College-Bound Students Fight Back and Receive the Secrets to Winning College Admissions, Scholarships and Financial Aid Through Free Resource

    GARLAND, TX, July 29, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- This year, seniors and their parents will find that not only is it now more expensive to attend college, but there is less funding to go around. This has lead to financial aid applications rising by 12 percent. Add to that an ever-changing, confusing application process and no wonder a recent national study found 71 percent of high schools reported more students forgoing the college of their dreams this year from past years.

High demand isn't helping. More students than ever before are clamoring for admittance to schools with a limited number of slots open. This applies not only to those coveted 'dream schools', but also to local state schools that were once considered safe havens for students, where you knew you could get into, no matter what.

Changes are being discussed within the Obama administration that will likely alter the landscape even more. This summer, Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced efforts to 'shorten and streamline' the process. No wonder since, as an example, the standard federal college aid form, known as the FAFSA, is over 150 questions long and confuses applicants. Many give up.

All this in an environment where tuition has risen at a rate well above inflation and stock-based college savings plans have plummeted. Last year studies found tuition and fees up as much as $1,398 per year. These factors demonstrate just how important it is to have the right financial plan in place long before you begin sending out applications or completing essays.

Students are left in an unenviable position. According to Darby Binder of Rapid Guide, "Not only must they contend with higher prices for tuition, but they must also find a way to ensure they are able to obtain grants, scholarships and even school loans in an increasingly volatile market. Trouble is, most of them don't know how or don't think it is worth their time."

What does this mean for this year's seniors and their parents? In short, it means that you have to be at the top of your game, in all aspects of the application process, especially financial aid. You have to understand the process, timing and terminology to receive acceptance and maximize financial aid opportunities.

Can you currently answer these questions?
--- If your family income is likely above minimum standards for need-based aid, what other funding is available?
--- Under what circumstances are you better off retaking standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, or GRE? What is the most likely way to increase scores?
--- How can early admission help you and when should you do it?
--- How do you evaluate grants, scholarships, and loans? Want can you qualify for with your specific background?
--- What tools are available to estimate college costs and how much you specifically will have to pay? How much can you afford?

Another example is your college applications. Just like taking a test, the results of this application, including the essay portion, will determine whether or not you are accepted to the school(s) of your choice. How do you ensure that you have the knowledge required to complete these exams correctly? What are colleges looking for?

To help students and parents solve these problems, Rapid Guide has released a free Financial Aid Action Plan in the form of a monthly email newsletter, specifically outlining the exact information and actions required for that month in order to maximize their potential for financial aid and lower their college costs. According to Ms. Binder, "These are fairly straightforward things students and parents can do if someone just took the opportunity to explain them and remind them at the appropriate time. That is our goal."

Readers can sign up for this free resource and learn more about financial aid at www.newsletter.financialaidtips.com. Rapid Guide also recently made headlines by releasing a free "Scholarship of the Day" service (www.scholarships.financialaidtips.com) designed to deliver a new scholarship opportunity to students every day. These two services will most certainly accelerate college funding and admissions for those who leverage them. Learn more at www.FinancialAidTips.com

Rapid Guide's FinancialAidTips.com specializes in providing help to both students and parents. They provide many free resources including their Financial Aid Action Plan newsletter which contains comprehensive information regarding college admissions, financial aid packages, grants, scholarships, and tips to help students and their parents obtain maximum funding for higher education. Rapid Guide also recently released a free "Scholarship of the Day" service to help students find scholarships. Visit www.financialaidtips.com to learn more.

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