How to Start a Finance Company

How to Start a Finance Company.

Finance companies provide loans to individual and commercial customers for a variety of reasons. Commercial customers can include retail stores, small businesses or large firms. Commercial loans can help established businesses construct a new office or retail space, or they can help new business get up and running. Personal loans for individual customers can include home equity loans, student loans and auto loans. Starting a finance company requires not only a thorough understanding of your target customer's needs and a comprehensive product line, but also a solid business plan that outlines how you will make your company successful. In addition,any new finance company must comply with strict state and federal regulations and meet initial funding requirements.

Part 1 Identifying the Finance Company Business Model

1. Select a finance company specialty. Finance companies tend to specialize in the types of loans they make as well as the customers they serve. The financial, marketing, and operational requirements vary from one specialty to another. Focusing on a single business model is critical to the successful creation and operation of a new company. Private finance companies range from the local mortgage broker who specializes in refinancing or making new loans to homeowners to the factoring companies (factors) that acquire or finance account receivables for small businesses. The decision to pursue a specific finance company specialty should be based upon your interest, your experiences, and the likelihood of success.

Many finance companies are founded by former employees of existing companies. For example, former loan officers, underwriters, and broker associates create new mortgage brokerage firms specializing in a specific type of loan (commercial or residential) or working with a single lender.

Consider the business specialty that attracted you initially. Why were you attracted to the business? Does the business require substantial start-up and operating capital?

Is there an opportunity to create the same business in a new area? Will you be competing with other similar, existing businesses?

2. Confirm the business opportunity. A new finance company must be able to attract clients and produce a profit. As a consequence, it is important to research the expected market space where the business will compete. How big is the market? Who presently serves potential clients? Are prices stable? Is the market limited to a specific geographic area? How do existing companies attract and serve their customers? How do competitors differ in their approach to marketing and service features?

Identify your target market, or the specific customers you intend to serve. Explain their needs and how you intend to meet them.}}

Describe your area of specialization. For example, if your market research indicates a growing number of small start-up companies needing loans, describe how the financial products and services you offer are strong enough to gain a significant share of that market.

Consider the companies already in the competitive space. Are they similar in size or dominated by a single company? Similar market shares may indicate a slow-growing market or the companies’ inability to distinguish themselves from their competitors.

Tip: Identifying your target market will require you to identify key demographics that are currently underserved and how you plan to draw these customers away from your competitors. You should list who these customers are and how your financial products will appeal to them. Include any advantages you have over competitors.

3. Identify the business requirements. What are the likely fixed costs to operate the business - office space, equipment, utilities, salaries and wages? What business processes are necessary for day-to-day operations - marketing, loan officers, underwriters, clerks and accountants? Will potential clients visit a physical office, communicate online, or both? Will you need a financial partner such as mortgage lender or a bank?

Mortgage brokers act as intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, sometimes with discretion up to a dollar limit. Factors typically leverage their own capital by borrowing from larger financial institutions.

4. Crunch the numbers. How much capital is required to open the business? What is the expected revenue per client or transaction? What is break-even sales volume? Before risking your own and other people’s capital, you need to ensure that profitability is possible and reasonable, if not likely.{{greenbox: Tip: Develop financial projections (pro formas) for the first three years of operation to understand how the business is likely to fare in the real world. The projections should include month to month Income Statements for the first year, and quarterly statements thereafter, as well as 'projected Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements.

Part 2 Making a Self Assessment.

1. Identify your skills. Before starting your new company and, possibly, a new career, it is important to objectively evaluate your skills and personality to determine what steps you need to take to successfully start and manage a finance company. Do you have special training in the finance specialty? Do you understand finance and accounting? Do you work well with people? Are you a leader, who inspires others to follow them, or a manager, who can assess a problem, discern its cause, direct resources to implement a solution? Are you a good salesperson? Do you have any special abilities specifically suited to the finance industry?

2. Assess your emotional strengths and interests. Do you work best alone or with others? Do you find it easy to compromise? Are you patient or demanding with others? Do you make quick, intuitive decisions or do you prefer detailed information and careful analysis before acting? How comfortable are you with risk? Are an optimist or a pessimist? When you make a mistake, do you beat yourself up or regard it as a learning opportunity and move on?

3. Consider your experience. Have you worked in the finance industry previously? Are you monetarily and professionally successful in your present position? Do you understand marketing, accounting, legal matters, or banking? Have you been responsible for creating new markets or leading sales teams?

4. Determine your financial capacity. Do you have sufficient capital to open the finance company you envision? Do you have assets that can cover your living expenses during a start-up phase? Will your family or friends contribute to the financing of your business? Do you have access to other financial sources - personal loans, venture capital, investment funds, or financial sponsors?

Part 3 Creating a Business Plan.

1. Set up your business plan. The Business Plan serves a number of functions. It is a blueprint for building your company in the future, a guide to ensure you remain focused in your efforts, and a detailed description of your company for potential lenders and investors. Begin writing your business plan by including all of the required sections and leaving room to fill them in. The steps in this part should serve as your sections, starting with the business description.

2. Write a business description. Your business plan will layout a blueprint for your company. The first part of your business, the description, is a summary of the organization and goals of your business. Begin by justifying the need for a new financial company in the industry or target location. You should briefly identify your target market, how you plan to reach them, descriptions of your products and services, and how your company will be organized.

Tip: You should also briefly explain how there is room in the current market for your company (how it will compete against competitors). You should already have this information from your initial market research.

3. Describe the organization and management of your company. Clarify who owns the company. Specify the qualifications of your management team. Create an organizational chart. A comprehensive, well-developed organizational structure can help a financial institution be more successful.

The Chief Executive Office leads the "executive suite" of other company officers.

The Chief Operating Officer manages the activities of the lending, servicing and insurance and investment units of the company.

The Chief Administrative Officer’s responsibilities include marketing, human resources, employee training, facilities, technology and the legal department.

The Chief Financial Officer ensures that the company operates within regulatory parameters. This person also monitors the company’s financial performance.

In smaller companies, executives may fill more than one of these roles simultaneously.

4. Describe your product line. Explain the types of financial products and loans you provide. Emphasize the benefits your products offer to your target customers. Specify the need your product fills in the market.

For example, if your target customers are small business owners, describe how the financial products and investments you offer to help them run their businesses.

5. Explain how your business is financed. Determine how much money you need to start your finance company. Specify how much equity you own. State what percentage other investors own in the company. Indicate how you plan to finance your company with leverage (loans),where these loans are coming from, and how the loans will be used in the business.

In most cases, equity in the company is used primarily for the company's operations, rather than the source of loans to customers. Secondary lenders provide funds to the finance company that is subsequently loaned to customers; the customers' loans collateralize the lenders' loans to the finance company. This is because profit is made in the spread, or the difference between your cost of acquiring capital and profit from lending it out.

Any funding request should indicate how much you need, how you intend to use the money, and the terms of the loan or investment.

6. Document your marketing and sales management strategies. Your marketing strategy should explain how you plan to attract and communicate with both customers and lenders/depositors. It should also show how you plan to grow your company. The sales strategy defines how you will sell your product.

Promotional strategies include advertising, public relations and printed materials.

Business growth opportunities not only include building your staff, but also acquiring new businesses or beginning to offer different kinds of products.

The sales strategy should include information about the size of your sales force, procedures for sales calls and sales goals.

7. Include financial statements in your business plan. Reviewing the pro forma financial statements you created during your business planning, be sure that your projections are reasonable and conservative. You may also want to cautiously estimate performance over the next two years after that. Include a ratio analysis to document your understanding of financial trends over time and predict future financial performance.

Prospective financial data should provide monthly statements for the first year and annual statements for the next two years.

Standard financial ratios include Gross profit margin, ROE, Current ratio, Debt to Equity.

Ratio and trend analysis data helps you document whether you will be able to continue to serve your customers over time, how well you utilize your assets and manage your liabilities, and whether you have enough cash to meet your obligations.

Tip: Add graphs to your analysis to illustrate positive trends.

Part 4 Determining Your Business Structure.

1. Consider forming a Limited Liability Company. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is similar to a corporation in that it protects its owners from personal liability for debts or actions incurred by the business. However, they have the tax advantages of a sole proprietorship or partnership. A corporation typically files taxes separately from the shareholders.

Be aware that corporations pay double federal income tax, meaning taxes are assessed when profit is earned, and then again when it is distributed to shareholders.

You should seek legal advice to determine the best structure for your business.

2. Name and register your business. Choose a name that represents your brand and is unique enough to obtain a website address or URL. When choosing a name, check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make sure you are not infringing on any trademarks. Also, check with you state to see if the name is already in use by another corporation.

You will have to register with your state as a corporation. The exact registration process varies by state and type of corporation you decide to form.

Since your business name is one of your most important assets, protect it by applying for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

3. Obtain a require operational licenses and permits. Financial institutions acquire these from the state in which they operate. Consult with your State Business License Office to identify the specific license and permit you need. Each state has different requirements for licensing financial institutions. You will need to specify exactly what type of financial institution you are opening, such as an investment company or a licensed lender. You will then furnish the requisite documents and pay any fees.

Due to the incredibly complex and constantly-evolving nature of the financial services industry, it is advised that finance companies hire and retain expert legal counsel to guide them through these regulations.

Note: You will also need to comply with any permit requirements surrounding your office space, like public and workplace safety regulations and operating permits.

4. Learn about regulations. The two categories of financial regulations in the United States are safety-and-soundness regulation and compliance. Safety-and-soundness regulations protect creditors from losses arising from the insolvency of financial institutions. Compliance regulations aim to protect individuals from unfair dealings or crime from the financial institutions. Financial regulations are carried out by both federal and state agencies.

Federal financial regulation agencies include the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

State regulatory agencies may have additional requirements that are even more stringent than those set by the SEC.

With the help of your legal counsel, investigate reserve and initial funding requirements for your company. This will determine how much startup money you need.

5. Protect yourself from risk and liabilities with indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance protects you and your employees should someone sue you. Financial institutions should purchase a specific kind of indemnity insurance called Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. This protects the financial company from claims made by clients for inadequate or negligent work. It is often required by government regulatory bodies. Remember, however, that staying in compliance with all regulatory requirements is still your responsibility.

Part 5 Setting Up Shop.

1. Obtain financing. You will need to finance your company according to your business plan, using a combination of equity and debt financing. Initial startup costs will be used for meeting reserve requirements and the building or rental of office spaces. From there, much of the company's operating capital will be lent out to customers.

Be aware of Federal and State laws regulating the private solicitation of investors. Adherence to securities laws regarding the information provided to potential investors and the qualifications of the investor will apply in most circumstances.

Sources of debt financing include loans from the government and commercial lending institutions. Money borrowed with debt financing must be paid back over a period of time, usually with interest.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with banks to offer government loans to business owners. However, these loans can only be used for the purchase of equipment, not lent out to others. The SBA helps lending institutions make long-term loans by guaranteeing a portion of the loan should the business default.

Finance companies face the problem of having to raise large amounts of initial funding to be successful. They also often have to deal with a slew of other challenges before they become profitable. Without accounting properly for issues like fraud, it's very easy for a finance company to go out of business.

Note: Investors may want to provide financing in exchange for equity in the company. This is called equity financing, and it makes the investors shareholders in the company. You don’t have to repay these investors, but you do have to share profits with them.

2. Choose your location. A finance company should make a positive impression on customers. Customers looking for a loan will want to do business in a place that projects a trustworthy and sound image. Take into account the reputation of the neighborhood or of a particular building and how it will appear to customers. Also consider how customers will reach you and the proximity of your competitors. If your target customers are small local businesses, for example, they may not want to drive to a remote location or deal with heavy city traffic to meet with you.

If you are not sure, contact your local planning agency to find out if your desired location is zoned for commercial use, especially if you plan to operate out of your home.

Leasing commercial office space is expensive. Consider your finances, not only what you can afford, but also other expenses such as renovations and property taxes.

In today's connected world, it's also possible to run a finance company online, without a location for physical interaction with customers. While you'll likely still need an office for your employees, not having a retail location can save you some regulatory hassle expense.

3. Hire and retain employees. Write effective job descriptions so employees and applicants understand their role in the company and what your expectations of them are. Compile a compensation package, including required and optional fringe benefits. Compose an employee handbook that communicates company policies, compensation, schedules and standards of conduct.

Perform pre-employment background checks to make informed decisions about whom you hire. Financial planners and advisors require a specific educational background and are subject to rigorous certification requirements. Consider obtaining credit reports to show how financially responsible a candidate is.

4. Pay your taxes. Obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This is also known as your Federal Tax Identification Number. Determine your federal and state tax obligations. State tax obligations include income taxes and employment taxes. All states also require payment of workers' compensation insurance and unemployment insurance taxes, and some also require payment of disability insurance.

5. Create loan packages for your clients. Decide if you are going to offer revolving or fixed-amount types of credit. Think about your target customers and what kinds of loans they would need. Homeowners and individuals may seek mortgages, auto loans, student loans or personal loans. Entrepreneurs may seek small business loans. Consolidated loans may help customers who are struggling to manage their finances.

Recognize that your loan offerings, rates, and terms will need to be constantly reworked with the changing loan market. Some of these items may also be subject to various regulations, so consult your legal counsel before finalizing your offerings.

6. Market your new finance company. Target your marketing efforts towards your chosen niche of clients. Marketing includes networking and advertising, but there are also other ways of letting potential customers know you have set up shop. Become a familiar face in your local business community by attending and speaking at events sponsored by the local chamber of commerce. Publish communications such as a newsletter or e-zine. Participate in social networking on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Note: In order to become successful, you'll have to attract both depositors and loan customers, so be sure to offer deals on both ends. Without attracting depositor, you will have no capital to lend out to customers.

December 03, 2019

how to start a finance company

How to Start a Finance Company.

Finance companies provide loans to individual and commercial customers for a variety of reasons. Commercial customers can include retail stores, small businesses or large firms. Commercial loans can help established businesses construct a new office or retail space, or they can help new business get up and running. Personal loans for individual customers can include home equity loans, student loans and auto loans. Starting a finance company requires not only a thorough understanding of your target customer's needs and a comprehensive product line, but also a solid business plan that outlines how you will make your company successful. In addition,any new finance company must comply with strict state and federal regulations and meet initial funding requirements.

Part 1 Identifying the Finance Company Business Model

1. Select a finance company specialty. Finance companies tend to specialize in the types of loans they make as well as the customers they serve. The financial, marketing, and operational requirements vary from one specialty to another. Focusing on a single business model is critical to the successful creation and operation of a new company. Private finance companies range from the local mortgage broker who specializes in refinancing or making new loans to homeowners to the factoring companies (factors) that acquire or finance account receivables for small businesses. The decision to pursue a specific finance company specialty should be based upon your interest, your experiences, and the likelihood of success.

Many finance companies are founded by former employees of existing companies. For example, former loan officers, underwriters, and broker associates create new mortgage brokerage firms specializing in a specific type of loan (commercial or residential) or working with a single lender.

Consider the business specialty that attracted you initially. Why were you attracted to the business? Does the business require substantial start-up and operating capital?

Is there an opportunity to create the same business in a new area? Will you be competing with other similar, existing businesses?

2. Confirm the business opportunity. A new finance company must be able to attract clients and produce a profit. As a consequence, it is important to research the expected market space where the business will compete. How big is the market? Who presently serves potential clients? Are prices stable? Is the market limited to a specific geographic area? How do existing companies attract and serve their customers? How do competitors differ in their approach to marketing and service features?

Identify your target market, or the specific customers you intend to serve. Explain their needs and how you intend to meet them.}}

Describe your area of specialization. For example, if your market research indicates a growing number of small start-up companies needing loans, describe how the financial products and services you offer are strong enough to gain a significant share of that market.

Consider the companies already in the competitive space. Are they similar in size or dominated by a single company? Similar market shares may indicate a slow-growing market or the companies’ inability to distinguish themselves from their competitors.

Tip: Identifying your target market will require you to identify key demographics that are currently underserved and how you plan to draw these customers away from your competitors. You should list who these customers are and how your financial products will appeal to them. Include any advantages you have over competitors.

3. Identify the business requirements. What are the likely fixed costs to operate the business - office space, equipment, utilities, salaries and wages? What business processes are necessary for day-to-day operations - marketing, loan officers, underwriters, clerks and accountants? Will potential clients visit a physical office, communicate online, or both? Will you need a financial partner such as mortgage lender or a bank?

Mortgage brokers act as intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, sometimes with discretion up to a dollar limit. Factors typically leverage their own capital by borrowing from larger financial institutions.

4. Crunch the numbers. How much capital is required to open the business? What is the expected revenue per client or transaction? What is break-even sales volume? Before risking your own and other people’s capital, you need to ensure that profitability is possible and reasonable, if not likely.{{greenbox: Tip: Develop financial projections (pro formas) for the first three years of operation to understand how the business is likely to fare in the real world. The projections should include month to month Income Statements for the first year, and quarterly statements thereafter, as well as 'projected Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements.

Part 2 Making a Self Assessment.

1. Identify your skills. Before starting your new company and, possibly, a new career, it is important to objectively evaluate your skills and personality to determine what steps you need to take to successfully start and manage a finance company. Do you have special training in the finance specialty? Do you understand finance and accounting? Do you work well with people? Are you a leader, who inspires others to follow them, or a manager, who can assess a problem, discern its cause, direct resources to implement a solution? Are you a good salesperson? Do you have any special abilities specifically suited to the finance industry?

2. Assess your emotional strengths and interests. Do you work best alone or with others? Do you find it easy to compromise? Are you patient or demanding with others? Do you make quick, intuitive decisions or do you prefer detailed information and careful analysis before acting? How comfortable are you with risk? Are an optimist or a pessimist? When you make a mistake, do you beat yourself up or regard it as a learning opportunity and move on?

3. Consider your experience. Have you worked in the finance industry previously? Are you monetarily and professionally successful in your present position? Do you understand marketing, accounting, legal matters, or banking? Have you been responsible for creating new markets or leading sales teams?

4. Determine your financial capacity. Do you have sufficient capital to open the finance company you envision? Do you have assets that can cover your living expenses during a start-up phase? Will your family or friends contribute to the financing of your business? Do you have access to other financial sources - personal loans, venture capital, investment funds, or financial sponsors?

Part 3 Creating a Business Plan.

1. Set up your business plan. The Business Plan serves a number of functions. It is a blueprint for building your company in the future, a guide to ensure you remain focused in your efforts, and a detailed description of your company for potential lenders and investors. Begin writing your business plan by including all of the required sections and leaving room to fill them in. The steps in this part should serve as your sections, starting with the business description.

2. Write a business description. Your business plan will layout a blueprint for your company. The first part of your business, the description, is a summary of the organization and goals of your business. Begin by justifying the need for a new financial company in the industry or target location. You should briefly identify your target market, how you plan to reach them, descriptions of your products and services, and how your company will be organized.

Tip: You should also briefly explain how there is room in the current market for your company (how it will compete against competitors). You should already have this information from your initial market research.

3. Describe the organization and management of your company. Clarify who owns the company. Specify the qualifications of your management team. Create an organizational chart. A comprehensive, well-developed organizational structure can help a financial institution be more successful.

The Chief Executive Office leads the "executive suite" of other company officers.

The Chief Operating Officer manages the activities of the lending, servicing and insurance and investment units of the company.

The Chief Administrative Officer’s responsibilities include marketing, human resources, employee training, facilities, technology and the legal department.

The Chief Financial Officer ensures that the company operates within regulatory parameters. This person also monitors the company’s financial performance.

In smaller companies, executives may fill more than one of these roles simultaneously.

4. Describe your product line. Explain the types of financial products and loans you provide. Emphasize the benefits your products offer to your target customers. Specify the need your product fills in the market.

For example, if your target customers are small business owners, describe how the financial products and investments you offer to help them run their businesses.

5. Explain how your business is financed. Determine how much money you need to start your finance company. Specify how much equity you own. State what percentage other investors own in the company. Indicate how you plan to finance your company with leverage (loans),where these loans are coming from, and how the loans will be used in the business.

In most cases, equity in the company is used primarily for the company's operations, rather than the source of loans to customers. Secondary lenders provide funds to the finance company that is subsequently loaned to customers; the customers' loans collateralize the lenders' loans to the finance company. This is because profit is made in the spread, or the difference between your cost of acquiring capital and profit from lending it out.

Any funding request should indicate how much you need, how you intend to use the money, and the terms of the loan or investment.

6. Document your marketing and sales management strategies. Your marketing strategy should explain how you plan to attract and communicate with both customers and lenders/depositors. It should also show how you plan to grow your company. The sales strategy defines how you will sell your product.

Promotional strategies include advertising, public relations and printed materials.

Business growth opportunities not only include building your staff, but also acquiring new businesses or beginning to offer different kinds of products.

The sales strategy should include information about the size of your sales force, procedures for sales calls and sales goals.

7. Include financial statements in your business plan. Reviewing the pro forma financial statements you created during your business planning, be sure that your projections are reasonable and conservative. You may also want to cautiously estimate performance over the next two years after that. Include a ratio analysis to document your understanding of financial trends over time and predict future financial performance.

Prospective financial data should provide monthly statements for the first year and annual statements for the next two years.

Standard financial ratios include Gross profit margin, ROE, Current ratio, Debt to Equity.

Ratio and trend analysis data helps you document whether you will be able to continue to serve your customers over time, how well you utilize your assets and manage your liabilities, and whether you have enough cash to meet your obligations.

Tip: Add graphs to your analysis to illustrate positive trends.

Part 4 Determining Your Business Structure.

1. Consider forming a Limited Liability Company. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is similar to a corporation in that it protects its owners from personal liability for debts or actions incurred by the business. However, they have the tax advantages of a sole proprietorship or partnership. A corporation typically files taxes separately from the shareholders.

Be aware that corporations pay double federal income tax, meaning taxes are assessed when profit is earned, and then again when it is distributed to shareholders.

You should seek legal advice to determine the best structure for your business.

2. Name and register your business. Choose a name that represents your brand and is unique enough to obtain a website address or URL. When choosing a name, check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make sure you are not infringing on any trademarks. Also, check with you state to see if the name is already in use by another corporation.

You will have to register with your state as a corporation. The exact registration process varies by state and type of corporation you decide to form.

Since your business name is one of your most important assets, protect it by applying for trademark protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

3. Obtain a require operational licenses and permits. Financial institutions acquire these from the state in which they operate. Consult with your State Business License Office to identify the specific license and permit you need. Each state has different requirements for licensing financial institutions. You will need to specify exactly what type of financial institution you are opening, such as an investment company or a licensed lender. You will then furnish the requisite documents and pay any fees.

Due to the incredibly complex and constantly-evolving nature of the financial services industry, it is advised that finance companies hire and retain expert legal counsel to guide them through these regulations.

Note: You will also need to comply with any permit requirements surrounding your office space, like public and workplace safety regulations and operating permits.

4. Learn about regulations. The two categories of financial regulations in the United States are safety-and-soundness regulation and compliance. Safety-and-soundness regulations protect creditors from losses arising from the insolvency of financial institutions. Compliance regulations aim to protect individuals from unfair dealings or crime from the financial institutions. Financial regulations are carried out by both federal and state agencies.

Federal financial regulation agencies include the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

State regulatory agencies may have additional requirements that are even more stringent than those set by the SEC.

With the help of your legal counsel, investigate reserve and initial funding requirements for your company. This will determine how much startup money you need.

5. Protect yourself from risk and liabilities with indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance protects you and your employees should someone sue you. Financial institutions should purchase a specific kind of indemnity insurance called Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. This protects the financial company from claims made by clients for inadequate or negligent work. It is often required by government regulatory bodies. Remember, however, that staying in compliance with all regulatory requirements is still your responsibility.

Part 5 Setting Up Shop.

1. Obtain financing. You will need to finance your company according to your business plan, using a combination of equity and debt financing. Initial startup costs will be used for meeting reserve requirements and the building or rental of office spaces. From there, much of the company's operating capital will be lent out to customers.

Be aware of Federal and State laws regulating the private solicitation of investors. Adherence to securities laws regarding the information provided to potential investors and the qualifications of the investor will apply in most circumstances.

Sources of debt financing include loans from the government and commercial lending institutions. Money borrowed with debt financing must be paid back over a period of time, usually with interest.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with banks to offer government loans to business owners. However, these loans can only be used for the purchase of equipment, not lent out to others. The SBA helps lending institutions make long-term loans by guaranteeing a portion of the loan should the business default.

Finance companies face the problem of having to raise large amounts of initial funding to be successful. They also often have to deal with a slew of other challenges before they become profitable. Without accounting properly for issues like fraud, it's very easy for a finance company to go out of business.

Note: Investors may want to provide financing in exchange for equity in the company. This is called equity financing, and it makes the investors shareholders in the company. You don’t have to repay these investors, but you do have to share profits with them.

2. Choose your location. A finance company should make a positive impression on customers. Customers looking for a loan will want to do business in a place that projects a trustworthy and sound image. Take into account the reputation of the neighborhood or of a particular building and how it will appear to customers. Also consider how customers will reach you and the proximity of your competitors. If your target customers are small local businesses, for example, they may not want to drive to a remote location or deal with heavy city traffic to meet with you.

If you are not sure, contact your local planning agency to find out if your desired location is zoned for commercial use, especially if you plan to operate out of your home.

Leasing commercial office space is expensive. Consider your finances, not only what you can afford, but also other expenses such as renovations and property taxes.

In today's connected world, it's also possible to run a finance company online, without a location for physical interaction with customers. While you'll likely still need an office for your employees, not having a retail location can save you some regulatory hassle expense.

3. Hire and retain employees. Write effective job descriptions so employees and applicants understand their role in the company and what your expectations of them are. Compile a compensation package, including required and optional fringe benefits. Compose an employee handbook that communicates company policies, compensation, schedules and standards of conduct.

Perform pre-employment background checks to make informed decisions about whom you hire. Financial planners and advisors require a specific educational background and are subject to rigorous certification requirements. Consider obtaining credit reports to show how financially responsible a candidate is.

4. Pay your taxes. Obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This is also known as your Federal Tax Identification Number. Determine your federal and state tax obligations. State tax obligations include income taxes and employment taxes. All states also require payment of workers' compensation insurance and unemployment insurance taxes, and some also require payment of disability insurance.

5. Create loan packages for your clients. Decide if you are going to offer revolving or fixed-amount types of credit. Think about your target customers and what kinds of loans they would need. Homeowners and individuals may seek mortgages, auto loans, student loans or personal loans. Entrepreneurs may seek small business loans. Consolidated loans may help customers who are struggling to manage their finances.

Recognize that your loan offerings, rates, and terms will need to be constantly reworked with the changing loan market. Some of these items may also be subject to various regulations, so consult your legal counsel before finalizing your offerings.

6. Market your new finance company. Target your marketing efforts towards your chosen niche of clients. Marketing includes networking and advertising, but there are also other ways of letting potential customers know you have set up shop. Become a familiar face in your local business community by attending and speaking at events sponsored by the local chamber of commerce. Publish communications such as a newsletter or e-zine. Participate in social networking on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Note: In order to become successful, you'll have to attract both depositors and loan customers, so be sure to offer deals on both ends. Without attracting depositor, you will have no capital to lend out to customers.

December 01, 2019

How to Stop Being Broke

How to Stop Being Broke.

If you're sick of being broke, it's time to take control of your finances! Whether you need to work on your spending habits, learn how to save, or find ways to earn more money, you can find a way to stop being broke. Follow these steps to start working towards financial freedom and better peace of mind.

Part 1 Getting into the Right Mindset.
1. Set goals. If you want to change your financial situation, you need to get specific about want you want to accomplish. Think about exactly what you want your finances to look like and what you can do to achieve those goals.
Setting short-term goals in addition to long-term goals can help keep you motivated by providing you with a sense of accomplishment.
Create a budget for non-essential items and hold yourself accountable for it each month. If you go over-budget one month, tell yourself that your budget for the next month is reduced as a result.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others. If you're spending beyond your means because you feel that you need to keep up with your friends or show others that you can afford a certain lifestyle, you're not doing yourself any favors. Stop worrying about what others can afford and think about how you can live within your means.
Stop equating your self-worth with your ability to buy things. This kind of thinking will make you extremely unhappy in the long run and will probably get you stuck in debt forever.
3. Track your expenses. To understand exactly where all your money is going, keep careful track of every dollar you spend. You can do this with a pen and paper or electronically if you use a card for everything, but make sure to account for everything. This simple habit will help you spend more wisely.
Try categorizing your expenses and adding them up on a monthly basis. For example, you could create categories for food, housing, transportation, utilities, insurance, entertainment, and clothing. Then calculate what percentage of your income you are spending on each category. You might realize that your expenses in some of these categories are way too high.
To understand how much you can afford to spend each day, subtract your fixed expenses from your monthly income and divide the remaining amount by 31.
4. Make a plan for getting out of debt. If you are broke because you have credit card debt, a car payment, or student loans, think about what you can do to pay off these debts faster.
Making even a few extra payments each year can help you pay off your debts much faster.
5. Start saving. This may seem impossible if you are always broke, but planning for the future will help you get out of this cycle. Start small by just putting $50 in an emergency fund each month.
Don't forget to save for retirement! Take advantage of the 401k offerings at your company or open an IRA account.

Part 2 Avoiding Money Traps.
1. Avoid lending to others. While you may want to help out your loved ones who are in need, you really shouldn't be lending money if you can't afford to pay your own bills.
2. Avoid payday loans. While they may seem like a good solution if you're strapped for cash, the interest rates are ridiculously high, so they will only get you further into debt.
3. Understand how much it will really cost. Before you take out any kind of loan or finance any purchase, be sure to calculate what your monthly payments will be, how long it will take you to repay the debt, and how much you will be paying in interest.
In some cases, paying interest may be worth it. For example, most people cannot afford to purchase a house without taking out a mortgage, but depending on the price of the house and the average cost of rent in your area, you might still be saving a significant amount of money by choosing to buy with a mortgage instead of renting.
Be especially wary of high interest rates for depreciating assets like vehicles. If you decide to sell your vehicle after you have owned it for several years, it may be worth less than what you owe on it. This can also happen with real estate when the market conditions are poor.
4. Avoid impulse buys. If you always have a plan for what you will buy, you will have a much easier time managing your finances.
If you have a hard time controlling your purchases when you go to the mall, try to avoid going to the mall at all.
Write out a list when you go shopping so you will always know exactly what you need to buy.
5. Use credit cards wisely. If you have a harder time keeping track of your expenses and sticking to your budget when you use a credit card, stop using it.
Paying with cash instead of a credit card will allow you to visualize how much of your available funds you are spending on a given purchase.
If you are able to stick to your budget when using a credit card, look for one that has no annual fee and will reward you with cash back or other incentives. Just make sure you always pay your bill on time or these incentives will not be worth the price you are paying in interest.

Part 3 Spending Less.
1. Assess your daily or weekly spending habits. Once you have a solid grasp on what you are spending your money on, you can start cutting out expensive habits.
2. Buy used items. You can save on everything from your next car to furnishings for your home by buying gently used items.
You can sometimes find really great clothes that have barely been worn at thrift shops for a fraction of the price.
3. Look for monthly expenses that can be cut. If you pay for monthly memberships or subscriptions, carefully assess how much they cost, how much you use them, and whether you could give them up.
Make sure you're not paying for services that you never use. For example, if you have premium cable channels that you never watch, you can cancel them without feeling like you are making any sacrifices. The same goes for your cell phone bill if you are paying for more data than you ever use.
4. Compare items or brands when shopping. If you're on a tight budget, you want to make sure you're always getting the best deal on absolutely everything. Take some time to compare prices for items you purchase regularly and for large purchases.
If you've had the same auto insurance carrier or cable company for a long time, there might be better deals out there, so be sure to comparison shop regularly.
Shopping for necessities online can be cheaper in some instances, but make sure you take shipping charges into account.
Use coupons to save some extra cash. Keep in mind that many retailers accept competitors' coupons.
5. Ask for a better deal. You can always ask your service providers for better deals, especially if you've been a loyal customer. The worst they can say is no.
Try this with your cable and internet providers, insurance companies, and cell phone carriers.
6. Spend less on entertainment or at restaurants. Whether it's dining out or going to amusement parks, entertainment can eat up a big chunk of your budget. Look for less expensive ways to have fun.
Learn to cook at home and keep the fridge well stocked with ingredients for things that you know you can cook from scratch when you come home late and don't have much time to whip up a grand meal.
Instead of going out to eat with friends, invite them over for a potluck.
7. Do more yourself. It may be convenient to use a laundry service or to have someone else shovel your driveway, but if you're physically capable of doing these things yourself. Think about the money you can save.
If you're not very handy, try to teach yourself to do more around the house. If you need a simple repair done, you may be able to watch a video online or take a class at a local home improvement store to learn how to do it yourself.
8. Save money on energy. Go green around the house to save money on your utility bills each month.
Sealing up air gaps can reduce your heating and cooling bills. If you own your home, investing in a properly insulated attic can make a huge difference.
Turning your heat down just a few degrees in the winter can make a big difference in your energy bills as well. A programmable thermostat will let you automate the temperature of your house so you won't spend money on heating the place to a comfortable level when you're not at home.
9. Avoid bank and credit card fees. Choose your bank and credit card providers wisely in order to avoid unnecessary fees.
Make sure to only use the ATM at your bank if you will get charged for using outside ATMs.
10. Aim to have a few no-spend days a month. After a while, it becomes a game: "How can I run my life today without writing anything down in my little blue book?" "How ingenious can I be to make do with the things, food, and resources I already have at my disposal?" See how often you can turn this into a habit.

Part 4 Earning More.
1. Get a better job. If spending less is just not enough, it may be time to get a better job that will allow you to make more money. Start by updating your resume, searching for listings online, and networking with other professionals in your field.
Don't forget to look for advancement opportunities within your company.
2. Do something else on the side. Using your skills to provide freelance or consulting services is a great way to earn additional income. If this won't work with your profession, get a part-time job or find creative ways to make some extra cash on the side.
You can make some extra money by performing jobs like mowing lawns, cleaning houses, or even walking dogs for people in your neighborhood.
3. Sell stuff you don't need. You probably have at least a few possessions that you no longer need or want, and you can turn those items into extra cash by selling them to people who do want them.
If you have lots of unwanted items, try having a yard sale.

Community Q&A.

Question : My family barely has any money. My dad has his own company, but it hasn't gotten any business in a long time. I have some money saved up, and I was think of leaving a little in my dad's wallet. What do you think?
Answer : Definitely do. Work as much as you can and give and much as you can. Also putting your family's money in a good, interest-bearing account can help a lot.

Tips.

To always have money in the bank to pay regular bills, add them up for the past year and divide by 52. Round up to the next 25, 50, or 100 dollars. Remember to add in quarterly or annual bills, too.
Buy clothes that can be used for several different occasions instead of only one-time events.
Use coupons on items whenever you can.
Start a Christmas Club account, but put in more than you expect to spend on gifts. The excess is great for a mini-vacation or special purchase.
Get a jar to collect your spare change. When it's full, take it to the bank. (Don't take it to one of those coin counters, as they charge for counting your change.)
Take it a day at a time. Start small, set goals, reward yourself (not with any type of shopping, of course) and enjoy playing the game.

July 02, 2020

College acceptance for students with dyslex

FAQ College acceptance for students with dyslex

THE BEST AND WORST COLLEGES FOR DYSLEXIA – Dyslexic Advantage

There is no single ‘best’ college for dyslexia, but rather colleges that may make better (or worse) fits for an individual student. Do you have personal experience with a college as a dyslexic student? If so, please take this brief survey and we’ll share the results here. You can also send your reviews of colleges by email. All sources will be confidential on this site. Graduates were in the past 5 years unless otherwise specified.

We are compiling resources from people we have spoken to, web, and text-based resources that included interviews of dyslexic students who attended college. Books we recommend include Dyslexia at College, The Human Side of Dyslexia, and Colleges That Change Lives. Also the list of colleges that don’t require an SAT or ACT can be found at Fair Test.

College-Bound Students: Once you are enrolled in college, don’t forget to apply here for the Dyslexic Advantage Karina Eide Memorial Scholarship! Only dyslexic students are eligible and there is no minimum GPA! Here is the start of a very partial list. We will be adding more specific information as it comes in. These are statements about individuals from students. They do not reflect any statements by Dyslexic Advantage, the organization. Are you a current college student or graduated in the past 5 years?  If you’ve filled out this college survey, we’ll gif you with a 1 year subscription to our Premium magazine!

ALABAMA
Auburn University – Center for Special Services “I owe a lot to the Center for Special Services…my professors were supportive.” Books on tape, reader, Dragon dictation, note taker, extended time.

ARIZONA
University of Arizona – SALT CENTER – Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center

ARKANSAS
University of the Ozarks – Jones Learning Center “My coordinator and tutor were my lifeline..” Taped textbooks, help in math, reading, writing, copies of lecture notes, private test taking. Dictated papers to tutor. Helped with flashcards

AUSTRALIA
MacQuire University Accessibility    (Math and Human Resources) BEST: free learning support, good test-taking accommodations, “for exams and tests 1hr plus long you can get good provisions.” WORST: teachers resist providing accommodations, “it most depends who you get as your learning support staff, that makes its easier or hard to get approval. also, anything under 30mins good luck getting help. and some subject stuff dont understand what Dyslexic is even is. meaning less like to help you.”

Swinburne University of Technology AccessAbility Services  (Bachelor of Computer Science majoring in Cybersecurity) Victoria. BEST : Free Learning Support Services, Faculty Accessible and Supportive, small classes, peer mentors, helpful disability resource, good test taking accommodations. WORST: Audio resources are late or difficult to acquire. TIPS: No matter what the work is, do it as soon as you get it. Never leave it till the last second and always ask for help when you get stuck. Peers will help you heaps if you need it! You can help them too!

Tafe Ultimo Disability and Accessibility  (Community Services) BEST: free learning support, good system for asking for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. The TAFE have a tremendous amount of support and reasonable adjustment possibilities because my dyslexia is now legally classified by the NSW State Government as a neurological disability. I didn’t know this support was available until I enquired with the Tafe career counsellor who is a psychologist. She helped me tremendously and referred me through their process and my fees are waivered. They have offered so much support right down to getting me an ergonomic chair if I need it. And their kind, reassuring attitude and acknowledgement of my dyslexia challenges has been amazing. TIPS: Make an appointment with the career counsellor to discuss what courses and support are suitable for your dyslexia.

CALIFORNIA
Butte College – Disabled Student Programs   BEST: Free learning support services. Many trade school options that do not require English 101 or algebra. WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist providing accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, no visible dyslexia programs on campus. TIPS: Don’t go. Keep looking. It’s not worth the aggravation to fight for accommodations and understanding

Chico State University – Accessibility Resource Center  (Mathematics) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, faculty are accessible and supportive. WORST: Teachers resist providing accommodations. I had more than two teachers try to deny me accommodations. TIPS: Know your rights!

Cal State Long Beach  (Film) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful disability office, peer mentors, faculty are accessible and supportive. TIPS: Start with Steven Benson dyslexic department. Maintain a current IEP PRIOR TO APPLICATION

Holy Names University Disability Support  (Educational Therapy) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus, negative culture for learning differences. “I mark ‘negative culture’ as some staff members are working toward gaining knowledge of ADA. That said, this learning community is very diverse and inclusive. TIPS: Be proactive in asking for the support you need. Make friends with the librarians; they can be your strongest advocates.

Mills College Support Services  Oakland. . (Biology) BEST: good test-taking accommodations, faculty are accessible and supportive, small classes, dyslexia-friendly environment.

Monterey Institute of International Studies “I took all my papers to the Writing Center to be edited. My writing improved.” Tape recorder, oral testing, skimming reading, visual presentations.

Palomar College Disability Resource Center   (Visual Arts AA)  BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, helpful resource office, good test-taking accommodations. WORST: no visible dyslexia programs on campus, teachers resist providing accommodations, “There is no dyslexic focused teaching methods incorporated in the general education classes. If you are particularly struggling they don’t know what to do to help you. You can have all the time you want, but if you’re not getting it you’re just out of luck.” TIPS: “You’re going to need a private tutor that specializes in dyslexia for the subject/s that are your most difficult.”

Pitzer College – Academic Support Services “Mine was the last year without a math requirement.” Didn’t use the Learning Center on a regular basis. If poor grades, spoke to professor or went to the learning center. After failing statistics 2x, successfully petitioned to have a statistics waiver to graduate.

San Francisco State University – Disability Resource Center

Stanford University- Schwab Learning Center  – There have been recent upheavals in the Schwab Learning Center due to department changes. We will update you if we have any new information from current students.

University of California – Berkeley – Disabled Students’ Program Berkeley Extension: Occasionally I’d get a bad teacher who said they didn’t believe in accommodations like extra time, but the DSP backed me up and I was ever prevented from getting what I needed.

University of Santa Cruz  Disability Resource Center Once I tell teachers, they’re understanding.  Note taking, tape recorder, assistance with writing, and computer for personal use. Dyslexia support group (newsletter and events)

University of Southern California (USC) Korschak Center

University of the Pacific – Services for Students with Disabilities Stockton, CA   (Music Major) BEST: Good test-taking accommodations WORST: Negative culture for learning differences. “I would pick a different college, the culture is not conducive for visual or alternate learners”

CANADA
University of Manitoba Accessibility Winnipeg, Manitoba.  (Law). BEST: Good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly environment, helpful resource office, faculty are accessible and supportive, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good system to ask for accommodations, free learning support. WORST: no visible dyslexia programs on campus. TIPS: Very supportive university.

University of Toronto – Accessibility Services  (Arts & Sciences) WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist providing accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus, negative culture for learning differences. ADVICE: “Accessibility is a horror show for dyslexics. Worse than awful exam accommodations and rules; zero differentiation for learners with different learning styles; less than ZERO support for students who are gifted but do not read and write in normative ways; horrible communication with students’ one hour per week drop in hours for services; even the equity studies and women’s studies profs who should know better are s— on access issues; 6 week wait MINIMUM for assistive tech in start of program – most crucial time to have supports; OVERLOAD with assessment and no action on accomodation as if assessment itself is the job of accessilbity services; punitive behavior of disability counsellors when students miss a deadline; refusal of exam accommodations even if prof is late with posting exam schedule; scribes known to students (totally inappropriate); scribes switching off half way through test or exam; scribe demanding student indicate punctuation or would not scribe (totally different part of the brain); university uses volunteer notetakers even though the ministry of education provides funding to pay them; if no notetakers volunteer to take notes the student goes without; notetakers can hand write notes which can’t be read by text to speech software; there is no library of audio or pdf’d textbooks or readers so each student needs to have materials scanned each time fresh and WAIT up to six weeks putting them at a distinct disadvantage. Open book exams are not accessible to students who do not read and write in normative ways; cheat sheets for exams are not accessible for students who do not read and write in normative ways and yet are marked. It is basically a s— show unless you fit a tiny, narrow definition of what is disabled. The lack of imagination is ASTOUNDING at the #1 university in Canada. Worse than useless. ADVICE: DO NOT DO IT.

COLORADO
Pikes Community College Accessibility Services  (Pre-engineering) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus, no learning support or only expensive learning support program.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design “Didn’t need accommodations for all my classes because this is art school. The disability person was friendly and helpful. The typography class had assignments with hand-drawn fonts, but I have fine motor issues and a little tremor. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it was helpful that she contacted the teacher separately.”

CONNECTICUT
Central Connecticut State University Disability Services –  (History)
BEST: small classes. WORST: Not much understanding about the problem. No visible dyslexia program on campus.

University of Connecticut – Center for Students with Disabilities

Yale University Resource Office on Disabilities

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC)
American University  (Masters Anthropology) BEST: small classes, good accessibility , free learning support. “AU has a focus on diversity and this includes learning disabilities. Most professors were accommodating and pleased to do so. As an older student, I had the financial resources and knowledge to come prepared with online reader programs (learning ally, audible, natural reader, vBookz, etc.) On a rare occasion, readings were not available in PDF form or audible book form, and in those incidences, keeping up was difficult. Overall, it was a supportive environment.” WORST: there is no disability resource office, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, difficult process for asking for accommodations. “To my knowledge, AU did not have a specific dyslexia resource office, but did have learning disability office. I find that as a dyslexic student, many schools often lump all needs into “disabled” without resources for individual needs. Additionally, access to online PDF readers and audible books were available after many “hoops”, but still available. It would be easier if those were available readily to all students, regardless of diagnosis and paperwork.”

FLORIDA
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- Disability Support  (Aerospace Engineering) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly environment, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Students with accommodations get priority for registering for classes. Good counselling services available if you are stressed, with a therapy dog on duty in the counselling center. Students with accommodations get free tutoring if needed.” TIPS: The professors are very helpful, so take advantage of their office hours to get extra help from them if you need it.

Florida Southern College – Student Disability Services (Elementary Education) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. “FSC has an elementary school on campus (Roberts Academy) for dyslexic students grades 2-6 (adding 7 and 8 in the next two school years). It’s an Orton-Gillingham school!. All pre-service teachers spend a considerable amount of time in the classrooms at Roberts getting full exposure to dyslexia, what it is, what it isn’t, what works, what doesn’t work etc. Every subject is taught in a multi-sensory way. All teachers at Roberts have their Masters degrees and are level II OG trained. Pre-Service teachers at FSC also have the opportunity to take Orton-Gillingham classes that the college offers. They bring in an instructor from OG to teach the course. The first half of the course takes place during the first semester, the second half during the second semester. My DD has had many lightbulb moments at both Robert’s Academy and during the OG courses that she has taken. She wonders why these methods are not taught across the board in all schools. It just makes so much sense to her. (She never received any OG reading intervention during her K-12 education)” TIPS: 1. Visit the campus you are considering 2. Sit in on some classes in the course work of the degree you are considering pursuing 3. Talk to current students in those classes/degree with known learning disabilities about the course work, professors, and learning services support and get a feel for how well the learning institute supports LD students.

Full Sail University – Services for Students with Disabilities  (Masters, Instructional Design) WORST: No visible dyslexia program on campus. In many ways the FSU program was very engaging. However, this program is one class in four weeks for 12 months. The pace is very fast for digesting content. For an adult training program, the program ignored how to train adults with learning disabilities. Considering the writing component of the courses feedback from professors was typically relevant, but a large percent of grades relied on peer reflection/feedback. Often peers posted sloppy discussion posts that were difficult to give feedback on. Additionally, reflection posts included responding to peers projects. Often peers rushed through the reflection and didn’t provide constructive feedback; yet this was an important component for the course grade. I’m a 45 year old mother of a 4 and 12 year old and was a high school history teacher for 14 years. The writing process tends to be slow for me and trying to respond to posts was challenging at times. After 6 months into the program I was drained as a writer and my head was mush. Exhaustion and stress lead to anxiety and that downward spiral Dyslexics can struggle with. TIPS: Take breaks every couple of months especially if you have other obligations like family or employment. Tell every professor you have you’re dyslexic and speak to your strengths and weaknesses as a student. I’m not sure if that will make a difference for some professors, but Dyslexics need to start educating those in academic positions. Even though I was considered a Highly Qualified Teacher, I taught for 14 years before I realized I’m dyslexic. The majority of educators need to be educated on teaching dyslexics.

Stetson University Disability Resources  (English) BEST: good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a trimly fashion, good test taking accommodations, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus TIPS: Get help early and don’t be afraid to ask for more if you need it. Let your professors know too as most will be happy to help you out.

University of Miami – Office of Disability Services Alumni (attended in the late 60’s): An international university with vast diversity, where high academic standards are expected but individuality is paramount

University of Tampa Disability Services  Alumni – graduated more than 5 years ago). (Government and World Affairs and Communications). BEST: good system to ask for accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful resource office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. “When I attend University of Tampa, my accommodation were granted as long as my file was updated to date illustrating that I am dyslexic. When taking test, I had quite room, and I had unlimited amount of extended time to take my test. I was chosen to be my class speaker of the December 2007. You had to apply by writing your speech and tell the University why you should be class speaker. I was the first dyslexic and epileptic class speaker at University of Tampa.” WORST: “The most difficult was the cost of re-certificating myself as a dyslexic. Those test are $1500 dollars. That is a lot of money. You have to do those test every 3-5 years. I am not going to stop being dyslexic. That would be great, if I became amazing writing, but that not going to happen. I had to borrow that money. What if someone who is dyslexic does not have the money? Then what? They lose their accommodation? That needs to change in general in the college system.” TIPS: “Go to a University with small classes. When I went to University of Tampa thhe average class was 15 people. I believe it is 20-25 now, which is still small. When you have small classes you become close to your professors. I am still friends some of my professors. Go visit the disabilities office, I love that UT disability office is called the Academic Center of Excellent. It gave me positive feeling when going to talk about my services. Especially after being under the umbrella of special ed all your life. It very negative for a dyslexic person.”

IDAHO
Idaho State University – Disability Services  (Journalism & Sports Management) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. “The disability services office blew our socks off with how helpful they were. More than just complying with the law, they go above and beyond including 1:1 help with TTS software, offers of free use of technology just to try it out, help with role playing with professors, frequent contact in the summer before freshman year to build relationships, and a “got your back” attitude. This office is why we chose this university. To sweeten the pot, it is very inexpensive for both tuition and housing and is located in a beautiful spot close to the Tetons.”

ILLINOIS
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville   (Psychology). BEST: free learning support services. Helpful office. WORST: teachers resist providing accommodations, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, negative culture for learning differences, difficult process for asking for accommodations TIPS: “on’t. the teachers do not understand the what “learning difference” means and all classes are taught in an analytic, sequential way. you will be treated as a burden on the same level as a student with any serious impairment.”

INDIANA
Hanover College  (Business & Economics  > 5 years ago) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Strong support in liberal arts environment. Excellent free learning center. Fully accommodated my nephew. Professors very available and supportive. WORST: There is no disability resource office. TIPS: Apply with request for accommodations. Meet with admissions & Learning Center teams.

Indiana State University – Center for Student Success  Free tutoring, mentoring, advising. Works with Disability Student Services. “Indiana had a strong LD program…Help was always there in college.” Personal tutor after sports practice. Extra time on tests, tape recorder for lectures, preparation tests to study before a test, and a reader who was a grad student who also paraphrased to check for understanding

University of Notre Dame Disability Services  (Neuroscience and Art History) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive TIPS: It is great!

IOWA
Iowa State University – Student Disability Resources  (Elementary Education) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, faculty are accessible and supportive WORST: The only problem I had was with one adviser in the school of education not understanding what dyslexia is. TIPS: “Look for a school that is going to work with you. When you go on college visits go to the disability office and see what the atmosphere is and what accommodation they have.”

Loras College Lynch Learning Center  (Sports Management & PR > 5 years ago) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, faculty are accessible and supportive. TIPS: Utilize the system they gave to you, Norte Dame even asked Loras for help with their program.

University of Iowa –UI Reach and Student Disabilities Service

IRELAND
University of Limerick Disability Services
(Technology Education)
BEST: good test taking accommodations, faculty are accessible and supportive.
WORST: difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist providing accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus. Don’t try Learning like everyone else, own your dyslexia because only you can truly understand your mind

KANSAS
University of Kansas Student Access Services (Psychology – alumni > 5 years ago) BEST: None. WORST: No visible dyslexia program on campus. TIPS: Seek assistance right from the start.

LOUISIANA
Nicolls State University – Student Access Center  (History) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, good offices, faculty accessible and supportive

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston University – Disability Services “I surrounded myself with classmates who were willing to help explain the questions…sadly there are many ‘old style’ professors who don’t believe in learning difference.”

Calvin College – Center for Student Success  (Social Work) BEST: Free learning support services, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive TIPS: “Go see SAS and they will match you with an advisor specifically for your Dyslexia.”

Curry College – Disability Services : (Environmental Sciences, but they discontinued the major) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, helpful office, small classes. WORST: No learning support or only expensive learning support, no visible dyslexia programs on campus. We paid for my disability services….an extra $10,000 per year…is this legal? But while they were nice, it was just a glorified place to get organized. This was supposed to be a school at the top of disability services…but they were not. I got all my help and tutoring from the free resources available to all kids. TIPS: Just look for good services….all colleges have them these days so you don’t have to pay extra.

Harvard University – University Disability Services Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Student Disability Services “I’ve known at least a dozen MIT grads who have been out for some years now. They all have said that MIT was a good school for dyslexics.”

Williams College – Disability Support Services Worcester Polytechnic Institute Disability Support  (Civil Engineering) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, helpful office, peer mentors, faculty are accessible and supportive. Echo360 records the class for those with accommodations to be able to review on their computers. Allows lectures to be recorded when Echo360 not available in that classroom. TIPS: Register with the Office of Disability Services before enrolling. Have weekly meeting with staff to check in. Don’t be afraid to ask Professors for help. They really care and want you to succeed!

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Disability Services  (Civil Engineering) Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful resource office, faculty are accessible and supportive, small classes, peer mentors. Echo 360 films class for replay by dyslexic students. Also audio recording, teacher’s notes, professors are eager to help. TIPS: Embrace your differences and seek accommodations. Don’t be shy. They want to help. Also SAT is not required.

MICHIGAN
University of Michigan -Services for Students with Disabilities “The Center for Student with Disabilities gave me lots of ideas including asking for extended time on tests and testing in a quiet room without distractions.” Taping lectures, reduced course load.

MINNESOTA
University of Minnesota Disability Resources Center  (Plant Science & Food Systems) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly environment, helpful office, faculty are accessible and supportive WORST: Audio resources are late or difficult to acquire ADVICE: “The U of M is a wonderful school for dyslexic students. This university is very supportive of students with dyslexia and many of the professors understand what it is and that students are not “faking it”.

MISSOURI
Westminster College Learning Differences (Security / Political Science / Finance) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, faculty are accessible and supportive, small classes. The Learning Support is excellent and well-worth the added fee. The Learning Support team advise, tutor, teach classes on learning skills and strategies, help with writing, acquire audiobooks and materials etc, work with professors if needed, provide quiet test-taking. My son has made the Dean’s List with a 3.7. I don’t think this would be possible without the support and skills provided to him by this team of professionals TIPS: I wish they had more technology available for students–like Read Write Gold or something like that.

NEVADA
University of Southern Nevada   (Culinary Arts Hospitality) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Excellent note providing services. Email within 24 hours always! TIPS: Go to the disability office wayyyyy before starting school there.

NEW YORK
Concordia College New York – Connection Program Bronxville, NY. BEST: Good test-taking accommodations. WORST: No learning support or expensive program, difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, no visible dyslexia programs on campus, negative culture for learning differences.

Cornell University Student Disability Services  BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, faculty accessible and supportive. TIPS: Disability Office staff are top notch

Hudson Valley Community College Center for Access  (Individual Studies) BEST: Free learning support services, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, faculty are accessible and supportive. This program is not the best for providing students accessibility options, but they are not the worst either. I’d say they are just average. I’ve attended other schools and most of the others have provided more assertive technology options to their students, but again they could be worse. There are enough supports on campus between those provided through the Accessibility office as well as the general supports offered through the departments and the library, etc. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus. Usually there is at least one or more teachers that don’t seem thrilled about having to accommodate students. Also, sometimes I have to miss parts of my classes to use my accommodations for testing. TIPS: Good time management skills are a must; Advocating for your needs is a must; Disclosing and using your accommodations consistently will be tremendously helpful;

Marymount Manhattan College – Disability Services  (Fashion Design) WORST:Only expensive learning support program, difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resit providing accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus, negative culture for learning differences. TIPS: “Observe or talk to Learning Specialist. Ask them if they use any form of UDL or assistive technology.”

New York University Moses Center  (Nutrition) BEST: free learning support services. WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus. Test taking rooms can have 12 other people in them which is very distracting. Computers available to use for exams in the testing center do not work well. Some computers will crash while your in the middle of an exam.

Sarah Lawrence University – Office of Disability Services  (Creative Writing, Film, Ancient History) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Many of the classes are visually oriented. For example, many history classes utilize film and art as a basis for historical evidence. Creativity is the key to SLC. Creativity is promoted as part of critical thinking and analysis. Classes are mainly seminar based and small and you meet with the professor on a bi-weekly basis to discuss and develop an individual project (conference work) for the class in addition to the work common to everyone. This allows one to follow their passions within the class content and develop close a working relationship with your professors. Every semester you take three 5 credit classes, each with an individual conference project. Prior to registering for classes, every student interviews the professors teaching the class that they are interested in. In the interview, one can determine how that professor teaches, how are students assessed (ie not many classes have tests, but some do), how much reading is involved, how much writing, etc. TIPS: Talk to the professors openly, keeping communications flowing.

State University at Buffalo – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion  (Dance and Business) BEST: Free learning support services, good system to ask for accommodations, good test-taking accommodations, faculty are accessible and supportive. WORST: Audio resources are late or difficult to acquire. PDF files for textbooks, need to send in information in at the end of the prior semester to receive accommodations for the next semester in order to get books in a timely manner. Even after doing so don’t receive books during the first week of classes. Only receive PDF files after sending a reminder and often a week or two into the semester, four weeks at the latest. Once receive files, accommodations are very good and work well. Have had a problem with text center and professor not sending tests in on time. Make sure to have verbal or written confirmation that you can take exams early if original exam time is when the test center is closed. TIPS: Don’t be afraid to send reminders and/or have meetings to get the accommodations you need. If youre confused ask, because won’t always be very direct in how to do things. Know the hours of the test center when making exam requests and be as specific as possible.

Syracuse University Office of Disability Services

BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations.
“The Learning Center has improved, but sometimes I don’t get the tapes until the week before the test.” Most professors are supportive. Some have made special exams for me. Extended time, reader for exams books on tape, taped lectures, tutoring, note taker, computer for exams, typed written assignments. Counselor. Consultant helps with writing.

NORTH CAROLINA
Guilford College – Accessibility Resource Center  (Psychology, alumni 15+ years ago) BEST: good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Everything about the program was good. TIPS: Get help as soon as you get there Be sure you have been tested and identified before you go.

OHIO
Stark State College Disability Support  (Massage Therapy, switched to Dental Assisting) North Canton OH. BEST: Free learning support, small classes, A lot of the courses are more hands-on and less reading-only. WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist providing accommodations, audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, there is no disability resource office, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus. Another dyslexic girl in my class was the object of our teacher’s adamant dislike, mostly for being dyslexic and therefore not doing so well at the right/left part of our course. The teacher treated her like she was stupid, and I found the teachers in the dental assisting course tended towards condescending behaviors like that towards students with learning differences. However, other courses and classes were very open and friendly to learning differences, so it seems more teacher-specific than an overall problem. TIPS: Don’t go into Dental Assisting or another very strict program. They have a lack of empathy and help for dyslexic students. Massage Therapy and many other programs, however, are awesome for dyslexic students. Try to get a feel for whichever program you’re looking into.

Sinclair College Accessibility Services  (Architectural Technology). BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly environment,  helpful disability resource office, small classes, faculty are accessible and support. Sinclair has an effective disability services program and the faculty are quite willing to provide the needed accommodations. This is a great school to go to if you want to succeed in college! TIPS: Sinclair welcomes people with disabilities of all types and has an effective program for providing needed accommodations. The keys to success are to go to class, do the homework, and study for the exams. The faculty and staff are willing to help when the student does their part.

Muskingum University – Disability Education Office   (Special Education & History – Alumni graduated 7 yrs ago) BEST: Good system to ask for accommodations, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Content tutors, not peer tutors. WORST: There was a large cost for the most comprehensive service but there were different levels. TIPS: Make sure you are studying.

OREGON
Mount Hood Community College Disability Services
(Elementary Education)
BEST: free learning support services, good test taking accommodations.
WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, hard to obtain regular test-taking accommodations, no visible dyslexia programs on campus, negative culture for learning differences.
TIPS: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Great advisors and teachers WANT to see you succeed. Be confident in who you are!

Southern Oregon University – Disability Resources (Technical Theatre) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive “The UCam program is great. Doesn’t cost too much, and I get a weekly appointment with a learning coach. Much of what I need is done automatically (I get an email reminder, but accommodations are super easy to access). It’s also a public school, so very affordable.”

University of Oregon Accessible Education Center (Architecture major) WORST: Difficult process for asking for accommodations, teachers resist accommodations, Audio resources are late or difficult to acquire, negative culture for learning differences. Reduced course load – one class at a time worked for me. Approached professors independently, not involving Student Services. Extended time on tests. Test taking in their office. Essays instead of multiple choice. Project-related exams. Computer courses substituted for math and language requirements. Test files at my fraternity were very helpful.

PENNYSYLVANIA
Millersville University Office of Learning Services  (Music Major) BEST: Are learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive, preferential housing  based on student request. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus TIPS: “Speak openly to your counselors and the Student Service Center support staff and they are happy to help.”

Pennsylvania College of Technology  (IT)
BEST: Faculty are accessible and supportive, small classes, good test taking accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good system to ask for accommodations, free learning support. The disability service office is amazing and the schools policy for helping students with disabilities is very accommodating. They will provide all your text books in a PDF format after purchase, so you can have the computer read it to you. The library has computers with Kurzweil (an advanced PDF/ webpage reading Software) for use to anyone. They will allow you to take extra time on your tests and have a computer with Kurzweil on it available if you want the tests read to you. Disability services will do everything they can to help you get through this tough time in life. WORST: Most of the teachers’ teaching style makes it difficult for a dyslexic student to learn. But there are also many teachers who teach in a way that is it easyer for everyone to learn. The disability service office is small and often has a hard time keeping up with the amout of students they need to serve. TIPS: Get the disability accommodations process started before you start school, it will take longer once the school year starts. Schedule your tests/ meetings in advance.

University of Pittsburgh Disability Resources 100% extended time on exams, word processor for tests, audio record lectures.

RHODE ISLAND
Brown University Learning Support Specialist “It’s possible to graduate Brown with no distribution requirements. There’s also a credit / no credit grading option…” “I look for courses that do project work instead of tests.” “I’m glad I spoke to the Dean of Students who helps LD students.” Headphones in computer center.

Roger Williams University – Student Accessibility Services 9/10 STARS (Mechanical Engineering) BEST: Free learning support services, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, helpful office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus TIPS: “Be willing to work hard. Be prepared to be your own advocate. Be respectful when seeking accommodations from professors. Become proficient in technology.”

SOUTH CAROLINA
Clemson Student Accessibility  Graphic Communications Alum (> 5 years) BEST: Free learning support, Good testing taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful disability resource center, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. Sign up for classes first so you get better times and teachers you feel are best. They used to let you take sign language if your major required a foreign language.

Coastal Carolina Accessibility and Disability  Communication BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty accessible and supportive. TIPS: Get to know your professors and the staff at the accessibility/disability office. Making connections will help you learn now and they will always look out for you.

SWEDEN
Umea University Disability  (Human Computer Interaction) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, faculty are accessible and supportive. It was a huge list for leaning disabilities and other disabilities that they gave me to see and the responsible person helped me to choose WORST: The facilities e.g. computers for text to speech and speech to text etc were only in Swedish. Probably they can make an English version for the international students. TIPS: Go for it and do not hesitate to discuss your disability and ask for help

TEXAS

El Paso Community College   (Ed in Admin K12) BEST: free learning support, good test taking accommodations, helpful resource office, “Professors do not do anything to address needs of students in class. Students are expected to take remedial classes in area of disability, instead of college giving more support in required classes. This only lengthens the time and expense of college degree. This is disheartening, and leads to students dropping out of college.” WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus.

Saint Edwards University Student Disability Service.  (Computer Sciences) BEST: good accessibility, small classes, helpful office, dyslexia-friendly environment, good test taking accommodations, good system to ask for accommodations, free learning support. WORST: no visible dyslexia program.  TIPS: “Have your accommodations clearly defined, meet with disability staff regularly, talk to your teachers in advance, and explain how you learn. What works, and what does not work. Ask for help if you need it.

Southern Methodist University – Altschuler Learning Enhancement Center “Thankfully someone awarded me a mentor…” Talked about book or paper – my mentor helped organize my thoughts. No foreign language requirement.

Texas A & M Office of Academic Enhancement    (Biomedical Sciences) BEST: good system to ask for accommodations, test-taking accommodations, helpful office TIPS:”Go and visit your 504 disability center the first week of school. They will help you set up everything you need.”Extra time on tests. Tests in the testing center away from others, covered overlays if requested.

Texas A & M Dental School – Accommodations through Office of Academic Enhancement  (graduated in the past 5 years) – Endodontics BEST: small classes WORST: No learning support. Only expensive learning support program. Teachers resist providing accommodations. Audio resources are late or difficult to acquire. They were very hesitant to give accommodations. Teachers did not know what to do. Several instances with teachers violating rights to confidentiality. TIPS: Do not let them put you down. Stand up and demand respect and accommodations.

Texas State Technical College Disability Services  (Business  – more than 5 years ago) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty accessible and supportive. WORST: Understaffed! Shortage of housing due to Baylor University nearby. TIPS: Dont wait – get the enrollment package and career flyer.

UNITED KINGDOM
Coombeshead College / Academy BEST: Small classes. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus. They should put up a notice of symptoms and give a free assessment.

Leeds College of Art   (MA Creative Practice) WORST: No learning support or only expensive support system. “The college where unable / unwilling to give me the support I needed. I got caught in a nightmare situation with the government willing to pay. But the college unwilling to allow a dyselixa specialist on the campus. I was not comfortable meeting in a cafe. My personal tutor was good in as much she helped me with spelling and over looked my poor grammar. But that was very much down to her.” TIPS: “Don’t find another college, I heard from students who’s personal tutors did not turn up for tutorials”

Stourbridge College Student Support  -West Midlands. . BEST: Free learning support services, small classes. The motor vehicle tutor is brilliant and work from work books and he makes learning fun and visual. WORST: No visible dyslexia programs on campus. There is no disability resources office. My son had to re sit his GCSEs maths last year. At first the kids had to go in and register and had no teacher then were sent home with a work book to teach themselves. My son didn’t get an echp but a plan was written out by the council on how best to support him. The tuition after that was patchy, When he took his maths exam he was sent out without being allowed extra time and when I questioned it the college lied and told me he had gone to the wrong room. I took this matter further to the principal . this year he has been taught no maths which I have questioned and the college said they don’t do this on a level 2 qualification only at the end of the term have they decided that in the summer they want these low ability students to cram and sit some kind of maths exam in the summer. TIPS: Make sure you/parent is aware of what provision is put in place and make sure you get it.

UTAH Utah Valley University Accessibility Services   (Behavioral Science – Psychology) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility – audio available in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, helpful disability office. There is a good learning strategist on campus who is very helpful and understanding WORST: The testing center is a pain with scheduling. TIPS: Go straight to the accessibility office when you first visit the school and pick up the required paper work. Get your accommodations letters early.

VERMONT
Bennington College Accommodations and Support

Goddard College Access and Disability  (Creative Writing) BEST: free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, faculty are accessible and supportive.

Landmark College  (Psychology – Alumni 15+ years ago) BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office, peer mentors, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive BEST: No foreign language requirement. Help with organization (master notebook system) WORST: I wasn’t intellectually stimulated.

University of Vermont – Burlington (Environmental Science Conservation Biology) 10/10 STARS BEST: Free learning support, good system to ask for accommodations, good accessability – audio in a timely fashion, good test taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly environment, helpful disability resource office, small classes, faculty are accessible and supportive. TIPS: WONDERFUL SCHOOL. My dysability advisors were amazing. Whenever there was an issue with a professor my advisors were very very very supportive. I was always instantly repsonded from my emails and they fought for my rights consistently. I succedded because of UVM.

VIRGINIA
James Madison University My athletic advisors steered me through the chaos. Helped organizing classes, early registration, reduced course load, extended time.

WASHINGTON B
Bellevue College – Disability Resource Center I only took a few courses in Running Start. The head of the DRC is blind. The office is very supportive and it’s easy to submit your documentation and get the accommodations you need. I was told 25% of the student body has accommodations of some sort.

Evergreen State College “It’s possible to design an independent study program for all 4 years. I think that means you don’t have to take a foreign language in college, although you should have taken 2 years in high school. There aren’t any general education requirements.”

Marshall University Disability Services BEST: good system to ask for accommodations, good accessibility, audio available in a timely fashion, good test-taking accommodations, dyslexia-friendly, helpful office. “HELP program provides a counselor to assist in choosing classes, tutoring and testing accommodations. There is an additional fee for the program but well worth the money!


WISCONSIN
University of Wisconsin – McBurney Disability Center

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May 25, 2019