There's no secret sauce, so be generous with the grains of salt when watching some of those college advice videos.

It's never really fair, but that's that test-optional policies have effectively done with inflated SAT/ACT score ranges. What's a student to do? Check out the ranges from 2019 and then decide if your score is worth submitting. It's a judgement call, but context should matter.

Before you put the time & effort into going after outside scholarships, be sure to look at how the schools on your list handle them. Some will reduce your financial aid package, leaving you with a net gain of zero.

Anyone else feel like we're planning for college at the end of the world? More Parts per Million / the soundtrack of the summer: "Count the numbers and the words And the numbness in return... They go 4−3-2−1."

I don't always answer listeners' questions, but when I do I'll turn it into an episode.

Exploiting adversity, inflating credentials, pretending you're part Cherokee -anything for an edge when it comes to elite college admissions. The incentives make the behavior as unsurprising as it is unpalatable. That needs to change, but how? https://www.intelligent.com/34-of-white-college-students-lied-about-their-race-to-improve-chances-of-admission-financial-aid-benefits/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CLying%20on%20a%20college%20application,lied%20during%20the%20application%20process.%E2%80%9D

The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be a leaner, more user-friendly form. Some of the changes are certifiably great while others may deliver quite the financial blow to families with multiple kids in college. New rules / new realities. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/college-admissions-acceptance-videos-tiktok-teen-mental-health/673546/

Plummeting admit rates & soaring tuition are a toxic mix. As a growing number of employers look to hire bright young talent regardless of whether they have a college degree, we're seeing the value proposition of the traditional college pathway come into question more and more. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/college-admissions-acceptance-videos-tiktok-teen-mental-health/673546/

Oh, the highs and lows. You're on top of the world reading the news of your acceptance. Then you see the financial aid offer. It may be time to write a Letter of Appeal. In this episode I outline the whys and hows to help you go after the money that could help make enrollment possible. https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/financial-aid-appeal-letter

Will ChatGPT be the end of English class as we know it? Will it kill the college essay? Can it be charged with that crime? Now we're stepping into that speculative arena. Let's hang out there for bit....while there's still time (cue ominous AI generated laughter)! https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2022/12/09/heres-how-forbes-got-the-chatgpt-ai-to-write-2-college-essays-in-20-minutes/?sh=697e74156ad2