Brian Safdari - College Planning Experts

Relief for Federal Student Loans

Repaying a student loan could soon be a little less painful.

Starting this week, anyone with a federal student loan can apply for a program, run by the Department of Education, that caps monthly payments based on income, and forgives remaining balances after 25 years. Those choosing to work in public service could have their loans forgiven after just 10 years.

Eligibility for income-based repayment (IBR) is determined by a person's income and loan size. A calculator at www.ibrinfo.org can help borrowers determine their eligibility for the plan, which becomes available Wednesday.

"It's a way to borrow for college without going to the poor house," said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access & Success, a California-based nonprofit that runs the Project on Student Debt.

The program stems from the Education Department's College Cost Reduction and Access Act, signed in 2007, which authorized the creation of a new income-based repayment plan for both Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and Direct Loan borrowers on all Stafford and graduate PLUS loans.

Monthly payments would amount to less than 10 percent of income for most of the estimated 1 million people expected to enroll, experts say. Payments would never exceed 15 percent of any income above about $16,000 a year (or 150 percent of the poverty level).

Those who earn less than $16,000 would not have to make any monthly payments.

The new payment option is intended to provide relief for those who earn modest salaries and struggle under the weight of student loans for years on end. By stretching repayment over a longer period, monthly payments are kept at a reasonable portion of income, though most people would not see any savings on the total cost of the loan.

IBR "can lower costs and provides light at the end of the tunnel" for such borrowers, said Asher of the Institute for College Access & Success. That gives borrowers greater financial flexibility to save for retirement, buy a home or even pay for their own children's education, she said.

The program isn't for everyone, however.

In some cases, accruing interest could push the cost of the loan higher. And since loans are likely to be paid off within 25 years, the loan forgiveness aspect of the program won't apply to most people. To save on interest costs, those who could afford to would be better served paying off loans faster, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, which tracks the college financial aid industry.

If a salary jump eventually disqualifies a borrower for the capped monthly payments, they would still be responsible for the cost of the loan and the interest that accrued up to that point. Monthly payments still couldn't exceed what they would be under a standard 10-year repayment plan. Of course, borrowers could opt to pay off debts faster if they chose.

There are already some options for those who can't afford big monthly payments, such as long-term payment plans spanning up to 30 years. But eligibility requirements are stricter, and monthly payments can still be high.

The government also offers a program similar to IBR called the income-contingent repayment plan. That plan is not as lenient as the new one, however, with payments capped at 20 percent of income beyond 100 percent of the poverty level. And it's also only available for direct federal loans.

The new program will be available for direct federal loans, as well as federal loans administered through private lenders. Most of those enrolled in the income-contingent plan are expected to switch over to the new program.

Parent PLUS loans, the federal loans parents can take out to pay for their children's education, are not eligible for either payment plan.

Need more information on student loans or how to pay for college without going broke?  Call the College Planning Office of Brian Safdari today at 661-295-9946 or visit our website:  collegeplanningexperts.com

College Ready Summer Reading List for High School Students

Make sure your kids are ready for next year and college by reading some of these reccommended books this summer!

Before Entering Ninth Grade

Adams: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy c1980 humor, science fiction
After narrowly escaping Earth’s destruction, Arthur Dent travels the galaxy with the help of tour guide Ford Prefect, on a quest to save the universe.

Anaya: Bless Me, Ultima c1972 diversity, fiction
A healer helps Antonio when he comes to live with his family in New Mexico.

Anderson, Laurie Halse: Speak c1999 emotional problems, fiction
Melinda begins high school as a social outcast after a traumatic experience in the summer.

Blackwood: The Year of the Hangman c2002 alternate history adventure
In 1777, 15-year-old Creighton is kidnapped from England and taken to the American colonies, where he becomes involved in the political unrest that can change the course of history.

Covey: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens c1998 nonfiction
Hints and strategies for success in life, communicated through engaging stories, cartoons and quotations.

Cox: Swimming to Antarctica c2004 nonfiction, memoir
Follow the story of Lynne Cox as she deals with achieving her dreams of conquering some of the roughest waters in the world. The story shows that young people can accomplish great things.

Dessen: The Truth about Forever c2004 grief, fiction
The summer after her father dies holds unexpected changes that help Marcy face her grief.

Dickens: Oliver Twist c1867 classic
An orphan in Victorian England finds his true identity through his misadventures.

Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo c1846 historical fiction, classic
This classic adventure novel involves a daring prison escape, a risky search for buried treasure and a quest for revenge.

Farmer: The House of the Scorpion c2002 science fiction
In the future, clones are looked down upon by humans. However, Matt, a clone of a powerful leader, experiences special privileges.

Grimes: Dark Sons c2005 African American fiction
This starkly written novel is a story of two young men, separated by history, who struggle with identity, race and faith. Both young men struggle with societal acceptance and a place to belong.

Halberstam: Firehouse c2002 nonfiction, biography
Out of all the men who responded to the terrorists' attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, from the Engine 40 Ladder 35 firehouse, only one man survived.

Johnson: The First Part Last c2003 teenage, African American fiction
The birth of Bobby’s baby girl brings life changes to his carefree teenage life.

Krakauer: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster c1998 nonfiction/survival
In March 1996, a group of people joined an expedition to climb Mount Everest. This group included journalist Jon Krakauer and lead climber Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of the climbers, the expedition met with disaster. Krakauer analyzes why.

Lord: A Night to Remember c1955 nonfiction, history
The story of the sinking of the Titanic is told in a "you were there" approach.

McKinley: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast c1978 romance, folklore fiction
While the beautiful heroine is being held captive in the castle of the frightening beast, her love for the beast releases him from the spell that transformed him.

Murdock: Dairy Queen c2006 farm life, fiction
With humor, sports action, romance and wit, this book could appeal to both male and female. The interesting and empathetic characters in non-conventional roles provide “food for thought” and provide insight into situations not usually covered in young adult fiction.

Murray: Bottled Up c2003 drug abuse, realistic fiction
Pip must face his high school principal, his drug addiction, his alcoholic father and a younger brother who looks up to him.

Nolan: Dancing on the Edge c2007 fiction
Miracle McCloy feels like a misfit in a dysfunctional family. Her mother died when she was born and her distant, brooding father disappears suddenly. Raised by her psychic grandmother, Gigi, Miracle searches for her identity and dancing becomes the only thing that makes Miracle feel like a whole person. After being committed to the psychiatric ward of a hospital, Miracle must face the truth about her past.

Nye: 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East c2002 poetry
Poetry of the Middle East.

Oates: Freaky Green Eyes c2003 realistic fiction
Fourteen-year-old Frankie relates the events leading up to her mother’s disappearance and her own attempt to come to terms with her parents’ relationship.

Peck: The Teacher’s Funeral c2004 teenage guys’ fiction
In rural Indiana in 1904, fifteen-year-old Russell’s dream of quitting school and joining a wheat threshing crew is disrupted when his older sister takes over teaching at his one room schoolhouse after mean, old Myrt Arbuckle "hauls off and dies."

Philbrick: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex c2000 nonfiction, survival
This is the story of the tragic sinking of the Essex by an 80 foot sperm whale in 1820. Elements of this tragedy inspired the writing of the classic tale Moby Dick.

Schaap: Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics c2007 nonfiction, sports biography
This book uncovers the history of one of sports greatest track and field stars, Jesse Owens. It traces the racial struggles he faced in America and the dramatic contests in 1936 at the Olympics in Nazi Berlin.

Tolkien: Lord of the Rings Trilogy c1954 fantasy, classic
This trilogy includes The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. It is the story of how the dark power of Sauron is destroyed.

Uchida: Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family c1982 nonfiction, survival
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, like many other Japanese-American families, Yoshiko’s family is assigned to an internment camp in Utah.

Woodson: Behind You c2004 African American fiction
After fifteen-year-old Jeremiah is mistakenly shot by the police, his loved ones struggle to cope with his loss, unaware that he is watching over them.

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Before Entering Tenth Grade

Alexie: Flight c2007 Native American fiction
A teenager in a new foster home wrestles with the anger and injustice of his own situation and contemplates violence before taking a jolting time travel journey to examine the conquest of Native Americans and the consequences of hatred from various viewpoints.

Alvarez: In the Time of the Butterflies c1994 diversity, historical fiction, war
A fictionalized account of four Mirabel sisters who helped form a resistance movement in the Dominican Republic against the dictatorship of General Trujillo.

Anderson: Feed c2002 science fiction, war
People in this futuristic society constantly receive information and commercials from computers implanted in their brains at birth. The story criticizes our consumer-driven society.

Bissinger: Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream c2000 nonfiction, sports
The story of a high school football team in Texas and their struggle to win the championship in 1988.

Bray: A Great and Terrible Beauty c2004 historical fantasy
Gothic with a touch of the occult and light horror, Bray creates an adolescent heroine with present day sensibilities. The novel also provides a strong depiction of the role of women in Victorian times.

Cary: Bloodline: A Novel c2005 vampire, historical fiction
A British soldier in World War I finds out that his regiment commander is a descendant of Count Dracula.

Collins (Editor): Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry c2003 poetry
An anthology of poems selected and introduced by Billy Collins, America’s Poet Laureate.

Dillard: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek c1974 nonfiction, sciene, nature
This Pulitzer Prize winning book is a series of interconnected essays that force one to contemplate the natural world beyond its commonplace surfaces.

Du Maurier: Rebecca c1938 Gothic fiction
Maxim de Winter has married his second wife, who finds it hard to live in the shadow of the first wife.

Ehrenreich: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in Boom-Time America c2001 nonfiction, social issues
Recount the experiences of a reporter who tried to support herself in three different areas of the United States, working at three different minimum-wage jobs.

Grogan: Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog c2005 nonfiction, humor
Grogan recounts his misadventures with Marley, a clumsy, mischievous, mentally unstable 97 lb. yellow lab.

Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time c2003 autism, mystery
Christopher, a mathematically-gifted but socially challenged autistic teen, uncovers secrets about his own family while investigating the murder of a neighbor’s dog.

Halberstam: October 1964 c1994 nonfiction, sports
The story of how the hardscrabble St. Louis Cardinals toppled the seemingly invincible New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series.

Jeter: The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams c2000 nonfiction, sports
An account of the inspirational life of baseball player Derek Jeter.

Kooser: Delights and Shadows c2004 poetry
Presents a collection of poems by Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser, that describe the habits and struggles of daily life.

Larsen: All the Numbers c2006 psychological fiction
A summer lake vacation turns into a tragedy for Ellen Banks who loses her son James as the result of a Jet Ski accident. Ellen is determined to see that the reckless skier is punished, while trying to hold her life together as well as help her younger son cope with the tragedy. Judy Merrill Larsen is a local author.

Meyer: Twilight c2005 vampire fiction
Bella moves from sunny, dry Arizona to wet, dreary Forks, Washington to live with her dad. Not only does Bella live in a totally different place, she meets a handsome guy who is also totally different.

Naidoo: Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope c2001 South African fiction
Set in the South Africa of the Apartheid period, the stories tell of the experiences of young people from different races as they cope with the society’s many restrictions.

Poe: Selected Tales c2001 classic, horror
Seventeen of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories including "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Satrapi: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood c2003 nonfiction, biography, graphic novel
Graphic novel depicting how the author lived in Tehran, Iran until the country came under the control of the Islamic regime.

Shelley: Frankenstein horror, classic
Victor Frankenstein discovers the secret of generating life and creates a monster.

Spiegelman: Maus: A Survivor's Tale I and II historical fiction, graphic novel
A memoir about Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz and about his son, a cartoonist, who tries to come to terms with his father, his story and history itself. The cartoon format portrays Jews as mice and Nazis as cats.

Thomas: The Right Words at the Right Time c2002 nonfiction
A compilation of stories that illustrate how the right words at the right time made a big impact.

Tsukiyama: Dreaming Water psychological fiction
Set in contemporary California, this is the story of a mother’s courage, a daughter’s strength and a friend’s love dealing with Werner’s syndrome, a disease that causes premature aging..

Volponi: Black and White c2005 interracial friendship, fiction
Two friends experience the justice system differently after committing a crime and getting caught.

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Before Entering Eleventh Grade

Austen: Sense and Sensibility classic
This book tells the story of two sisters, one practical and one romantic, and how they share the pangs of tragic love.

Berthon: Warlords: An Extraordinary Re-creation of World War II Through the Eyes and Minds of Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin c2006 nonfiction, war
By using the words of the "warlords" and the words of their contemporaries, this book provides parallel accounts of how these powerful men tried to outthink and outfight each other in World War II.

Blumenthal: Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX, The Law that Changed the Future of Girls in America c2005 nonfiction, women athletes
The gripping history about women’s struggle for equality in sports from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Bronte: Jane Eyre classic
An orphaned young woman in nineteenth century England, takes employment as a governess at a country estate. She falls in love with her employer, who has a secret.

Brooks: True Confessions of a Heartless Girl c2003 realistic fiction
A confused seventeen-year-old girl, a single mother and her young son, two elderly women and a lonely man come together to form a community in a small Manitoba town.

Callahan: The Cheating Culture c2004 nonfiction, social issues
Callahan reports on cheating in sports, education and business, exposing how people will do anything (legal or illegal) to get ahead.

Chevalier: Girl with a Pearl Earring c1999 historical fiction
The possible story behind the relationship between seventeenth century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and the girl in his famous painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Collins: Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems c2001 poetry
These insightful, sometimes humorous poems are simply written about familiar topics.

Danticat: The Farming of Bones: A Novel c1998 Haitian-American fiction
The story of a young woman who tries to weather the "ethnic cleansing" that took place in 1937 in the Dominican Republic under the rule of Trujillo.

De Botton: The Art of Travel c2004 nonfiction, travel philosophy
A look at why we travel and how to get the most from our trips.

Erdrich: Tracks: A Novel c1988 Native American fiction
In the early 1930s, orphans Karl and Mary Adare arrive by boxcar in a small town in North Dakota to find refuge with their aunt and uncle.

Gladwell: Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference c2000 nonfiction, social issues
Gladwell notes how small changes in human behavior can start a fad or change the world.

Hersey: Hiroshima c1985 nonfiction, WWII
An emotionally wrenching account of 6 survivors of the Hiroshima bombing. They vividly recount the horrors of the first few days and explain how their lives have been forever changed. The descriptions of what happened to the victims and the death that occurred are nightmarish yet all too real.

Hilton: Lost Horizon c1936 historical fiction, adventure
A plane crash in the Himalayan mountains, leaves the passengers stranded until they are rescued by a group of people living in Shangri-La where growing old is slow and life is "perfect."

Hopkins: Crank c2004 realistic fiction
After Kristina Snow meets a boy, she becomes a very different person.

Hugo: Les Miserables c1862 historical fiction, French Revolution
The story of the adventures of Jean ValJean, one of the world’s most beloved escaped convicts, during the French Revolution.

Lahiri: The Namesake c2003 coming of age story, diversity
Ashoke Ganguli, born in the United States of Indian parents, struggles with his identity from his teen years through his thirties.

Larson: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America c2003 nonfiction, history
Erik Larson tells the parallel stories of Daniel Burnham, the main architect of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and serial killer Henry H. Homes, who used the fair to lure victims to their deaths.

Matheson: I am Legend c1954 science fiction
Robert Neville appears to be the only survival of the human race after a disease has either killed everyone or has changed them into "vampires." How to overcome the loneliness and reverse what has happened, is Robert’s goal.

Picoult: My Sister’s Keeper c2004 psychological fiction, organ donations
There are two sisters in a family of five, one is very sick and the other conceived to save the oldest sister. What happens to the entire family is told in this story.

Plath: The Bell Jar c1963 psychological fiction
Esther Greenwood, a talented and beautiful young woman, undergoes a mental breakdown.

Preston: Hot Zone c1994 nonfiction, science, nature
The story of an outbreak of the Ebola virus among monkeys in a Virginia laboratory in 1989.

Schlosser: Fast Food Nation c2005 nonfiction
An alarming look into the origins and effects of the American fast-food industry.

See: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan c2005 historical fiction, China
This elegantly written novel takes place in 19th century China when girls suffered from foot binding. It tells the story of "nu shu," a secret language between Chinese women. The story is suspenseful and poignant and provides insight into a non-Western culture.

Walls: The Glass Castle: A Memoir c2005 nonfiction, autobiography
The author tells the story of how she and her siblings eventually found the resources and will to leave home away from their alcoholic father and distant mother.

Welty: One Writer’s Beginnings c1983 nonfiction, autobiography
In this memoir, writer Eudora Welty describes her family and the background that shaped her as a writer. In the book she gives a vivid description of growing up in the South as well as the tools necessary to perfect her craft.

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Before Entering Twelfth Grade

Allende: Zorro c2005 adventure fiction
Diego de la Vega returns to California to reclaim the home in which he was raised and to seek justice for the weak and helpless.

Ambrose: Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany c1998 nonfiction, war
The story of American soldiers in World War II, from the Normandy invasion to the German surrender.

Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale c1986 science fiction
Offred, a handmaid, tells of her life in the puritanical theocracy that had taken over America due to an "incident."

Bissinger: Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager c2006 nonfiction, sports
Buzz Bissinger discusses baseball through the perspective of Tony LaRussa and focusing on a three game series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003.

Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything c2004 nonfiction, humor
The science textbook that you always wished you had. It provides an intriguing whirlwind tour of the major branches of science, but without too much technical language.

Cisneros: Caramelo c2002 diversity, fiction
Celaya Reyes travels from Chicago to Mexico City each summer and pulls together the stories of her Mexican-American family.

Chandrasekaran: Imperial Life in the Emerald City c2006 nonfiction
Former Washington Post Baghdad bureau chief, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, explains what life is like in the protected region of U.S. controlled Baghdad. He details the decisions and mistakes made that have hindered the creation of a stable Iraq.

Fleming: Casino Royale: A James Bond Novel c1953 spy fiction
Meet Bond, James Bond. The first of the James Bond novels that was published will not disappoint the James Bond fan. This spy novel is filled with action, glamour and romance.

Foer: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close c2005 psychological fiction
After losing his father in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, Oskar goes looking for the lock that a key that his father left behind will open.

Frazier: Cold Mountain c1997 Civil War fiction
The story of two people’s lives as they endure the Civil War to once again find each other and start their lives together.

Friedman: The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century c2005 nonfiction, social issues
Award-winning journalist suggests that the globe is "flattening" with technology binding more and more countries together.

Goodwin: No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II c1994 nonfiction
A fascinating account of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt’s marriage and remarkable partnership. The historical context of the World War II era provides insights into American and world history, and the Roosevelt storyline is intriguing. Goodwin’s research is first rate and the book is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Guterson: Snow Falling on Cedars c1994 historical fiction
A newspaper journalist covering the trial of a Japanese-American accused of murder comes to terms with his own past.

Haruf: Plainsong c1999 psychological fiction
Guthrie, a high school teacher raising his two young sons on his own, becomes involved in the lives of Victoria, a pregnant teenager and the two elderly bachelor brothers who take her in.

Hosseini: Kite Runner c2003 coming of age fiction
A story of mystery, friendship, betrayal and redemption set in pre-war Afghanistan.

Hughes: The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes c1995 poetry
A collection of poems written by Langston Hughes over his lifetime.

King: The Shining c1977 horror
The Torrance family takes over as caretakers at an off-season resort and their five-year-old son begins having horrific visions.

Kingsolver: The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel c1998 historical fiction
Saga of a missionary family in the Congo beginning in 1959, as told from the point of view of the various family members.

Larkin: Finding George Orwell in Burma c2005 nonfiction, travel narrative
A great tie-in to the books written by George Orwell giving an in-depth account of the human rights issues that have been taking place in Burma.

Mortenson and Relin: Three Cups of Tea c2006 nonfiction
Be inspired by a real life hero living in our times. Greg Mortenson climbed some of the highest mountain peaks in the world and then, became involved in even bigger challenges. This book reveals the culture and challenges of the people living in Pakistan and may inspire you to make a dramatic, positive impact on the world.

Picoult: Nineteen Minutes c2007 psychological fiction
How does someone who was known to be so sensitive grow up to shoot 29 people in a high school? This is that high school’s story.

Seierstad: The Bookseller of Kabul c2004 nonfiction, biography
After living 3 months with a bookseller, a journalist writes of the nations’ journey to recover from war.

Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream play
Shakespeare's play involving young Athenian lovers, a boisterous group of local tradesmen and the monarchs and subjects of the fairy kingdom.

Sittenfeld: Prep: A Novel c2005 coming of age fiction
At the age of fourteen, Lee Fiora leaves her middle-class and close-knit Indiana family behind to embark on a new life in an elite co-ed boarding school in Massachusetts.

X, Malcolm: The Autobiography of Malcolm X c1965 nonfiction, biography
Story of Malcolm X, the Black Muslim leader, firebrand and anti-integrationist.

Walker: The Color Purple c1982 African American fiction
The life stories of two African-American sisters, one an African missionary, the other an unhappy wife in the South, is communicated through their letters.

Xiaolong: Death of a Red Heroine c2000 detective fiction
Follow Inspector Chen as he tries to solve the murder of a worker in the communist party. As the case unfolds, so do the difficulties of being a good detective versus the desires of the party.

 

Obama Administration Announces Streamlined College Aid Application

The Obama Administration today announced a shorter, simpler, and more user friendly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that will make it easier to apply for college financial aid. The changes—some of which are already in place while others will be phased in over the next few months—are designed to increase postsecondary enrollment, particularly among low- and middle-income students.

"President Obama has challenged the nation to once again have the highest percentage of college graduates in the world," said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. "To do that, we need to make the college-going process easier and more convenient, and to send a clear message to young people as well as adults that college is within their reach. Simplifying the financial aid process is an important step toward reaching that goal."

At his first White House press corps briefing, Secretary Duncan outlined the Administration's plan for streamlining the FAFSA.

• Since May 2009, the Education Department has provided instant estimates of Pell Grant and student loan eligibility, rather than forcing applicants to wait weeks. Links to graduation rates and other college information are also provided;
• Available summer 2009, enhanced skip-logic used in the new web-based FAFSA will reduce user navigation for many applicants by more than half;
• Starting in January 2010, students applying for financial aid for the spring semester will be able to seamlessly retrieve their relevant tax information from the IRS for easy completion of the online FAFSA. The Department of Education and the IRS will be working together to examine the possibility of expanding this option to all students in the future.
• The Administration will also introduce legislation seeking statutory authority from Congress to eliminate financial information from the aid calculation formula that is not available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This will remove 26 financial questions from the FAFSA form that have little impact on aid awards and can be difficult to complete. Only questions that rely upon information that applicants must already provide to the IRS would remain.

The simplified FAFSA is one of several recent steps taken by the Obama Administration to improve access to higher education and make it more affordable. Highlights of the Obama Administration's Agenda for College Affordability include:

• Expanding Pell Grants and College Tax Credits: The Recovery Act increased Pell Grants by $500 to $5,350 for 2009-2010 and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit, a new $2,500 tax credit for four years of college tuition. The President's 2010 Budget proposal would make these policies permanent and ensure the Pell Grant continues to grow steadily by making it an entitlement. Together, they provide approximately $200 billion in college scholarships and tax credits over the next decade.

• Modernizing and Expanding the Perkins Loan Program: The President's 2010 Budget proposes to make this vital program available to over 2,600 additional schools and an estimated 2.7 million additional students each year. By providing an additional $5 billion in Perkins Loans and continuing the low five percent interest rate, President Obama hopes that the neediest of students will have access to federal financial resources they did not have before.

• Creating a New College Access and Completion Fund: In his 2010 budget proposal, President Obama proposes a five-year, $2.5 billion fund to build federal-state-local partnerships aimed at improving college access and completion, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These funds would be used to evaluate programs aimed at increasing college enrollment and graduation, and to grow and bring to scale programs that are proven to be successful.

• To help families in special circumstances during these challenging economic times, the Department sent a letter in early April to financial aid administrators reminding them of their authority to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to address circumstances, such as unemployment, not reflected on the original application.

"Simplifying the FAFSA is another significant action in our quest to keep a college degree within the reach of every person who aspires to higher education," Duncan said.

More information on financial aid for college visit our website and sign up for a FREE College Planning Workshop.  www.collegeplanningexperts.com

Clubs and More!

On campus clubs are a valuble part of high school.  Not only do you connect with others that have similar interest as you, they provide leadership and community service needed on those college applications.  Remember that colleges see applications from hundreds of ASB presidents, school newspaper editors, yearbook editors, etc.  If you can do something different that really stands out then you can get your foot in the door.  Think about the thing that you are most passionate about, is there a club at your high school for it?  If you can't find it, found it! If your school does not offer a club or organization revolving around an activity that you have interest in then start one yourself. Colleges love students who display that kind of initiative and determination. You will earn a rewarding position of leadership that leaves a lasting legacy at your high school. Major points with college admissions officers!

Want more information on how to get the attention of college admissions officers and the help of financial aid officers?  Come to a FREE College Planning Workshop in your area.  Workshops are held each month at various locations around the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Simi Valley.  Call College Planning Experts today!  661-295-9946

Join President and First Lady Obama in Community Service

We talk to our students everyday about the importance of community service.  This is not only importnat for college applicaitons but for finding your passion, giving you a purpose in life and trying out career fields for the future.  To further validate this point, our Presidnet and First lady are also putting out the message to America, time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.  Read the following message from www.serve.gov and get yourself started!

"This summer the President is calling on all American's to participate in our Nation's recovery and renwal by serving in our communities. There are many ways to get involved. America's new foundation will be built one community at a time and it begins with you!" - President and First Lady Obama.

Need extra help with student and financial planning for college?  Come to one of our FREE WORKSHOPS in your neighborhood!  Workshops are scheduled each month so visit us online and reserve a spot or tell a friend!  www.collegeplanningexperts.com

Parents, Get Involved in the College Planning Process!

You can't make a major decision that could affect the ret of your life alone.  It's got to be a team effort with your parents.  Here's why:

1. Two or three heads are better than one

There are thousands of colleges to choose from.  Narrowing this list can be intimidating.  Kimberley Townsend, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., says, “High school seniors are inexperienced in the decision-making arena. The application process made me so nervous, I procrastinated on every step of the way.”  “Your parents’ guidance is necessary to sift through all the concerns you have, and to compare the pros and cons of various colleges,” says Colin Alphonso, a graduate of Collin County Community College in Allen, Texas.  According to Jeremy Boyce, an admissions counselor at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, parents can “open up a students’ eyes to other opportunities and the institutions that best support their child’s goals.”

2. Including them will make the process smoother

It’s during the college application process that most parents stop looking at their teens as kids. So why not return the favor and stop viewing your parents as the authorities controlling your life?  One director of admissions says, “Both parties should express honesty about each school, whereas teens should respect their parents’ opinions, especially since they offer wisdom and years of experience.”  “My mother initially wanted me to attend another university,” says Shira Hussain, senior admissions counselor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. “But she was impressed with all the work I had done to prepare her and myself for my college choice, and hence became confident about my decision.”

3. No one knows you better

No one understands your basic nature better than your parents. College is not only a destination for higher education; it’s also a place where your talents should be drawn out and appreciated.  Therefore, your parents favor colleges that would suit you best, as a student and as a person. Ezella D’Souza’s son, Jeff, is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. He had first enrolled in a university in Washington, D.C. A year later, he decided the college wasn’t a good fit.  Ezella says, “He told us we were right, and then switched over to Washington University, which was our preferred choice as a college that would bring out his talents.”

4. Your parents only want what’s good for you

The college you choose will be your home for the next two to four years. So if your parents try to dissuade you from picking a particular college, it’s not because they want to scuttle your plans. Their aim is to protect you from making  the wrong choice. They want you to go to a school where you’ll be able to achieve your goals and be happy.

5. It’s a good time for bonding

Your senior year is an emotional period for your parents.  Soon, they’ll have to watch you leave home for college.  Be open about the transition ahead for all of you. Once you come clean with each other, it’ll be a smooth road ahead all the way to the college of your choice.

 

Get the Professionals on your team!  Call College Planning Experts today to reserve a spot at a FREE WORKSHOP in your area!  Want us to come to your school or business?  WE CAN DO IT!  Call today 661-295-9946 or visit www.collegeplanningexperts.com

 

You can’t make a major decision

Choose a Career that is important to you!

Practically all of us go through a time in our lives when we are torn between what we know we want and need in a career, and what others say we should want and need. Sometimes these internal wars are the result of near-constant media exposure. If, for example, you watch television for even half an hour, you will be pushed in all sorts of ways toward “the good life”: a bigger car, nicer house, better body. At other times, the career “shoulds” develop much closer to home. Such as when your academic adviser says, “You’ll never get a decent job with a philosophy degree.” You might feel pressured to cave in. That’s the easiest, fastest way to stop the unwanted advice and criticism. Then you beat yourself up for selling out on your wants and needs. The only way to address the career “shoulds” is to identify your career-related values and look for a career that matches those values. You won’t be able to do that until you first turn off the voices of the influences around you. Your parents Of all the people in your life, your parents probably have the greatest impact on your career decisions. Perhaps your parents have come right out and said they’ll only help you with your tuition if you choose a practical, marketable major like accounting, while you have always pictured yourself becoming a writer or musician. If you go into accounting for your parents’ sake, who is going to be stuck doing your job every day? Your parents? Of course not; it will be you. Your friends At some point, you have to ask yourself a critical question: Is your best friend—the one who cannot even get to class on time—your best source of career advice? Moreover, is your best friend so important to you that you will pursue the career he or she says makes sense for you? Your instructors Your biology professor might mean well when she says you have a gift for understanding the intricacies of cell structure and that you should consider becoming a cell biologist. It can be flattering to get that kind of feedback from someone. But unfortunately, your professor won’t be willing to do your job for you. The career path you choose better be one that fits you, not your professor. The media The people you see on television, hear on the radio or read about in magazines won’t be accompanying you Monday mornings while you ride the train to a job you can’t stand. They may be telling you to chase all sorts of things via your career—money, power, status—and promising that happiness will follow. But remember: You will kick yourself when you figure out you’ve been running in the wrong direction for months … or even years. You can ignore what is important to you in a career and get away with it for a while. Sooner or later though, the disconnect between what you are doing for a living and what you value in a career catches up with you. Other people can tell you only what is important to them in a career. Only you know what is important to you.

President Obama Urges Students to go to College

Do your parents tell you to move out of the house?  Go to college.  Even if you go to online college you will get out of the house sooner and stay out on your own with the great job you will get.  According to the most recent US Government census, Americans with a bachelor’s degree earned 51% more than those with just a high school diploma.  Those with a bachelor’s degree earned over $52,000 per year on average.

Once you realize that college is your next step, you need to find one.  Here are some questions you might find helpful to find the college for you.

1.  Is an in-state or out of state college right for you?
2. Are small schools a better fit for my needs or should you look at bigger schools?
3. Is financial aid available or should you look for scholarships?
4. Do you prefer a suburban setting, a school in a big city or studying in the middle of nowhere?
5. Which programs fit your career goals?
6. Does your class rank matter?
7. How good is the college’s career services office?  How many people get jobs through the center every year?
8. What extracurricular activities are available?  Do they have ones you like?
9. Is there a professor that could potentially mentor you one on one to develop your career interest?
10. What type of campus housing is available?  Will the school help you find an off campus place to live?
11. Bonus question for today’s world:  Do you know how financially secure the school is?

I recommend you review each one of these questions and answer them as you find schools you think might be a good fit.  Come to one of our FREE WORKSHOPS and find out not only how to pick the right school but also how to pay for it without going broke!  Visit our website for workshop dates at a location near you.  www.collegeplanningexperts.com

PICK YOUR SAT SUBJECT TESTS CAREFULLY!

This week I would like to focus on the all important SAT Subject Tests. Why are they so important for top colleges? In short, they help colleges interpret your grades and equalize grading scales from high school to high school. How does an A at school X compare to an A in school Y? Well, if one student scored a 770 on the Bio SAT Subject Test and the other scored a 580, we'd know that the first school had a much "truer" grading scale and that the competition was simply not as strong at school Y. In effect, these scores either show that a student deserved the high grades he received, or that the school simply hands out many A's. With that being the case, students usually have to submit 2-3 SAT Subject Tests at most competitivecolleges.

Students should consider very carefully which tests they sign upfor – most students don't even realize that the average test scores are totally different on every SAT Subject Test! Most assume that the mean score is 500, but that is not the case.  Take the Math I and the Math II. Many students take the I thinking it's "easier," but the average score on a recent test was 588. If you miss a handful of questions, you will not even score in the 700's! Compare that to the Math II - the average score
was recently 659! That means you can get a bunch wrong and  still be in the700's (on a recent test, you could get 7 wrong and still score a perfect 800). In other words, every test has a different group of test takers - the kids who take the II are a smaller group, but a stronger group. Take exams like the
Chinese - since almost all the kids who take it actually speak Chinese, the average has been very high: 752! Here's another fact to keep in mind: the percentile scores do not get reported to colleges, only the grade. Most admissions officers don't differentiate or even worry about if you 750 was "high" or low for your test. So those who get a 752 on the Chinese test (the highest average of all the SAT Subject Tests) score only 50%, but the score still looks strong.

The message is, it pays to study the average scores and pick tests based on your ability and the scoring curve. The average information is available on the College Board’s web site and is actually printed on the score reports you receive back after taking SAT Subject Tests. Use them to your advantage!

CAl Grants Cut for College Students

The Legislature will be meeting this week.  Please forward this important and timely information to all interested parties. Read to the bottom to find a sample letter & the email & phone contact information to let your voice be heard.  Thank You.


 As you've probably heard, the governor is planning on eliminating Cal Grants for students for the 2009-10 school year. This budget cut will affect your child whether or not he/she will be receiving a Cal Grant, because the removal of the Cal grants will affect the remaining budgets for the universities.  As a result, the remaining university funds will have to be redistributed, thereby resulting in reductions or elimination of any kind of proposed grant aid to ALL California university students and potential reductions of class offerings and services for the students.

Over 252,000 California students are currently receiving funds from Cal Grants. At UCLA, approximately 7,000 students receive Cal Grant Funding annually totaling $46 million dollars. All other UC and CSU campuses will be affected as well.

 

 Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger submitted a new proposed budget that would make a number of spending cuts, including a phased elimination of the Cal Grant program.  Students who are currently receiving Cal Grants would continue to have their awards renewed as long as they are eligible.  However, all new awards for the 2009-10 year, approximately 116,200 new awards, would be cancelled.  Over the next few years, all Cal Grants would be eliminated.  

 

 The Joint Legislative Budget Committee will be holding hearings on cuts to education this week and deliberating this serious matter, and it is important they hear your voice on this very critical issue which affects college access and your continued enrollment.

 

 YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!  Please contact the members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by email or by fax using the contact information provided below.  Additionally, we strongly encourage you to send this similar communication to your specific Senate and Assembly state representatives in your home district .Let them know how these cuts will affect you, your younger siblings, and other California students like you who need Cal Grant assistance to help finance a college education.