How to Create the Ideal Student LinkedIn Profile

Once you’ve created a stellar student resume, the next step is to craft your professional online appearance. First, scrub your social media platforms for any content you don’t want recruiters to see. Then, if you haven’t already, join LinkedIn to present yourself as a professional who’s ready to take…

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How to Create a Student Resume That Wows Hiring Managers

In today’s competitive job market, creating a strong student resume is an invaluable tool for showcasing your skills and qualifications to potential employers. Whether you’re a recent grad or currently pursuing your degree, taking the time to create and optimize your resume can significantly boost your professional prospects and aid…

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What is Dual Enrollment and How Does it Work?

Want to get a head start on your college education? Dual enrollment is a program that allows high school students to take college-level courses and earn credits toward both their high school diploma and a postsecondary degree at the same time. It doesn’t matter if you go to private school…

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How to Choose a Private Student Loan: 7 Factors to Consider 

The average amount a college-bound student borrowed from private lenders increased over 40% from $6,630 in 2022 to $9,337 in 2023. As college students turn to private student loans at increasing rates, it’s important to understand how to choose a private student loan. Consider these seven factors to help…

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The Complete Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA® as a Parent  

Each year, billions of dollars in federal financial aid are left unclaimed by American families who don’t fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). In 2022, 23% of families skipped the FAFSA® simply because they didn’t have enough information to complete it.  The FAFSA®…

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How to Prepare for an Internship Interview : 12 Pro Tips

Landing an internship can be the first step to achieving your career goals. In fact, 70% of companies offer full-time jobs to successful interns. But before you get too excited about your future career path, you’ll need to get and then ace your internship interview. No matter if this…

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How to Apply For a Student Loan (Federal and Private)

For many college students, there’s a gap between how much a degree costs and what they can afford. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 41% of American families participated in some type of borrowing to close this gap. Once you’ve maxed out your other financial aid, you may need to…

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How to Financially Prepare Your Child for College

Financial planning and literacy are important skills for any adult to have in their toolkit – yet they’re ones that aren’t always taught in American schools. A recent study found that 32% of U.S. teens don’t understand basic financial concepts, like the difference between a debit and credit card.

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Community College vs. a Four-Year University: 8 Key Differences

If you’re a high school student considering your next step, traditional four-year colleges are probably on your radar. But did you know that 66% of undergraduate students in the U.S. have been, or are currently enrolled in a community college?  Junior colleges can be a great place to start…

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The Pros and Cons of a 529 Plan

Adjusted for inflation, a year of college cost $4,300 in 1963. Today, that same year will cost you over $14,000. The more tuition costs rise, the more necessary it becomes to start saving for college as early as possible. Opening a 529 college savings plan can be a great…

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HELOC vs. Student Loan: Which Should You Use to Pay for College?

Paying for college is a complex puzzle for most families. Over 40% use borrowed funds, and 70% report making lifestyle changes to tuck away extra cash for higher education. Regardless of your personal finances, a creative approach can help lower costly tuition bills. Chances are you’ve considered federal…

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Popular Work-Study Jobs and Where to Find Them

If you’ve been granted a federal work-study award, your part-time employment could earn you more than just a few extra dollars. For some college students, a part-time job can actually improve focus, lead to higher grades, and teach valuable life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom. Plus,…

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21 Tips for College Prep During the Summer of Your Junior Year

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the rigor of junior year. Now, it’s onto the last year of high school. Senior year is filled with hard work, a healthy dose of nostalgia, and a lot of preparation if you plan to attend college. Before you focus on making memories during those…

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Why is My EFC So High?

If you finally received your Student Aid Report (SAR) after filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), you should have a good idea of how much the government expects your family to contribute to your college education. And you’ll know this based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)…

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18 Ways Parents Can Help With the Scholarship Process

If you’re new to the scholarship application process, there’s a lot of uncharted territory and even the most organized aspiring college students could use a little parental assistance. To help students win awards and offset the rising cost of college education, we’ve put together a few tips on how…

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15 Scholarships for Women in STEM

Due to the outsized growth of jobs in STEM fields, educating college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is increasingly important. But even in 2023, there’s a huge gender gap in STEM fields of study. One survey from MIT found that female-identifying workers made up only 28%…

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The Pros and Cons of Parent PLUS Loans

Due to the rising costs of higher education, more and more Americans are turning to student loans. In fact, student loan debt has tripled over the past fifteen years—climbing to almost $1.7 trillion dollars in 2023. This staggering number has sparked many philosophical and economic debates. But for…

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