DIALOGUEletters
The article [“Tuition pre p
101,” August 2006] has some
very dangerous information
for any family who will qualify for financial aid. The
following is what both parents and students need to
know about summer jobs,
work in general, student
assets and how they factor
into the financial-aid system.
Sadly, too few are aware of
the consequences.
Odds and ends
(cont. from page 7)
Schooling on college
financial aid
In the financial-aid formulas, students have a $3,000
income-protection allowance,
but for every dollar earned
over that they lose 50 cents in
financial aid. Students have no
asset-protection allowance, and
every dollar they have will be
assessed at 20 percent per year.
In the financial-aid formulas, even if the
student has no earnings, but will
attend one of 225 elite private
and/or state colleges that in
addition to the free application for federal student aid require the College Scholarship
Service financial-aid profile,
there is an automatic income assessment of $1,000!
For the past 25 years
I’ve helped thousands of
families send their kids to the
college of their choice for less
than they ever dreamed possible.
Reecy Aresty
College Admissions/
Financial Aid Expert
Boca Raton, Florida
Thanks to Mr. Aresty for
bringing this information to our
attention. However, our article was
intended for families who do not
qualify for financial aid.—Ed.
Family fun around the fire pit
Last spring, The Costco Connection
ran an ad for a fire pit with four chairs that
caught my eye. When I saw the set at my local
Tigard, Oregon, warehouse I knew that it was
just what I needed. But my husband wasn’t
quite as excited as I was. We thought about it
for about a month. (Note to Costco shoppers: Waiting around is ill-advised.) When I
went back to our Tigard warehouse to purchase it, the fire pits were all gone.
Then I found out they were still available—in Salem, Oregon, and Anchorage,
Alaska. Having missed one opportunity, I
rented a U-Haul truck and drove [about 40
miles] to Salem, bought the fire pit and chairs,
and then took them to our home in Myrtle
Creek. But the payoff came this summer when
our children and grandchildren visited and we
were able to use our new fire pit for s’mores!
Sara Hunt, via e-mail
Affection for The Connection
Being a female business owner, I particularly appreciate reading Rhonda Abrams’ and
Suze Orman’s commentary in your magazine.
Their colums have been very helpful to me
personally and professionally. The Connection
is just one more special benefit that puts
Costco a cut above other retailers.
Kally J. Tsangaris, Merrillville, Indiana
We speak payroll!
Payroll made easy.
Payroll taxes done right.
Call an Intuit Payroll Specialist at 1-866-297-7900 and
mention Source Code C40020. Or, visit costco.com and click on Services.
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trademarks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. 06EX1304 10/06
