Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

Play close attention to the financial aid package

Calculate the true costs of college, then compare offers. For many families, making the final college decision comes down to the financial-aid package offered by the institution. There is no uniform formula for aid packages; they differ in size and makeup. What you should look for An award letter     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

Bad ways to make a final college decision

The final notification and decision date of May 1 is looming. While most students have already made their choice, some high school seniors still find themselves knee-deep in charts detailing the pros and cons of each of their college choices. There are smart ways to choose (see last week’s     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

In at several schools? How to pick right one

How do you decide which college to say yes to? With so many students submitting 10-plus college applications, this pleasant quandary is a real dilemma. Students who have received multiple offers from colleges now find the shoe is on the other foot. Accepted students may be heavily recruited by     Continue Reading...

Lee Bierer - Nationally Syndicated Columnist and Independent College Counselor.

What to do if you’re on the wait-list

While lots of students may not have been accepted to their top school this year, large numbers didn’t receive the dreaded rejection letter either. Instead, they were the recipients of the sometimes confusing wait-list letter. Paraphrased here, it goes something like this: “We wanted     Continue Reading...