| Connecticut parents with children in high school who | | | | and planning the method of payment for college. Tips |
| are distraught over rising college costs, decreasing | | | | and strategies in the free guide include: |
| home values and talk of a recession now have a free | | | | 1. Don't spend too much time on private scholarship |
| resource in plain English which gives over 35 financial | | | | searches: many parents fail to realize that private |
| aid strategies. Including filling out forms to qualify for | | | | scholarships make up a small percentage of the total |
| the most financial aid, scholarships searches and using | | | | financial aid available while the majority is need-based |
| money-saving strategies to pay for college while | | | | and comes from the federal government, the college |
| continuing to contribute towards retirement funds. | | | | or university and the state in which they reside. |
| According to college planning specialist Chris Rivers, | | | | 2. Be willing to negotiate your financial aid award: |
| CEO of Michael Hanley Group, during the college | | | | officers have flexibility in extending award offers. Feel |
| admission process parents of college-bound students | | | | free to cite specific offers from other schools. Telling |
| are required to fill out tedious and time-consuming | | | | your primary school about the amount of aid available |
| forms, assess their child's career options and make | | | | at another school will let them know that your child is |
| financial decisions with significant tax and retirement | | | | a highly coveted student. |
| consequences without the hands-on guidance of a | | | | 3. Don't be afraid to apply to expensive private |
| professional. This often means missed deadlines, | | | | schools that offer a great education: most parents |
| minimum financial aid assistance and lower award | | | | mistakenly discourage their child from applying to the |
| offers from colleges. | | | | more expensive private college due to the sticker |
| This resource is a free and informative guide assisting | | | | price, however these are usually the schools with the |
| parents with filling out the financial aid and admission | | | | larger endowment accounts and thus have more |
| forms, locating colleges that give generous packages | | | | money available for scholarships. |