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...

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...

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

Hey now, I'm about to go live on tonight's webinar, (partially) titled, How to Slash College Costs by 56.1%...even if you think you can't possibly qualify for anything.

Do you find that description to be as snazzy and eye-catching as I do? 

Even if you don't, I have good news, you can still come join us!  Click the pumpkin-colored button below and you'll be whisked over to the webinar dungeon...

ATTEND!

See you soon!.

- Count Andrew Von Lockwuud

Undead College Advisor

P.S.  Here's the short list of tonight's topics:

*The new, not improved financial aid formula and how it affects your eligibility for aid (esp. if you have more than one kid in college, own a business or are divorced/divorcing)

*How to negotiate with a college after it's so-called "final" award

*How to legally "hide" your savings from the prying eyes of the Department of Education and your college financial aid offices

*More, including your questions, 'cause we'll be live (and somehow,...

Last year's release of the "simplified" FAFSA was scarier than The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby wrapped together. 

This year, it might be worse.

If one of more of your Children of the Night is headed to college in the next year or three and you're deathly afraid of monstrous college tuition bills, we're putting together a little webinar tomorrow, October 29th to rescue you from a fate worse than death.

Here are all the gory details:

Learn more...

The short version is that I will walk you through all of the pitfalls and traps that lie waiting for you in the financial aid process, worse than anything that goes bump in the night.  Topics include:

*How to "Hide" Your Savings From the Hobgoblins in the Financial Aid Office

*Negotiation Secrets:  How to Squeeze an Extra $30,022 From the Financial Aid Office, After It's So-Called "Final" Offer

*The 529:  Friend or Foe?  Good or Evil?

More, including your questions.  We'll be live -- yet undead -- in...

If one or more of your Children of the Night is headed to college in the next couple of years...

...and you're just now learning how much you'll have to shell out in tuition, I've got good news:

You're NOT starring in your own horror movie. 

Tonight, we'll show you how to navigate the financial aid process so that you can comfortably afford college, without scrimping on your lifestyle or racking up tens of thousands -- or hundreds of thousands -- of dollars in debt (that was my personal nightmare,  between college and law school).

Pearl and have assembled a little webinar just for you tonight, to discover the "dark arts" of financial aid.  Here's what's brewing:

*The new, not improved financial aid formula and how it affects your eligibility for aid (esp. if you have more than one kid in college, own a business or are divorced/divorcing)

*How to negotiate with a college after it's so-called "final" award

*How to legally "hide" your savings from the prying eyes of...

From the desk of Renfield
Personal assistant to Count Andrew Von Fafsala Lockwuud 

Hello. I don’t have much time so I’ll cut to the chase while Count Von Fafsala and Countess Pearlticia are slumbering in their coffins. The sun will set shortly and I’ll be busy tending to their gruesome needs..

Let me be brutally honest:  I didn’t see your name (or even your soul) on the list of victims, um, “people” signing up for the $304.50 off Financial Aid Consulting promo that ended at midnight last night, and I was shocked!  And not in the good way.

But come a little closer, so I can whisper something in your ear (sorry in advance about the insect breath):

I can still get you in for the same deal that expired yesterday.  All you have to do is sign up before the Count and Countess rise again, and nobody gets hurt.  

The Lockwuuds won’t know anything about my evil scheme, so they won’t punish me (which is a bit...

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:

Does applying Early Decision or Early Action hurt your chances of financial aid and scholarships?

Tune In!

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

- Andy Lockwood

Financial Aid Workshop 

I'll keep this quick like a bunny because we're all busy and I don't know if I'll do this again this year.   

We're hitting their airwaves with our online class, How to Slash College Costs by 56.1%..Even if you think you can't possibly qualify,  tonight, 7:30pm EST.

Here's where to go, hope you can make it!

LIVE WORKSHOP

- Andy "Not Quite Ready for Prime Time" Lockwood

P.S.  Reminder of tonight's topics: 

*How to "hide" your money from the financial aid office, legally and ethically

*How to negotiate a scholarship or financial aid award

*How high income and ultra affluent families can qualify for tuition discounts of 25%, 33% or even 56.1%, guilt-free

*10 deadly, self-inflicted financial aid mistakes overwhelmed families make before they apply to college (and how to avoid them)

*The disappointing state of last year's "Simplified"  (HAH!) FAFSA rollout and now to cope with more delays and mistakes that seem...

Financial Aid Workshop | SAT / ACT Prep

I'm back at it again, re-running the financial aid strategies webinar, How to Slash College Costs by 56.1%...even if you think you can't possibly qualify for anything. 

It happens tomorrow night, 9/25/24.

If you're interested in learning how to qualify for scholarships and financial aid, even if other people think you don't deserve it, I recommend that you attend this free workshop.  I'm running it again because a bunch of the 339 folks who originally signed up couldn't make it and requested a replay.  

Topics include:

*How to "hide" your money from the financial aid office, legally and ethically

*How to negotiate a scholarship or financial aid award

*How high income and ultra affluent families can qualify for tuition discounts of 25%, 33% or even 56.1%, guilt-free

*10 deadly, self-inflicted financial aid mistakes overwhelmed families make before they apply to college (and how to avoid them)

*The...