DON’T GET LOST IN THE FINANCIAL AID MAZE
HOW GOING IT ALONE CAN NET YOU LESS MONEY — AND WASTED TIME
Many students and parents think the financial aid process is no big deal. They’ll have to fill out a few forms and wait to hear back. Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. It’s easy to assume that going through the financial aid process by yourself is cheaper and more efficient, but the reality is very different. Yes, you can do it alone as a student or parent, but here’s why you may want to rethink this strategy. First and foremost, colleges and the federal government love people who file for financial aid independently. This gives them more control over the process, and as a result, you can get steamrolled. They don’t want you to know all the nuances of financial aid, and they certainly don’t want you to have power in the process. It all comes down to the financial aid system itself, which is a complicated mess. It’s a bizarre mix of government bureaucracy and private, for-profit and nonprofit organizations. On top of that, there are miles of red tape, mazes of rules, countless deadlines, and massive laundry lists of regulations.
Here’s the bottom line: Unless you’re willing to devote countless hours for months on end (if not years) researching and understanding the financial aid process, you face a monumental challenge. The vast majority of people don’t have the resources or knowledge to get the maximum amount of money from any given school. When you go it alone, you will spend those countless hours trying to figure it all out, cutting through the red tape, and navigating the maze. Yes, it can be done, but at the end of it all, you will be asking if it was worth it. Plus, you’ll be left wondering if you could have gotten more money. Don’t be penny wise and dollar foolish. Ask for help. Whether you’re asking for yourself or a child who is getting ready to take the next step in the world of education, an expert can guide you through the process and is far more likely to get you the results you really want!
CLASSIC FRENCH OMELET Inspired by SeriousEats.com
HAVE A LAUGH
INGREDIENTS • 3 large eggs • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter INSTRUCTIONS 1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Break up all curds by scraping bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring when eggs are softly scrambled and creamy (but loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set faster. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that the lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should have the seam on bottom.
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