If you’re worried that you’re late to college planning, here’s immediate help. Watch just one free, fast-paced 10-minute training video here.
Whether your child’s currently in middle school or in high school, you’ve probably had it happen to you: the sudden jolt of electric fear that you might be late to college planning.
Today, I’m going to rush in with the cavalry and completely rescue you from that.
What can you do right now, if you feel you’re late to college planning?
1. Don’t worry right now that you haven’t saved enough to pay for college.
Fear and worry can be paralyzing. Some parents feel so fearful about not having planned earlier that they repeatedly put all college planning on the back burner.
Don’t be that parent.
Whether your kids are in middle school or in high school right now, let go of fear and worry over what you haven’t done, and look closely at which clever, creative, easy-to-use strategies you can use starting right now.
Even if your kids never get a single scholarship.
Today, I’m going to direct you to highly effective step-by-step debt-free college planning help that will save you both time and money.
But—here’s the kicker—to have the easiest possible time with this, you’ll want to start now and move forward bit by bit.
I’m an academic strategist who’s helped thousands of people with this—I can help you too.
2. Don’t fret or worry that your child isn’t applying for college scholarships.
Getting private scholarships is only a tiny part of the process of getting kids through college or job training debt-free and into jobs they love afterward.
There are many other, easier strategies for getting college or job training paid for—and getting your kid to a happy, fulfilled career life.
I’ll make sure you have access to every one of these strategies—at exactly the time you need each one.
3. Don’t assume that free money from federal financial aid is going to cover all your kids’ college costs.
Because of the 2025 changes to the U.S. Department of Education, there is now less federal money available to help students pay for college than there used to be. However—there is still some free college money available—so you should always apply for it. But know that the free money available is unlikely to cover everything your kid’s going to need.
All that said—there is great news on this subject. There are new, innovative, highly effective strategies for getting college paid for that you’ve likely just not heard of. Your kids can graduate from college debt-free—if you can just find out about these strategies in time.
It’s my job to make sure you do.
4. Even though there’s now less free financial aid money available, do fill out the FAFSA form at the time explained below, even if you’re rich.
Filling out the FAFSA form puts your child in line for all current federal student aid programs, over 600 state aid programs, and most of the college-based (institutional) aid available in the United States. It also gives your child access to the best, lowest-interest student loans if you end up needing those temporarily. (I say “temporarily” because many families who follow me strategize to pay off all their kids’ student loans before their college graduations.)
Don’t jump to the conclusion that you “probably make too much to qualify for any help.” You don’t know that.
Read my article on why you should fill out the FAFSA form even if you’re rich, and then plan to submit a FAFSA form every October 1st that there’s even a chance you’ll have a child in college or job training the following fall.
5. Don’t rely on random articles on the internet for college planning advice.
It’ll take you years to sift through everything the internet has to say about college planning. The bits and pieces of random info and conflicting messages you hear from online resources will drive you insane.
Plus, a huge percentage of what’s currently on the internet regarding college planning is sorely out of date.
You need one resource that will give you fast, accurate, clear, specific step-by-step instruction that the internet can’t provide.
Learn about this help now in this free, fast-paced 10-minute video training.
Even if you feel you’re very late to college planning, just start where you are right now, and start moving forward bit by bit.
This free, fast-paced, 10-minute video training will give you an immediate jumpstart.
And my TRIBE Membership will make sure all your individual questions get answered.
To get immediate help, grab onto this resource and use it for all your college planning—starting right now.
If you can’t afford it, ask for it at your local library.
Important—> It’s a reference book, so nobody reads the whole thing cover to cover. Pick out what you need to read in it using the fast-paced, 10-minute video instructions here.
You can see hundreds of reviews of this book on Amazon by going to:
Read just one chapter of LAUNCH every 1–3 months while your child’s in middle school and high school, and you’ll know every viable strategy for debt-free college at exactly the right time to implement it.
And if your child’s already well past middle school? That’s OK; you can run to catch up. But the process of getting your kids through college debt-free goes more smoothly the earlier you start it—especially if you’re not planning to save up any money to pay for college.
Let's you and I walk together toward the goal of debt-free college for your kids.
We can accomplish this no matter your current income level—even if your kids never get a single scholarship.
Your first step is getting regularly scheduled, free helpful articles from me—right in your email inbox. Quick, sign up here.
Do you have very specific questions for me about debt-free college and career for your kids?
My TRIBE Members get the most direct access to me—while feeling good that the pennies per day they spend on the TRIBE help me bring debt-free college strategy to families who could never afford to pay for it. Join my TRIBE Membership waiting list here.
Who is Jeannie Burlowski?
Jeannie is a full-time academic strategist, podcast host, and sought-after speaker for students ages 12–26, their parents, and the professionals who serve them. Her writing, speaking, and podcasting help parents set their kids up to graduate college debt-free, ready to jump directly into careers they excel at and love. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Huffington Post, USA Today, Parents Magazine, and US News & World Report, as well as on CBS News.
Jeannie also helps students apply to law, medical, business, and grad school at her website GetIntoMedSchool.com. You can follow her on Bluesky @jburlowski.bsky.social.
No part of this article was written using AI.
This article was updated on August 29th, 2025.