The College Planning Blog

Hey,

I’m finally starting to get caught up from my busy season, so be sure to give me a shout if you need anything. The article is below. Also, feel free to pass it along to anyone who would enjoy it.

Jeff, Jeremy and Brannon

7 Tips to Make the Most of Your College Visits

If you are even thinking about going to college in the next few years, visiting your potential colleges is one of the most important steps that you can take. Just like you wouldn’t buy a car without going for a test drive, you would be amazed at what you can learn about a school in just a few hours. So, to help you get started, here are some tips to make the most of your visits:

1. Start by visiting one type of each college you are considering. For instance, if you are not sure whether you would like a smaller or larger college, visit a couple of schools that are close by that represent each type, like a large public school and then a smaller private school. At least now, you’ll have something to compare.
2. Do your homework before you go, and narrow your choices by using a good school selection program. You can find some good ones online or contact my office at the address below for our suggestions. Also, make sure that the schools you are considering actually have the major you are interested in. I know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often people skip this step. (more…)

Sallie boss warns of student loan ‘train wreck’

House OKs measure to get more money to struggling lender

The Associated Press

updated 6:14 p.m. CT, Thurs., April. 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - Sallie Mae says it cannot write money-losing student loans indefinitely.

Top executives are holding “daily deliberations” about just how long the nation’s largest student lender can afford to sacrifice its bottom line for the sake of college-bound Americans, Sallie Mae CEO Albert J. Lord said Thursday.

Lord told analysts on an earlier conference call: “We’ve been predicting something of a train wreck” in mid-2008 without prompt changes in a market hit by fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis and cuts last year in federal subsidies to student lenders.

Experts said that, unless the government intervenes or market conditions rapidly improve, Sallie Mae could have no choice but to stop writing new federally backed loans. (more…)