College Hacks & Hot Takes

FAFSA Mythbusting: Does Not Filing Help You Get In? 12th grade fafsa financial aid scholarships seniors student loans Oct 03, 2025

Does Not Filing the FAFSA Help You Get Into College?

We’ve had two different parents ask us this question in the past week:

“Someone told me that if we don’t file the FAFSA, our student might have a...
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What the New FAFSA Rules Mean for Your Family 12th grade college planning department of education fafsa financial aid student loans Sep 18, 2025

2026–27 FAFSA & Pell Grant Rule Changes: What High-Income Families Need to Know

If you thought you could ignore Pell Grant rules because your income or assets are too high… well, you’re mostly right....

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Colleges Are Watching: How Your Online Behavior Could Be Costing You Aid 10th grade 11th grade 9th grade college planning financial aid grants junior scholarships sophomore student loans Aug 15, 2025

Colleges Are Watching: How Your Online Behavior Could Be Costing You Aid

(No, we’re not paranoid—and you don’t need to be either. But this is worth paying attention to.)


It almost sounds like a co...

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Senate Revises ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: What It Means for College Aid in 2025 12th grade college planning college student department of education fafsa financial aid grants scholarships student loans Jun 19, 2025

📣 UPDATE: Senate Passes Bill—Here's What Happens Now

Last updated: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM PT

TL;DR

The Senate passed its final version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on July 1 (5

...
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📰 New ID Verification Rules for FAFSA Aim to Curb Fraud, but May Slow Down the Process for Families 12th grade department of education fafsa financial aid identity verification student loans Jun 09, 2025

FAFSA Identity Verification Tightens: What Families Need to Know Before the 2026–27 Cycle

TL;DR

The Department of Education is rolling out stricter FAFSA identity verification rules to combat fr

...
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College Can Be $100k a Year - But the Bill Might Hit You Hardest college planning department of education financial aid retirement student loans May 08, 2025

College is $100K a Year—But the Bill Might Hit You Hardest

Why parents are footing more of the bill—and what it’s costing their future

If you're like most parents we talk to, you’re trying t

...
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Buyer vs. Seller: The College Edition best schools college planning financial aid grants scholarships May 01, 2025

Not All Colleges Play the Same Game

Some colleges offer generous aid to families making $200K+. Others expect you to pay full price—no matter your circumstances. The difference could be six fig

...
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Can Local Business Sponsorships Help Pay for College (and Be Tax-Deductible)? 12th grade college planning fafsa financial aid scholarships sponsorships Apr 04, 2025

A Quick Guide for Families Exploring Creative (and Legal) Funding Options 

Important Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and not tax advice. 
Please consult a qualified tax profes...
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What Happens if the Department of Education Goes Away? college planning department of education fafsa financial aid grants student loans Mar 21, 2025

(And Should Parents Like Us Be Worried?)

If you’ve seen recent headlines about dismantling the U.S. Department of Education (DoE), you’re probably wondering what that could mean for your child’s fina...

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Missed the CSS Profile Deadline? Here's What You Can Do 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade css profile fafsa financial aid junior seniors sophomore Nov 19, 2024

For many families navigating the college financial aid process, the CSS Profile can feel like an unpleasant surprise. Unlike the FAFSA, which is relatively straightforward, the CSS Profile dives deepe...

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The FAFSA Rollercoaster: What You Need to Know for 2025-2026 12th grade college planning fafsa financial aid seniors Sep 18, 2024

As a parent of a high school senior, navigating the financial aid process can be daunting. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is crucial to this process. This form, provided by the U...

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