Opportunities...As Your Child Prepares For College

Right now, many families are scared, upset, confused and more...  Not only about Coronavirus and Covid-19. Families are now also grappling with all things related to high school and moving onto college…

• What if we haven’t seen our top campus’ yet?
• Will my child be able to graduate high school without finishing his/her Regents or Final Exams?
• Will the kids get credit for their AP classes when they go to college?​
• What will happen with my 11th grader (and also 9th and 10th)?  Will the colleges not consider grades when it’s time to apply to college?  Can this negatively impact the kids in any way?
• And what about the SAT/ACT tests?  Is it still recommended to take them even when schools are beginning to go “Test Optional?”
• Maybe my child should pick a different school that is closer to home…  What if they need to come home again?

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And here are some other big FINANCIAL questions that my clients are facing…

• I lost my job!  How am I going to pay for college?
• My child’s 529 lost money, as did my brokerage and retirement accounts.  What do I do now?
• Will I need to take out student loans?
• With most schools now offering distance learning, should we enroll in a community college instead and save money?
• Even with everything else going on in the world, I’m also in the middle of a divorce and still have to figure out paying for college for my kids…

Life is complicated, even under the best of circumstances.  There are usually no easy answers as to what the correct path is to pursue.

During this time, stop and take a breath.  All things tend to work out just as they should, even if differently than we had hoped or planned.  There is no use in fighting against what is beyond our control. Use this time, instead, to take action.  Think about what is in your control and look at those opportunities.  

In regards to college, you now have the opportunity to use this time to refine your list of priorities in selecting a college and perhaps, based on that refined list, begin research based on a new set of goals.  Those goals might now include colleges within a specific radius, colleges that are more affordable, colleges that are only test optional (visit fairtest.org), colleges focused on a healthcare major (in light of this world pandemic) or something completely different.  The key is for you to be in control and create a list of goals and subsequent action plans that are best for your family’s plans for a college education.   Other opportunities include having the time to visit all of the social media pages of all of the colleges, to talk with current college students attending various colleges, to study more for exams while we are all "social distancing" and/or to search for other means to afford funding for college.

Typically, no matter what college our children attend, there will be many opportunities for success!  But, please instill in your children that those opportunities will not just come to our children. They will need to go out and pursue those opportunities that are of interest to them.  Opportunities may include working on campus, participating in research, joining the student run television station or newspaper, participating in charity events, applying for internships, networking with faculty and more.

So, while we all want what is best for our children, no matter what their age, it is crucially important during this stressful time in life, for us all to take a step back and, if necessary, reset our priorities and perspective.  

The grades will work out.   The money will work out. We know that there are many questions that still need to be answered.  What’s most important, right now, is for everyone to get through this pandemic safely.

If you or your family should need a guiding hand in regards to college and finances, College Financial Prep is available to help families save money on the cost of college.  Services include consultations, financial aid form preparation, appeals, student loan guidance, divorce and other extenuating circumstances. Contact them at 516-225-5224 or visit www.CollegeFinancialPrep.com.  Appointments traditionally are available both in person and virtually.

Vicki Vollweiler, founder of College Financial Prep, has her MBA degree and is also certified as a life/divorce coach.  She understands the need to separate emotions from finances, especially when it comes to sending one’s own children to College and the resulting costs.  Vicki is the mom of two children. Her oldest child has almost completed his Undergraduate education and will be moving forward into a Ph.D. program Her younger child is currently in middle school and participates in both the band and chorus, and is also on the Cheer team.

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