College Negotiations Help

It's not exactly a newsflash, but colleges are businesses.

That means, like every red-blooded, capitalist enterprise, they would prefer to get more money out of you than less. 

They may not be terribly forthcoming about how to "appeal" or negotiate with them, after they dole out a financial aid or merit aid offer that leaves you wondering, "Where's the beef?"  Here are my thoughts:

• Yes, you actually can negotiate your offer (many parents don't realize this)
• No, they won't rescind your acceptance or do some other dastardly, punitive thing to you just because you asked for more cashola
• The three most effective arguments you can make to a college about why it should give you more money are:
  • Severe drop in income since the Base Year of your financial aid applications (for 2025 grads, the Base Year is 2023)
  • Significant expenses that were not disclosed on the financial aid applications (But "We live in a high cost area" will not sway their opinion)
  • Bett...

We're in the throes of arguably the bumpiest college decision season in history.   

Daily, I'm witnessing joy in Mudville, as well as reports of sobbing, bedridden kids crushed by rejections (sometimes the same person).

In the midst of this emotional, chaotic time -- especially today, a/k/a "Ivy Day" -- it's important to focus on an important, overlooked truth:

Where you go is not who you are

I know, your kid may not want to hear it seconds after a rejection.  But that doesn't mean it's untrue.

I won't bore you with one of those long lists of famous successful people who didn't go to an Ivy, or who were rejected by their top choice college, but it's far from the end of the world if you don't get into your top choice college...

...but I can't help myself, so here's a short list of some really successful, non-Ivy leaguers.

Howard Schultz, the Starbucks guy - Northern Michigan University

Marc Cuban -- Indiana University

Steve Jobs -- Reed College (dropout)

Michael Dell - UT Aust...

We're moments away from shutting the door on tonight's SAT Crusher class, but we still have three (3) spots left.

If you (or your friends) are interested, here's where to get the low-down on our GUARANTEED, small group tutoring class:

<<<<<SAT Crusher Class>>>>>

Use coupon code SPRING for a nifty $125 "scholarship" (discount).

That coupon code works for all the classes listed on that page, BTW.

Bottom line:

A strong SAT or ACT score can still open doors, win money, and get your kid into a better school.

Get Started >

- Andy "Tootin' My Tutor's Horn" Lockwood

P.S. Your instructor, Marissa U, doesn't merely believe in “just getting by" or "settling" for a "decent" score.

Her client Dylan Briody started with a 1330, and was hoping for a 1450. His final score, hot off the presses:

1520!

Our test prep courses are built to help students CRUSH the SAT and ACT. Here's how:

• Raise scores fast with proven strategies (75% strategby, 25% content. If that)
• Build "game day" confide...

SAT and ACT Prep Small Group Tutoring

Admissions results are a-rollin' in, and it's proving to be the bumpiest year I can recall.

I'm always trying to sift and sort through the data to make sense of it all, but it's not easy.

But one thing seems to stand out like a sore thumb:

SAT and ACT scores matter.

The higher your scores, the better your odds of admission.   Even in today's test-optional world.  

Yes, most colleges still let you APPLY test-optional.   But there's a difference between applying test-optional and getting in test-optional.

That’s the reality no one tells you during campus tours. They want EVERYONE to apply, because more applications means more rejections, and more rejections mean higher rankings.

That's how the College Admissions Matrix manipulates you.

But here’s the good news:

We specialize in helping students crush these tests.

Not just “do okay.” Not “get by.” We’re talking real improvement. Real confidence. Real results.

Like our client Dylan Briody,...

Picture this.

It’s December. It's a dark, chilly evening.

Your kid logs into their college admissions portal. You're trying not to hover or eavesdrop. Yet, here you are.

They click “View Decision,” their hands shaking, their stomach in knots.

The page struggles to load...Then, finally, you see the words:

"We regret to inform you…"

Maybe they don’t even finish reading. Maybe they slam their laptop shut, fighting back tears...while their friends celebrate acceptance letters from their dream schools.

Now you’re the one feeling sick. Could this have been avoided?

I won't pull punches. The answer is YES.

This year’s admissions cycle has been an absolute bloodbath.

Record-low acceptance rates

An explosion of applicants (even safety schools are rejecting top students)

Families losing out on five-figure scholarships because they didn’t know how to play the College Funding Game

But still…some students somehow beat long odds, and get in.

Many, “less qualified”. 

And thousands...

I never do this, but apparently 3-4 folks had problems that prevented them from signing up for this deal that expired last night.

So we're opening the window to get in on this deal on our Financial Aid Warrior program:

What you get for $500 off:
Strategies to maximize financial aid eligibility
Flawless form filing—no mistakes, no missed deadlines
Unlimited phone/email support all the way through
Expert coaching to negotiate MORE from colleges

Hurry! Get this "Second Bite at the Apple" discount on our Financial Aid Warrior program before it’s gone (and you're filled with stinging regret for the rest of eternity).

See you on the other side of the rainbow.

1-Pay (Best Deal)

EZ-Payment Plan

- Andy "Lastest Call" Lockwood

P.S.  The world of financial aid and college applications is chock full of deadlines and opportunities that are easy to miss.

You missed this one, but you're getting another chance.  This chance expires today, 5pm EST.

We're in the final countdown for our financial aid consulting promo but I wanted to tell you a quick story about a client/friend named Rick, who I hang out every March to watch the basketball games (he's a St John's grad, I want to law school there).

Rick's daughter applied to numerous colleges, getting into most of them.

Murphy's Law being what it is, her worst financial aid offer was at her top choice college, the University of Spoiled Children in Los Angeles.

Rick told her, sorry, if we can't get any more money out of them, you'll have to go to one of the other colleges.  (It's debatable whether he meant it, since he's kind of a pushover.  But aren't we all? :)

Two tense weeks ensued.  I drafted a letter of appeal for Rick to send to USC's financial aid office.  He sent it, but forgot to cc his daughter's admissions officer.  (I have Rick on video, admitting his mistake, thank you very much.)

Once Rick realized his error, thanks to some "gentle" prodding by moi, he quickly disp...

I'll be quicker than an Irish Goodbye, it’s your last chance to grab $500 off our Financial Aid Warrior consulting package before it disappears tonight!

Don’t let financial aid confusion steal your gold. We’ll help you:
Legally shelter savings & improve eligibility for grants
File all financial aid forms correctly—no missed deadlines!
Get unlimited expert support (no question is too small)
Negotiate for MORE money after your award comes in

All shenanigans aside, this upcoming financial year for Class of 2026 families could be BRUTAL, thanks to the upheaval happening in the Department of Education.

Even before Education Secretary McMahon body-slammed her department, it was easier than that second pint of Guinness to royally screw up your financial aid applications, including 70-100 questions on the FAFSA, 200-300 questions on the CSS Profile, plus responding to "verification" (audit) requests by financial aid officers, keeping track of all deadlines, follow up requests, and so m...

Let me learn ya a wee bit about how to get the loot you need and deserve from your kids' colleges...

...so that you can easily and comfortably afford to send them to the top schools they deserve to attend, instead of breaking their little hearts.

First, it matters where you apply. Some colleges are extremely generous, some miserly.

It matters WHERE you apply.

The missus (Pearl) and I have been in the college consulting game for more than 20 years, and can tell you, first hand, about dozens of "deserving" low income families who got ZERO -- across the board -- from their colleges...

...and scores of six-figure earning, high income families who received tens of thousands in aid!

One family can play the game the right way, while the other doesn't.

Most of the time, scholarship and financial aid awards come down to which colleges they applied to.  You must include 1. generous colleges and 2. colleges that will be generous to YOUR CHILD.

That second part is critical.  And OVERLOOKED...

Most people think winning scholarships and financial aid is just luck.  They cross their fingers, send in their forms, and hope for the best.

BIG mistake. They have a better shot at finding a four leaf clover on Mars.

The truth is, scholarships and financial aid is a game—and if you don’t know the rules, you lose. But if you do? You can walk away with thousands in extra grants & scholarships.

Put that in your flute and smoke it. (I don't know what that means either.)

Enough malarkey, let's get serious. Here's what you get when you sign up for our promo, which, for this week only, gets you $500 off our Financial Aid Warrior package...

...so that you can comfortably afford college for your lads and lassies without having to decimate your retirement savings, brown bag all your meals or sell a vital organ!

When you sign up with Lockwood, you'll enjoy:
Strategies to legally maximize your eligibility for scholarships, grants and -- if self-employed -- unique strategies to free up cash...