Last week I spoke a small, 100+ throng of parents (and some kids)  at a local high school.

At least 1/3 of the questions revolved around the new ACT versus the SAT, which one is "best," when to submit test scores, related.

Approximately 10% of the questions centered on the college essay, what makes a "standout" essay, what topics to stay away from, how to come up with an "original" topic, more.

Here's how I can help with each area:

1. Free SAT v ACT preview class tomorrow (Sunday 10/19) night. 

2. 11th hour college essay help:  The Lockwood Launchpad.

Here's where to learn more about each:

SAT v ACT Preview Class >>

11th Hour Essay Help >>

Told you I'd be quick. :)

Have a great weekend.

- Andy "Terse Yet Trustworthy" Lockwood

P.S.  The Lockwood Launchpad "11th hour' college essay help program is 500 bucks off.  We can take a maximum of six kids.

Last December, our client, from a tony, private NYC high school, was admitted to an elite New England Small College Athletic Conference college as a football recruit.  He applied Early Decision, the way all recruits do.

But after he was accepted, he had second thoughts about going.  So he and his mom, Lauren, spoke to Pearl (the better half of Lockwood College Prep) about his misgivings.

“You can get out of ED,” quoth the first lady of our firm, stunning our clients, who thought Early Decision was “binding.”

Before I continue this yarn, a brief overview is in order:   There are several ways to apply to college, depending on each college’s policies, including:

• Early Decision (apply to only one college, fake binding)
• Early Action (non-binding)
• Restricted Early Action  (non-binding but limits the colleges you can apply to)
• Regular Decision  (deadlines tend to be early January)
• Early Decision II (apply to only one college, used if you get denied or deferred by your ED I school...

10% Off Financial Aid Consulting

Good eeev-a-ning.

Quick, brutal question: do you want to be the parent who saved thousands on tuition?

Or the one who blew it by missing a deadline or committing another error, and watched your opportunity wash down the drain like that bloody water in the shower scene of Hitchcock's Psycho?

Because the clock is moving and your chances at this deal are ebbing away.  Tonight at midnight, our unprecedented 10% off promo disappears into the night like a ghostly apparition.

You can "steal" our Financial Aid Warrior program for 10% off, either the 1-payor 5-pay version. 

If you have a devil may care attitude and think college costs are reasonable, you are in the wrong email. The truth is the system is rigged and confusing by design. Colleges expect hapless families to mess up and accept lower than deserved awards!

That is where the Financial Aid Warrior steps in. We do the heavy lifting so you do not lose out because of a silly error or failure to ...

10% Off Financial Aid Consulting

A (black) cat-quick yet unsettling truth:

The financial aid system is rigged.  Against you.

But if you let yourself be VICTIMIZED by a blown deadline or a sloppy, error-ridden financial aid form,  then YOU -- not the colleges, not the "system", not Chuckie or Freddie Krueger -- could be the reason your kid misses out on the aid they deserve.

That would be a bona fide real-life horror story!

Ditto if you "overshare" on the applications -- meaning including assets or other things that should not be disclosed.

This is not fear-mongering. It's simple math and knowledge of the thousands of pages of regulations,  plus paperwork.  Lots of paperwork.

But here's the thing...

It's EASY for you to handle...if you know your limitations and bring in anexpert.

Like our client, Stephanie Salzbank, who told us:

When my friends started telling me that they received nothing in financial assistance, I once again began to worry. But then our packages started co...

10% Off Financial Aid Consulting

It's the month of Halloween and this is for parents of class of 2026 "children of the night:"   

You might feel like you're starring in your own horror movie!

You know how onscreen, when you watch the scared hero or heroine creep slowly in the dark, closer and closer to the threatening noise for some unknown, stupid reason...

...while EVERYONE in the theater screams warnings, because they all know the horrible fate she's about to suffer?

Thats the financial aid process, in a nutshell.

Here's a blunt warning for you:

Deadly landmines and ghoulish traps lay ahead, thanks to the overpriced, rip off colleges who want to suck every last dollar out of you like a thirsty vampire.

I know I'm getting carried away with this analogy, but, hey, it's directionally accurate.

You make one teensy weensy mistake on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, supplemental institutional forms, and you could BURY your chances of getting even a nickel of aid.

Then there's the after...

Did you just assume that you can't qualify for any kind of financial aid, so why should you bother filling out the FAFSA or other applications?

You could be mistaken.

I made this point to a tremendous crowd (North of 16!) in my office last night, at our weekly workshops. 

Non Politically Correct Fact Alert:  Turns out that the majority of aid goes to upper income families, or six-figure earners.

Is that a bad thing?  A good thing?

I don't judge. I'm just reporting on what is. Just the facts, here on Planet Earth.

Although income is super important,  there are more factors that go into the financial aid eligibility stew.  Namely, assets.

But here's the thing...

In Financial Aid, It's Not How Much You've Saved.  It's WHERE.

Some types of savings -- in your kids' names -- penalize you WAY more than others.

Some types -- parent savings accounts -- penalize you far less.

And some types of savings accounts are -- wait for it -- PENALTY FREE.

Totally exempt from the financial a...

I have mixed feelings about a recent change to how financial aid works, but I'm clear on one thing:

It's a big, big freakin' deal.  

Gather round and listen up if you've got a youngster headed to college in Fall of 2026 and beyond, and you're hoping to get financial aid.

Background

The rules about borrowing for college are now dramatically different.  The main reason seems to be that the government is losing 19 cents on the dollar, and approximately 10 million borrowers are in default.

Seems like something had to be done.

The New PLUS

The Big Beautiful Bill overhauled the rules about borrowing for college. Specifically, the PLUS Loan, commonly referred to as the Parent Loan.

Up until this year, parents could borrow the entire cost of attendance of their kid's college.  That means tuition, room, board and fees.

And the PLUS loan required very little underwriting.  You could qualify for $60-90K if you had a pulse and could fog a mirror.

I'm exaggerating a smidge, but I've wit...

It's College Fair season, when reps from various colleges make the rounds around the country to promote their colleges and entice kids to apply to their respective colleges.

Are they worth attending?

This might sound crotchety, but my take is that you've seen one, you've seen them all.

They can be chaotic and overwhelming.

On the other hand, you can pick up some cool college merch. Who can't use another stress relieving squeezy thing?

I'm planning to attend next week's event sponsored by my group, the Nassau County Counselor's Association.  If you attend, you might see me wondering around the exhibition, volunteering for some important task, once I get my assignment.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few tips on how to get the most out of any college fair, including but not limited to next week's.

1. Not an Interview. When talking to a rep at their table, you are NOT conducting a college interview or applying.  Ask questions, but you don't have to rattle off your stats and...

The College Essay Lab

If the purpose of the personal statement is to serve as a substitute for an admissions interview, why do many colleges ask for "optional" supplemental essays?

(Side bar:  let's stipulate that  "optional" means "mandatory.")

The main reasons why colleges feature supplemental essays include promoting diversity, showing a different, perhaps fun side of the applicant, and proving to the admissions committee that the applicant has thought carefully about why that college is a good fit for him.

Let's focus on number three.

Interest

There's a good chance that you've heard the term "demonstrated interest," but because my email list has 16,992 lucky guys and gals at various stages of the college "journey,"  I'll describe it in case you're not familiar with this phrase.

Background.  Colleges don't want to admit a bunch of students who decide not to matriculate.   The ratio of admitted students versus matriculated ones is known as the Yield.

The higher the Yield, t...

I'm deep in the weeds with our 2026 kiddos, working with them on their essays and applications.  

Many are confused.

Confused about what makes a "good" or "bad" essay topic.

Example:  Is it ok to address political or hot button issues, or is it best to stay away from them entirely.

Example Deux:  Confusion about what kind of extracurricular activity impresses an admissions officer, and what doesn't.

Side bar: It's not only about "leadership."  

If you read as many applications as I have over the years, your only reasonable conclusion would be that everyone applying to college is a leader.

There are no followers.

(Back in the day it was acceptable for me to describe this as "All chiefs, no indians."  Alas, no more.)

Back to the email.  I'm re-running a webinar from a few weeks ago, that went over what you need to know about writing college essays that help you stand out, and get in.

As well as a very public mistake that one kid made, that kept him out of 12 of 15 colleges.