 As college costs continue to rise, parents of college-bound students are increasingly turning to 529 plans as a strategic way to save for their children's education. Named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, these tax-advantaged savings accounts offer a powerful combination of financial benefits and flexibility that can make a significant difference in funding higher education.
A 529 plan is a state-sponsored investment account designed specifically for education savings. These plans allow parents, grandparents, or other interested parties to contribute after-tax dollars into an account that grows on a tax-deferred basis. The key advantage is that when funds are withdrawn for qualified education expenses, they are not subject to federal income tax. Additionally, many states offer their own tax benefits, such as deductions on contributions or tax-free withdrawals for state residents.  As parents of sophomores and juniors schedule flights, rent cars, make hotel reservations, and book spring break campus tours, this whole “college thing” becomes eerily real.
Two experienced parents who have recently completed college visits and have come out the other side smiling share their advice: “I would say that the best thing we did regarding campus visits was to start early. We looked closely at upcoming days off, vacation days, and even teacher/staff development days. If you wait until summer, you may not get a “real” feel of the campus dynamics. We made a point of visiting most schools at two different times to get an idea of school spirit, study habits, and student engagement. I also learned that colleges offer specialized sessions (engineering, business, honors college, etc.) only on certain days of the week.”  There are roughly 311 different languages spoken in the United States alone, with more than 6,500 languages spoken worldwide. Globalization and increasing communication with foreign countries have increased the need for bilingual speakers. By entering into the field of World Languages or Linguistics, you will not only master a second language but will also enhance your perspectives as you learn to value other cultures and build connections with others who speak another language.
As global interconnectedness continues to grow, the value of language skills and linguistic knowledge has never been higher. For college-bound high school students considering their future majors, both world language studies and linguistics offer exciting and rewarding paths.  Okay students, let's be real. Your life is probably all over social media. From TikTok dances to Insta-worthy sunsets to those hilarious Snapchat streaks, it’s how you connect, express yourself, and keep up with everything. But here's a thought that might make you pause before your next post: colleges might be watching. Yes, admission officers could be scrolling through your feeds, and what they see might impact your future.
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Presented byTrio College Counseling Collaborative benefitting students from the additional expertise of Ann Bartron Morris in the San Francisco Bay Area and Kathryn Crosby, based in Southern California. Our complementary skill sets and experience provide the most full-bodied advice to our clients. Consultation and collective efforts produce optimal results for your student. Categories
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