Questions you need to ask colleges before you apply or enroll: 

Cost, Aid, and Transparency

• What is the total four-year cost of attendance, including expected increases?
• How do you determine who receives merit aid?
• Are there scholarships that don’t require separate applications?
• Will merit aid be automatically renewed each year, and are there GPA or enrollment requirements?
• Can you walk me through a sample financial aid award for a family with our income/assets?
• How much aid comes in the form of grants versus loans?
• Do you “front-load” aid—i.e., give more in the first year than in later years?
• If a parent loses a job or income drops, how flexible is your office in reassessing aid?
• Is work-study available to all students who qualify for it?
• What happens if we don’t qualify for need-based aid—do we still have a shot at merit awards?
• Do you “gap” students—i.e., admit them but don’t meet full need?
• Can you give me examples of recent financial aid appeals that were successful?

 Academics & Intellectual Environment

• What are the largest and smallest classes in the first two years?
• Will I be taught by professors or teaching assistants as a freshman?
• How often can undergraduates engage in research, and in what ways?
• How accessible are faculty for mentoring, office hours, and career advice?
• Are academic advisors assigned, or do students find them on their own?
• What happens if a student wants to switch majors—are there barriers?
• Are there honors programs or learning communities, and what are the benefits?
• What is the support structure for students who struggle academically?

Outcomes & ROI (Return on Investment)

• How do you track student outcomes—both immediate and long-term?
• What percentage of students have jobs or graduate school acceptances within 6 months?
• Do you offer career coaching or job placement services beyond résumé reviews?
• What employers recruit on campus? What industries are common among graduates?
• Are there guaranteed internships or structured pathways for real-world experience?
• Are alumni engaged in mentoring or hiring students?
• What are some examples of “transformative” student experiences here?

Emotional Return on Investment (as Lieber frames it)

• What does your institution do to help students discover their purpose?
• How do you help students who feel like they don’t belong?
• What support do you offer for mental health, and how accessible are those services?
• Can students easily find mentors among professors, staff, or alumni?
• What do students say is the most joyful part of their experience here?
• Do students stay on campus over weekends, or is it a commuter culture?
• What traditions unite people across diverse backgrounds?

 Family Considerations & Fit

• What do you wish more parents asked you about during this process?
• How do you handle the differences between “helicopter” parents and “hands-off” parents?
• What happens if my child doesn’t thrive here—what’s the off-ramp or support plan?
• How do you support students from non-traditional, working-class, or first-generation backgrounds?
• If your child had the exact interests and background as mine, would you recommend this school? Why or why not?

Value Alignment & Personal Fit

• What do your students tend to value most about this college?
• Can I sit in on a class that represents the academic culture here?
• What differentiates your school from others with similar rankings or offerings?
• What are students complaining about most right now?
• When students transfer out, what are the reasons they usually give?

Negotiation & Appeals (advanced/strategic)

• If we receive a better offer from another college, are you open to discussing a match or appeal?
• Are there scholarships or stipends available for travel, study abroad, or unpaid internships?
• What are the most prominent mistakes families make in applying for aid or evaluating cost?

If you are a subscriber - this is a special episode with Mia Delaney being back and more experienced as a college student!  She talks about her experience in college, as a Posse Scholar and so much more!  Let's go!

What’s it really like to attend a Catholic university in the heart of D.C.? We sat down with Grace Brady, a proud St. Ignatius graduate and rising senior at the Catholic University of America (CUA), Class of 2027. Grace gives us the insider’s scoop—from the hidden gems on campus to the kind of students who truly thrive at CUA. 💡 You’ll hear:

• What makes this medium-sized D.C. campus so special
• Why it’s often overlooked—and why that’s a mistake
• The truth about merit aid, student support, and real campus culture

Whether you're considering a Catholic college, a D.C.-based university, or just looking for a great school with strong values and real opportunities, this episode is for you.  Tune in now and explore why Catholic U might be the perfect fit you didn’t see coming.

A big shout-out to all the great professors who care for their students at Catholic University, and even to Grace's high school teacher, Ms. Curcio, who makes it a fantastic experience for everyone who loves Latin! 

Whether you never heard of Common App or you have been hesistant about starting your college journey -- ready or not -- it is time to begin your college application whether you are a freshmen or senior - let's go! Let's start the process to discover the steps to make sure nothing is impossible unless YOU think it is impossible!

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is well known for many things - its research, sports, innovation ideas and great folks like Michael B Jordan, musicians like James Taylor, former president like President Polk, their famous mascot Rameses, and now with my former student, Delaney Broderick!  Let's go Tar Heels! 

You can also follow her more on The Daily Tar Heel as well! https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2024/11/opinion-satire-delaney-in-print

Are the cuts true?  What can that mean?  What is the next thing we need to do?

Learn how doing co-curricular activities outside of the classroom can help you shine not only in the college application process but also provide you with insights about your possible future career and YOU!

What a gift to watch and witness students rise and rise again despite it all.  However, after 30 years of doing college counseling you do see hiccups along the way that are blocked not because of one's intelligence, but one's mindset and doing life alone.  These words are inspired by my students from my heart to you!

What a honor to listen to the wisdom and greatness of Raven Shaw.  A graduate from St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco, a soon to be graduate from Howard University and future legend in the making.  It is great to interview a current game changer who talks about the importance of HBCU's and the greatness of Howard University in DC!

What an excellent opportunity to meet with my former student - the one and only - Ann Anish.  A current leader already in politics and a game-changer in life.  Check out her journey and advise other students about making a difference at George Washington University and tips from her college journey.