The Rising Cost of Applying to College (News)

News & Commentary

11/28/05 - The Wall Street Journal reports that the cost of college is rising because of preparation costs for the CEEs, college counseling, scholarship searches, and campus visits.

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Summary:
There is a myriad of products and services available to assist students who are preparing for college. These include:
1. Private College Counselors
2. CEE tutors and/or Preparation Courses
3. Scholarship and Financial Aid Consultants
4. Campus Visits

Private Counseling
Most high school college counselors are responsible for an average of 315 students, hence many students are turning to private college conselors for some individual attention.

Typical cost for private college counseling is $2,700 to $3,200 on average.

SAT Schooling
SAT preparation courses typically cost between $600 and $1,000. Major preparation companies report an average increase of about 70 points per section (out of a possible 800 points).

SAT tutoring or independent test preparation ranges from $70 to $300 per hour. Tutors offer a personalized experience and will visit a student's house.

Since many students find one-on-one tutoring too expensive, but classes too big, some preparation companies are offering semiprivate tutoring, which typically consists of tutoring 2 or 3 students.

College Campus Visit
Applicants are visiting colleges far too early. The right time for a college visit is AFTER acceptance.

Students placed on a wait-list should especially make a point of visiting the schools they are seeking to be admitted to.

If distance or cost prohibits a college visit, colleges typically will arrange for an interview with a local alumni.

Financial Aid
Families are now using tax accountants to determine appropriate tax strategies to maximize college savings and financial aid.

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