Are you planning on moving abroad this year?

Lucky you!

Moving to a new country can be one of the most exciting decisions you ever make. However, it also requires some careful planning to ensure the transition goes smoothly.

From packing up your current home to settling into a new culture, there is so much you have to consider before you take that big step – and we can help.

Below, we’ve put together a list of eight of our top tips for moving abroad in 2023, to help you make the journey and transition as effortless and enjoyable as possible.

Check them out below.

1. Do your research

The most important thing you need to do before committing to a big move like this is to do your research.

Once you know which country you want to live in, you can begin to prepare for your new life. Start by running a couple of internet searches and getting clued up on the local area.

This will help you when the time comes to find a new home and job, deciding what to pack and knowing what to expect when you arrive. We suggest that you do some in-depth research into the following areas of life:

• Weather and how this changes throughout the year
• Important customs and culture
• Local laws
• The history and politics of the area
• The type of work available in the country (if you don’t already have a job lined up)
• The average cost of living
• Local healthcare and what you’re entitled to

This will give you some helpful insights into what life will be like in your new home, your finances and any important rules, regulations or customs that you should be aware of upon arrival.

2. Plan your finances

Another vital step you must take before you move is managing your finances and making sure you can actually afford to take the leap. Your research will come in very handy at this stage, though you might wish to look at certain living costs in more detail.

You should add up the average cost of renting or buying a house; food bills, utilities and transport should also factor in. If you’re looking for a job, it’s also a good idea to check out the average salary for your position and whether you can comfortably live off this.

Then you need to calculate the actual cost of moving. This might be renting a moving van, transport such as flights, temporary accommodation and buying new furniture.

The final stage of managing your finances is to look at your savings and work out if you’ll have any big cash injections before you go. For example, will you be selling your current home in order to buy a new one in your chosen country?

We suggest setting up a budget spreadsheet to ensure that you can safely get through the first six to twelve months of your new adventure. This gives you time to settle in and find a new job if that’s what you need to do.

3. Ask yourself the important questions

When you get the ball rolling, you need to make sure you have an action plan in place. There are several important decisions you have to make, so ask yourself the following questions:

• How will you get there – can you drive, or do you have to fly?
• How are you going to move your stuff? For example, will you use a professional shipping provider, or will you drive yourself?
• Do you have pets, and will they be coming with you?
• If so, how are they making the journey?
• What date do you want to make the move? Is this feasible in terms of finding accommodation, budgeting, etc.?
• Will you be taking furniture with you or starting fresh at your new home?
• If you can’t take too much with you, will you sell your belongings or put them in storage?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you can start getting down to the finer details and make your moving day feel within reach.

4. Start your visa application as early as possible

There are lots of different visas available, and which you need will depend on where you’re moving to and your employment status. Be sure to do your research and only apply for the correct or most relevant visa. Do this as early as possible to avoid any hiccups or delays.

If you’re feeling unsure, it might be wise to seek some professional advice on this front, as getting your visa application wrong can have a huge impact on your move.

5. Learn the local lingo

If you don’t already speak the local language, then you should get practising right away. One of the best ways to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in it, so it’s likely you’ll pick up more once you’ve made the move.

However, it’s a good idea to know the basics before you go. This will help you if you need to ask questions upon arrival. It will also help you to settle into the local area quicker as you can start to converse with the locals.

So start by practising the basics like hello, goodbye, please and thank you, and work your way up. Nowadays, there are plenty of apps and online resources that make learning a language easy and enjoyable.

6. Declutter your life

Even if you’re driving and you’re able to take many of your belongings with you, it’s still a good idea to take the opportunity to declutter your life.

But this is going to be particularly important if you can only travel with a couple of suitcases.

This will require that you go through your clothes and belongings and sell or get rid of anything that you no longer need. You might also need to do the same with your furniture, car, and other large items that you cannot take with you.

7. Make sure you have all the important documents

Your passport is a no-brainer, but there are lots of other important documents that you need to gather and keep on hand when moving abroad.

Make sure you have details of your successful visa application, as well as your accommodation and any information about employment or studies that you are taking if these are already pre-arranged.

If your pet is moving with you, make sure you have their passport or any documents they need to enter the country. Having all these accessible can make your journey far easier.

8. Join local groups

 Finally, either before you go or upon your arrival, it’s a good idea to join local groups to help you meet new people. These could be groups on social media platforms like Facebook, created especially for ex-pats. Alternatively, you could join the local gym, sports team or follow your hobbies and meet like-minded people that way.

“How am I going to pay for this? Is it worth it?”

If you’re a prospective college student or even a parent or family member of one, you may have asked yourself this question. It’s a good question; college is more expensive than it’s ever been, making the college search process taxing—emotionally and financially—for students. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help you determine what your best financial fit could be and directly save you money on tuition. One such tool available across most of the United States are regional tuition savings programs.

What is a Regional Tuition Savings Program? 

Some background: You may be familiar with terms like “in-state tuition” (i.e., the tuition rate paid by students studying at a public college or university in their state of residence) and “out-of-state tuition” (i.e., the tuition rate paid by students studying at a public university not in their state of residence). If you knew that already, you likely also know that out-of-state tuition can be significantly more expensive than in-state—sometimes two or three times more.

That fact makes regional tuition savings programs so important to you. These programs are agreements between states to reduce the out-of-state tuition rate. By taking advantage of discounts, you could substantially reduce the amount of money you may need to borrow to cover the college cost. With student loan debt in the U.S. on the rise, every dollar saved makes a difference for your future.

In most cases, these agreements may have specific eligibility requirements, like offering the discount to residents of nearby or directly adjacent states, or discounting tuition for specific academic programs or majors at the university. Usually, the university requires students to maintain residency in their home state while they complete their degree. However, because these savings are discounts and not scholarships, they usually require no additional application nor specific grades or test score minimums, making them widely accessible.

Tuition Break: Tuition Savings in New England 

I represent one such savings program: Tuition Break, which is operated by the New England

Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and serves residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont who wish to study at any of our region’s public institutions outside of their home state. Now in our 65^th year, we’ve saved New England residents billions of dollars in tuition and through an average annual discount of $9,000. Our discount is available to students seeking to study over 2,500 associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees and certificates.

Like all regional savings programs, Tuition Break has eligibility requirements, but we’ve made considerable effort over the last several years to expand our program offerings to make higher education in New England more affordable. We currently classify our programs within two eligibility categories:

• Specialized Programs: Academic majors for which the Tuition Break rate is available to students who reside in New England states where this program is not available at a public university. As the name suggests, these programs are often highly specialized or unique, like Human Dimensions of Climate Change at the University of Maine or Homeland Security at the University of New Hampshire.
• Flexible Programs: Academic majors for which the Tuition Break rate is available to all out-of-state residents of New England, regardless of whether the program is available in their home state. As of this fall 2023, over 25% of our partner colleges will offer every one of their academic programs as Flexible, making the discount accessible to all New England residents.

How do I Access Tuition Savings in my Region? 

But what if you don’t live in New England? The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is just one entity doing this work; we’re fortunate enough to have peer organizations across the country that operate similar programs. While each program is different and eligibility requirements will vary across the country, the following roadmap will be a helpful guide for you to determine if these savings opportunities are right for you:

Step 1:

Determine if your home state is a member of a regional tuition savings program. Fortunately, most states across the country participate in them:

Northeast (New England): New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE)

• Tuition Break (formerly known as the Regional Student Program)

South: Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)

• Academic Common Market
• Regional Contract Program

Midwest: Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)

• Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP)

West: Western Interstate Commission of Higher Education (WICHE)

• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
• Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
• Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP)

Step 2:

Research the eligibility requirements for tuition savings. Consider especially the following questions:

• “What colleges and universities participate?”
• “Do I have to enroll in a specific major to receive this discount? If so, is my intended major(s)/degree/certificate eligible for reduced tuition?”
• “Are there any additional requirements that are required by the college or university for me to receive the discount?”

Step 3:

Submit your admission application(s) to the colleges in which you’re interested. If they participate in a tuition savings program, be sure to request more information about the savings from the admission office.

Step 4:

Consider the entire cost of attendance. Tuition is usually the largest portion of the cost of college and striving to lower will be helpful to you; however, it is still important to research all the fees, housing and other figures that add up to the cost of attendance at each college or university to determine which is right for you.

Step 5:

Ask questions and engage!

This last step is the most important; tuition savings are incredible opportunities to save you or your student money on their higher education, and they also can be nuanced and challenging to understand when determining your eligibility. As you do your research into these programs, never hesitate to reach out to your admissions counselor at the colleges you’re exploring and to people like me who oversee these programs. We’re happy to help you determine the best steps on your college journey and support your future success.

Jonathan Gowin is the Director of Tuition Break, the Regional Student Program, at the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) in Boston, MA. His experience as a first-generation, Pell-eligible student galvanizes his passion for college affordability and access. You may contact him at tuitionbreak@nebhe.org with any specific questions about Tuition Break, or general questions about tuition savings or college affordability.

Students are getting their ducks in a row and submitting applications to their top schools of choice.

There are plenty of resources to help with this process, from colorful brochures to web content galore. In fact, all those resources can be overwhelming! This is why students have traditionally flocked to college fairs. However, with the advent of COVID-19, the world has discovered that much of what we did in person can be done just as well—or better—online. Enter: the virtual college fair.

Virtual college fairs are conducted through an online hub, with webinar-style sessions that enable participants (students, parents, and counselors alike) to attend certain tracks depending on their interests and submit their questions via chat. There are opportunities for 1:1 conversations with experts and college representatives around the admissions process, the college life experience, financial aid options, and more. All from the comfort of home.

If your student is not attending a virtual college fair, they should be. Here are five reasons why.

1. Accessibility
   This one may seem obvious, but virtual college fairs are more accessible than in-person ones. Being remote means that college fairs are cheaper to attend, require no travel time, and can be done from anywhere around the world. This is perfect for busy families and students, as well as those who don’t want to travel for health reasons.

Virtual fairs can also be more easily integrated into a school day, which makes them more accessible. Students don’t even need to leave the premises to attend a virtual fair, and it’s easier to get students excited about attending when all of their friends and classmates—rather than just a select few—are taking the same dedicated time to log on and participate.

2. More Time for Questions

The webinar format allows students to “chat in” any questions they may have throughout the discussion. This allows college fair presenters and moderators to answer more questions than they would be able to address at an in-person college fair.

The accessibility for questions is especially helpful for international students, notes Kaersten Deeds, school counselor at Dulwich College Seoul in South Korea.

“[Students need] more handholding through the visa process,” says Deeds. “Just really being clear and available to answer any kind of questions surrounding how the student gets there and what happens to the student once they get there.”

3. Up-to-date Information
   With health policies constantly changing, students want more up-to-date information on how colleges are handling health concerns. Conducting the fair virtually means the right person–not always the sole fair representative!—can be on hand to answer questions like:

• What COVID-19-related health policies are in place at your university?
• How is teaching conducted to ensure health safety?
• What measures are in place to ensure students are being supported academically, socially, and emotionally?
• How does the school handle someone testing positive for COVID-19?

4. Variety of Options

Virtual college fairs offer one location for students and families to access a wide variety of options. While in-person events are capped according to physical space and limited in terms of which college’s reps are willing and able to travel, the number and geography of colleges and universities that can participate in virtual fairs are limitless.

Of course, receiving a constant influx of information throughout the year can feel overwhelming. Therefore, setting aside time during a school day to access all of these options via a single, streamlined virtual fair gives students a chance to focus and do the research necessary to make an informed college choice.

5. Student Voices at the Table
   Virtual college fairs offer opportunities for live presentations from university faculty and admissions staff to chat about the admissions process and the “college life” experience. But who better to hear about the college life experience from than a student?

“Webinars that have included a current student at your institution…have really helped students connect with that imminent question of ‘what is my life going to be like there,’” says Roshan Gujar, school counselor at Cedar International School in the British Virgin Islands.

So now you know why virtual college fairs are getting all the buzz these days. To learn more about registering for a virtual college fair, visit the GoToCollegeFairs Help Center.

With college on the brain, you might be trying to decide: Should I attend an in-person college fair or a virtual one?

You can check the fair website for general details such as COVID-19 protocols and driving distance, but at the end of the day, your decision will likely come down to comfort. Here are some attributes to consider.

Pros of virtual college fairs

If health is a concern, a virtual college fair can provide the safety you need. A standard college fair is bustling with students from multiple counties and cities, increasing your risk for COVID-19 exposure. Going virtual means you can continue to control your environment.

Another benefit of virtual fairs is accessibility. If you have a learning disability or a physical disability, you may feel more comfortable attending the fair at home, where you don’t have to think about certain types of access. Virtual fairs also often have captioning and a live chat feed that you can save if you need more time to process the information.

Last but not least, convenience may be the number-one benefit of a virtual fair. All you need is a computer and internet access. You can essentially roll out of bed and be at a virtual fair in five minutes (although you may want to take a bit more time to look presentable—even on screen, you only have one opportunity to make a first impression!). This is an especially great option if you live far from a college fair, lack transportation, or have a lot of extracurriculars that may interfere.

Pros of in-person college fairs

If you get distracted easily or have trouble focusing during virtual meetings, an in-person fair may be the best choice. Studies have shown it can be challenging for people to concentrate for long stretches of time while staring at a screen, which requires deeper concentration and increased stimulation. This may be especially challenging if you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In-person fairs allow for movement and increased body language from speakers, which can be helpful for students with ADHD.

Another benefit of in-person college fairs is the ability to attend with classmates and friends. Attending with peers gives you an opportunity to discuss takeaways and share your experiences, and you may even save on gas if you opt to carpool. The more you discuss your likes and dislikes, the easier it will be to determine what really matters to you in a school.

Finally, an in-person fair can be a great way to forge a more personal connection with colleges. Especially if you enjoy conversing with others, it can be very informative to have casual conversations with admissions counselors or current students at the individual school booths. People tend to be willing to extend conversations in person, whereas video calls and written chats can feel more transactional.

No matter what you decide, know that your choice is a good one. Attending a college fair—whether virtual or in-person—will help you take the next decisive step toward your future.

You can check our calendar of upcoming college fairs by visiting our site. We offer a range of virtual and in-person college fairs around the world.

One of the hardest parts of college fairs is making sure your student is in the driver’s seat. While it may feel “easier” to take control, at the end of the day, they are the ones who will be attending university for the next four or five years. In order to make sure students find the best college experience for themselves, they need to take ownership of the process. And yes, that includes being prepared for college fairs—even virtual ones.

College fairs go by in the blink of an eye, and virtual college fairs can feel even faster – there’s no long drive of anticipation from home to college campus, and with it, no lull time to chat about what your student is looking forward to learning. As such, it’s important to create dedicated time to prepare for virtual college fairs.

Here are five tips to help your student prepare for a virtual college fair.

Set a goal

To make sure your student is getting the most out of the virtual college fair, help them set a goal for the day. This is particularly important for a virtual fair because—as anyone who has been on back-to-back video calls knows—it can be harder to keep focused during virtual meetings than in-person ones. Whether your student wants to know about class sizes or the extracurricular activities that schools offer, having a goal will keep them focused and attentive during the virtual fair.

Brainstorm questions

Take time to sit down with your child and help them brainstorm the types of questions they want to ask. Doing this critical thinking exercise will help your child really think about what matters to them in a future school.

Show up dressed for success

Just because the fair is virtual doesn’t mean your student won’t make an impression. Make sure your student is putting their best foot forward by showing up to the college fair dressed in neat, comfortable attire with their video on, ready to participate.

Find a comfortable space for the call

As we all know from the past year, working from home can be distracting. If your student decides to join the virtual college fair from home, make sure they log on to the computer from a space that’s comfortable and relatively quiet. If home is too distracting, your student can go to a local library or ask their teacher if they can use a room at school for the call.

Bring a notebook

Since your student is there to learn, make sure they have a notebook/pen or electronic note options on hand to jot down any thoughts or takeaways from the college fair. Maybe your student realizes they want a university experience in a city versus on a traditional college campus or wants to look further into the different tracks of an environmental studies program. Encourage your student to take notes that will help them distinguish between any schools of interest and do any follow-up research as needed.

These are just some initial tips to get your student started on preparing for a virtual college fair. Remember: The more you learn, the more you know. Once your student starts preparing, the college admissions process will feel much more approachable.

7 Best Ways to Save Money in College – Want easy ways to save money in college? Discover 6 simple money-saving college student life hacks, including your student ID, college textbooks, and more.

If you’re going to college, you’ll probably hear plenty of exaggerated stories of college life from the adults in your life. Many adults look at their college days as a “rite of passage” to adulthood.

You may hear stories about them eating nothing but Ramen noodles for weeks at a time, digging around in their battered couch for pizza money, or making their friends toss their spare change into their car’s ashtray for gas money.

The lesson? Back in the day, college kids learned to save money. While so much has changed, there are still tons of ways for you to save big bucks while in college. And you won’t have to starve yourself to do it.

1. Save money when shopping online

Shopping on the web has become the norm for many people. There are too many hidden ways to save to be included in this article.  But one quick and easy way is to install a simple Chrome extension to save money on your online purchases, like Capital One Shopping.

2. Ways to avoid buying new books

As recently as the 2018-2019 academic year, college students could expect to pay over $1200 a year in books and supplies. The reason? There’s little competition in the college text market.

To combat this problem, many students don’t bother buying textbooks, but that’s a mistake. Those students’ grades suffer because they don’t have the resources they need.

A much better strategy? Buy used books. College students can save hundreds of dollars by getting used copies of their required texts.

Another tactic is to rent books. There are various pricing comparison sites where you can compare buying versus renting and see which makes more sense. One potential problem? If you use a highlighter in rented books, it may trigger a fee.

When buying books, you can also save a great deal of money by buying and selling during “off-peak” times.

Most students buy their books in August and sell them in December when demand is sky-high. A smart idea is to find out ahead of time what books will be required for their classes and buy them early.

How can you find out what books are required if the course hasn’t opened for enrollment? Simply reach out to the professor privately and ask them what books you’ll need.

3. Avoid credit card debt

Credit card offers seem so promising! Own what you want and pay it off “later.” Rather than racking up credit card debt for things like cable or satellite service, look into ways to watch TV for free.

Want to save yourself a ton of headaches? Avoid using a credit card except for dire emergencies. Using credit for day-to-day expenses like food simply because it’s easier is the fastest way to rack up debt without realizing it.

Be smart by finding credit card offers that have the lowest possible interest rate and no annual fee. And if you do use it, you should only charge what you can afford to pay off in full each month.

4. Cook at home

Many people love eating out. It’s a social thing, and some days after a grueling day of classes, a nice meal out can seem like the perfect remedy. Instead, college students who stay home to cook save a lot of money. You’ll also develop better eating habits that will serve you well in life.

There are plenty of websites that can help you get your kitchen set up with new cookware, utensils, and recipes that are very affordable. Cooking for yourself also reinforces self-sufficiency, another valuable life skill.

5. Choose your housing carefully

The appeal of having your own apartment is huge. Maybe you believe partying will be easier away from the rules of college. Or you just like the idea of “having your own place.” The reality? You’ll save a lot of money by sticking with campus housing.

Rent for an average apartment is usually much higher than campus dorms. And that doesn’t count expenses like water, heat, and electricity. All of which are included in your dorm fees. Don’t forget the food: Most dorm fees also include a meal plan.

Living on campus will save you plenty of dough. And you’ll be able to concentrate on the most important thing in college: your education.

6. Skip owning a car

Owning a car can feel like freedom is at your fingertips. The reality is much harsher. Unless you can afford to buy a brand-new car with a killer warranty, you’re better off living on campus. You can learn to live life without a car.

Used cars always break down at the worst times. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to pay for the repairs and keep the thing running.  And you’ll be bombarded with requests from other students you barely know to drive them everywhere, move furniture, and pick up people from the airport

It just isn’t worth the headache. Besides, you’ll have a thriving social life right in your dorms.

7. Reduce your stress

When you’re under stress, it’s harder to concentrate. Harder to remember facts, figures, and anything related to your classes. A high stress level results in making poor decisions, which can torpedo your desire to save money.

One way to reduce your stress is with an emotional support animal. Get an evaluation from a licensed therapist in order to get your ESA letter so you can save money on pet fees – oh, and yes, even your feline friend can be an emotional support cat.  And if you’re wondering, “Do I have to tell my landlord I have an emotional support animal?” online resources such as mylawquestions.com can help you.

Summing up

Your college experience can be the best years of your life. With just a few money-saving strategies, you’ll be setting yourself up for a great life when you graduate. You’ll be armed not only with an education but also financial life skills to ensure your success.

By starting these habits now, you’ll be doing them automatically when you reach adulthood. You’ll have developed an ‘eye’ for finding money-saving opportunities online and off.

Predicting college success is important to a lot of people for a lot of reasons. Students, obviously, want to know what they can do to be successful—it’s their future at stake. Parents want to know if their college investment is going to pay off. And last, but certainly not least, schools want to know if they are admitting students who will not only bolster their graduation rate, but who will go on to make a name for themselves . . . and by association, for the school.

Of these three groups, the schools are the ones with the resources to investigate this question—and they have. Colleges and universities conduct regular internal audits to examine which factors can predict students’ success in college. While there are a number of characteristics that can come into play, many of them are exhibited once those students are already attending college, by which time, it can be argued, it’s already too late. The ideal time to examine predictors of success is while students are still in high school. This way, students still have time to develop better habits, parents can guide students toward developing these habits, and schools can refine their admissions processes in order to admit classes of ever-more-successful college freshmen.

With that as an introduction, here is a list

1. Student behavior during high school

Seems obvious, but certain student behaviors in high school can predict college success—and not the ones you might think. According to a joint 2015 report from the USDE, IES, and NCEE, these two behaviors were predictors of college success:

• Fewer high school absences
• Taking the SAT or ACT (regardless of score)

So students, take heed: high school attendance matters, and whether or not your colleges of interest require a standardized test score, you should probably take a shot at it anyway!

2. High School GPA

This next predictor of college success is probably a given in most people’s minds: high school GPA. According to a 2016 report from NACAC, which surveyed 400 colleges and universities high school GPA was the most important predictor of college performance—that is, high school and college grade point averages were closely correlated. (One school’s report showed correlations of .63 and .71.)

Good students are good students, case closed.

3. Family Income

The third predictor comes maybe not so much as a surprise, but as a disappointment. Based on a 2015 report from the Pell Institute, household income was the most important indicator of whether or not a student will graduate from college. (More than 75% of students from high-income households graduated in 2013, compared to less than 10% of students from low-income households.)

This is extremely unfortunate, since it is a factor that is entirely outside of the student’s control. However, the (marginally) good news is that this finding ought to lead to more discussions about solving economic equality at large, which will solve more than just the education gap.

The college application process can feel daunting to anyone, never mind sixteen- or seventeen-year-olds trying to balance their social lives, romance lives, and . . . oh yeah, high school grades. That’s why it’s important that you, their family, step in and partner with them through this life-changing process.

Here is a short list of Do’s and Don’ts that you, the family of a college-bound high school student, can follow to provide the support your student needs while ensuring that they stay in the driver’s seat.

DO set up a separate email account. You will be bombarded with admissions emails.  Do yourself and your student a favor and don’t share your daily email box with this influx of communications.  This can be a stress reducer too, allowing you and your student to compartmentalize the admissions process to a time and place that works.

But DON’T put it in your name.  This is a great time to help your student be more responsible and autonomous.  The email should be set up in his/her name.  This also shows prospective colleges that your student is capable and independent.

DO maintain a timeline. Applications deadlines are numerous and can sneak up without warning if you’re not careful. Plus, if your student wants to engage in activities such as college fairs, campus visits, or admissions interviews, the timing of these needs to be taken into consideration, as well. Therefore, developing a schedule to help your student stay on track can be immensely helpful.

But DON’T nag. If your student procrastinates or misses a deadline, they need to handle the consequences. After all, this is what will happen in real life; they might as well start learning now!

DO your homework. No matter how vividly you may remember your own college admissions process, times have changed. In order to be a useful resource and helping hand to your student, you need to research the latest processes and expectations in college admissions. (Including financial aid!)

But DON’T do everything for your student. This is their future at stake, not yours, so be sure to heed the boundary between helping and “taking over” the college application process.

DO discuss finances. And do this as frankly and early as possible. This way, your student knows what is realistic up front and won’t waste any time or energy researching colleges that, ultimately, they won’t be able to attend.

But DON’T let sticker price intimidate them. Believe it or not, financial aid might actually make a school with a higher sticker price less expensive than a competitor. Be realistic, but don’t discourage your student before you’ve done your own homework and have a sense of what is actually possible.

DO make time for campus visits. Nothing can give a student the feeling of being “at home” (or out of place) like an in-person visit to a school. Plus, these visits present valuable opportunities to learn more about the school beyond a static website or slow email correspondence. Therefore, encourage your student to visit at least a few campuses of schools they are considering, and arrange your schedule so that you can help make the visits happen.

But DON’T force your student to do anything they don’t want to do. If the impetus is not coming from them, they probably won’t get the same level of benefit out of the activity, whether it’s a campus visit, admissions interview, or applying to a school at all. Be supportive, be encouraging, but at the end of the day, let your student steer the process in whatever direction they decide is best.

Finally, DO let your student make their own decisions. Choosing a college is one of the first opportunities your student has to make adult choices, and they must live with the consequences of their choice. Therefore, step back and make sure the choice is theirs.

We live in a world full of data. Everything from our name and age to our food preferences is stored in a vault or in a cloud, on some sort of server somewhere, waiting to be retrieved and pinged across the world for reasons as simple as signing in to our email account or as complex as targeting us for a vacation advertisement.

Of course, agencies tasked with collecting this data are also expected to correctly store and manage access to it, and the more sensitive the information, the greater our expectations of privacy and security are. Yet the more data there is to handle, the more difficult it can be for agencies to maintain availability, quality, and privacy of our data.

These reasons—along with others—were what motivated the government to found PTAC: The Privacy Technical Assistance Center. This “center,” or online collection of resources, provides educational agencies and institutions with guidelines and training to develop a data governance program that ensures the privacy, confidentiality, and security of students’ data from pre-school through postsecondary education and into the workforce.

But wait a minute, what exactly is a data governance program?

At its essence, a data governance program is a set of rules and procedures that determine how data should be treated from the time it is acquired (when you fill out a form, register for an account, etc.), through its use (you use your email to log on to an online account, one company sells another company their mailing list, etc.), and culminating with its disposal (your record is deleted, your account is deactivated, etc.).

The benefits of developing a strong data governance program are fourfold. The data will be more accurate (meaning that it’s thorough and reflects reality). It will be more usable (better organized, more easily accessed). It will be timelier (available without delay). And finally—arguably most importantly—it will be more secure.

According to PTAC, there are four key steps to creating and maintaining a good data governance program. These “steps” are best framed as questions.

1. Who will be responsible for the program and for making decisions about its governance?
2. What are the rules and methods for managing the data?
3. How will these rules and methods be implemented?
4. Is the program a) doing what it is meant to do, and b) being followed by all stakeholders?

If you are able to adequately answer each of these questions, then your organization probably has a solid data governance program already in place. If not, PTAC provides a guide to the 10 components that you should follow to develop a comprehensive data governance program. These components are grouped into three overarching “themes”: a) rules of engagement, b) organizational bodies and individuals, and c) data governance processes.

A. Rules of engagement

First and foremost, a data governance program needs to fit with what the organization, as a whole, is trying to achieve. Likewise, it also needs to fall in line with what stakeholders expect from the organization. And finally, it must be reasonable—that is, the organization must have the resources necessary to put such a program in place, and then to sustain it. Therefore, here are PTAC’s six primary “rules of engagement”:

1. Mission and vision – what is the organization’s overall mission/vision, and how do the expectations of data governance play into that?
2. Goals, governance metrics, success measures, and funding strategies – what are the goals of the data governance program, how will they be tracked and measured, and how will the program be financially supported?
3. Data rules and definitions – what data is being collected, and how will different types of data (e.g., personally identifying data vs. anonymous data) be treated differently?
4. Decision rights – who is permitted to make a decision about what is done with the data?
5. Responsibilities and enforcement and compliance mechanisms – who is responsible for the implementation and success of the program, and how will its rules be enforced?
6. Security controls for risk management – what happens in the case of a data breach or data mismanagement?

B. Organizational bodies and individuals

Next, a data governance program must address who is “in charge”—i.e., who is responsible for making sure the program is implemented efficiently and effectively—as well as the rights and responsibilities of other involved parties. These are:

7. Data stakeholders – these include data owners and users, and their rights and/or responsibilities should be spelled out
8. A data governance body – this committee should include management and legal representatives, along with data system administrators, data providers, data managers, privacy/security experts, and data users
9. Data stewards – these are individuals who possess specific roles and responsibilities within the data governance program

C. Data governance processes

The final, tenth piece of the data governance program is a set of procedures for implementing and modifying the program. These procedures should specify a number of “how to’s”: how to implement the program, how to manage data over the long term, how to judge the program’s success, and how to handle cases when data quality or security is jeopardized. These “how to’s” fall into three main categories: proactive (setting standards prior to collecting any data), reactive (correcting any security policies in response to a data breach), and ongoing maintenance (regular operating procedures to keep the program intact and functioning smoothly).

If you work to incorporate these ten components into your data governance program, you will end up with a securer system that presents you with more accurate, timely, usable data. For more details, you can access resources from the US Department of Education here.

Essays, recommendations, SATs, transcripts—getting all of these college application materials together by mid-December is no easy task. So why in the world would you want to aim for extra-early “early action” (EA) or “early decision” (ED) deadlines?

The short answer is that, for the right type of student, there are benefits to applying early. For one thing, you get your acceptance (or rejection) early! This means that you don’t have to spend months and months waiting for (and stressing over) letters of admission. You also may save time and money by submitting fewer applications; however, this only holds true if you are accepted (because otherwise, you’ll still need to send applications elsewhere). Finally, applying early could increase your chances of being accepted . . . but this is not a given.

Applying early (especially early decision) shows admissions officers that you’re serious about attending their college. This can give you a leg up, since schools like to admit applicants who are likely to accept their offer. In fact, according to a U.S. News survey, the average early acceptance rate for fall 2016 freshmen was over 16% higher than the average regular acceptance rate among colleges that reported both their early and regular acceptance rates. However, averages are not the rule, which is why, on its website, the College Board writes the following:

Many students believe applying early means competing with fewer applicants and increasing their chances for acceptance. This is not always true. Colleges vary in the proportion of the class admitted early and in the percentage of early applicants they admit.

So, in summary, there are compelling reasons to apply early. However, even despite these advantages, not every student should submit an early application. If you’re still deciding between a number of different colleges, for example, you should skip early applications and apply with the regular decision cohort. If, on the other hand, your school preference is ironclad, you’ll then need to make sure that the institution actually offers early action and/or early decision plans, because not all schools do. Last but not least, your application needs to be strong, even without your senior fall grades on your transcript.

If you’ve gone through this line of questioning, and (a) you have a strong, singular college preference, (b) that college accepts early action/decision applications, and (c) your application is strong, then applying early is probably for you. But which early application should you use: early action or early decision?

Understanding Early Action and Early Decision

Before you decide between these two tricky options, it’s important to get them correct. So to do that, let’s use a mnemonic device.

 Action = “A” for “Answer.”

In early action, you took the action to apply early, and so, as your “reward,” you will get colleges’ answers (admission decisions) early. All this means is that you will have information about acceptance/rejection earlier than you would if you applied normally; you are under no obligation to attend a school that accepts you.

There is one caveat to this claim, and that is that some schools (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Stanford) use a variation of the early action program called Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA). Also known as “restrictive early action,” this option—like regular early action—is nonbinding. However, with SCEA, you are prohibited from applying early to any other private schools until you receive a decision from the school where you applied SCEA. (You are still allowed to apply early to any public institution you want.)

Decision = “D” for “Definite.”

If you apply to a college early decision, then you’ve decided, with total certainty, that you want to attend that school. If the college admits you, this decision is binding, meaning that you must withdraw all other applications; you are definitely going to this school.

As with early action, there is one nuance to early decision. Most schools offering early decision have one deadline, in early November (typically the 1^st or the 15^th); however, some schools have two early decision deadlines, one in November (ED I) and one in December (ED II). The purpose of ED II is essentially to give students who want to apply early decision to their top-choice school more time to put together their application. Again, whether you apply ED I or ED II, the decision is binding.

The Early Decision Warning

One important thing to understand is that if you apply early decision, you will not be able to compare financial aid packages from various schools. Upon acceptance, you will receive your financial aid offer from that school, and you are stuck with whatever they give you. If you have no need of financial aid, then this is a non-issue. However, if financial aid is an important factor in your school decision, it is a better idea to apply early action, instead.

Early Action vs. Early Decision—How to Decide

If you’re debating between a few top-choice schools, with no clear front-runner, then early action is your best bet. Also, if financial aid is a key deciding factor, then you again will want to stick to early action. However, if you are dead-set on going to a specific college, the best way to indicate that is by applying early decision. Just remember: applying early isn’t a guarantee of admission, so make sure you have backups ready for the regular December 15^th application deadline!