•A parent whose child was tutored by student

The LOR can also be from a relative with a different last name if above criteria is met, but it should not indicate that it’s from a relative to avoid appearing biased.

For LOR’s not written in English, I recommend English translation be attached and put on top with a preface stating, “For your convenience, following is English translation of attached letter."

The guidance counselors submit all LOR’s originating from high school. Students should be cautioned not to submit any sealed or unsealed LOR’s that they obtain on their own and outside of their school! Any LOR from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor should be mailed by person who wrote it, not student.

All LOR’s should be addressed as follows:

Date (Be sure to include student’s SS# or School ID number.) [Name of College] [Director’s name if you know it] Director of Admissions [Street or P.O. Box] [City, State, Zip, Zip+4 if available]

RE: Student’s Name

Dear Director: [Unless you know their name]

By following these instructions, students will surely increase their edge – even if they’re a valedictorian! The best students also need an edge because they are competing against other exceptional students! Students with less than exemplary numbers will stand a better chance of being accepted in admissions process with outstanding LOR’s.

Every student needs that all-important edge in every aspect of admissions process. Without outstanding LOR’s, chances of acceptance become proportionally reduced.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It!” For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

State Plans a/k/a 529 Plans: Anyone can open a 529 Plan in his or her own name and designate a student as beneficiary. Up to $50,000 ($100,000 jointly) may be contributed over five years to a maximum of $246,000. Funds grow tax-free and withdrawals since 2002 have been tax-free as well.

Downside: Monies contributed are not tax deductible, and there is little or no control over how funds are invested. Also, there is a 10% penalty for withdrawals not used for college, and 529 Plans can actually decrease chances for a large grant or scholarship – and that’s not all. When there are distributions from these accounts, financial aid is automatically reduced dollar for dollar! As with EIRA’s, having funds legally repositioned elsewhere, will result in no assessment whatsoever!

Retirement Plans: An IRA, HR10 (Keogh), Pension, SEP, 401(k), 403(b), 457 or any other qualified retirement plan should also be considered when saving for college. Such plans are not regarded as assets and are outside of financial aid formulas. While account value is not considered an asset, annual contribution made is added back to AGI for an income assessment! The big print giveth, but small print taketh away!

Non-Qualified Savings Plans: These are accounts strictly set up to provide funds to be used to pay for Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or any unanticipated college costs. Families need to set up these accounts as early in student’s life as possible, so there will be adequate money to pay such costs when time comes.

Remember, by time students enter high school, consideration should be given to reducing “high risk” investments. Never gamble with money that’s earmarked for education! And, never lose sight of fact that all monies saved for college in early years will not serve their purpose unless student prepares for and successfully completes admissions process.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, “Getting Into College And Paying For It!” For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.