How Our Student Got Two Full-Ride Offers for Biomedical Engineering — And What We Learned Along the Way
The Bottom Line Up Front We have a high SAI (around $88K), so $0 from need-based aid — everything was…
Colleges That Change Lives: The List of 44, Comparisons, and How to Choose
The “colleges that change lives,” arising from a 1996 book with that title, are 45 small liberal arts colleges touted…
How Work-Study Actually Works (and How to Land the Good Jobs)
By Debbie Schwartz, founder of Road2College Work-study is one of the most misunderstood lines on a college aid offer. Families…
How to Find Your Real SAI Before Senior Year (Without Anyone Seeing It)
By Debbie Schwartz, founder of Road2College Your Student Aid Index is the single number that decides whether colleges think your…
Is an Honors College Worth It? Ask What You’d Miss Without It
Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. “Is an honors college worth it?” is the wrong…
Tuition Payment Plans: The Interest-Free Way to Chip Away at Your Bill
Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. Families tend to think about paying for college in…
Use the Common Data Set to Find Colleges That Give Merit Scholarships
Editor’s Note: The writer, Debbie Schwartz, is the founder of Road2College. Every college quietly publishes a report that shows exactly…
Freshman Year Loneliness Is Normal — Here’s What to Tell Your Student Before They Leave
This story was first shared in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. Kellsey…
The Student Loan Questions Our 310,000 Families Ask Most
by Debbie Schwartz, Founder of Road2College Note: This article is sponsored by Citizens®. Road2College maintains editorial control over content and…
How to Pay for College: A Family’s Step-by-Step Guide and Borrowing Blueprint Tool
About the author: Debbie Schwartz founded Road2College in 2014 to help families navigate the realities of paying for college. She…
Beyond Grades: What Actually Helped Students Win More Merit Aid and Scholarships
We asked parents in our Paying for College 101 Facebook group what factors — beyond grades — made the biggest…
A Different Approach to College Admissions: Less Stress, More Savings
Editor’s Note: This originally appeared as a post in our private Facebook group called Paying for College 101. Retired admissions director and…