All Episodes
Episodes
The College Advice Your Guidance Office Won’t Give
Back to school means College Nights, info sessions, and sugar-coated admissions advice. Here’s what they won’t tell you… and what families actually need to hear.
In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy and Pearl...
View Episode
College Admissions After DEI: What Changes Now?
Colleges are stripping out DEI and race‑based preferences—and it’s shaking up admissions and aid strategy for everyone.
In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy & Pearl Lockwood unpack how the end of...
View Episode
Behind the Scenes: Ivy League Financial Aid Mistake
In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy and Pearl Lockwood break down a real case study from one of their clients whose financial aid package from Columbia was completely off. This behind-the-scenes look reveals...
View Episode
What Students Get Wrong About College Admissions
In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy Lockwood shares a raw, unfiltered account of a real conversation with a Class of 2026 student. Everything was going smoothly—until a single comment changed the tone of the...
View Episode
Think You Don’t Qualify For College Help? Listen to this!
FAFSA for high-income families, CSS Profile pros and cons, and financial aid tips for families who think they make too much to qualify.
Here’s what you need to know.In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy and...
View Episode
New Law Could Cost You Thousands In College Aid
Major changes are coming to New York’s college financial aid system in 2025. In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Pearl and Andy Lockwood break down two critical developments:1. The Universal FAFSA mandate for all...
View Episode
ACT Score Jump: 17 to 31 — Real Tutoring Case Study
ACT tutoring case study, how to raise your ACT score fast, and proven test prep strategies from real students. Learn how one teen jumped from 17 to 31, and how your kid can too.
Andy Lockwood interviews ACT tutor...
View Episode
3 College Essay Mistakes That Could Cost You Admission
College essay mistakes, Common App essay fails, and admissions tips, all based on real examples from our weekend bootcamp. These writing errors can sink even great students.
In this episode of College Coffee Talk,...
View Episode
Can You Lie on Your College Application in 2025?
Lying on college applications, Common App essays, race/ethnicity, fake extracurriculars: and how the NYC mayor candidate got away with it. What does this mean for you in 2025?
Today on College Coffee Talk, Andy...
View Episode
New Law Could Destroy Student Loans: What Families Must Know Now
Student loans, parent loans, FAFSA changes, college financial aid, and federal loan limits are all about to change—big time.
In this episode of College Coffee Talk, college advisors Andy and Pearl Lockwood break down...
View Episode
Essay Mistakes That Kill Applications | How to Stand Out in 2025
College supplemental essays are one of the most overlooked and important parts of the college application. Learn how to write essays that stand out and avoid the mistakes that get students rejected.
In this clip from...
View Episode
The Grinch Who Saved Her College Dreams (With Hard Truths)
In this episode, Andy Lockwood recounts a recent client meeting that got real—fast. A high-achieving 10th grader wanted to apply to a Top 12 college.
But when Andy reviewed her junior year course load, he gave her the...
View Episode