In this week's episode, I attempt to reconcile two common (but diametrically opposed) pieces of advice often given to college graduates.

1. Save as much money as you can in your twenties in order to maximize the magic of compounding

2. Go to the best college you can get into, even if it means going into $150,000 in debt

Come along as I try to untangle this web of contradictions.

Summer is the perfect time to prepare for the service academy and ROTC application process.

What’s the best way to approach your child to make sure they are making the most of these critical three months?

Answer: A parent(s) must sit down with their child and create a summer plan

Easier said than done, right?

In this episode, I walk through exactly how I conduct these summer planning sessions with own son (rising junior).

I know this drill well. I have done it many times with my older three sons and hundreds of times with PrepWellers and ServeWellers over the years.

If you are looking for specific, tactical advice on how to set up your 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grader for a successful summer, please listen.

In today's episode, I review the problems plaguing the Air Force ROTC programs.

- fewer scholarships

- rise of non-scholarshipped candidates

- cancellation of scholarships halfway through college

- questionable evaluation criteria

In this week's episode, I walk through 25 reasons to consider ROTC scholarships as one of your college pathways.

1. you want structure and discipline, but not that much structure and discipline

2. you would prefer more academic flexibility

3. you would prefer a more traditional college experience

4. you know you have no chance of getting into your dream college without an ROTC scholarship

5. you can't afford college otherwise

6. you are a foodie

7. you want more control of your schedule

8. and many more

In this episode, in 19 minutes, I rip through 25 reasons to consider applying to a service academy.

By sophomore year, your child should be well on their way to achieving certain milestones. Listen to this episode to learn what should be happening before the end of sophomore year.

Also, if you have a child who is close to getting their driver's license, listen to my cautionary tale of joy and sorrow.

In this episode, I predict the fallout from the recent freeze (or cancellation) of billions of dollars of federal funds once earmarked for several prominent colleges (e.g. Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, etc.).

• How will it affect service academies and ROTC?

• How will it affect wealthy students?

• How will it affect less wealthy students?

• How will it affect admissions practices?

• How will it affect other colleges?

• How will it affect recruited athletes?

This is a development with far-reaching implications that you should be aware of. Please listen to this episode to get a perspective on how things might go down.

In this episode, I try to convince students (and parents) that the SAT and ACT matter again - maybe now more than ever.

The 5-year "test-optional" experiment failed.

Colleges that admitted certain students from certain demographics without SAT or ACT scores have finally come to grips with their mistake.

Now that the SAT and ACT are back, what should you do?

In this episode, I cover:

- how to get a baseline score

- when to start studying

- how to choose between the tests

- best practice for preparation

- how to pick a target score

The test-optional party is over. Learn how to deal with the hangover.

In this episode, I try to lay out a timeline for when it becomes too late to become a viable candidate for a service academy or ROTC scholarship.

There is no definitive answer, but there are some guidelines to consider.

See where your child stands on this continuum.

In this episode, I sit down with a student (Julius) and ask him how he plans to study for his upcoming AP US History exam.

Their answer may shock you.

The fact that your child may have the same answer may shock you even more.

During this case study, I document, minute by minute, exactly what questions I ask and how Julius responds. If you have a child who is taking, or plans to take, an AP exam, SAT, ACT, or IB test, do not miss this episode.