The Reality:
Because of the way our financial aid system works, you can afford to attend just about any school you've gotten into. Many people think that the 'sticker price' of a college is how much the family has to pay. But that's incorrect.

Colleges use a formula that factors in your family's size, income, and assets to calculate an 'expected family contribution.' That's the amount they think is reasonable for you to pay for college. Period. Regardless of whether that college is a public, private or an elite school, that's what you'll pay. The rest should be covered by financial aid, consisting of grants that don't have to be paid back, low-interest loans, and work-study jobs. Here's the good news: The majority of people qualify for financial aid. TuitionCoach will show you how affordable college really can be.

In case you missed it, we want to repeat this loud and clear: In most cases, you'll pay roughly the same for a college whether it is a public, private, or an elite institution. Here's why: colleges use the same formula-based system to determine how much your family can pay for college. So, if the formula determines that your family can afford $10,000 per year, whether the actual 'sticker' price of the college is $20,000, $30,000, or $40,000 per year, you still only have to pay $10,000. The college should make up the difference through financial aid.

Our advice: study hard and go for it! Apply for the college of your dreams and don't worry about the 'sticker price.'

TuitionCoach shows you how to remove the college cost barrier. You can get started now to find out how you really can afford any college, or continue to bust more myths.

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The Reality:
When it comes to college funding, it's not just what you know that matters, it's when you know it! It is critical that you understand how to fund college before actually applying to college. That's a real switch from everything you have ever heard about the college admissions process, right?

TuitionCoach will help you understand the college funding process early in the game so you improve your financial aid possibilities. Do that and you profoundly affect your student's choice of college.

Let's put it into perspective. If you had to replace your car and you knew that the most you would ever have to pay was, say, $10,000 no matter what the sticker price of the car, would you plan on buying a used Chevy or a new Porsche? Early understanding of college funding can provide similar college options for your family. Instead of thinking Chevy, you can start thinking Porsche. Plan early and you will upgrade the schools you'll consider. Now you have the chance to pursue the right educational opportunities for the right reasons.

TuitionCoach can show you the benefits of early planning for college funding. You can get started now, or continue to bust more myths.

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The Reality:
Excuse me? If you think your kids will take care of you in your declining years, you may want to think about adjusting your medication.

The problem is that college looms as the greatest threat to a parent's long-term financial security. It's probably one of the most expensive things you will ever pay for. While conventional wisdom once said you should save for your kids' college, today's savvy financial planners now recommend parents save for retirement.

There are a couple of good reasons for this. First, colleges usually don't take retirement assets into account when calculating your financial aid eligibility. Which means you can save for retirement, and reduce the amount you'll have to pay for college. Second, students have more time to recover from debt than their parents have to save towards their retirement. Remember, you can always borrow for college, but you can never borrow for retirement!

TuitionCoach has plenty of effective strategies for sending your children to college while keeping your life savings intact. Our advice can help you lower your tuition costs and help you save for retirement. Learn more about how we help you financially survive college, or continue to bust more myths.

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The Reality:
That depends on how you define 'Investment.' An investment means you have a shot at getting your money back. If you're a parent, in all likelihood, you will never see this money again. Once you send your check to a college, it is gone. Forever! That's not an investment. It is a bill. And for most of us, it is the largest voluntary bill we will ever pay in our lives.

TuitionCoach can take the sting out of paying for college. Learn how we can help make the college bill as painless as possible, or continue to bust more myths.

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The Reality:
The majority of people qualify for financial aid. Sadly, almost 50% of students who do qualify don't even apply for it, simply because they believe the above myth. You might be surprised to learn that a large percentage of families making six-figure-incomes still qualify for financial aid, especially at private colleges.

Unless your last name ends in Trump or Gates, there are three strong reasons why you should complete the federal financial aid form, called the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):

1. To qualify for need-based financial aid, which consists of grants you don't have to pay back, low-interest student loans, and campus work-study jobs.

2. To automatically establish a line of credit with the federal government. This lets you borrow as much low-interest, unsecured money as you need to help with college costs not covered by financial aid. If your family does not get enough financial aid from the college, you can turn to this reliable source of money.

3. To hedge against the unforeseen, such as job loss, a failed marriage, even death. If disaster strikes, college personnel are willing to help families pay for and continue with college. But first, they need to have your FAFSA on file.

TuitionCoach can help you maximize your financial aid possibilities. Learn how to get through financial aid forms the smart way, or continue to bust more myths.

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The Reality:
While the college financial aid system is largely formula-driven, financial aid administrators are permitted 'Professional Judgment.' That means that if they like you and believe you have a compelling case, they can do just about anything to help you find more funding for college.

What does that mean for you? For starters, be nice when you contact your financial aid professional! Know your stuff. Understand the nuts and bolts of your financial aid offer. Learn how to talk about it intelligently. Equipped with the insider knowledge TuitionCoach provides, you can improve your odds of successfully negotiating your financial aid package.

TuitionCoach can show you how to evaluate the quality of your financial aid offer and negotiate a better one. Learn how you can effectively negotiate with a college aid officer to turn a sub-par offer into one you can live with. Or continue to bust more myths in this section.

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The Reality:
Filling out financial aid forms can be a daunting task, but they don't have to be that way. TuitionCoach's step-by-step worksheets demystify financial aid forms. We'll help you fill them out accurately, with ease and confidence. Even better, we offer money-saving tips you won't see anywhere else.

TuitionCoach helps you complete financial aid forms the smart way. Learn how you can find additional savings, or continue to bust more myths.

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