The College Investor Audio Show – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Should you pay extra to have your tax prep fees taken out of your upcoming tax refund? It sounds like an appealing offer - paying nothing out of pocket. But is it really worth it?

The help of a tax preparation service can make your life easier and potentially lead to savings on your tax bill, but having to pay up front for tax prep services can feel like a hit to your wallet.

One option is to allow the company to take your tax preparation fees directly from your future tax refund. We explore when it makes sense to pay for tax preparation services, when it doesn't, and the logistics of paying.

If you’re a business owner, the end of the year can be a very busy time.

With the holiday season on the horizon, you may be juggling the demands of your business while making space to spend time with family and friends.

There are several things you can do by the end of the year to end on a high note and get ready for tax season. With only 12 weeks left, here are some things business owners should do before the end of the year.

Free community college is currently offered to some or all students in 33 states.

With college costs and student debt on the rise, students and their parents need to think about ways to cut the overall cost of higher education. 

Even if a student wants to attend a four-year university, starting at a two-year university can conservatively lead to five-figure savings. Students who decide against earning a bachelor’s degree can gain a credential (associate’s degree) while spending less time and money than they would in a traditional public university.

However, even some community colleges are now offering bachelor's degrees to compete against 4-year schools.

Whether a student’s goal is to start a career as soon as possible or to earn a bachelor’s degree and beyond, using community college to save money and get ahead can be a smart move. In fact, attending a two-year college may be the most broadly-accessible method to reduce costs while still getting a head start on education.

The cost to join a sorority or fraternity can be high. There are lots of extra costs beyond just paying dues, luckily, there are ways to help pay for it. 

Will decreasing college acceptance rates hurt your chances of getting in to your desired school, and will the trend continue? Here's what you need to know. 

Joining a fraternity is a big decision. It can provide a solid network but it’s also expensive. Here’s what you to know when deciding to go greek or stay geed. 

Embarking on the journey to higher education is a life-changing decision. One of the first and biggest challenges many prospective students encounter is whether to pursue a college education in-state or out-of-state. 

As you know, the average cost of tuition has been on an upward trajectory since sometime around the 1980s. College tuition at a public four-year university increased 9.24% between 2010 and 2022, averaging a 12% increase each year in that period. 

Not only does higher tuition mean greater costs for education, but it also means greater likelihood of finding yourself graduating with larger student loans. This is particularly concerning when the average student loan debt of recent graduates is $33,500.

In this episode, I’ll dive into the reasons why opting for an in-state college might prove to be a better long-term decision for you. From location and affordability to in-state benefits and quality of education, I aim to shed light on the advantages of keeping your educational investment in-state.

Applying to college may be the most stressful thing you've encountered in your life so far.

Depending on the college you're applying to, you may have to submit grade transcripts, test scores, evidence of extracurricular activities, essays, and references. 

But one thing that colleges will almost never ask you about is your high school attendance. It's important to note that many high schools do include attendance information as part of your grade transcript.

However, in almost all cases, colleges will not look at your high school attendance record.

As someone who spent her freshman year at the University of Alabama (UA), I know firsthand how costly simply attending two semesters of classes can be there. Add to that the experience of Greek life, and your social circle isn’t the only thing that suddenly expands.

Sorority hashtags and content exploded on social media, as universities eased Covid-19 restrictions and let students resume fall recruitment activities. This was especially true for UA, which is often used as the benchmark for recruitment across the country due to its size and funding.

Earlier this year, Max (formerly HBO Max) released a documentary that examines UA rush through a magnifying glass. Whether you’ve seen the documentary, enthusiastically followed the #BamaRush trend, or you’re simply curious about the price that’s paid for Greek life, this article is a good starting point for learning about the true costs of sorority recruitment.

I’ll break down the rush process, point out its main financial factors, and weigh the pros and cons of taking on Greek life.

There are three main options for college admissions applications: early action, early decision, and regular decision. 

Early decision applications involve a commitment to enroll if admitted. In contrast, early action is non-binding.

Students who are admitted early action are not required to accept the offer of admission. They may accept or reject the offer of admission at the same due date as the regular admission pool, typically by May 1. 

Students who apply for early decision are limited to applying to just one college. Students who apply for early action may be limited to applying to just one college, called single-choice early action or restrictive early action. 

In some cases, restrictive early action colleges will allow early action applicants to apply early action to public colleges but not other private non-profit colleges. Some colleges with non-restrictive early action say that they do not share information about their early action applicants with other colleges, allowing the student to apply early action to more than one college. 

Here's a full breakdown of early action vs. early decision vs. regular admission.