Parents and Loans for Postsecondary Education, Wall Street Journal Article
As the costs of college have risen, so has the number of parent loans and the amount borrowed by parents. A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed this rise. Citing FinAid.org, "over 17% of graduates in the 2011-12 academic year had parent Plus loans borrowed for them, which are loans available directly from the federal government, each with an average $33,800." Just how big a rise is that from previous parent borrowing? "That's up from 13% with about $23,300 on average in the 2007-08 academic year."
The First Year is a Big Deal
Parents of new college students recognize that the transition to college is a BIG deal. The transition is a major life event for both students and the family. In fact, according to the research by UCLA - about 25% of freshmen students do not progress successfully to become sophomores. Despite the efforts of so many people to select, enroll and pay for that freshmen year, many students do not overcome the obstacles they face in their new environment.
College Students Speak: a study from National Alliance on Mental Illness
(photo from flickr user marsmet481) One of the most important studies on college students and mental health came out in late 2012 form the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Unlike past studies (like this one from the Gates Foundation and Public Agenda) that focused on the fact that many students leave college to work, NAMI's College Students Speak clearly establishes that a) for those who drop out of college, that mental health plays a big factor in that decision, and b) that certain services are deemed more important to student retention and graduation than others.
A Guide To Living For Empty Nesters
By the time we reach a little beyond middle age in our lives, chances are all of our kids have grown up and gotten out of the house, and this means that the feeling of having an empty nest may settle in and make you emotional. It is incredibly emotional to watch your children who […]
