On Jan. 18, there will be an informational meeting for both students and parents on how to finance future college costs. The event will take place in the DGN auditorium from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Topics that will be discussed include scholarships, grants, net price calculators, unsubsidized and subsidized loans and much more. Admission for the event is free.

The meeting will consist of a presentation by former Director of College Admissions and College Counselor Frank Palmasani. Any questions can be asked during or after the presentation and are strongly encouraged.

DGS College Counselor Anita Carpenter elaborated on Palmasani and his experience as a speaker for college finances.

“He is very knowledgeable on the financial aspects of paying for college. He’s written a couple of books [and] he has a website. He’s just well-versed [at] helping families look at the bigger picture,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter further explained the importance of the meeting and why not only parents but students should also attend the meeting.

“I highly encourage [students] to come, so everyone is hearing the same thing about scholarships and grants, how to apply for schools and so forth. So often we have kids that look at colleges and they haven’t spoken to their parents about the cost and it’s just an eye-opener for parents,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter also believes that the meeting will be very beneficial to those who have not experienced the college process before.

“Sometimes, you’re first-generational and your parents may not have any idea [of what to look for]. And if they have not gone to college, how much does it cost to go to University of Michigan vs. Michigan State, or University of Chicago vs. Illinois State,” Carpenter said.

This will be the second meeting held this year in regards to the college process. While the first meeting consisted of how to apply for financial aid, this meeting will focus on how to choose a school based off of the money you will receive and how to prioritize with the money available.