Note: If you are currently trapped in a physically, mentally, emotionally, or sexually abusive domestic situation, there's specific help for you in this article. In just a matter of days, Valentine's Day will be over for another year. Tissue paper from wrapped gifts...
Debt-Free College Articles
Your Kid Actually CAN Get Through College Debt Free
I'm always most able to inspire people when I talk to them face-to-face. The video above gives me the chance to do that, for you, right now. Click the play button above now; watch for just two minutes. And let this excited, hopeful feeling wash over you: Kids at all...
TWO BIG QUESTIONS I’m Getting From Parents! (Hint: The Answer to the First One is Not “AP!”)
Wow. Wow! The best way I can describe how I feel right now is – overwhelmed with gratitude. Just a four days ago, on Dec 5, 2016, I announced that my book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward is wrapping up and is...
SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN! Here are the Top Five Questions Parents Asked Me Last Week
On January 4th, 2016 I announced exciting news about my upcoming book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward. If you missed that exciting post, you can read it here. In that post I asked my readers to complete a short...
A Big Announcement and a Favor
Today I have a big announcement to make! And a quick favor to ask. First, an exciting update For the last year, I've been on a beeline to having my book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward out in December of...
Why College Students RUN to Work at UPS Each December
Most college students would love to earn significant money while on a December college break. Tell the students you care about—UPS may be the place to apply (for more reasons than just the paycheck). What does UPS provide in addition to a paycheck? A lot. 1....
Grandparents, Here’s How to Give COLLEGE SAVINGS as Holiday Gifts
This article on how grandparents can give college savings as holiday gifts was updated on October 21st, 2024. Most grandparents love to dote on their beloved grandchildren, but let's face it. Older kids and teens are notoriously hard to shop for. How can grandparents...
How to Find Great Scholarships—While Sidestepping Scholarship Scams
Two weeks ago on this blog I talked about what I do to get high school and college students excited about applying for college scholarships. (That post included a great list of excellent scholarships students can apply for, so if you missed that one—be sure to go back...
REMINDER: Free Technical College Training For 1600 Minnesotans — Best Day to Apply Coming Soon
A few months ago I posed the question: "Could your child end up wealthier and happier by not going to college?" This question has sparked a national conversation that's helping many students choose good-fitting, well-paying, minimal debt career paths they might not...
Want to Save $10,000 on College? I Can Give You 12 Different Ways to Do It.
A massive number of parents have read my free PDF "12 Ways to Save $10,000 on College." This was heroic on their part, because it was little more than a Word document with a nice letterhead at the top. Now this free PDF has been made into a full color e-book --...
I’ve Created a Small Army of Kids EXCITED about Applying for Scholarships. (Here’s a Bunch to Apply For!)
About a month ago I filled a room to overflowing with teens and parents eager to learn how to write a scholarship application essay that would "Make Them Say WOW." 17-year-old boys ran around setting up more tables for me, even though it meant that their long legs had...
“HELP! My Parents Are Refusing to Help Me!”
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post for parents who erroneously believe that if they'll just refuse to put their financial info on their child's FAFSA form, their child will get additional financial aid for college. Student, if your parents are refusing to help...
11 Colleges and Universities That Give Out Astounding Amounts of Financial Aid and Scholarship Money
Want a shortcut to getting your kid through college debt-free? If one of these colleges is a good fit for your son or daughter, you may have just struck gold. The 11 colleges and universities below are known for lavishing astounding amounts of financial aid and...
What’s More Important Than Getting Your Kid Through College Debt Free?
Why “Follow Your Passion!” is Terrible Career Advice
"We need to see you right away," the anxious mom told me on the phone, her voice shaking. "Our son is $40,000 in debt from a history degree he's not going to complete, and now he's changing his major to music performance. At this rate, it's going to take him seven...
Parents of 10th Graders, There’s Urgent News for You.
I know that your child has barely started high school, and I know that his dorm move-in day is three whole years away. I know it might seem like the last thing you need to be thinking about right now is college, but this is not true. Because of changes to the college...
URGENT: Will You Have a Kid in College Next Fall? Someone’s About to Snap an Important Photo of You.
You may want to start reducing your family income right away. Now. Today. Read on and I'll explain why. On January 1, 2016, a photographer is going to show up at your house. Not an actual photographer, but that's a good way to think of it. On January 1, 2016, the...
On September 13th, Everything About Applying for Financial Aid Changed.
As a parent, you're hoping that your kid gets maximum financial aid to help pay for college. Well . . . the timing on how parents apply for financial aid changed radically with an announcement by President Obama on September 13th, 2015. The date to submit the FAFSA...
Worried About the New PSAT Coming Up October 14th?
Parents nationwide are worried about how standardized tests for college entrance are changing. If your child is taking the PSAT exam this coming October 14th, you may be wondering how it will be different from the old PSAT, and what your child should be doing in order...
Great Opportunity to Get Career Direction For Your High Schooler!
Imagine your high school age son up late at night, in his bedroom with his desk light burning, reading a book on software design or motivating employees or robotics engineering or building construction or funding service-oriented nonprofits -- just because he's...
Got an 11th Grader? Maximize Financial Aid by Deciding THIS Before December 31, 2015
Note to parents: The September 13th, 2015 announcement by President Obama which I blogged about here has made this post obsolete. Parents of students who are in 11th grade during the 2015-2016 school year are no longer able to take advantage of the strategies...
Hillary Clinton, Here’s How You Should REALLY Spend that $350 Billion in Student Loan Debt Relief
Hillary Clinton caused an unexpected dustup recently when she tweeted on August 12th: "How does your student loan debt make you feel? Tell us in 3 emojis or less." The angry responses from students and others were blistering. My personal favorite response to this...
“If I Go to School There, Will I Be Able to Get an Off-Campus TUITION REIMBURSEMENT Job?”
Your son or daughter has started looking at colleges, and at this point the discussion is pretty much centered around how pretty the buildings are, what kind of sports they have, and "the quality of the business program." But are there even more important questions...