UPDATE
If you own the first edition of the book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward, you will benefit from the update below, which applies to every chapter in the book.
The FAFSA form changed significantly during the timeframe of October, 2022–November, 2024.
This means that the first edition of LAUNCH contains some FAFSA information that is out-of-date. No problem—we have a workaround for this.
“What are we going to do about this?”
1. For now, just ignore what LAUNCH says about FAFSA, other than “Everyone needs to fill out FAFSA! Fill it out even if you’re rich!” That strong statement still stands.
There’s still plenty of other good help for you LAUNCH—focus on that.
2. Watch for the second edition of LAUNCH—coming out soon—which will have completely updated information on U.S. government financial aid. I’ll be announcing the release of this new edition of LAUNCH in my free email newsletter.
3. Be sure you’re reading my free email newsletter every time it comes out, so I can keep you posted on newest FAFSA strategies in real time as they are made known. You and your friends can subscribe to this newsletter here.
4. Right now—don’t delay—read the helpful article I’ve written about the new FAFSA. This article is updated at the beginning of every month. I will be keeping this article continually updated with info you need to know about the new FAFSA in real time.
5. My very best FAFSA advice at this time is this: plan to ask each college for a professional judgment review conducted by a real human being who works in the college financial aid office. Ask for this in the spring of the year after you fill out the FAFSA form. You’ll find clear directions on how to ask for (and what to say in) a professional judgment review in Chapter 26 of LAUNCH.
Do this, and you’ll be able to explain your individual financial situation to a real human being, who will have the authority to 1) get a full picture of where your family is financially and 2) base your child’s financial aid award on that full picture.
6. Parents and professionals (such as financial advisors and school counselors) are urged to join my TRIBE Membership at next opportunity, so you can get most complete FAFSA information straight from me, live and in person, in my live TRIBE Zoom calls. My TRIBE Membership is not expensive. Get more information on it here.
PS: The most important thing on this list is #3 above.
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:
You can see why financial advising professionals love LAUNCH, here.
You can see the top 9 questions parents are asking me about LAUNCH, here.
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, and 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 page was written using AI.
This page was updated on February 22nd, 2025.