SCOIR Blog

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Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters and the True Out-of-Pocket Cost of College

As the acceptances start rolling in, you should also receive your financial aid award letter from each college. Now is the time to start comparing the true out-of-pocket cost of attendance for each school. However, financial aid award letters ...

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Is College Regulated? How Accreditation Agencies Ensure a Quality Education

By: Mike Naples | 03/01/18

Earning a college degree can be as much of an investment as purchasing a car or even mortgaging a home, but what if that costly diploma doesn’t hold as much value as ...

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6 Ways to Make the Most out of Your High School Summers

By: Karen Miller | 02/23/18

While writing this blog post, Alice Cooper’s song “School’s Out for Summer” has been playing on repeat in my head. I have visions of high school students running out ...

Going on a College Tour? Helpful Preparation Tips and a College Evaluation Form

By: Karen Miller | 02/09/18

With spring break just around the corner, now is a great time to start planning visits to colleges that you might be interested in attending. If you plan on taking a ...

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A College Search Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders

By: Karen Miller | 02/02/18

Most parents worry about sending their son or daughter off to college. However, for those parents whose children have learning disabilities or attention disorders, ...

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SAT and ACT Resource Guide: From Free Prep to Private Tutoring

By: Karen Miller | 01/24/18

“Help! My daughter is a junior, and I have no idea what to do. Should she take the SAT? The ACT? How should she prepare? Do we use a tutor? An online class? Which ...

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Course Selection: Why Your High School Class Decisions are Important

By: Karen Miller | 01/18/18

For many high schools, course selection for the next school year begins as early as January. While electives and core classes may vary from school to school, there ...

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FAFSA & CSS Profile - A Straightforward Guide to Understanding Financial Aid

By: Karen Miller | 01/12/18

Financial aid is available through several different sources. Understanding each one is paramount in minimizing the cost of college. According to the College Board’s ...

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ACT or SAT? Everything You Need to Know to Choose the Best Test for You

By: Karen Miller | 01/08/18

Knowing which test to take can help relieve some of the stresses caused by the college admissions process. Students usually take the test that has been historically ...

Relationships Matter . . . Even for College Admissions

By: Margaret Smith | 01/08/18

In this Huffington Post article, recent high school graduate Ella Gonzalez offers insights and advice based on her reflections of the college admissions process that ...