Idea? NO! Saving for college is a good idea- and...
Keep Your Sanity While Planning For College – Our Top 5 Tips for Success
This one’s for all you parents out there starting the college planning and application process...
Senioritis – Is it Really A Big Deal?
Senioritis. Parents across the country have heard of it. High school teachers dread it. It's a...
CAP Projections: A Deep Dive into College Aid Pro’s Data Collection
At College Aid Pro, we pride ourselves on creating sound data sets that power easy-to-use...
Create your College Budget – Understanding what YOU can Afford
https://youtu.be/9bSwtaktfDA We know no one likes to talk about budgets, but shopping for college requires understanding...
Grades Really Do Matter – Junior Year of High School Is Important!
As a former high schooler and the mom to two current high schoolers, I’ve heard...
“My College Budget” Makes Paying For College Easy For Your Student
Everyone has heard "paying for college" horror stories. Families spend a full summer (sometimes longer)...
What is a 529 Plan?
What is a 529 Plan? In this video, we'll explain what a 529 is and how...
How Home Equity Affects The CSS Profile
The CSS Profile and the FAFSA have very different requirements and how they calculate your...
College Applications and Financial Aid for Transgender Students
A Transgender Student’s Guide to Shopping, Applying And Paying For College While more and more students...
Net Price Calculators: Part of the Problem, Not the Solution
Our core belief at CAP is that students and families can make smart, fiscally sound...
CAP Data Update! Admissions, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
“Have you started looking at colleges yet?” I remember asking my daughter this question 3...
6 Tips to Ensure You Don’t Go Broke Paying for College
6 Tips to Ensure You Don't Go Broke Paying for College Flip or scroll through the...
What you Need to Know About Completing the CSS Profile or FAFSA with Divorced or Separated Parents or Two-Household Families
Financial aid forms can seem tricky for any household, but this is especially true for...
Can High SAT Scores Help Your College Admission Chances?
High SAT scores can be very advantageous in your student’s college search process. They can...
When Your Student Aid Index or SAI is Too High
When Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is Too High Are you left scrambling after filling out...
The Pros and Cons of Being Waitlisted From a College Funding Perspective
Every year, countless students are waitlisted at major colleges and universities across the country. When...
Pros and Cons Of Test-Optional College Admissions
Pros and Cons Of Test-Optional College Admissions For years, students and parents have railed against the...
All About the Money: 3 Important Financial Questions You Should be Asking When Picking a College
College is an investment. And like all other investments, you should expect to get a great...
Research and Compare 529 Plans
Browse 529 plans by state A 529 Plan is a college savings account that is funded...
Understanding Your 529 Plan: Qualified Expenses and More
What Expenses Can Be Paid from a 529 Plan? Up to this point, parents have SAVED...
Grandparents and 529 College Savings Plans: What You Need to Know
Grandparents want to help. They see the expense ahead for their kids to pay for...
What’s a 529 Plan? 5 Easy Ways to Start Saving For College
It’s no secret that college tuition is continuing to increase dramatically year over year. For...
How to Get a Full-Ride Scholarship from Your ACT or SAT Score
Wanting to get your student a free college education? Who doesn’t! The fact is, there...
How Will I Know If I Qualify For Need-Based Financial Aid?
Will we qualify for need-based financial aid for college? – A question on the minds...
The 5 Types of Need-Based Financial Aid for College-Bound Families
Types of Need-Based Financial Aid When you receive a need-based financial aid package from a college,...
Expected Family Contribution (FAFSA): Explained
Have you heard the term Expected Family Contribution on TV or social media and wondered...
How The Class of 2023 Can Pave An Affordable Path To College
If you’re the parent of a rising high school junior or senior, this blog is...
Does Saving for College Reduce Financial Aid?
Parents regularly express frustration to me, for having been penalized for saving for their child’s...
What You Need to Know About College Application Season
The fall 2023 enrollment season is here! This time brings a flurry of excitement, nerves,...
Maximizing College Financial Aid: What Every Family Should Know
Understanding Financial Aid First thing's first – don’t feel ashamed if you’re more than a little...
Do You Still Need Strong Standardized Test Scores for College?
How much do your standardized test scores matter? The short answer: A lot. But it’s complicated. SAT...