--- title: "The Insider: Your Expert Guide to College Admissions | Shannon Vasconcelos" description: The official blog of College Coach, a division of Bright Horizons. Our expert view on all things college admissions. --- [![College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/hub/146790/file-1518948603.png "College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts")](http://www.getintocollege.com/) - [Blog](https://146790.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Contact](https://146790.hs-sites.com/contact) - [Login](http://passport.getintocollege.com/Account/Login) # The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts ## Shannon Vasconcelos ### Recent Posts ## [How Should Grandparents Help Pay for College? | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365213/How-Should-Grandparents-Help-Pay-for-College-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Thu, Mar 17, 2016 @ 11:05 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-4018137403-jpg/images/grandmother-453131_1280.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365213/How-Should-Grandparents-Help-Pay-for-College-College-Coach-Blog) So Grandma wants to help pay for college? Fantastic! Tapping into extended family resources can certainly help parents overwhelmed by college costs. And since tuition payments are exempt from the gift tax, a grandparent’s help seems to be an effective way to disseminate family wealth without negative tax implications. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365213/How-Should-Grandparents-Help-Pay-for-College-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [How to Pay for College](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/how-to-pay-for-college) ## [Scholarship Search Spotlight: Scholarships for Vegetarians | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364846/Scholarship-Search-Spotlight-Scholarships-for-Vegetarians-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Sat, Nov 21, 2015 @ 10:46 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-3596337547-jpg/images/fruit-933674_640.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364846/Scholarship-Search-Spotlight-Scholarships-for-Vegetarians-College-Coach-Blog) When I began refusing to eat meat in high school, I drove my mother crazy.  All of a sudden, she had to cook two separate family dinners each night:  one for the carnivores in the house and one for me. (Shame on me – while I had embraced eating vegetarian food, I had not yet mastered cooking it myself. I guess I owe her one.) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364846/Scholarship-Search-Spotlight-Scholarships-for-Vegetarians-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Finding Scholarships](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/finding-scholarships) ## [What to Avoid During a Financial Aid Base Year | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364707/What-to-Avoid-During-a-Financial-Aid-Base-Year-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Oct 20, 2015 @ 08:30 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-3596336052-jpg/images/business-861325_1280.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364707/What-to-Avoid-During-a-Financial-Aid-Base-Year-College-Coach-Blog) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364707/What-to-Avoid-During-a-Financial-Aid-Base-Year-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [What is the Base Year for Financial Aid? | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364662/What-is-the-Base-Year-for-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Oct 13, 2015 @ 03:30 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-1402672847-jpg/images/coco_130820_0348.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364662/What-is-the-Base-Year-for-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364662/What-is-the-Base-Year-for-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [New Executive Order Means Change to FAFSA Process | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364439/New-Executive-Order-Means-Change-to-FAFSA-Process-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Mon, Sep 14, 2015 @ 04:17 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-539189002-jpg/images/coco_130820_0370.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364439/New-Executive-Order-Means-Change-to-FAFSA-Process-College-Coach-Blog) ### BREAKING NEWS: FAFSA Based on Prior-Prior Year Income [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364439/New-Executive-Order-Means-Change-to-FAFSA-Process-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [3 Keys to Federal Student Loan Forgiveness | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364352/3-Keys-to-Federal-Student-Loan-Forgiveness-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Sep 01, 2015 @ 03:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-3596333917-jpg/images/building-804526_1280.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364352/3-Keys-to-Federal-Student-Loan-Forgiveness-College-Coach-Blog) Over the years, I’ve spoken with many college students and graduates whose greatest wish is a magic wand to make their student loans disappear.  While magic wands are a rare commodity in college finance, there does exist a tool for making your loans vanish into thin air.  It is called Public Service Loan Forgiveness. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364352/3-Keys-to-Federal-Student-Loan-Forgiveness-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Loan Advice](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-loan-advice) ## [The Worst Financial Aid Mistake (And How to Fix It!) | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364126/The-Worst-Financial-Aid-Mistake-And-How-to-Fix-It-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Aug 04, 2015 @ 02:30 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-388941603-jpg/images/coco_130819_0097.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364126/The-Worst-Financial-Aid-Mistake-And-How-to-Fix-It-College-Coach-Blog) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364126/The-Worst-Financial-Aid-Mistake-And-How-to-Fix-It-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [The Importance of College Deadlines | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363622/The-Importance-of-College-Deadlines-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Jun 16, 2015 @ 04:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-3147601742-jpg/images/postits_small.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363622/The-Importance-of-College-Deadlines-College-Coach-Blog) ## Paying for College: A Financial Aid Deadline Disaster John was an excellent student. He studied hard in high school, was an involved student leader, aced his standardized tests, and come fall of his senior year, all of his diligence paid off: He was accepted Early Decision to a selective East Coast private college. This college also happened to be the school of his dreams. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363622/The-Importance-of-College-Deadlines-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [Should I Pay Off My House to Get More Financial Aid? | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363285/Should-I-Pay-Off-My-House-to-Get-More-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Tue, Jun 09, 2015 @ 03:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-912517217-jpg/images/coco_130820_0378.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363285/Should-I-Pay-Off-My-House-to-Get-More-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) With college costs at an all-time high, it is no wonder that parents are looking for ways to increase their financial aid eligibility. There is a lot of advice flying around the rumor mill about ways to [get more financial aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/336472/How-to-Increase-Financial-Aid-for-College)—some of it true, a lot of it false, and much based in kernels of truth. Among these questionable pieces of advice is the common refrain that you ought to pay off your house in order to get more financial aid. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/363285/Should-I-Pay-Off-My-House-to-Get-More-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) ## [Bankruptcy and Financial Aid | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362965/Bankruptcy-and-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Shannon Vasconcelos](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos) on Wed, May 06, 2015 @ 08:28 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-388941603-jpg/images/coco_130819_0097.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362965/Bankruptcy-and-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) While bankruptcy is never one’s life goals, the fact is it happens.  Job loss, medical expenses, divorce, and life’s other financial twists and turns can lead folks who never imagined doing so to file for bankruptcy protection.  Bankruptcy filings have been steadily on the rise over the past century, especially since the 1980s, with close to a million consumers seeking [bankruptcy protection in 2014](http://www.uscourts.gov/Statistics/BankruptcyStatistics.aspx).  With the massive financial investment that comes with college, it is no surprise that as a college finance educator, I often get questions from parents and students about bankruptcy’s effect on college financial aid.  Here are the 3 most common questions I receive about bankruptcy and financial aid: [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362965/Bankruptcy-and-Financial-Aid-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [Applying for Financial Aid](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) [All Posts](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/all) [Next Page](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/shannon-vasconcelos/page/2) ### Need help with the Common Application?  [![common application help](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008) ### Get the Insider Advantage  College Coach experts, all former senior admissions and financial aid officers, are available to work privately with your student to achieve admissions success. 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