Helping parents navigate their K-12 public school choices in Los Angeles, including neighborhood schools, magnets, charters, dual language programs, gifted options, permitting and more.
Last chance to register for today’s live free college funding webinar recommended for parents of 8th-11th graders. Even if you can’t make the live, all registrants will have access to the 7-day replay. Learn how to approach paying for college tuition and applying for financial aid in a savvy way, and that starts with learning the landscape and planning early. Led by Cyndi Menegaz of SMARTTRACK College Funding. Join us. What You Need To Know NOW About Paying Less For College Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 12p
Hope you’re all doing well. Just thought I’d post a couple of updates here.
Late Apps [for LAUSD Choices categories] are in full swing right now if you missed the on-time November deadline, or want to add additional selections to your spread. Each selection will be submitted individually, time-stamped, and added to the end of the on-time waitlist. You will not receive any waitlist points on a Late App Magnet, however you just might win a seat.
Many Independent Charters have deadlines coming up right around this time. Each are submitted individually at each school’s website. If you miss the deadline, you can ask to submit a late app and be added to the end of the on-time waitlist.
Permitting – both within (intra) and leaving the district (inter) – are ongoing right now.
Upcoming Dates of Note: Mon, March 14, 2022 – initial results of the LAUSD Choices lotteries are posted
Fri, April 8, 2022 – LAUSD Choices Accept/Decline Deadline
Mon, April 11 – Fri, April 15, 2022 – LAUSD Spring Break; schools and offices closed
Mon, April 18, 2022 – Waitlists start to move! (This is just the beginning of a very long process)
Weds, April 27, 2022 – Open Enrollment opens – always a few gems on that list
…AND we still don’t have a START DATE for LAUSD’s 2022-2023 school year. The Board of Ed may vote on this in March, but no official word just yet.
Webinars– The Basics For those of you who are just getting started, are fairly overwhelmed with how things work around here (who isn’t), want to learn all about “those points!,” or need to get some good foundational learning done before we work on your personalized admissions strategy, I have made my most popular webinars available to you as replays. Introducing TheGoMamaGuide Basics Webinar Series – grab a ticket and learn on your own timeline. Get the lay-of-the-land before we meet.
Need HELP? I have been quietly working away in my cubicle helping as many families as I can with their public school queries during these trying times. I know it’s difficult with no on-site tours, and no fresh school data, still. If you need assistance, reach out to schedule a Zoom or Phone or RelocationConsultation with me, and let’s talk school.
Hello Friends, I know some of you are just getting situated in your elementary schools, yet a large number of GoMamaGuide families are inching their way closer to high school, then college. You know I’ve been there, excited for my daughter, but dreading facing that college tuition bill, wondering how we’ll ever swing it.
For my parents of 8th through 11th graders, just in time for tax season, GoMamaGuide presents the return of Cyndi Menegaz, National Program Director at SMARTTRACK® College Funding, with her brilliant talk. Join us for:
What You Need to Know NOW about Paying Less for College Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 12p FREE
You may be surprised to learn that with a little planning, you can significantly lower out-of-pocket costs, maximize grants and scholarships, reduce debt, and learn to cover tuition in a more tax-advantaged, cost-efficient way. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for Financial Aid, preparing for how best to pay for college can make a tremendous difference and it starts earlier* than you might think.
*Recommended for parents of 8-11th graders. Parents of 9th and 10th graders – the financial decisions you make now will impact how much you pay later. 11th grade families don’t have a minute to lose!
Folks, I’ve personally taken this seminar twice while my daughter was just starting high school, and found it extremely helpful as I prepared financially for my daughter’s college tuition bill. Luckily our high school was on it and brought Cyndi in to assist parents with this info, but the truth is, most high schools are ill-equipped to advise parents beyond completing the basic financial aid forms. The reality is that families must begin organizing their finances a couple of years in advance in order to get all the financial aid they may be eligible for.
I learned so much about the process, and it helped me plan my finances early on so we didn’t have to limit her college options, or pay retail tuition prices. I am convinced that SMARTTRACK saved me a huge percentage of tuition by looking over my assets, and suggesting adjustments I could make while my daughter was still a sophomore in high school. I also learned which types of schools were going to be more generous than others, and that surprised me. If you are savvy about planning ahead, and I hope you are, please jump on this opportunity to learn more. Like everything else, the earlier you start planning, the better off you’ll be. And as public school families, we need all the options we can get.
As a special bonus, GoMamaGuide is partnering with SMARTTRACK where you’ll have an opportunity to schedule a free call with them, just like I did, to review your financial picture and see if there are any strategic things you can do well before filling out those financial aid forms senior year. (The dreaded FAFSA and CSS. Yay, more acronyms to learn!) If you do decide to work with them, you’ll get the GoMamaGuide discount.
More about Cyndi Menegaz, National Program Director SMARTTRACK® College Funding is a national leader in helping families better pay for college. Cyndi is a popular speaker and conducts workshops across the country, educating and empowering parents and professional colleagues on the critically important financial piece of college planning. Prior to joining SMARTTRACK®, she had a successful career in the video business and received a degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University. Cyndi is also the proud mom of twins who recently graduated from college debt free!
What You Need To Know NOW About Paying Less For College
(You NEED This Info Folks!)
with Cyndi Menegaz, National Program Director at SMARTTRACK® College Funding
September 18, 2021 9a FREE *Recommended for parents of 8-12th graders.
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I’ve personally taken this seminar twice, and found it extremely helpful as I prepared financially for my daughter’s dreaded college tuition bill. I learned so much about the process, and it helped me plan way in advance so we didn’t have to limit her college options, or pay retail tuition prices. I am convinced that SMARTTRACK saved me a huge percentage of tuition by looking over my assets, and suggesting adjustments I could make while my daughter was a sophomore in high school. If you are savvy about planning ahead, and I hope you are, please jump on this opportunity to learn more. Like everything else, the earlier you start planning, the better off you’ll be. And as public school families, we need all the options we can get.
As a special bonus, GoMamaGuide is partnering with SMARTTRACK where you’ll have an opportunity to schedule a free call with them just like I did to review your financial picture and see if there are any strategic things you can do well before filling out those financial aid forms senior year. (The dreaded FAFSA and CSS. Yay, more acronyms to learn!) If you do decide to work with them, you’ll get the GoMamaGuide discount.
At a minimum, do take advantage of your free call.
What You Need To Know NOW About Paying Less For College (You NEED This Info Folks)
with Cyndi Menegaz, National Program Director at SMARTTRACK® College Funding
March 10, 2021 7p
FREE *Recommended for parents of 8-12th graders.
You guys, I’ve personally taken this seminar twice, and found it extremely helpful as we planned financially for my daughter’s dreaded college tuition bill. I learned so much and it helped me plan way in advance so we didn’t have to limit our college options or pay retail tuition prices. I am convinced that SMARTTRACK saved me a huge percentage of tuition by looking at my assets and suggesting adjustments I could make when my daughter was a sophomore in high school. If you are savvy about planning ahead, and I hope you are, please jump on this opportunity to learn more. Like everything else, the earlier you start planning, the better off you’ll be. And as public school families, we need all the option$ we can get.
Also, as a special bonus, GoMamaGuide is partnering with SMARTTRACK where you’ll have an opportunity to schedule a free call with them just like I did to review your financial picture and see if there are any strategic things you can do well before filling out those financial aid forms senior year. (The dreaded FAFSA and CSS. Yay, more acronyms to learn!) If you do decide to work with them, you’ll get the GoMamaGuide discount.
At a minimum, do take advantage of your free call.
Wondering how to pay for college without losing your home or your retirement?
For many of us just thinking about it brings up feelings of dread and inadequacy. Perhaps downright denial as the cost of college tuition keeps spiraling upward at an ever increasing rate.
Folks, rather than bury your head in the sand, it’s time to get pro-active and take a look at where you stand and how to optimize your financial situation – whatever it is – to get the most out of the college financial application process.
And while I’m an expert on navigating K-12 public school options, I’m still learning when it comes to financial planning towards college. That’s why I went to SmartTrack College Funding to work with the experts, who reviewed my financial picture and set me straight.
For instance, here’s a little shocker I learned.
Did you know that the generous savings account your grandparents set up for your kids and fund every year will actually be factored into your Expected Family Contribution (EFC – the amount you will be asked to pay for tuition based on your entire financial picture) at 20%, but if it was held in YOUR name it will only be factored at 5%?*
(Oops, sorry kids. Your account is MINE now!)
That’s just one of the many things I learned after working with my SmartTrack College Funding Coach, who helped me know which assets to move around and where, in order to minimize the sting of what colleges will expect me to hand over to them for tuition.
*Caveat: Before you start moving money around, you really need to check in with your SmartTrack College Funding Coach for the best strategies that work for your particular financial situation. To get started with your FREE assessment, use this special link.
I can hear you now, “But it’s WAAAAYYYYY too early to be thinking about that stuff, I mean, I just got my kid into middle school. We don’t even know where he’s going to high school, let alone college!!”
Folks, the prep time comes earlier than you think. (Are you listening my middle school families?)
So I sat down with Cyndi Menegaz of SmartTrack and had a little chat about all of this college financial planning intel. She’s got a lot of great info and a special deal for my GoMamaGuide families. Take a look:
• How to pay for college • How to pay LESS for college (yes!) • How to maximize merit and financial aid
Don’t pay “retail” tuition. Learn how to mitigate red flags in your financial profile and lower your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) tuition calculation. Get help with your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Utilize SmartTrack’s online suite of college funding tools and handy resources, and work with a personalized SmartTrack College Funding Coach who will walk you through the financial process to save you money.
Schedule your FREE 15 min call! 818-552-0800 and mention GoMamaGuide.
To get started, sign in to your FREE SmartTrack account at:
**Specifically targeted for my 8th-10th grade families, but it’s never too early to prepare. Call for your FREE assessment today.
Guys, your kids will be doing SAT/ACT test prep, they’ll be doing college essay prep, and parents if you’re smart, you’ll be going to SmartTrack to do financial prep.
Or, you could skip this step and just hand over all your hard-earned $$$$ to tuition!
GoMamaGuide 