5 Tips for Getting Into College Using Social Media

1. Write your own blog

Free blogging websites like WordPress and Blogger allow you to write and release your own articles for free, on you own personal URL. If you are a high school student with a specific interest that relates to extra-curricular activities or academics, write about it. A personal blog shows initiative, highlights your writing style, demonstrates how you could add an extra element to a college campus, and increases your transparency online. 

2.  Follow prospective colleges on Facebook and Twitter

Pretty much every college will have a Facebook fan page and Twitter account. Most colleges, in fact, will have multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts. Each one will be targeted to alumni, athletics, Grad students, press, and other areas. Follow the ones that best fit your situation and interest you the most. Doing this will have two positive impacts: (1) you will be able to stay up to date on the college's information and (2) if the college looks into your social accounts, they will be able to see that you are interested and following them. 

3. Make a video

As we all know, getting into college is becoming increasingly competitive. Applicants need a way to stand out, and a making a video could be one way to do that. Film yourself talking about why you want to go to a college and how you could add value to the school. Other ideas have been to make a video essay or write a skit that explains what makes you who you are. Then, you can upload the video to YouTube and use the link in applications. Here are some examples of video applications on YouTube.

4.  Use online photo album sites

If you are a photographer, artist, athlete, traveler, actor/actress, or like to participate in any other high school clubs, then you must have relevant pictures. Websites like Flicker and Picasa allow you to create your own photo albums under your own profile for free. If you put your full name in the title of your photo-sharing site, this will most likely come up high in Google search results. "A picture says a thousand words," so remember that as much of a positive impact this can have on your application, inappropriate photos could negatively impact it even more. 

5. Get press

In addition to being great character builders and a positive on the community,volunteering and extra-curricular activities can be great opportunities to receive local press. Having your name in a local paper will make a positive impact on your online searchable reputation. 

Here are two other ways to receive press as a high school student. First, if you have a story to tell about yourself (you own your own small business, you volunteer outside of school, you play on some nationally   recognized athletic team, etc.) do not be afraid to approach local blogs and newspapers to tell your story. 

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Top 5 Reasons Why Families Lose the College Planning Game!

WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE

Most parents consolidate 4 to 18 years of college planning into 6 months. Families spend more time in planning their vacation or buying a car than they do on paying their children's college education.

YOUR TAX RETURN AFFECTS FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

The financial aid formula runs off of parents’ and student’s income tax returns. Income is the largest factor when it comes to qualifying for financial aid. Most middle and high income taxpayers will NOT qualify for NEED-BASED financial aid at most state supported colleges and universities. Therefore, proper tax planning is a must. How you complete your income tax returns can create what we call TAX SCHOLARSHIPS, which can be more valuable than financial aid.

NOT KNOWING HOW TO COMPARE FINANCIAL OFFERS FROM COLLEGES

State-supported colleges and universities do not have a lot of institutional aid available to give to students. But private colleges do. Private colleges must compete with state supported colleges and universities. Therefore, many private colleges attract quality students by offering them what are called “College Enrollment Incentives”. These come in the form of need-based scholarships and grants or merit based scholarships and grants. These incentives are given to low and high income families. Therefore, students should not disqualify themselves from applying to private colleges and universities because of the advertised cost of attending. In some instances, a private college or university can cost the same amount or less than a state-supported college or university.

NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE ASSETS OR HOW TO BORROW CORRECTLY

Families that don’t qualify for need-based aid do not know how to use their income and assets to their advantage, which can force the parents, as well as the student, into higher debt. But knowing how to best use what you have to work with, can increase cash flow during college years. After the student graduates, these monies could be used to help supplement the parents’ retirement.

Knowing how to borrow correctly can reduce college costs, create additional monthly cash flow, reduce taxes, and increase retirement savings. Knowing how to arrange your finances through borrowing and proper money management can help pay for college without changing your lifestyle or increasing your debt.

COLLEGE EXPENSES ARE PAID WITH AFTER TAX DOLLARS

The dollar amount spent on college expenses can dramatically affect the parents’ ability to fund retirement.

For example: The $50,000 price of a public university (over four years), will cost a 50 year-old parent over $158,000 (assuming a 8% savings rate) towards his retirement at age 65. If the parent is 20 years away from retirement the $50,000 price of a public university will cost over $233,000 (assuming an 8% saving rate) towards their retirement at age 65.

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