The Choice blog at the New York Times has a nice round-up on the “Merit Aid Negotiation” panel at the annual College Board conference which aimed to answer the question we posed in our headline here. The panel included two Deans of Admission featured in True Admissions' "5 Questions" -- Purdue's Pamela Horne and University of Chicago's Jim Nondorf. Check it out here.
In a poker tournament, the "bubble" is the point in the tournament at which the next player out will not win any money. Merriam-Webster defines a bubble as "something that lacks firmness, solidity, or reality." Richard Vedder of The Independent Institute and Andrew Gillen of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, note the "defining characteristic of a bubble is unsustainable growth that eventually reverses." In Cost Versus Enrollment, a provocative -- but seriously wonk-ish, you've been warned! -- article, Vedder and Gillen examine whether there is a higher education bubble -- with an in-depth look at cost, outcomes, the benefits of a degree, and whether so many students should be attending college.
The bottom line: a saner future most likely awaits applicants and their families!
Get Smart About College from the Wall Street Journal examines the question of how parents and students think about paying for college. There's some excellent advice here from authors Sandy Baum and Michael McPherson, both admired experts on higher education, known for their trenchant and original thinking backed by data. In particular, hurrah for their focus on fit and highlighting the fact that students who get into selective colleges but opt for cheaper schools are less likely to graduate -- a decision therefore that can be far more costly than it first appears. And the spreadsheet the authors suggest is basically our Financial Aid Package Evaluator that you can find in our book and right here on our website under the Worksheets tab. But read the whole article! All in all, it's a valuable investment perspective on one of the most expensive decisions most families will make.
Attention, juniors! Here's your checklist as you head back to the classroom:
Attention, seniors! You will need to hit the ground running this fall:
