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

Shari was thrilled for her daughter:  she got into her Dream School last week!  Her hard work in high school paid off!

A few days later, the financial aid award came.  Not good.

"They expect us to pay HOW MUCH!?" she silently screamed, so her husband wouldn't hear her.  "How am I going to tell Scott?".

I made up the names but not the scenario.   Too many families get through the college acceptance process, only to THEN -- months later -- turn their attention to how they're going to PAY for college.

Sadly, thousands of families open up their college award notices, only to be slapped in the face by the (lack of) offer.

Even sadder, this unsavory result was easily avoidable.

Thursday afternoon, I'm running a short online workshop so that you don't find yourself in this pickle next year, wondering "Where's the beef" after your son or daughter manages to get into the college they've been lusting after.  Here's a short list of what I'll be covering:

• How to legally "hide" your money
...

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!  

Today's show is a doozy,  here's the description:

Why didn't she get into her top choice college?  

Today on College Coffee Talk, college consultants Pearl and Andy Lockwood take you behind the scenes of their college advising practice.  You'll be a virtual fly on the wall during some of their most difficult conversations with clients.

Here's where to join us:

Tune In!

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

- Andy Lockwood

New Workshop:  The College Application Edge System 

Is college admissions a giant Black Box, with no rhyme or reason to who gets in and who doesn't?

It may seem that way, but that's probably because you don't know all the factors that go into the mix.  

Or who your child is ACTUALLY competing with (hint, it's not the kids at her high school).

Tonight I'm running a workshop called The College Application Edge System.  

It's free and designed to give you the Fast Pass and Easy Button, all rolled up in one, to getting a ticket to an Ivy or highly selective college.   Here's some of what will be covered:

• The "60-40 Formula" that admissions officers use to evaluate candidates
• Extracurricular activities that impress 
• How to score tens of thousands in fat, juicy scholarships even if you think you have no shot at getting any type of financial assistance

That's a few nuggets, there will be more, tonight.  Here's where to sign up:

Application Edge Workshop

- Andy "Sundays Wit...

New Workshop:  The College Application Edge System

A client blew off our phone call this morning, but I couldn't be happier.

Savannah (not her real name), applied to several big, "rah-rah" colleges this fall.  She's a great, straight A student and boasts seriously impressive extracurriculars.

Here's why Savannah (still not her real name)'s mom started to panic.  The first two colleges to respond sent the following decisions:

Deferred.

Deferred.

I'll spare you the "Inside Baseball", but Savannah's mom was practically hyperventilating for the last two weeks. 

Email.  "What's happening?"  Text.  "What's wrong with her application?"  Email. "What colleges will she get into?  We need a plan!"

I admit that I wasn't feeling too confident after the second deferral.  But I needed to heed my own advice:  "It's too early to panic.  Deferral doesn't mean denied.  She's a great candidate at all of these schools."  

That was Thursday.  We set up a Zoom for 9am this morning.  But then, last ...

Good news at the beginning of the early application cycle for a bunch of our clients:  multiple acceptances to Cornell, one to WashU, a handful of other great earlies!

Yet, for many in the throes of College Application Absurdity, there's no rhyme or reason why one kid gets in, while the other gets deferred or denied. 

Especially when Kid No 2. has lesser academic cred than the other guy.

Despite my irrationally high opinion of myself, I admit that I don't get it right 100% of the time.  But I'm pretty damn good at reverse engineering what it really takes to be competitive at Ivies and every top college in the land.

That's good news for you if you have a college-bound 9th, 10th or 11th grader, because this Sunday night, I'm running a new, online workshop, The College Application Edge System.  

It's free, and it will help you understand:

• The "60-40 Formula" to get into elite and highly selective colleges
• Compelling, versus "Meh" extracurricular activities 
• How to score tens of
...

"She just doesn't 'stand out.'"

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

"What should he be doing now?"

Common, near-daily questions we get around here in the salt mines of Lockwood College Prep. 

Good news!  

If you have a 9-11th grader and have any of these, or related questions, I've got a little somethin-somethin for you: 

A ticket to my brand new, online workshop this coming Sunday 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, college essay, and extracurricular activities to stand out to the admissions committee with more than the same old, same old typical activities that everyone else does
• Secure tens of thousands scholarships even if you think you can't possibly qualify for financial aid
• Enjoy seeing your child flourish not just in college...but...