What Resources Do I Use Most for Our College Search? "The Choice" is One of the Best

Today I'm going to introduce you to The Choice: Demystifying College Admissions and Aid, a New York Times blog whose lead writer is Times Education Writer Jacques Steinberg (pictured at left). He also authored The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College.

Since its inception in March 2009, dozens of posts have been added from an array of experts, including William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College, and Marty O'Connell, executive director of Colleges That Change Lives, as well as first-hand accounts of the college admissions/acceptance/aid process from six young adults who are now college freshmen.

I have spent hours on this blog, reading through posts, comments, Q and As, and more. I find a lot of merit in learning about others' first-hand accounts, which is why I highly value the information available inThe Choice.

What kinds of resources have you found to be helpful? Please leave a comment and tell us about them.

The Worst Sweet 16 Party Idea I've Found (So Far)

My daughter's birthday is next month and we're planning a Sweet 16 birthday party. Because I'm her parent, any suggestion I make is "bad," "stupid" or some other form of social suicide. So I turned to the Internet for non-lame ideas.

Wow! Some of the suggestions on the web, apparently posted by teens or their parents, aren't just awful, they're totally inappropriate. Let me start by telling you that I'm not a prude: We allow our daughter to watch Gossip Girl, albeit with much discussion about how the show is unrealistic and the behavior is out of line and shouldn't be emulated by any teen.

Now that we're all on the same page, get a load of the theme I found on one website: Cocktail Party. What?!! The mom who posted the idea noted that frozen drinks (non-alcoholic, of course, so "parents don't need to worry") would be served from plastic martini and margarita glasses. And mom and one of her friends would wear white button-down shirts with black slacks and vests and serve as bartenders for the evening.

Are you kidding me?! Allow me to suggest some games for that party. How about a round or two of "Can You Pass a Roadside Sobriety Test?" or "The Best Pick-up Line Ever?" Perhaps mom can give them a drink in a to-go cup, so they can enjoy it as they drive home. Good times.

Some people argue that a Shirley Temple sets a bad precedent for children. I think the sugar is the worst part of that concept. But a Cocktail Party theme is just flat-out wrong. Shame on mom!

Photo by Jasper Greek Golangco

How Will Paying for College Impact Your Federal Taxes? A New Section of the IRS Website Has the Answers

There is nothing easy or simple about the US tax code. So when you start paying for college and want to take advantage of IRS deductions or credits or whatever, figuring out FAFSA is a piece of cake by comparison.

But to help taxpayers sort through the quagmire, the IRS has added Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center to its website. The new section has info about various different tax breaks in one place, making it easier to find and, dare we hope, understand. Included are tax credits, tax deductions, savings plans, scholarships and fellowships, and exclusions from income.

Looks like I'll be calling my accountant.

Photo by Darren Shaw, http://www.whitespark.ca

A White House Staff Report: "Barriers to Higher Education"

Hot off the press from the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families is a look at why the average American has such a tough time paying for a college education.

In an appearance today at Syracuse University, Vice President Biden made a town hall presentation about the importance of a college education to our country's middle class. Two key issues are getting into and paying for college.

"Barriers to Higher Education" examines how much merit (ability) determines access to a college education, "Because a clear pathway to a college education is a clear pathway into the middle class." Beyond the issue of merit, the report also delves into questions about the high cost of higher ed and struggles many families face trying to afford a college education.

The report includes links to previous reports and studies on the topic and is worth a read; let's hope some initiatives are put into work soon - say, in time for Fall 2010?!

Photo by Christian Carollo