This past weekend my family and I had the pleasure of driving from the Chicago area to Columbia Missouri, to visit the University of Missouri. I must admit, college has certainly changed since I attended.
For one, the college experience now comes complete with:
- Dorms that look like fancy hotel rooms
- Spas and wade pools
- Tanning salons
- Food courts
- And a host of other amenities
If I were a college student today, I would never leave school for the real world. I think I might delay it for as long as possible. However, I came away very impressed with Mizzou.
The campus was beautiful and everyone we met — faculty, administrator and student alike, were very pleasant. Needless to say my kid is now even more in love with the school.
My kid wants to major in broadcast journalism. Missouri is said to be one of the top schools in the country for this major. The University of Missouri just happens to have its own NBC affiliate, how about that.
All-in-all, it was an enjoyable time and I must admit, deep down inside I kind of wish that I was back in school.
Share Your Experience
- Have you gone on any college visits with your kid?
- What was your impression of the visit?
- After the visit did your child’s opinion of the school increase or did the visit cause them to re-think their decision?
- Do you think that college has become a country club, thus giving our children a false idea of what the real world is like?
Common Errors on the FAFSA
Mike Pugh
A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application by up to three weeks. One in seven FAFSA forms is returned due to errors. It could happen to you.
Avoid the most common mistakes:
- The most frequent mistake made is leaving a field blank. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, write in a zero. If you leave a question blank, the processor will assume that you forgot to answer.
- Use the 1040 federal tax return for income reporting and reporting taxes paid. Some parents and students mistakenly use their W-2 form.
- Don’t forget to report all the required sources of untaxed income. These include Social Security, child support and Aid to Dependent Children (ADC).
- Report your correct marital status. If you plan to file as a married student, you must be married on or before the date that you sign your FAFSA.
- Make sure to include your stepparent’s information.
- Include yourself in the household size. Even if you didn’t live there during the previous year, you should always include yourself as part of your parent’s household.
- Don’t forget to sign the application. If you’re filing as a dependent, both you and your parents must sign. If you file online, you and your parents can sign the form electronically using your PIN numbers.
- Remember to file on time. Priority for programs with limited funds is often given to students who file the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.
- As with all forms and applications, make sure you read the instructions and questions carefully. If you’re unclear about a question or are having trouble filling out the FAFSA, check the FAQ section on the FAFSA Web site, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED AID (1-800-433-3243).
- On the paper form, follow instructions with regard to using a pen or pencil.
To avoid these errors, get started early. Use the Pre-Application Worksheet to insure you’ve gathered all the necessary information. Be sure to proofread your application before you submit it. Fill it out right the first time, and you’ll have your financial aid letter in no time.
In an effort to assist college students with the high costs of education, Congress has recently made the next step in passing a bill to help students cope with the price of textbooks.
The House of Representatives voted Feb. 7 to require tighter regulations for colleges and publishers in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. If the bill becomes law, it would reinstall portions of the Higher Education Act-which is the law that governs federal student aid…read more about decreasing the price of textbooks
