Financial aid 101 and links for additional information

        Every college is different. Some colleges automatically consider the applicant for merit aid while other ask you to fill out separate application forms and require the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a College Scholarship Service profile (CSS).

      The bottom line when applying for financial aid is to look as needy as possible. If the parents are separated, the child should reside with the parent with the lowest income and highest debt/asset ratio. If your annual family income is above $220K and you have only one child in college at the time you apply for, you’re unlikely to qualify for FAFSA/financial aid, unless your debt/asset ratio is high.You may still qualify for merit aid depending on the college. Some colleges don't require any financial information for merit aid.

Saving for college in a NY State 529, a trust or any other saving vehicles  in your child’s name only makes sense if you don’t qualify for financial aid under any circumstances. If you own real estate or a business, it may be an advantage to have a high debt/asset ratio.  Do not carry a line of credit with a large amount of available cash. Many colleges expect you to pay your estimated family contribution (EFC) before being granted any aid.

And beware of student loans - these may have unfavorable interest rates and are usually not discharged in case of bankruptcy.

Links:

http://www.finaid.org/about/

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/financial_aid/ants.htm

LD Questions for the College Visit

Colleges are by law required to offer "appropriate academic adjustments" for students with disabilities. Support services for LD kids, however, can vary tremendously from college to college.

Before visiting a college, do research about available LD support and set up an appointment with the learning center.

Questions:
1. Is there an LD Center?
2. What LD services and accommodations are offered?
3. Additional fees associated with these services?
4. Is there a general academic support center?
5. Are tutors peers or specialists?
6. What LD documentation is required? When and how is this info submitted?
7. Will the student need to update her/his LD documentation?
8. What kind of information should be submitted about the student's LD on the application?
9. How does a learning disability factor into the admission decision?