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Robert Theisen's
"How to Give Your Child a 4-Year
College Education without Going Broke"
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Frequently Asked Questions

My family is upper middle class, owns a home, and makes over $40,000 a year. Can I still get financial aid for college?

Yes you can. Financial aid comes from several sources – the federal government, the school itself, and scholarships from individual businesses or organizations. If your family is not eligible for need-based money, you will need to work on the other avenues for assistance. In addition, there are several ways to restructure family assets so they are not considered when family finances are being examined by the funding bodies.

When should we start planning for financial funding for college?

Right now. Financial aid is based on your previous year’s income and assets. It is imperative that you start your planning as early as possible before January of your child’s junior year. If you want to legally and ethically set up your income and assets so you can maximize your eligibility for financial aid, you must start taking the necessary steps at least one year in advance of filling out any financial aid forms. The longer you wait and the closer it gets to your child’s senior year, the tougher it gets to set up your financial picture without creating a “red flag” for the colleges and universities. It is also important for you to know your expected family contribution as soon as possible so you can start saving for it.

Do I need to pick a career before I search for a college?

You don’t need to have a specific career field decided on, but you should have an area of study that interests you at the very least. It is impossible to decide on the college that has the program that is the best for your career path if you have no idea what direction your career path is going.

What should I do if I have no idea what I want to be?

We have several programs available for our clients to use that will show you what you skills are and give you different areas of study that utilize those skills. Other areas of our skill search program let you then research those areas of study that your skills are compatible with to get specific information about career opportunities, jobs, educational requirements and salary ranges available

What should I look for when starting to pick a college?

First, find the colleges that have the best course of study for your career path or area of interest. Then prioritize these colleges by which ones have historically offered the best aid packages. After ranking the schools by their aid packages, pick the ones where your GPA will fall in the top 20% (25% at the worst) of the incoming freshmen.

How many colleges should I apply to?

The recommended number is 6 – 4 good ones, one long shot, and one “safety” state school. You want to be accepted at more than one college in case you need to negotiate for more funding. It is much easier to negotiate for more money from your favorite college if you have received equal or greater funding package offers from other institutions. You want your favorite college or university to want you to be there just as badly as you want to be there.

When should I start visiting the colleges I am considering applying to?

The majority of high school students base their decisions on where they want to go to college on “word of mouth.” They listen to what their friends say is a good school, or they consult college guides, magazines, or guidance counselors. Whatever method you choose for selection, you must visit the campus of each of these schools before applying for admission to get a good idea for what each school is like. Find out when each college has prospective student activities or if there is an opportunity to “shadow” an existing freshman.

Do you want a small town or big city environment? Big or small class sizes? Fraternities or sororities? Good weather or bad? What are the people on campus like – country hicks, sophisticated, cool, nerdy, whatever?

You have a lot to investigate and think about when selecting a college. Starting in your junior year would be wise. Check with your high school about their policy regarding college visits for juniors.

What can a student do to help push himself over into the "wanted student" classification for a university?

The good colleges are getting more and more competitive. If they receive applications from 2 students with the exact same grades and similar extra-curricular activities . . .Guess who they are gonna pick? If you guessed the student with the higher SAT scores, you were right. Sometimes a higher SAT score can make ALL the difference between getting into an “OK” school or a prestigious university.

The small investment made in a good SAT test preparation program will pay off in high returns

My family doesn’t have much money. Do I have to settle for going to a state school instead of the university of my choice?

Very seldom will you have to settle for a less-expensive school. If you have good grades and high SAT scores, there are several strategies that will help you get the funding that you need to attend the school of your choice

Can we get through the financial paperwork maze on our own?

Of course you can! If you have the time and dedication to do the research, devise a plan and stay on target with all the steps and deadlines it will not be a problem at all. Keep in mind that there are many different strategies for college selection, admission, and funding to choose from that will give your child the advantage in getting into the university of his choice without using your retirement “nest egg” or extending the number of years you plan to work. A professional college funding advisor can show you how to use all of the strategies that fit your particular needs to your best advantage.