The premier source of unbiased information, educating families on the path through high school and beyond.

ARE YOU PREPARED?

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The cost of a college education

is a major investment:

$80,000 - $240,000

BECOME AN EDUCATED CONSUMER

$240,000

TUFTS

05/01/2023 Slide 3

Road2College — Who Are We?

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Content providers focused on the intersection of college admissions and affordability

We cut through the sea of information to organize, annotate, and simplify information from the most relevant resources into easy to understand concepts and language

We delivery value-added content to parents, counselors, independents, and non-profits

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THE CHANGING WORLD OF ADMISSIONSSchool 2005 Admissions

Rates2014 Admissions

RatesBrown 16% 8.6%Columbia 12% 6.95%Cornell 31% 14%Yale 11% 6.3%Harvard 11% 5.9%Tufts 27% 17.4%Penn 29% 9.9%Wash U 20% 17%Amherst 18% 13%Vanderbilt 40% 13%

Applications have increased 30% - 80%.

Increased applications from foreign students.

Peak number of high school graduates.

Increase in number of high school students pursuing college. 4

(EFC) Estimated Family Contribution, FAFSA, CSS, PLAN,

ACT, SAT, PLUS, Stafford, Need Blind,

Net price, Sticker price, SAR, Early

Decision, Early Action

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU

DON’T KNOW

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Expected Family Contribution (EFC) It’s not one number but four different calculations.

UNDERSTAND EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

Student Income

Parent Income

Parent Assets

Student Assets

Parental assets assessed at 5.6% vs. 20% for student assets.

Parent Income Parent Assets Child’s Income Child’s Assets Number in College Family Size Age of Oldest Parent Types of Assets Tax Filing Status Family Structure

Home Equity Other Children’s Assets Cars You Own Other Assets Other Tuitions Other Questions Business Assets

Federal Method Institutional Method

Impact on EFC Outcome

DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIESEXPECTED

FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

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Jones Family has an EFC of $24,000

EXAMPLE EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

School 1

EFC: $24,000

Cost of Attendance: $52,000

Potential Fin Aid Award: $28,000

School 2

EFC: $24,000

Cost of Attendance: $19,000

Potential Fin Aid Award: $0

Students in the top 25% to 33% of applicants will capture the best financial aid packages.

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Finding Net Price Calculators

RESOURCES FORECASTING & COMPARING

Comparing College Costs

EFC – COA = Net Price

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Create a list of 8 – 10 colleges made up ofLikely, Target, Reach, Financial Safety, Merit Potential

PLANNING CREATING A COLLEGE LIST

Resources to build your list & guide you through the process…

The best defense is a good offense – build a great college list!

Common Data Set A collaborative effort between publishers (the College Board, Peterson’s, and US News & World Report) and the educational

community

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RESEARCHING WHAT INFORMATION TO LOOK FOR AND WHERE

Custom College RankingsOnline spreadsheet with IPEDS Information, with ability to filter and

sort and ranked based on a custom methodology

DYI College RankingsInformation based on Acceptance Rates, Graduation Rates,

Ethnicity, COA, Majors, Athletics

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Increase your odds with high grades and test scores AND applying to the “right” school.

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EXAMPLE HOW TO FIND MERIT AID

Find schools that have the money AND are likely to give it away.Sort by endowment per student, % of students receiving institutional grants, avg institutional grant size, % of freshman receiving non-federal loans & CDS data.

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Try to visit while school is in session.

LISTEN COLLEGE VISITS

Play close attention to language used and emphasize

Research beforehand and come prepared with questions to ask

Write down impressions right away

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The Perfect Score Project – book & website

TEST PREP ADVICE FROM A PRO

Plan a full year in advance to prepare.

Having a solid foundation is the best test prep possible.

Use official College Board materials as practice exams.

Build endurance – take 10 to 15 pracitce tests.

TEST PREP

www.perfectscoreproject.com

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RESOURCES BECOME AN EDUCATED CONSUMER OF HIGHER ED

SEARCHwww.diycollegerankings.com

www.customcollegerankings.comwww./tractusinsight.com

www.admitted.lywww.possibilityu.com

FINANCE

www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-

calculatorwww.collegeabacus.com

http://studentnpc.collegeboard.org/participating-schools

www.Road2College.com

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ARE YOU

READY TO HELP

YOUR CHILD THROUGH THE

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?

Sign up at www.Road2College.com