You Don't Have To Pay Full Price For College - If You Know Where To Look

Written By Net Collective .

“We make too much money, so we won't qualify for any aid — why even bother?” It's one of the most common myths about paying for college, and today we're busting it wide open.

In this episode of NET Collective, Kay McBrearty and Vinita Patel sit down with Todd Weaver, President of Strategies For College, Inc. Todd's been helping families crack the code on financial aid and merit money since 1995 — and this fall he's living every stage of the journey himself, with a brand-new freshman, a May graduate, and a kid navigating a gap year, all in his own house.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why affordability should shape your college list — before you ever fall in love with a school

  • How merit aid actually works (hint: think "automatic discount," not personal judgment)

  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) — and why there are actually two of them

  • What juniors — and their parents — should be doing right now

  • Whether it's too late to find money if you're already paying the bill

  • How to talk to your kids about cost without making them feel limited

Whether you're just starting the college search or already writing tuition checks, this conversation will change how you think about what “full price” really means.

Grab the full glossary of financial-aid terms and Todd's contact info in our show-notes handout at netcollective.org.

Connect with Todd Weaver: strategiesforcollege.com or tweaver@strategiesforcollege.com

 

#CollegeFunding #FinancialAid #CollegePlanning #MeritAid #StudentAidIndex #CollegeAffordability #NETCollective #ParentingTeens #CollegeAdmissions #PayingForCollege #ScholarshipSearch #CollegeCosts #CSSProfile #CollegeBoundParents #HigherEd #StrategiesForCollege

Learn more at Netcollective.org

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Net Collective .

Our podcast is hosted by two seasoned professionals with decades of combined experience in psychology, education, and career coaching. We began by referring clients to each other; monthly lunches to share knowledge and resources evolved into thought-provoking conversations we thought others would want to join in; we invite you to be a fly on our wall.

We're N.E.T. Collective [Navigating Everything Together], and our mission is to empower adolescents, young adults, and those who love them as they navigate the crucial transitions from school to meaningful careers and everything in between. 

Through expert insights, evidence-based strategies, and honest conversations, we provide listeners the tools to understand their unique learning profiles, address emotional challenges, build effective coping strategies, develop executive functioning skills, and discover career paths that align with their strengths and passions. 

https://www.netcollective.org
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