College Tipsheet

In this pilot episode, Mary McGrath .............................................................

The college search can be overwhelming, if you let it be. But if you break it down into parts and work together with others, it can be fun, revealing, and rewarding. Martin Van Der Werf wrote a series of blog posts about the college search and advice for improving it. In this podcast, I talk to Martin and his son, Reid, about their recently-completed search. What did they learn? How did they narrow down their choices? What advice do they have for others?

The journeys to a college decision are as varied as the number of students searching. In this episode of "Uh Oh" College, we talk with Reid and his father Marty.  Each shares their unique perspective on the college search.

Uh Oh College is for college students and their families.  We use the podcast to provide a balanced source of college-related information.  Instead of the usual one-way hype colleges use to get students to enroll, we challenge their messages to you in a way that will provide listeners with an enhanced perspective.  You will learn what is good and what is garbage.This episode lists 10 common questions students and their families should ask colleges, BUT, we take it one step farther.  We offer guidance on the best questions to ask colleges and which question colleges want you to ask - but you should ignore.Here is the link to the blog we wrote about the best and worst questions to ask college representatives.  Join me at one of 8 live College Financial Health and Viability webinars the February and March.  Click here to reserve a date and time.In this 45-minute webinar you'll learn: ✓ about the one report that shows how popular a college is✓ why colleges with poor graduation rates are really more expensive✓ how to determine if a college is more likely to survive the current college closure rates✓ how comparing enrollment trends matter to your college's future You can also ask questions about colleges you may be considering.

What if your car only worked 50% of the time?  What if your doctor was only correct 50% of the time, Cell phone worked on 70% of the time?  The same logic applies to colleges – unlike the scenarios I just shared -  that bad performance is way too common. In too many private and public colleges there are 4 year graduation rates below 50% and 6-year rates below 70% year after year after year.  Our CV App tracks both for every private and public college in the U.S.  We even provide free top and bottom graduation rate reports for every college in the U.S.  You can see them in the blog at our collegeviability.com site. If a college doesn’t have the systems and processes in place to help you or your student stay on track to graduate in 4 (or fewer) years, too many of there students will both have higher college costs and will lose potential post-college income because they are still in college finishing up the needed courses.Here are links to our College Viability app products. 2023 College Viability  Product linksParent's College Viability app 2023 Faculty & Staff College Viability app - Essentials 2023 College Viability Suite for Private and Public Colleges 2023 Executive Analysis College Viability app Click here to get our 'Uh Oh' College podcasts sent to your mailbox. 

Uh-Oh College is meant to be a provocative, perspective-changing yet entertaining look at colleges and all in the U.S.  We will provide guidance on admissions, finances, enrollment, majors, and more – but our most important focus is on the financial health and viability of colleges themselves and the programs, majors in those colleges.In our role as your fiduciary, we look out for the best interests of college students, their families  -   AND college faculty and staff  --   by providing the best source of college financial health and viability information – and much more.Uh Oh College is primarily for college students and their families.  We use the podcast to provide a balanced source of college-related information. Here are links to our College Viability app products.Parent's College Viability app 2023 Faculty & Staff College Viability app - Essentials 2023 College Viability Suite for Private and Public Colleges 2023 Executive Analysis College Viability appClick here to get our 'Uh Oh' College podcasts sent to your mailbox.

My name is Gary Stocker.  I am asking college students, their families and even college faculty and staff let me be your Fiduciary.What does that mean?  I explain in this podcast.  Uh-Oh College is meant to be a provocative, yet entertaining look at colleges in the U.S. In our role as your fiduciary, we look out for the best interests of college students, their families  -   AND college faculty and staff  --   by providing the best source of college financial health and viability information – and much moreUh Oh College is primarily for college students and their families.  We use the podcast to provide a balanced source of college-related information. Instead of the usual one-way hype colleges use to get students to enroll, we challenge their messages to you in an entertaining and provocative way that will provide listeners with an new perspective.  You will learn what is good and what is garbage.In this episode we discuss:1.  What is a fiduciary?2.  What is a coin-toss college?3.  College budget cuts among continuing financial woes.4.  How to ask about low-enrollment majors at public (and private) colleges5.  Using tuitionfit.org to be able to compare college financial aid offers.6.  William Penn University (IA) spins enrollment.  We go to the data to provide an important perspective.  ("Uh-Oh" It's not good.) Here is the link to the Parent's College Viability App.  It retails at $99.00.  Available through December 31, 2023 for only $19.97.

In this episode for students and their families, we discuss something we call tuition resets.  Colleges call them lower tuition costs for the students.  We explain why that is not necessarily the case.We also share our summary of a report from Fitch (a financial rating service).  In essence, Fitch wants to remind college consumers that there are many colleges at risk of closure or other significant adjustments.   You will want to subscribe to the Uh Oh College podcast to stay informed.  

Uh Oh College is for college students and their families.  We use the podcast to provide a balanced source of college-related information.  Instead of the usual one-way hype colleges use to get students to enroll, we challenge their messages to you in a way that will provide listeners with an enhanced perspective.  You will learn what is good and what is garbage. You will learn how to analyze the financial health and viability of private and public colleges.  Students and parents are generally unaware of the financial health and viability of many colleges.  Some colleges will continue to close, but many others are cutting majors, degrees, programs, and faculty.  We will step you through the process for comparing the financial health and viability of these colleges. We will talk about how college presidents are paid to look out for their college's best interests - not your.  We'll share how boards of trustees operate - many times to the detriment of the college and its students. We will share how college counselors make the college decision process much harder than it needs to be.  Colleges want you a lot more than you want them.  We'll share how to leverage that to your benefit. You will learn how to interpret enrollment trends, graduation rates, and popularity indicators to your advantage.  We will show you the College Viability app and how to use it compare colleges you are considering. Uh Oh College will provide listeners with an entertaining, idea-challenging, and thoughtful discussion about colleges, the college selection process, the business of college, and much more.2023 Product linksParent's College Viability app 2023 Faculty & Staff College Viability app - Essentials