Don't Miss Deadlines!

Deadlines, deadlines, and more deadlines! I just had to remind my son to reapply to one outside scholarship he got last year. It is $1500, and while that does not sound like a lot, it has made a world of difference.
I have a spreadsheet created with all kinds of scholarships and deadlines, but I think I will have to add a tab with deadline dates for renewable scholarships.
The other deadlines to watch out for are application dates and acceptance dates. May 1st is the traditional 'decision day'. If your student has not decided you can usually let a college know that you might miss that date. You may also be waiting for all the financial aid and scholarship information. I know for my son, he decided on April 30th! Nothing like the last minute. For him it was down to 2 schools, based on the best financial deal.
My daughter will be a High School senior next year, so the Fall starts with all the applications. For her, there is an additional component to applications,since she will also have to have an audition for music.
Whether you use a spreadsheet, or some other organizational tool, the best thing I can tell you is to be organized! There are so many moving parts to this process, and you don't want to forget to do something!

Private vs. Public

Many people are surprised when I tell them my son goes to a Private University. My family is certainly not wealthy, but most of you would be surprised at how often a Private school is a better deal than the Public option. Private schools tend to have more scholarships and grants available to help students afford the tuition. The Private college or university will usually be able to work with your family more closely, and look at many alternatives in order to manage the costs. The other nice thing about a Private school is that the tuition is the same whether or not you live in state. For a student that really wants to experience a different state, this can be helpful.
Now, don't get me wrong, the Public University can still be a good deal. The costs are generally lower, so if you are planning to pay most/all of your student's tuition, then definitely take a look.
The best advice I can give is to not count a school out due to the perception of it being expensive. Let your student look at both types of colleges. After your student applies, and then receives the Financial Aid Award, is the the time to compare costs. The bottom line is your out of pocket costs, after loans, grants, scholarships,etc.
You may be surprised at what you see!

Scholarship for H.S. Seniors or College students..

Adventures in Education gives away a $500 scholarship each month (in a drawing)..
www.aie.org/milt-wright-scholarship/index.cfm
Here are the eligibility requirements: •You may enter the monthly drawing for the Milton G. Wright Scholarship if you: ◦Are eligible to receive federal student aid (Title IV) funding; ◦Are, at the time of entry, at least 13 years old; ◦Are a high school senior or graduate, or GED recipient; ◦Plan to enroll or are already enrolled at least half time in an undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking program, or a non-degree program for teacher certification at an approved 4-year college; ◦Are not a TG employee or a dependent of a TG employee.