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Appealing Financial Aid and Merit Scholarships

Debbie Schwartz

Debbie Schwartz is a former financial services executive and founder of Road2College and the Paying For College 101 Facebook group. With an expertise in personal finance, analysis, and marketing, she's working to give families the information and tools they need to make smarter financial college decisions.

Articles by Debbie

How My Student with Learning Differences Got Into 8 Schools and Earned $100,000 in Merit Scholarships

June 13, 2023

This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow….

An Ivy League Journey: From Yale to Medical School

June 7, 2023

This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow….

College Dorm Checklist: Full List and Advice for Parents of Incoming Freshmen

May 30, 2023

Moving into a college dorm is a significant milestone, representing the first step towards independence and the start of a…

A Mother’s Guide: Transforming College Admissions into Bonding Time

May 26, 2023

College applications can be a bonding time with your child! Read on to learn how we turned stress into success.

How a Student With a 2.7 GPA Got Into 19 Colleges

May 9, 2023

You don’t have to have a high GPA to get into college and qualify for merit aid. One parent shares her student’s inspiring story.

How I Fought to Remove Compulsory Test Scores on Transcripts

March 15, 2023

Compulsory test scores on transcripts can hurt students who apply test-optional. Here’s how one parent fought to get the scores removed.

Colleges Costing $30K or Less For Family With Incomes Over $110K

May 4, 2022

If you’re the parent of a college-bound high school student, you’re probably on the look out for affordable colleges. Unfortunately,…

Don’t Be Overly Optimistic About Financial Aid

May 4, 2022

If I Knew Then What I Know Now: I Was Overly Optimistic about Financial Aid Packages I have two daughters…