​College planning involves taking entrance exams, keeping up grades, participating in extracurricular activities, and volunteering or gaining work experience. In addition, applicants must prepare applications and can enhance them by submitting recommendation letters from their networks. Some admissions committees weigh recommendations heavily.

Recommendation letters speak to the applicant’s skills, personal attributes, and academic achievement. To obtain the letters, start by requesting them from teachers. Thanks to their daily interaction, teachers become better acquainted with applicants than others. Including several teacher recommendations with applications strengthens them. In addition to teachers, students who participate in extracurricular activities can seek letters from faculty members, such as principals, school administrators, and teacher advisors. 

Next, seek recommendation letters from employers. While the employer cannot attest to the applicant's academics, employers can attest to other attributes, such as responsibility, accountability, and skills obtained from the job or role.

Other recommendation letters can come from civic and religious leaders or influencers in the community. If the student volunteers for a religious or civic organization, its leaders can attest to the applicant's commitment to the community. Additionally, a recommendation from someone who influences the community bodes well, as do letters from college alumni.

​Higher education provides knowledge, skills, and opportunities for career development but requires an investment. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps students find funding. When filling it out, students should avoid some common mistakes.

First, avoid procrastination. The FAFSA form becomes available in early October annually. However, many financial aid programs operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, procrastinating may result in a missed opportunity for financial assistance.

Next, complete the form accurately and completely. Minor typos in names, social security numbers, login details, or addresses can lead to unnecessary delays or rejection. Additionally, applicants must meticulously list all schools where they want financial information sent. Failing to include all schools can lead to missed opportunities for aid.

Another common mistake is listing only taxable income. Students must include all income sources, such as untaxed income, child support, and other financial support. Then, note the dependency accurately. Many applicants mistakenly list themselves as independent, impacting the aid awarded.

​An accomplished college solutions specialist in Oakland Park, Kansas, Michael V. Berlau is the co-founder of College Funding and Planning, which helps college-bound students and their families plan for college. Michael V. Berlau also holds workshops that explain how families can calculate their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and how it can be reduced to lessen the out-of-pocket costs of attending college.

The cost of attending college extends beyond tuition, but these costs are often hidden prior to enrollment. The cost of textbooks and other class materials is not included in tuition, as students pay for these materials separately. For the 2021-22 academic year, the average cost of books and classroom supplies at four-year institutions was $1,240. To reduce this cost, students can rent books or resell purchased books when they no longer need them (at the end of class).

Transportation is also a significant cost. According to a report from the College Board, undergraduate students in public institutions spent roughly $1,230 on average during the 2021-22 academic session. Transportation also includes trips during school breaks.

Joining a sorority or fraternity group in college typically requires a membership fee each semester, among other fees. The cost of participating in these programs may be hundreds or thousands of dollars. According to bestcolleges.com, students should factor direct and indirect costs of these programs (Greek life) before opting in for membership.

​An Oakland Park, Kansas-based entrepreneur, Michael V. Berlau serves as a college solutions specialist at College Funding and Planning. As part of his work, Michael V. Berlau holds public workshops that describe the college aid process, as well as FAFSA and EFC strategies.

A college applicant's financial aid eligibility is determined by their expected family contribution (EFC), which is the hypothetical amount the applicant's family could afford to pay out of pocket for tuition during their coming years of study. EFC is subtracted from the cost of attendance to determine financial need. An applicant's financial need can be addressed completely or partially by the federal government and their ideal college choice through Pell Grants, subsidized direct federal student loans, and Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, among other programs.

The U.S. Department of Education's calculation of EFC requires a document called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants who are in need of financial aid can file the FAFSA. The FAFSA entails a family's gross income, after-tax income, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, and other family information. The number of family members who will also be in college during the applicant's college years and the size of the family are some pieces of information that can help adjust the amount of the EFC to what a family can afford.

Even with EFC integrated into the financial need calculation, applicants sometimes don't have access to the entire amount of financial aid they need to make attending college possible. In this case, the family may augment available support with an unsubsidized federal student loan, a federal PLUS loan, or a private student loan.

​As a college solutions specialist, Michael V. Berlau organizes workshops to educate parents of college-bound students about the cost of attending college, calculating the expected family contribution, and applying for financial aid. Recognized as a top performer by the College Planning Network and a top adviser, alongside known sources, Michael V. Berlau also offers advice on lesser-known scholarship opportunities.

When seeking colleges, most candidates focus on already-known scholarship sources, such as national and state scholarships and private endowments. With the applications already in full force from different sources, it is possible to miss out even if you get picked. Consider other less pursued avenues. Going local offers one way to access financial help.

Local scholarships have the advantage of increased access due to the ‘’homegrown’’ variable and lesser competition. Look into the local chapters of state and national professional organizations, religious groups, and sports. Backed by active community engagement, either by you or your guardians, chances of getting financial assistance rise significantly. Also, you can sign up for contests, mostly related to your preferred college program. Look out for events offering sponsorships, such as writing, art, and even logo designs for new and existing companies.

Try co-op programs, where you can work with companies related to your major during your study to earn money and offset your college costs. For long courses such as engineering, co-op programs can significantly reduce your debt, as the engagement may also include paid internships over the period.

​Co-author of "How to Give Your Child Education Without Going Broke," Michael V. Berlau is a college solutions specialist at College Funding and Planning. Michael V. Berlau facilitates workshops to assist families in calculating their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and tips on how to lower the amount.

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is a crucial step in the college application process. The submitted information forms the basis for calculating the EFC and eligibility for financial aid. Thus, the amount should be as low as possible.

The primary step for lowering the EFC is to minimize the parents' income in the base year and the following ones. A low starting EFC makes it more difficult to increase it in subsequent school years. However, households must exercise caution since falsifying information in the FAFSA attracts fines, disqualification, and even imprisonment.

The base year, also referred to as the prior-prior year, commences before entering college - it starts in high school.

Ways to lower the EFC include taking an unpaid leave of absence from work and postponing work allowances and bonuses until after submitting the FAFSA.

Therefore, negotiating with employers can greatly minimize annual income. Couple the strategy with increasing contributions to retirement and health savings accounts. Those who own businesses can lower their salaries, and investors can sell off bad investments to trigger a capital loss.

​Based in Overland Park, Kansas, Michael V. Berlau provides college admissions counseling services through his company, College Funding and Planning. The company covers a variety of issues, such as how families can manage the cost of higher education, how to approach the FAFSA, and how to manage financial aid. In addition, Michael V. Berlau gives gives guidance in getting to know what institutions offer, such as maximizing the results from attending college fairs.

These highly attended events bring together admissions officers and other college representatives to locations that include convention centers and high schools. As a student, the first thing to do is research which institutions will be represented, and which of their programs are of interest. This will allow for the types of in-depth discussions that make an impression on college representatives and provide invaluable personalized information.

It is good to arrive as early as possible and to engage representatives proactively before the crowd or lines take up most of the time. Most schools provide an email signup sheet; it is good practice to put down the same one that the student will use in future admissions correspondence. In addition, some institutions may accept resumes so one may decide to keep that on hand, with a summary of academic accomplishments and extracurricular activities. Through all of it, a calm and organized demeanor helps admissions representatives remember one in a positive light.

A college funding specialist with more than a decade of experience, Michael Berlau presents public workshops related to financial aid for high-school students and their families. Michael Berlau is a top advisor with the College Planning Network and co-author of the book, "How to Give Your Child a 4-Year College Education Without Going Broke."

Some parents start planning their child's future from birth and consequently begin saving for college, which is now almost as expensive as an average-priced home. However, there are other steps they should take first.

Getting rid of high-interest credit card debt, for example, should be done before starting to save for a child's college tuition, as well as setting money aside for an emergency fund and saving for retirement. One expert recommends saving one-third of college costs - compound interest will multiply this money, helping with the payment. He also suggests that, while their child is attending college, parents can pay another third out of their income and apply for federal loans to finance the remainder.

One of the best places to keep the money already saved is in a 529 college savings plan, a tax-advantaged vehicle offered by educational institutions, states, or state agencies. If the child does not go to college, the 529 plan's beneficiary can be changed to another family member.