College Affordability — It all Starts with Talking about your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Having this discussion with a student early in the college process is critical! This workshop will teach students and parents where to do their research and how to pick the right colleges to apply to. Topics covered include:
• Why it is important to know this magic number
• College budgeting and financial aid 101
• How to pick the right colleges, at the right price
• How and when to have the “college money talk” with your kids
College Applications — Create Your Best Chance for Admission
When it comes to completing college applications, the opportunities and mistakes are in the details. Whether it is a college’s own application, the Common App or Coalition App, there is a right way and a wrong way to fill things out. In this presentation, college expert Dan Bisig walks you through the things that college admissions reps are looking for and what will help your student stand out from the rest of the crowd.
College Applications — Key Strategies to Improve Your Chances of Getting Accepted (Just for students)
Whether it is a college’s own application, the Common App or Coalition App, there is a right way and a wrong way to fill things out. In this workshop, college expert Dan Bisig will walk you through the things that college admissions reps are looking for and what will help you stand out from the rest of the crowd! Topics covered include:
• The difference between applications and which one(s) should you submit
• How to help make your application stands out
• College scholarships applications
• Essays - what topics and what length
• Which activities and awards should be listed and in what order
College Essays — Writing Tips for Admissions and Scholarships (Just for students)
College Expert Dan Bisig has read thousands of essays over the years as an Independent Educational Consultant and he knows a thing or two about what college admission reps are looking for. Topics covered include:
• How to pick the right essay prompt
• Why it is important for you to catch the reader’s attention from the beginning
• When is a personal statement too personal on an essay
• Who should you ask for assistance when you are stuck or need help editing your essay
• Why is the essay often the final item used in college admissions, as a qualifier for BIG scholarships, or being selected into the Honors College/Program
• What you can do to set yourself apart from the rest of the essay writers
College Essays — Writing Tips for Admissions and Scholarships
College Expert Dan Bisig has read thousands of essays as an Independent Educational Consultant and he knows a thing or two about what college admission reps are looking for. If you are hoping your son or daughter is going to get accepted to their top college or get invited to interview for a big scholarship, then you need to know it often comes down to their essay. Topics covered include:
• How to pick the right essay prompt to write about
• Taboo Topics your child needs to avoid
• When is a personal statement too personal on an essay
• Who should a student ask for help when they are stuck
• How to approach the essay and have your child tell their story
•When/why do essays make the difference in the college admissions process
College Loans — Finding, Securing, and Repaying Financial Aid (Just for students)
College loans are often part of how a family will pay for college. But unfortunately, few people really know what they are getting into. Learn the good, bad and ugly of how college loans work so that students know what they are getting into before it is too late! Topics covered include:
• Types of college loans
• What is the maximum amount a student can take out in their own name
• Where does a student turn to when more money is needed
• What are the best resources for finding outside college loans
• When do loans have to start being repaid and for how long
• How to consolidate your college loans and where to do it
College Loans — Finding, Securing, and Repaying Financial Aid
College loans are often part of how a family will pay for college. But unfortunately, few people really know what they are getting into. Learn the good, bad and ugly of how college loans work so that your family does not make the mistakes that haunt many graduates and parents for years to come. Topics covered include:
• Types of college loans
• What is the maximum amount a student can take out in their own name
• Where does a student turn to when more money is needed
• What are the best resources for finding outside college loans
• When do loans have to start being repaid and for how long
• How to consolidate your college loans and where to do it
College Scholarships — Show Me the Money!
This presentation will help families learn where to find the money and what a student must do to position her/himself for future scholarship dollars to help pay for college! Topics covered include:
•Why are some scholarships taxable
• Who gives out scholarship money
• When should you start looking for scholarships
• What are the different types of scholarships
• What does it take to qualify for big money
• Where to find scholarships for average students
• What scholarship websites to look at
• How do selective colleges hand out their money
• How to protect students from scholarship scams
College Scholarships — Where to Find Money for Your Education (Just for students)
This presentation will help students learn where to find extra money to help pay for college and what a student must do to position her/himself to stand out in the scholarship selection process! Topics covered include:
• When should you start looking for scholarships
• Where should you look and what types of scholarships are out there
• What does it take to qualify for big money
• Where to find scholarships for average students
• What scholarship websites to look at
• How do selective colleges hand out their money
Discovering What Moves You — Motivation in College Education
There is often an ebb and flow when it comes to motivation. This is especially true for college students. Some days you can feel extremely driven and committed to the educational journey you’ve committed to. Then there are days you’ll want to skip class, assignments you won’t feel like completing and exams you won’t want to study for. Unfortunately, these highs and lows in motivation are normal and something everyone struggles with at different times in their lives. However, there are strategies we can apply to help when we fall into a slump to help re-energize our motivation! This presentation will explore some common “Motivational Crushers” among college students and discuss ways to combat them. Self-reflection exercises will also be used to assess what motivates us as individuals, how we contribute to our drop-in motivation and how we can turn that around! Practical tips and tools will be provided to do just that!
Funding College — Five Steps Every Family can use to Build a Successful Plan
When it comes to paying for college, every dollar counts and families need a simple process to follow. In this informative presentation, college expert Dan Bisig will share five steps every family can use to build their funding plan. Dan will share the most popular funding options available so that parents are equipped to have the moneytalk with their college bound children.
Grandparents — How to Help your Grandkids with College
When it comes to college, grandparents can have a huge impact on the success a grandchild has with the college process. You will learn how you can make a difference in helping the next generation reach their dreams! Topics covered include:
• Understanding how a grandparent’s monetary gift affects financial aid
• Getting grandkids to take careers for a test ride and think outside the box
• Test Prep — who needs it and why is it important — every point counts
• How to share your wisdom without coming across as a know-it-all
• Overcoming challenges that some parents have when you want to help
How to Avoid the 7 Common Mistakes Future College Students Make (Just for students)
Every year, college expert Dan Bisig receives desperate calls and emails from students who have made big mistakes in the college process. In this timely presentation, Dan will give students important advice on what to watch out for so that they do not step into these same hidden traps! Topics covered include:
• College Funding Mistakes
• Scholarship Mistakes
• Career/Major Mistakes
• College Selection Mistakes
• Application Mistakes
• College Essay Mistakes
• Financial Aid Mistakes
Success from Day One — Making the Transition from High School to College
Academically, many high schools do their best to prepare students for the rigor of college level course work. Unfortunately, they don’t often provide students with the non-academic skills or strategies which truly set them up for success. This often results in students struggling their way through their first year while making this complex transition. This presentation is designed to help students understand the many differences, both academically and socially, between high school and college. Participants are introduced to tips for success and tools they can use from day one to help them start their collegiate journey on the right foot!
