Happy College Savings Day!

Here at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (a.k.a. ISAC, the state agency that administers College Illinois!) we love celebrating every May 29th because we're lucky enough to operate under the mission statement of "making college accessible and affordable for all Illinois students." And if that isn't a reason to get up early in the morning, we don't know what is!

Now if the reason you get up early in the morning is because you're a new parent or grandparent, please seriously consider enrolling in College Illinois! before this current infant enrollment period closes on August 1st!

With tuition rates rising at 7 % to 8% annually nationwide, college education for your little one will never be more affordable than right now! And before you think you can't afford it, check out our new SmartChoice options through which you can get into the program for as little as $35 or $57 a month!

Consider that a child born today is projected to pay more than $162,000 at a four-year public university. Whew!

But you have the opportunity -- right now! -- to lock in this year's rate of college tuition with a legal, binding, state contract granting you the peace of mind of being free from fretting over savings accounts and stock tickers and ensuring that, come freshman year, the only worries you'll have are how to let your baby birds fly free!

Seems too good to be true, doesn't it? Well this College Savings Day we stand proud behind our College Illinois! 529 Prepaid College Tuition program and strongly encourage you to consider your options and make the right choice for your child's future education.

Take a moment to check us out. We're confident you'll find that College Illinois! truly is the smart, secure way to pay for college tuition!

Want to know more? Click here to find out more about College Savings Day!

Our blog has new family members!

Prepaid Perspectives has some company on the World Wide Web! We’re thrilled to announce that we now have a presence on many of the fastest growing social networking sites. You can find lots of fun and useful information about the program, upcoming events and great photos and video from events on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Plurk, Tumblr, Flickr and MySpace.

By becoming a fan of, or following College Illinois! on any of these popular social networking sites, you’ll stay up to date and informed about all things 529 prepaid tuition contracts in our state and across the country. We hope you’ll send us messages and we look forward to getting to know you better! We welcome your suggestions, as the purpose of these sites is to make our program more accessible to you, the parents and grandparents of future college-bound kids!

If you need any help finding us on any of the sites, just drop us a comment here on the blog and we’ll be happy to assist.

Todd

A Beautiful Bloom

Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming, birds are singing. Spring! A time of new beginnings, re-birth, spring cleaning, out with the old & in with the new, a time for hope and change in new life not yet fully seen. A great chance to re-evaluate our priorities and think about changes to make in the spirit of renewal & optimism.

Just as a blooming plant or beautiful flower starts from its smallest form as a seed, it grows with increasing potential. The same is true for our loved ones, our children. They need nourishment & care to grow to their full potential. By starting a financial plan for them now, you are setting them up for future success:

Your child will go to college. Your child will thrive & prosper.

And you can make it happen! A 529 Pre-Paid Tuition Plan may be the best way to do that for your newborn infant.

An education is more than just about going to school. Gaining an education and utilizing it in school, in work, and throughout life is the goal. Imagine the limitless possibilities of what your newborn daughter or son may do 10, 20, 30 years from now. But it all starts from a seed! Plant the idea and feed it with TLC, nurture the soil so it will be fertile & open to new ideas. When you take time to plant the seeds now with a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan you will be amazed at what emerges when they become young adults.

For the baby in your life who will go to college one day, consider doing something that offers hope & potential for their future. Right now is the perfect time to lock in the costs of college today for the baby who will get that degree years from now. You have the best choices, the lowest prices, the most options today. If it’s true you reap what you sow, then you have no time to waste. Start planning for their future college tuition today.

General Enrollment season has just closed, but we’re in full swing with College Illinois! 529 Pre-Paid Tuition enrollment for infants under age 1. Now is the time to look ahead to what’s possible. Seedlings need water, roses need pruning and hydrangeas need sunlight. So too do our young people. They need the nourishment that only a higher education can provide.

Time moves forward. It doesn’t stop, and it never slows down. When you nourish your children you can start planning for their college savings now-- and gain the peace of mind that only a 529 Pre-Paid Tuition Plan can provide.

Here’s to a beautiful spring!

-Amy

WHAT’S NEXT???

Now that general enrollment has closed a lot of you may be wondering “what’s next?”

Well, the first thing you should know is that enrollment is still open for newborns till August 1, 2009. So any parent that has a child less than the age of one year old still has an opportunity to get a College Illinois! contract. The pricing starts as low as $35 a month for a Community College Plan and $57 a month for a University Plan.

But, if you have already purchased a plan you should know that your first payment is not due till June 1, 2009. Once you have an account with us, you will receive a Welcome Letter, Participation and Payment Schedule and a printed copy of the Master Agreement and Disclosure Statement.

Depending on your payment schedule, you will either receive a payment invoice for lump sum payments, annual payments, or monthly payments – depending on which option you chose. Once again this money is not due till June 1, 2009. In early January, you will also receive an annual statement that shows all the accounts you own and the account totals.

For those of you that have children who are starting college this year, you should’ve received a “Using Your College Illinois! Benefits” book. This book will give you specific details on what you and the beneficiary need to know in order for College Illinois! to start paying for the beneficiary’s tuition and mandatory fees. If you have not received your book or have questions, please call our Customer Service at 877-877-3724.

Congratulations on your purchase of a College Illinois! contract – the smart, secure way to save for college.

Tonya P.