We Give College-Bound Kids The Edge Over Their Competitor-Applicants

Glen Head, New York
Tuesday, 8:36am

Dear fellow parent,

I'm sure you noticed that things are waaaay different than when you and I applied to college back in The Day:

• Yesterday's "Safety Schools'" are today's Impossible Dreams
• College costs have skyrocketed far beyond what anyone would call "reasonable";  and
• It's HIGHLY questionable -- at best -- whether our kids' hard-earned degrees from today's overpriced colleges will help them land a job other than wrapping burritos or making coffee drinks that nobody can pronounce

The days of "winging it" and figuring it out on the fly are long gone

The economy and job outlook for us and our children are more turbulent than ever, thanks in part to political overspending on entitlements we can't afford and dramatic technological changes, such as the rise of Artificial Intelligence.

But you can't merely sit by, passively and accept the way things are, and trust that your children will somehow "figure things out."  The stakes are too high.  

When you consider the 1.7 Trillion of student debt and growing defaults on the books, it's clear that a perfect storm is brewing and approaching our children faster than a speeding locomotive.

But guidance counselors at public and private high schools can't help:  they're not trained in career counseling or financial aid, and receive only minimal instruction on college planning.

Here's an eye-opener:  the average counselor is responsible for 400+ students and spends only 20% of her time on college advising.

That's probably why they tell every student to apply to the same set of Rear Window Sticker colleges and universities with the vague hope that they can '"figure things out" while in college.

That's crazy.  Let me ask you...

Would You Send All Your Time, Energy and Focus On Getting to the Airport..Without a CLUE WHERE THE FLIGHT WAS GOING?

That's insane, but that's PRECISELY how 99% of families "do" college planning.   

Their be all and end all is to get into a school at the top of the US News and World Report Best Colleges list, and not much else.  Which is fine, but...

Focusing solely on what's right in front of your nose -- failing to plan beyond the near term -- is a one-way ticket to unsavory outcomes with severe long term consequences like:

• Switching majors 2-3 times:  Hello 6 Year Plan (at 85K per year extra - blech)
• Graduating with a useless degree (Gender Studies?  Sociology? Noooooo!!!) and ending up back home, in the basement for the indeterminate future.  52% of college graduates have jobs that don't require a college degree -- this crisis is brewing right under our noses
• Crippling high rate, high fee debt that crushes your spirits and serves as a financial and emotional anchor for years (this was Andy's story, by the way)

We think there's a better way.  Introducing...

My son is going to a top college on monies he received totally from Andy's involvement.  He looked me in the eye and told me...'I get my clients five times the amount of their investment.  HE WASN'T KIDDING!!!  Best money I ever spent.

Scott Sanders, Long Beach, NY

I needed someone to bounce ideas off of for the essays, it was great to have you.  I knew my English teachers could not help me.  Thank you!

- Julia Petrini, Brown University

I don't know where to begin. Our financial aid packages are just now starting to come in and each one is better than the next.  Just today Boston University gave is $40,000.  Rob and I had no idea how were were possibly going to afford to send our girls to college.  Thanks to your knowledge of filing and the FAFSA and CSS form, and your strategic positioning of our finances, we're now comfortable in knowing we are getting the most out of the system and will be able to put our girls through college.  Thank you Andy!  You made this process so easy and, dare I say, downright fun...you helped us afford our kids' dream schools.  Thank goodness you know all the loopholes.

Very truly yours,

Stephanie and Rob Salzbank, Port Washington, NY

 Dear Andy

I finally have a moment to thank you for all your help this year.  I know that my circumstances are unusual.  You pushed me outside of my comfort zone in order to financially benefit.  And it worked!  If you weren't beside me cheering me on, I would not have had the courage to approach the financial aid department at Syracuse - twice!  You have been great throughout this experience.  

Thanks again,

Diane, Business Owner

Dear Andy,

I wanted to thank you for all the help you have given me regarding my son Robert's financial planning for college.

You were an enormous help when I had problems with the FAFSA and eventually the appeal to SUNY Albany.

Your professionalism and patience is what makes you and your business so successful.

I am going to recommend you to all my friends so they can put their mind at ease and not have to worry about undertaking this daunting process alone!

Sincerely,

Sabrina Ferrara, Hauppauge, NY

 Andy Lockwood and Staff

Dear Mr. Lockwood,

I would like to thank Andy and his staff, and provide affirmation that Andy’s program works and is proven to be successful.  Entering into our journey regarding how we will possibly be able to fund an annual expense of $30K plus is an overwhelming mental experience.  The typical family needs guidance and direction from a qualified individual and Andy is the person to do just that.  Andy provided mental relief and was able to provide a strategy when completing the necessary details for the FAFSA.  Andy provided clear cut direction based on his knowledge and awareness of financial aid available to most families regardless of financial status.  Andy personally engagement in the process regarding the submission of the documents to the educational institutions of choice and provided an estimate of financial aid so there that there was an expectation, which allows for a family to plan accordingly.  Due to Andy’s experience and knowledge regarding available financial aid, the process of developing a plan to support my son’s financial needs for his college education was actual a pleasant experience and not one of hardship and despair.

Once again thanks, Andy to you and your staff and the continued support in making this process a rewarding experience.

We have recommended your firm to a number of our family friends and we are grateful that we were able to have the opportunity to work closely with you on this very important milestone in my son’s next step in life.

Most Sincerely

Sean Cunningham, Belleville, NJ

 Andy,

We want to thank you and Pearl for all your hard work handling our daughter’s financial aid forms and advising us on the issues surrounding college admission.  You simplified an often complex process and took a huge load off of our shoulders.  While we should have listened to your advice regarding early decision, we were pleased with the increase in financial aid afforded to us.  We look forward to your counsel in the years ahead for all three of our college bound children. It’s great working with you both.

Jeanne & Gary Lofgren, Westbury, NY

Andy on Fox Business News with Neil Cavuto

Andy featured as an expert (not a suspect)  in the film "Operation Varsity Blues -- The College Admissions Scandal"

Andy On NBC re:  Columbia University's college rank scandal

Pearl on CBS News

Pearl and Andy's radio show on Long Island Business News

The Weston High School PTO hosted Andy for an extremely informative and entertaining seminar on the best-kept secrets of securing the ideal financial aid package.

Weston is home to a high income parent population and most walked away not just pleased but astonished that they could, in fact, qualify for financial aid!

The PTO received terrific feedback and we are looking forward to having Andy back next year  -- kudos to Andy for a job well done!

Lisa Bigelow

Vice President, Weston (Connecticut) High School PTO

 My library page told me her dad attended and said you were very good, better than the guy that had come here last year, {local business man).  I also just got off the phone with a parent that called and thanked me for running your program.  She said she and the other parents got a lot of good information and that you were a wonderful speaker and very animated.  I told her I would make an effort to have you come back in the spring!

High marks indeed!

Thank you again!

Linda Meglio

Young Adult Librarian, Greenlawn Public Library

 ...My daughter's long and incongruent "wish list" quickly evolved into ten schools -three in-state and seven out of state , two back ups," the core choices and one stretch school. She was confident and focused as she plunged into the applications. With your guidance, she wrote some terrific essays and completed all ten on time. While all of this was going on you magically expedited the FAFSA and other financial paperwork to all the schools taking that burden and administrative nightmare off our shoulders.

The proof of your program was she was accepted at seven Top 100 schools four of which were out of state, waitlisted at two out of states and was only declined at the "stretch" school, Georgetown. As it turned out, the first school to reply was the one she finally chose but that was only decided once we had all the offers in hand. Every single school made very generous scholarship offers and we ended up choosing a Top 30 school that offered 95% of the total cost of attendance, 70% of which was free money!

We look forward to the next 4 years and our next child knowing that we have the College Planners on our team. Thanks again, Andy and Pete - it has been a pleasure working with you.

Regards,

Tom Browne, Weston, Florida

 Hello Andy,

How are you doing? I have some good news!!! U Miami's Office of Financial aid finally revised Farley’s fafsa and financial aid package and gave us more money. I went from receiving 4,600 to receiving 13,730 and they also sent 4,000 back to my sallie mae loan. I’m so happy!! Thank you soo much!!!

Filberta LeTang, Miami, Florida

 Thank you for your guidance during this process.  You and Pearl made it very easy.

Alan Karul, Plainview, New York

Thanks again for all your help - whenever I have a chance to speak to friends who have children with college ahead  I recommend your services.

Regards,

Frank Brecher, Commack, New York

 David was accepted at his first-choice school and we did indeed receive a very generous aid award, with no student loans required first year.

Thanks for your advice and for the information we received through your counseling, your book and the various online resources.

John Rivior, Huntington Station, New York

 Hi Andy:

Two things that I have learned over the years:

1.    Hiring a specialist to assist you in navigating stuff you are not an expert in (you are a specialist as am I.  I am coming to you for your expertise in the arena of colleges  - you do that every day, you are an expert.  Companies come to me to place their catastrophic risks- where I am an expert).  I apply this in my business and personal life.
2.    Referral Business is my lifeline.  If I do a good job for one guy he tells someone else.  My best new business sources are from referrals and people who  have done business with me in the past. So yes, if you do a good job for me I will brag to my friends about it.

I will admit that I was a little skeptical at first but awfully glad that we engaged your services I know that we have a ways to go but the first blush looks really great. [EDITOR'S NOTE:  Kelly received an $96,000 scholarship offer from one of her two top choice schools.]

I sincerely appreciate you engaging Kelly, I wanted her to be the one to take the lead and responsibility for her own destiny. Having her accountable to someone else besides her Mom (and Dad) was a motivating factor. She was happy to have completed her essay over the summer and gotten an early leg up on the application process. Some of her friends have not even completed essays yet never mind applying to colleges.

Have a great Thanksgiving you and Pearl and the kids!

Theresa Lally, Syosset, New York

 We used Andy for the applications and essays. The whole thing was overwhelming, don't try this on your own!  We will be back with our younger daughter.

- Joe Iannone, Owner, Avellino's Pizzeria

Garden City, NY

 Nicole is at her dream school, got her Presidential Scholarship - $25K! Thank you for all your help.  I always recommend you to my friends. You and your team played a great role during that painful process.  Thank god it's over lol!

- Elina Kazakevich, Staten Island NY

 Thank you for all your help throughout the entire challenging process, esp. with the applications and essays!

-Victorien Jakobsen, Vassar College

Thank you Andy & Pearl for all the "stress" RELIEF you provided in our college process planning. Thanks to Pearl our financial documents were submitted in a timely fashion. Andy's amazing way of talking with us kept us on track in every aspect. This process could've been a nightmare. With Lockwood College Prep, it has been a pleasure. Receiving the acceptances to Colleges has been wonderful!

-Diana Hadjiyane, Wantagh, NY