A Wealth Management Firm
How To Groom Your Student
Last time we talked about ways to lower your EFC. Keep in mind what we talked about was limited. Based on your own situation there may be many other strategies you can use. Please feel free to call us and we’ll help you explore all your opportunities. This week we will discuss the importance of grooming your student.
One of the ways to understand how you can get the most financial aid / merit aid possible is to view your child the way admissions and financial aid officers will view your child. Obviously these people are looking for bright students that make their college or university look good. So it’s very important to be active in your children’s academics. Understand where your children’s academic strengths and weaknesses are. In areas they are weak, spend the time and resources to help them improve. Make sure they go into SAT and ACT tests prepared. Make sure they take these tests more than once. The combination of a high GPA, high SAT/ACT scores and high school rank are powerful. These are areas that need to be worked on and continually improved. The earlier you start, the better.
Another area that is often overlooked is extra curricular activities and achievements. Admissions and financial aid officers are looking for well-rounded students. Make sure your children are active in school activities. Groom them into leadership roles. This is a very important quality colleges are looking for. Your children should also get involved in activities outside school. Those activities should show their charitable side. Colleges love students with charitable qualities as well.
As your children are compiling these achievements make sure you document them. Financial aid officers will only see your child’s grades and whatever else you show them. This is what they will base financial aid awards on. So make sure you show a complete picture of your child. Remember financial aid officers see many students who have good to great grades and nothing else. If you can groom your children to stand apart from the rest you have greatly enhanced your chance of getting more money for their college education.
To view the previous articles in this series please go to
Jonathan Pagano is a senior partner of The Genesis Group located in Brentwood TN. The Genesis Group specializes in college planning within the context of a family’s overall financial and retirement plan. Many parents will be paying college costs for one or more children and when college is over they will be knocking on retirement’s doorstep unprepared. Getting the most financial aid and merit aid possible is a necessity!
To contact The Genesis Group or to attend one of the free upcoming workshops call 370-8015!
Upcoming College Funding Workshops
November 14th 7:00 pm at the Williamson County Recreation Center
Call 370-8015 to reserve your seat!
Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. a Broker/Dealer, Member NASD/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. The Genesis Group and Cambridge are not affiliated.