Welcome to College Smarts, the final exam in LFE's Smart Money Certification!
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, it’s essential to learn how to reduce expenses and make smarter decisions in the selection process. It’s also crucial to identify — and avoid — the scams and pitfalls that cost students and parents thousands every year.
Plus, over 43 million Americans are struggling to repay well over $1.2 trillion in student loan debt. One of the biggest problems is the excess of confusing information available to borrowers, but there are also costly traps to avoid when working with some loan servicers.
This exam is designed to pinpoint these and other problems students (and parents) of all ages are facing, and to help SMC candidates master the confusing and complex topics covered in our College Smarts section.
As outlined in each exam, read each question carefully; often a simple word can change the entire meaning of the question or answer. Be sure to use the information in the on-demand videos and the links in the SMC Resource Guide to help you answer many of these questions. Good luck!
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Reciprocity programs
Qualifying for in-state tuition
CLEP exams
Professional judgment review
Free tuition programs
All of the above
B and C
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Activation fees
Usage fees
Overdraft penalties
Interest charges
All of the above
None of the above; college ID cards are free to students
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Obtain federal financial aid
Transfer credits to an accredited school
Get a job
All of the above
A and B
B and C
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Offer credit for work experience without asking too many questions about that experience
Charge for a degree up front, not per semester hour
Do not require high school or previous college transcripts
Fail to publish or disclose the names and expertise of their professors
All of the above
None of the above; they are legitimate schools that specialize in unique areas of study
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The school
The FTC
The loan servicer
The Department of Education
Any of the above
A or D
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Fixed interest rate
Lower monthly payments
One payment to make each month
All of the above
B and C
A and C
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Is a degree necessary for the career field I want?
Is GPA important for a specific degree?
Will there be jobs in this field upon graduation?
Will the job pay enough to repay the amount of debt incurred?
All of the above
None of the above; the degree is not as important as the school you attend
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The number of years it takes the average student to graduate
The percentage of students who actually graduate
The amount of debt incurred by the average student
The default rate of former students
All of the above
A and C
B and C
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Are the student's friends going there?
Is the campus inviting?
What's the ROI of the school?
Are there cultural events in the area?
What's the school's debt level?
All of the above
C and D
C and E
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Loss of the ability to defer payments during periods of financial hardship
Debt forgiveness programs may no longer be available for some of the loans
It may be harder to discharge specific loans in bankruptcy
Possibility of paying more interest over the life of the loan
All of the above
A and B
C and D
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The school closing
The borrower becoming totally and permanently disabled
The death of the borrower
The school issuing a false certification of student eligibility
All of the above
B and D
A, B, and C
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