
Explain financial aid basics, reveal debt realities, including the death gap and private vs government loans, and preview the next section on types of financial aid.
Explore the four types of financial aid: need-based, non-need-based, merit, and self-help, and how FAFSA, grants, work-study, and scholarships shape college funding.
Understand how financial aid is calculated, including the student aid index, FAFSA, and SAR, and how cost of attendance shapes award offers with grants, loans, and work study.
Learn how fafsa determines aid by income and assets, review the student aid index, and examine recent simplifications and impacts on divorced families.
Discover how to maximize financial aid by staying in the top 25 percent, choosing affordable schools with merit aid, and navigating FAFSA with blended families for smarter borrowing.
Learn a real world approach to maximizing financial aid by analyzing cost of attendance, need-based and merit-based aid, FAFSA accuracy, and strategic award offers before pursuing scholarships.
Learn why FAFSA opens on October 1, compare aid offers apples to apples, and use the budget worksheet to weigh costs, student loans, and starting salaries for informed college decisions.
Understand how FAFSA information flows to schools, how federal and institutional methodologies determine aid, and how award letters and the SAR report reveal timing and amounts.
Learn how verification, or iris verification, confirms FAFSA data, why you may be randomly selected, and how to proactively submit documents by deadlines to influence your financial aid.
Identify gaps in financial aid awards, such as missing grants or loans, and how EFC and FAFSA accuracy affect aid. Learn checks to avoid misreported income and missing parent loans.
Explore the appeal process and professional judgment to adjust aid for special circumstances, such as income changes, independence, or medical costs, and note school policies and FAFSA data.
Join the College Insights parent and student Facebook groups for free peer support while navigating financial aid. Access updates, blogs, and direct contact options (phone, email, website) for ongoing guidance.
Learn to have the money talk for parents and students about financing college with a safe, open conversation and a practical checklist to determine affordable contributions and loan strategies.
Explore financial aid facts and myths, demystifying the death gap, FAFSA basics, and loan versus grant options, and learn how to compare colleges for affordability.
The truth is, financial aid IS complicated. It’s complicated because most people don’t really understand it and the formula for how it’s calculated has never been made public. I get it! When I was applying to college, I had the same frustrations and concerns you’re having right now. Unfortunately, no one spends the necessary time with students and parents to help them understand the process or what to do next. Get the scoop on the good, the bad, and the ugly for financial aid so that you can be prepared when it's time to apply.
Financial Aid Made Easy covers more than the basics you’ll learn at a parent night at your local high school. I dive into advanced financial aid so you understand what is going on from all angles, WHY they are asking you certain questions, and how to know if money is missing (which happens ALL THE TIME).
This course comes with videos, PDFs, and other resources to help you complete your financial paperwork more easily, and know what to do next when something goes awry (and it will.) But, don’t worry. I’m here with you every step of the way!
UPDATED information from the newest announcements from the Department of Education are addressed, as well as a full example of the easiest ways to pay for college. (Hint, it's not scholarships.)
Here’s what past students had to say:
“I’ve been a college counselor for almost 10 years and I learned new stuff in the course! I loved learning more about what’s happening in the back end and how it impacts my students.” David M.
“I recently went through a divorce and was worried about how my daughter’s financial aid would be impacted since our income changed so much. It was so nice learning in this course how I can help my daughter and not go into so much debt.” Kayla M.