Every year, more than half of the students I work with who apply for the Voice of Democracy Scholarship earn prizes through this incredible program.

In today's episode, we will hear from VFW Programs Director, Lynn Rolfe, about this fantastic opportunity. Plus, he shares information about their program for middle school students, Patriots' Pen!

I would love to work with your student on this and their other scholarship entries. The Scholarship Navigator Program provides personalized assistance with your student’s scholarship essays. I go through as many rounds of review and feedback as needed. Plus, students get a customized list of scholarships that match their unique profile. These are just some of the benefits of the Scholarship Navigator Program. Go to www.ScholarshipGPS.com/services to learn more. 

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Is your young person ready to make confident decisions about their college major, training path, or career? Or are they stuck, overwhelmed, or simply unsure what comes next? Click the link to take the 2-minute career readiness quiz to find out if now is the right time for your young person to start exploring their career and college major plans: https://courses.flourishcoachingco.com/a/2148004629/PLHdxFCx

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Did you know that when our kids turn 18, we lose the legal ability to help them in medical and financial emergencies?

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Unlock your student's potential with the Scholarship Navigator Program, a comprehensive program designed to jumpstart their scholarship journey and provide invaluable ongoing support. With our program, your student will gain access to a personalized list of scholarships tailored to their unique profile, ensuring they can apply for opportunities that resonate with their passions and experiences.

But we don’t stop there! Your student will receive expert guidance on their scholarship applications and essays, including personalized reviews, constructive feedback, and editing assistance from Dave the Scholarship Coach.

Both students and parents can take advantage of direct support for all scholarship-related questions, available through email and exclusive client-only Zoom meetings.

We proudly offer Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, as well as for sophomores and freshmen.

Empower your student to seize their future—enroll today!

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

Did you know that high school students can do college-level research that may actually be published in academic journals? That’s where Horizon comes in. Horizon Academic Research Program was founded in 2016 to give a platform to the world’s best young researchers. Horizon was founded by Columbia University alums with a strong belief in how early access to research can shape the lives of future leaders. Over the last 8 years, Horizon has worked with 1000+ students and 100+ instructors from over 30 countries.

I spoke with Dr. Sarah Carlo, Program Director at Horizon. In our conversation, we discussed:

The benefits of doing academic research as a high school student

How college-level research differs from most “research” done at the high school level

The types of research opportunities open to high school students

How a research project can help with college admissions and scholarships

And much more…

Click here to learn more about Horizon, and be sure to tell them you heard this interview to get a discount! https://horizoninspires.com/

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To find out more about how Lisa and Flourish Coaching work with students like yours to help them gain clarity on their future college major and career, click here: https://courses.flourishcoachingco.com/a/2148004629/PLHdxFCx

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Unlock your student's potential with the Scholarship Navigator Program, a comprehensive program designed to jumpstart their scholarship journey and provide invaluable ongoing support. With our program, your student will gain access to a personalized list of scholarships tailored to their unique profile, ensuring they can apply for opportunities that resonate with their passions and experiences.

But we don’t stop there! Your student will receive expert guidance on their scholarship applications and essays, including personalized reviews, constructive feedback, and editing assistance from Dave the Scholarship Coach.

Both students and parents can take advantage of direct support for all scholarship-related questions, available through email and exclusive client-only Zoom meetings.

We proudly offer Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, as well as for sophomores and freshmen.

Empower your student to seize their future—enroll today!

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

Macayla is a first-year college student who has earned multiple scholarships. She jumpstarted her scholarship journey as one of my Class of 2024 scholarship coaching students. Macayla and her mom, Leslie, share their thoughts on how having success with scholarships is a process, the benefits of scholarships beyond the money for college, and much more. Listen to my interview with Macayla and her mom, Leslie, to hear their tips and suggestions for students on their own scholarship journey.

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Did you know that when our kids turn 18, we lose the legal ability to help them in medical and financial emergencies?

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Unlock your student's potential with the Scholarship Navigator Program, a comprehensive program designed to jumpstart their scholarship journey and provide invaluable ongoing support. With our program, your student will gain access to a personalized list of scholarships tailored to their unique profile, ensuring they can apply for opportunities that resonate with their passions and experiences.

But we don’t stop there! Your student will receive expert guidance on their scholarship applications and essays, including personalized reviews, constructive feedback, and editing assistance from Dave the Scholarship Coach.

Both students and parents can take advantage of direct support for all scholarship-related questions, available through email and exclusive client-only Zoom meetings.

We proudly offer Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, as well as for sophomores and freshmen.

Empower your student to seize their future—enroll today!

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

I recently spoke with Katie Azevedo of School Habits. Having taught in both public and private school systems, Katie has seen firsthand how our students are expected to learn, but they are rarely given the tools or strategies to do so.

Since 2006, she has personally coached thousands of students, one-on-one, on standardized tests (SAT/ACT, SSAT, GRE), application essays, study skills, executive functions, and writing and reading instruction.

Katie works with students in grade 6 through graduate school, as well as adults looking to further their work productivity habits.

In our conversation, Katie explains what studying IS and what studying IS NOT. She provides ideas to help students improve their study habits and also discusses how studying in college often differs from the study skills that may have worked in high school. Katie also talks about some of the systems that students need in place to support their study habits. And Katie even tells us about the most overlooked skill that students need for success - and that skill may surprise you!

You can access her free training, How to Help Your Student Handle School Like a Pro Without Study Frustration, Assignment Overwhelm, or All the Drama, here: https://www.schoolhabitsuniversity.com/freetraining

Finally, please check out Katie’s fantastic podcast, Learn and Work Smarter.

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Unlock your student's potential with the Scholarship Navigator Program, a comprehensive program designed to jumpstart their scholarship journey and provide invaluable ongoing support. With our program, your student will gain access to a personalized list of scholarships tailored to their unique profile, ensuring they can apply for opportunities that resonate with their passions and experiences.

But we don’t stop there! Your student will receive expert guidance on their scholarship applications and essays, including personalized reviews, constructive feedback, and editing assistance from Dave the Scholarship Coach.

Both students and parents can take advantage of direct support for all scholarship-related questions, available through email and exclusive client-only Zoom meetings.

We proudly offer Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, as well as for sophomores and freshmen.

Empower your student to seize their future—enroll today!

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

I recently spoke with Vida John of Vida John Tutoring. Vida is dedicated to helping motivated students excel in math problem-solving and competition math. She uses the Art of Problem Solving curriculum to help students understand, develop, and use their problem-solving techniques for math success!

To connect with Vida, go to vidajohntutoring.com

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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It’s not too late to join the Scholarship Summer Camp. Click here to get started today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

Many students want to pursue an internship, but struggle to find one that aligns with their interests. That’s where Ladder Internships comes in. I recently spoke with Rachel Berkower of Ladder Internships.

In our conversation, we discussed:

What kind of students are the best fit for Ladder Internships

The types of internships that are available

How Ladder Internships help students in their college application and beyond

And much more…

To learn more about Ladder Internships, click here: https://www.ladderinternships.com/

Be sure to tell them you heard this interview to save 10%!

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

I recently spoke with Maggie Finn and Jacklyn Angell of Summit Academic Support.

In our conversation, we discussed:

To connect with Maggie and Jacklyn, go to https://www.summitacademicsupport.com/

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I have long said that scholarships give students and parents freedom. But, scholarships also give them power. It’s never too early to begin a student’s scholarship journey, and it’s only too late if the student has graduated from college. If you would like to begin your scholarship journey, check out the Scholarship Navigator Program for the Class of 2026, or for the Class of 2027, or for the Class of 2028. Go to www.ScholarshipGPS.com/services to find the right program for your student.

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

I recently spoke with Steve Tapper of Tapper College Counseling.

In our conversation, we discussed:

The workflow that Steve uses to help students through the entire college admissions process.

College list-building strategies and considerations

Types of college fit: academic, social, and financial

Resources for building a college list

To connect with Steve, go to tappercollegecounseling.com. Steve offers 30-minute complimentary meeting and works with families across the US.

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Click here to read "Good Friends Don’t Necessarily Make Good Roommates" by Karen Dentler

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Starting your scholarship journey as a high school freshman or sophomore provides your student with many advantages, including:

Getting a head start with scholarships compared to their peers - I’ve had freshmen win $2500 scholarships and sophomores win $5000 scholarships!

More opportunities to earn scholarships

Resume enhancement (a scholarship win on a resume looks great!)

Improved writing skills (needed to do well in college!)

Preparation for the huge scholarships open during senior year

Great practice for the college admissions process

The opportunity to build a set of re-usable essays for future scholarship applications

And much more

However, most families struggle with the scholarship process, which is why we are proud to introduce…

This program includes:

Monthly webinars: A new topic or scholarship will be covered in depth during these live webinars. Plus, time will be allotted for Q&A.

Online Support: You'll have direct email access to Dave The Scholarship Coach, a seasoned expert in the field. Dave is here to help you navigate the complex world of scholarships and get your questions answered!

A custom list of scholarships for which your Class of 2028 or Class of 2029 grad is eligible. Your student’s custom list will include a minimum of 20 scholarships, including national and local scholarships (if local scholarships are available) and a mix of small and large scholarships.

Personalized help with up to three scholarship applications & essays each month. These can be any scholarships of your choice, not just scholarships from your custom list. (Please allow three business days for feedback on your scholarship essays, projects, and applications.)

Access to the Scholarship GPS Course, where students can learn best practices for scholarship success. Lessons include: How/Where to find scholarships, application and essay best practices, sample scholarship-winning essays, and much more.

To learn more, go to https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-navigator-for-high-school-freshmen-sophomores

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

Your student will learn the skills needed for scholarship success by applying for real scholarships, including a $35,000 scholarship capstone project!

Every Monday through Thursday, a new, pre-recorded lesson will be released. On Thursday evenings, we will be live (but recorded for future viewing), discussing the week's lessons and taking Q&A.

This online program provides both on-demand and live learning opportunities. Best of all your student will apply for real scholarships during the course of the camp! In fact, your student will apply for scholarships offering more than $40,000 in potential winnings!

The Scholarship Summer Camp starts June 2, 2025, and runs for 6 weeks. Here’s an overview of what will be covered each week:

Week 1: The Basics: The tools, documents, and resources you need for scholarship success.

Week 2: Your Personal Narrative: Learn how to build your Personal Narrative, a key component for scholarship success.

Week 3: Finding The Right Scholarships For You: Learn where to look and how to determine which scholarships are the best ones to apply for.

Week 4: Why Do You Deserve To Win This Scholarship? (Apply for a Real Scholarship This Week!)

Week 5: Topical Scholarships (Apply for Another Real Scholarship This Week!)

Week 6: $35,000 Capstone Scholarship Project!

Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

I recently spoke with Sam Bernstein, co-founder of Loper, a free mobile app designed to help students explore and discover their best educational opportunities after high school. The inspiration for Loper came out of the pandemic, where “life on pause” led to two college friends (Sam and his co-founder Eric) spending long nights discussing their shared passion: education. Fast forward two years and they quit their jobs to launch Loper, which has now helped nearly 200,000 students find best-fit opportunities after high school.

Since founding Loper Sam has spoken at nearly a dozen industry conferences, and he always loves the opportunity to present to both students and parents on college and career readiness. Sam lives in Chicago, loves to bike, and (so far) has kept up with his 2025 resolution to read more fiction.

In our conversation, Sam and I discussed:

How students can use the Loper app to discover their best fit college

How parents can use the app to help their student better manage the college planning process

How counselors can use Loper to help their students with the college process

And much more…

To learn more about Loper, go to getloper.com or download the app for free.

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Your student will learn the skills needed for scholarship success by applying for real scholarships, including a $35,000 scholarship capstone project!

Every Monday through Thursday, a new, pre-recorded lesson will be released. On Thursday evenings, we will be live (but recorded for future viewing), discussing the week's lessons and taking Q&A.

This online program provides both on-demand and live learning opportunities. Best of all your student will apply for real scholarships during the course of the camp! In fact, your student will apply for scholarships offering more than $40,000 in potential winnings!

The Scholarship Summer Camp starts June 2, 2025, and runs for 6 weeks. Here’s an overview of what will be covered each week:

Week 1: The Basics: The tools, documents, and resources you need for scholarship success.

Week 2: Your Personal Narrative: Learn how to build your Personal Narrative, a key component for scholarship success.

Week 3: Finding The Right Scholarships For You: Learn where to look and how to determine which scholarships are the best ones to apply for.

Week 4: Why Do You Deserve To Win This Scholarship? (Apply for a Real Scholarship This Week!)

Week 5: Topical Scholarships (Apply for Another Real Scholarship This Week!)

Week 6: $35,000 Capstone Scholarship Project!

Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp

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This Week's Featured Scholarships:

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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/