We stuck a new "text us" thingy on our website the other week, and some of the incoming messages have been heart breakers.

The sad ones are from parents with kids who either 1. got into their top choice college, but didn't get anywhere near the financial aid or merit aid they needed, or 2. got denied from colleges they thought were slam dunks.

Here's the thing about these situations....

They're Avoidable.  Easily Avoidable.

I'm polishing off the notes for my upcoming new, local presentations this week (Wednesday,January 15 and Thursday, January 16) and thinking through which mistakes I want to share, and how.

There are two types of mistakes:  those of commission -- where you do something wrong, and omission -- where you fail to do something.

Examples of the former:  applying to the wrong colleges.  Writing the wrong essay. Submitting your SAT or ACT when you shouldn't.

Examples of the latter:  failing to learn strategies to get merit and need-based aid. Not applying for aid beca...

Application Edge Bootcamp

Registration Closes in:

This morning I had a fun time interviewing a Class of 2025 student, Kate, who is currently 10-for-10 (with four to go) in college acceptances.  Plus she's received a healthy amount of merit scholarships. 

I'll post that interview on our podcast in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, I wanted to give you one last reminder about our 11th annual College Application Edge bootcamp, especially the Early Action Discount and super valuable bonus:

When you sign up now, before the ball drops, tonight, you'll 1. save 500 bucks and 2. we'll do your FAFSA, CSS Profile and all other financial aid forms (value:  $3,500).

Once we hit deadline,  the registration window slams shut.  Assuming we re-open it later this spring, the price will be higher, no ifs, ands or but-tocks.

If you want to give your kiddo The EDGE over his or her competitors, and position them to win tens of thousands in fat, juicy scholarships, this group coaching program ...

Good morning!  Three quick announcements today.

1. 10am EST:  live on our Facebook page:  Student loan forgiveness magician Pearl Lockwood walks you through how she saved a mom $270,000.

2. College Application Edge Bootcamp:  Early Action registration is open for one more day.  Save 500 bucks and get your FAFSA and other financial aid applications taken care of -- a 3,500 value -- if you sign up by deadline.

3. SAT and ACT "Crusher" classes start right after the New Year.  Keep an eye out for a promotional announcement after January 1.

Okie dokie, I'm headed over to College Coffee Talk now, hope you can stop by.

-Andy "Showtime" Lockwood

If you're the parent of a high school class of 2026 grad, I have a very, very nice Festivus gift to share:

A discounted, and heavily bonused Early Action Registration ticket to our summer College Application Edge Bootcamp!

Plain and simple, this group coaching program is designed to help your child answer the question, 

Why Should We Admit YOU, Compared to Your 50,000 Competitors?

When you sign up now, before January 1, you'll 1. save 500 bucks and 2. receive a big bonus:  we'll do your FAFSA, CSS Profile and all other financial aid forms (value:  $3,500).

But I think there's a bigger, more important reason to take me up on this offer:

Peace of mind.  Because we, not you, will take over the deadline reminders, accountability and organization of the whole college application kit and kaboodle.  

You won't have to scream and threaten your kiddo all summer!

Unlike other summer bootcamps, this one lasts more than a week or two.  It runs  June-September, and includes

*Heavy essay ed...

Good morning!

We're hitting the airwaves this morning -- 10:00am EST --  for College Coffee Talk, our live show about college admissions and financial aid news that you can use!  

Here's what's on tap for today:

Deferred?  How to Screw Up Your Letter of Continued Interest

Tune In!

Grab a cup of joe and we'll see you at 10am EST (recorded if you can't make it)

- Andy Lockwood

"Print Scholarships" On Demand Workshop

I'll be quicker than a presidential pardon because there's not much time before I go on the air.

One of the big topics I'm planning to cover is what to do if your college "lowballs" your merit aid or need-based aid offer.   I'll share some case studies that, frankly, might be pretty hard to swallow.

But I swear it's not fake news.  Each example I describe in today's mini-webinar come straight outta Glen Head, New York, a/k/a Lockwood College Prep world headquarters (and the college negotiation capitol of the world).

Here are some additional value bombs that I will drop on today's workshop:

• How to legally "hide" your money from the financial aid office
• The dark truth about the 529 plan
• How to negotiate your so-called "final" scholarship or financial aid award
• Special "loopholes" and "landmines" for business owners 
• How much income (Adjusted Gross Income) is too much to qualify for aid?  
• How to get 56.1% off tuition no matter how much
...

It's weird the way colleges decide how to award scholarships and other aid:

There's no "magic" income number.

Sure, there are a handful of exceptions, mostly from elite private colleges who claim to give full tuition to families earning 150K, 180K and even 200K.

But you have to GET INTO these elite, rarified air colleges to be in the running for the cashola.

What about the other 98% of colleges?

If you were nerdy enough (ahem) to read through the financial aid rules and regulations, websites and handbooks for college aid information, looking for an income "ceiling" or cut off number, your search would be fruitless.  Because there are 70+ other factors that go into the Double Secret Formula in addition to Adjusted Gross Income.

In our 22+ years of advising, we've had a handful clients earning more than 300K qualify for substantial amounts of need-based aid.

We've also seen those with 50K in income get zilch.

I can 'splain all that to you tomorrow afternoon.  I'm running a short ...

Most parents -- and kids for that matter -- make one grave, mistaken assumption about how the college admissions process works:

They think it's supposed to be "fair."

It's not.

Colleges are businesses. They have their own various and sundry agendas.  Those agendas frequently, but don't always, overlap yours and your child's.

Take, for example, last year's Supreme Court cases about the use of affirmative action in college admissions at UNC Chapel Hill and Harvard.  A chunk of Harvard's internal admissions officers' guide was entered into evidence, listing the criteria that Harvard deemed worthy of a special "tag" (boost) in the admissions process:

Underrepresented minorities, of course.  But also recruited athletes and children of alumni.

To those favored categories, I'd add international students, children of professors and staff and applicants from "feeder" high schools.

In other words, if you're not in one of these categories, it's harder to get in. That was the gist of the ar...

I was talking to a 10th grade student last week, when he asked me this doozy of a question:

"Are my extracurriculars good enough to get into an Ivy?"

My answer:

"Nope."  (A mere glimpse into the caring, sensitive college consulting style that made me famous.)

But there's good news, I told him.  "You're only in 10th grade.  You have the luxury of time to develop "killer" extracurricular activities that will separate you from tens of thousands of competitor-applicants."

Then we got to work, planning out the remainder of his year and the balance of his high school career.

I can't go into detail of what I specifically recommended for HIM, but I can offer you something better:

A ticket to my brand spanking new, online workshop this Tuesday evening, The College Application Edge System.  It's free, there's nothing to buy, and you will discover how to:

• Recognize the school that will position your child for the 40 year success goal, not merely the four
• Interrupt the application...

Good morning!

We're moments away from hitting the airwaves this morning -- 10:00am EST --  for College Coffee Talk, our live show about college admissions and financial aid news that you can use!  

Here's what's on tap for today:

Surprising FAFSA Updates

Tune In!

Grab a cup of joe and we'll see you at 10am EST (recorded if you can't make it)

- Andy Lockwood