Because the personal essay is one of the most stressful parts of the whole college application process, we put together an easy paint-by-number system that will help you create a masterpiece!
Before Applying:
- TuitionFit.org – Discovering all the colleges that fit your budget.
- TuitionTracker.org – Predict cost based on household income bracket.
Since graduating on time reduces costs, graduation rates are also provided. - Merit Aid – Predict cost based on colleges' distribution of non-need-based aid.
For the most accurate data, Google the college's name and "Common Data Set." Scroll to section H2, rows N and O. - Net Price Calculators – Get a more personalized estimate based on your individual financial circumstances.
Caution: Some schools' calculators can be misleading or outdated.
After Applying:
- MoneyThink by DecidED – Decode award letters by uploading a pic.
- Offer Letter Decoder – Decode award letters by uploading a pdf.
- College Navigator – Check if awards will be reduced in future years by comparing grant aid under "Full-Time Beginning" versus "All" undergraduates (here's an example)
- Swift Student provides free templates for financial aid appeal letters
