It’s a true Tale of Two Cities episode—Matt’s digging out from the Blizzard of ’26 in the Northeast while Peggy’s bracing for 80-degree temps in Arizona. After a little Bruce Springsteen love (yes, 10th Avenue Freeze-Out makes an appearance 🎸), they dive into your biggest college planning questions in this month’s Open Grab Bag Q&A.

In this episode, Matt and Peggy break down:

• Why your financial aid offer might be taking longer than your neighbor’s

• What the Student Aid Index (SAI) actually means for your family

• The real difference between subsidized vs. unsubsidized federal student loans

• Waitlisted vs. deferred—what’s the strategy and what should you expect?

• Whether your aid can change if your income changes

• Why colleges push enrollment deposits before you’ve seen your financial aid package

• How (and when) you can pay off student loans—with no prepayment penalties

• Whether students can take out private loans without a co-signer

As always, this episode is packed with practical advice, straight talk about how colleges really operate, and the clarity families need to make confident financial decisions.

Got a question for a future episode? Send it our way on social media or email support@collegeaidpro.com

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

What happens when federally funded college access programs, a cutting-edge STEM lab, and one determined high school student collide? 🚀In this special episode of Ol’ College Try, Matt sits down with Valeria Garcia-Lopez of the TRIO/GEAR UP programs at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, Keith Young, CEO of Ecotek Lab, and Carlos — a Class of 2027 student already presenting research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.You’ll hear how:TRIO and GEAR UP programs are creating life-changing “firsts” for students across Metro DetroitEcotek Lab has spent nearly 20 years building STEM bridges — not just curriculumsHigh school students are tackling real-world challenges like space debris removal and water AI systemsCarlos earned his spot through grit, consistency, and showing up (even on freezing Sundays)Experiences like presenting at NASA can reshape a student’s entire college pathwayCarlos shares his dream of attending MIT and working at NASA — and how he’s navigating the college process with aerospace engineering and astronomy in his sights.This episode is about more than scholarships. It’s about expectation. It’s about exposure. It’s about giving students access to environments most don’t see until graduate school — if ever.If you’ve ever wondered what early STEM exposure can truly unlock, this conversation will inspire you.And if you’re moved by Carlos’s journey, check the show notes to learn how you can help sponsor students ready to launch. 🚀Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Sign Up for Our FREE College Success Bootcamp: https://hubs.li/Q042SVt10 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸Connect with UM-Dearborn TRIO! Website & Giving Page: https://donate.umich.edu/xXDyK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMDearbornTRIO

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umdtrio

Private scholarships can feel overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes too good to be true. So how do families actually use them to lower the cost of college?

In this episode of The Ol’ College Try, Peg Keough sits down with Jocelyn Pearson, founder of The Scholarship System, to do a deep dive into the world of private (aka external) scholarships. Jocelyn shares how she personally earned six figures in scholarships—enough to graduate debt-free with overage checks—and how families today can create a repeatable strategy to do the same.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between private scholarships, merit aid, and need-based grants

• Why your FAFSA Student Aid Index does not automatically disqualify you

• How to identify your student’s unique “scholarship superpower”

• Which scholarships are worth your time (and which are just sweepstakes in disguise)

• When to start applying—and why junior year is ideal

• How recurring scholarships work

• What scholarship displacement is and how to protect your award

If your family falls into the “income gap” and you’re worried about taking on debt, this episode will give you practical, actionable steps to start closing that gap the smart way.

Whether you have a high school junior, senior, or even a current college student, it’s not too late to build a strategy that works.

Tune in and learn how to turn private scholarships from a buzzword into a real plan.
Connect with Us!

Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Sign Up for Our FREE College Success Bootcamp: https://hubs.li/Q042SVt10

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

Connect with Jocelyn!

Website: ⁠⁠https://thescholarshipsystem.com/

Sign Up for Her Free Master Class: https://thescholarshipsystem.com/mycap/