The Scholarship GPS Podcast: Your Directions to a Debt-Free College Degree

By nodebtcollegeEducation Kids & Family How To Education for Kids

The Scholarship GPS Podcast: Your Directions to a Debt-Free College Degree episodes

October 26Accessible College Planning + 6 Scholarships, Including One Open to Students in Grades 4-11
This episode of the Scholarship GPS Podcast is sponsored by prepmedians.com, where SAT and ACT prep is actually fun. Lessons are built on sketch comedy and music, so your teen remembers them on test day, just like the lyrics to their favorite songs. All courses include an AI tutor that explains any question, thousands of practice questions with step-by-step explanations, and 99th-percentile tutors. With fall test dates coming up, get 10% off with code SCHOLARSHIPGPS, one word, at prepmedians.com.
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Carrie Jorgenson has worked across multiple parts of the college admissions ecosystem, including K-12 schools, university admissions offices, and the private counseling sector. While working in K-12 schools, she supported more than 1,000 families navigating the college planning process. She later served in the admissions offices at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, where she evaluated more than 2,000 applications and gained an inside perspective on how admissions decisions are made.
Her perspective deepened again while working in the private sector, advising families who could afford elite counseling services. There she noticed something surprising: even highly successful families often felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the college process. Carrie founded early bird™ to help close that gap. She believes every student deserves the clarity and support needed to find their best-fit future—not just those who can afford private counseling.
In our conversation, Carrie and I discuss:
The mistakes that students and families make when it comes to building a college list or choosing a college.
What “best fit” actually means, and why it matters for scholarships and financial aid.
When families should start college planning.
What early bird™ is, and how it helps students who don’t have access to a private counselor.
Click here to learn more about early bird™
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Get personalized support for your scholarship journey!
The Scholarship Navigator Program includes:
Review, feedback, and editing of your scholarship essays and applications
Access to the Scholarship GPS video course, where I share best practices for the scholarship process and sample winning scholarship essays
A custom list of scholarships for your student to apply for, based on their unique profile.
Online support for your scholarship questions.
Much more
Click the link based on your student’s grade level to learn more:
Current college students
High school seniors (Class of 2027)
High school juniors (Class of 2028)
High school sophomores (Class of 2029)
High school freshmen (Class of 2030)
Middle school students
If you would like to learn more about the Scholarship Navigator programs, I am offering a limited number of free 15-minute Zoom meetings to answer your questions. To book your free consultation, click here.
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Featured Scholarships:
Whetstone Perkins & Fulda $1000 Starfish Scholarship
Boyk Law $2000 Veteran Scholarship
$20,000 Equitable Excellence Scholarship® Program
Full-Ride Coolidge Scholarship
Carson Scholars Fund
$5000 Christian College Scholarship
$2,000 Protestant Faith-Based College Scholarship
$2,000 Catholic College Scholarship Drawing
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
36 min
October 19How This Student Went From $0 to $185,000 in Scholarships In One Year! + A $60,000 Scholarship Opportunity & 5 Other Scholarships
Victoria is an accomplished student, but in her senior year, she has realized that accomplishments alone aren’t enough to earn scholarships. So, how did Victoria go from zero scholarship wins to over $185,000 in less than a year?
In our conversation, we discussed:
Advice for rising seniors
Advice for younger students
The need for a compelling Personal Narrative
The need for practice and repeatedly refining a student’s scholarship essays
How Victoria stayed motivated in the face of numerous scholarship losses
The need for parental involvement in the scholarship process
How the scholarship process gave Victoria confidence in her future plans
The importance of applying for the right scholarships based on the student’s profile
How scholarship essays are different than what students write in school
The non-monetary value of applying for scholarships
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Get personalized support for your scholarship journey!
The Scholarship Navigator Program includes:
Review, feedback, and editing of your scholarship essays and applications
Access to the Scholarship GPS video course, where I share best practices for the scholarship process and sample winning scholarship essays
A custom list of scholarships for your student to apply for, based on their unique profile.
Online support for your scholarship questions.
Much more
Click the link based on your student’s grade level to learn more:
Current college students
High school seniors (Class of 2027)
High school juniors (Class of 2028)
High school sophomores (Class of 2029)
High school freshmen (Class of 2030)
Middle school students
If you would like to learn more about the Scholarship Navigator programs, I am offering a limited number of free 15-minute Zoom meetings to answer your questions. To book your free consultation, click here.
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This episode of the Scholarship GPS Podcast is sponsored by prepmedians.com, where SAT and ACT prep is actually fun. Lessons are built on sketch comedy and music, so your teen remembers them on test day, just like the lyrics to their favorite songs. All courses include an AI tutor that explains any question, thousands of practice questions with step-by-step explanations, and 99th-percentile tutors. With fall test dates coming up, get 10% off with code SCHOLARSHIPGPS, one word, at prepmedians.com.
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Featured Scholarships:
$2000 Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
$1000 Serving the Community Scholarship
$2500 Fostering Education Scholarship
$10,000 Community Impact Contest
$60,000 Burger King Foundation Scholarship
$10,000 No Essay Scholarship
38 min
October 12Former College Admissions Officer & College Counselor Shares Insights and Advice + 6 Scholarships
With Scholarship Navigator programs for students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, middle school, and college students, students get personalized assistance with building their Personal Narrative, essay reviews, editing, and suggestions, a custom list of scholarships that match the student’s profile, and much more.
If you would like to learn more about the Scholarship Navigator programs, I am offering a limited number of free 15-minute Zoom meetings to answer your questions. To book your free consultation, click here.
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Eddy Ciobanu is a former Yale Admissions Officer with a decade of experience in college admissions. He also held roles in the admissions office at Williams College and as a college counselor at Phillips Academy Andover, supporting students and families through the entire college process. With a commitment to access and affordability, he joined Juno to help lower the burden of student loans for all families applying to college.
In our conversation, Eddy and I discuss:
What holistic admission review is and why it matters
Do colleges have a preference between the SAT and the ACT exam, and what is a test-optional policy?
Whether it is better to get an “A” in a higher-level class (honors, AP) or a “B” in a lower-level class
Some common mistakes that students make on their admissions applications
How a student can write a standout personal statement
Upcoming Webinars (click the links to register):
FAFSA Tips & Tricks: Tuesday, 10/13 @ 8pm ET
Creating an Affordable College List: Sunday, 10/25/26 @ 8pm ET
Understanding the Student Aid Index: Monday, 11/2/26
Click here to learn more about Juno and how they negotiate student loans for their members.
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Featured Scholarships:
DP Law $1000 Encouraging Diversity Scholarship
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
Berkowitz Hanna Malpractice and Injury Lawyers $1000 Defining the Disability Scholarship
$1000 “Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students
$1000 Thomas T. Downer Make an Impact Scholarship
$3000 October Scholarship from CollegeXpress
$2250 Future Ready Scholarship
47 min
October 05Full-Ride Scholarship + The New Platform Connecting Families With Real College Students To Get The Inside Scoop on Campus Life
On October 6th and 7th, it’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days with 48 hours of exclusive deals across more than 35 categories. Whether you are shopping for your student who is off at college, for yourself, or getting an early start on Holiday Shopping, you’ll find great deals on all of the items you’re looking for. And if you click this link when you start your Amazon shopping, the Scholarship GPS Podcast will earn a small commission on your purchases. There is no cost to you for doing this. You get the same great deals. So, if you have found the Scholarship GPS Podcast helpful and would like to show your appreciation, please use this link the next time you shop on Amazon.
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The Scholarship Navigator Programs provide personalized guidance for the entire scholarship process. To learn more, click the link for the program that matches your student's grade level:
Current college students
High school seniors (Class of 2027)
High school juniors (Class of 2028)
High school sophomores (Class of 2029)
High school freshmen (Class of 2030)
Middle school students
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Featured Scholarships:
$25,000 Chick-fil-A™ Community Scholars program
Cifarelli Law Firm $1000 Future Advocate Scholarship
$1000 “Pen to Paper” Scholarship for Storytellers
$1000 “Moving Mountains” Scholarship for Hispanic Students
Full-Ride Coolidge Scholarship
$1000 Appily Easy Money Scholarship
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Jacqueline Biscotti is a mom who saw a gap in the college admissions process. So, she founded CampusWink to fill that gap, helping students and families get the real inside scoop on the colleges their kids are considering from real college students.
In our conversation, we talk about:
The gap that CampusWink fills
Whether CampusWink replaces or complements official college tours
How CampusWink is also helping the college students providing tours
How leveraging CampusWink can help students with their supplemental college essays
The ability to leverage CampusWink for Greek life networking
And much more…
To learn more, visit CampusWink.com
32 min
September 28This Mom’s “Average” Student Has Won 19 Scholarships Worth $120,000! + 5 Scholarships
(Note: This conversation was recorded in 2024. Audria recently updated me with her son’s latest scholarship stats, which are reflected below.)
Audria describes her son, Talon, as “average.” He is not the type of student that most people think would earn a significant number of scholarships. Yet, to date, he’s earned 19 scholarships worth $120,000!
Audria and Talon’s story is an inspiration and example of how “average” students can have success with scholarships if they implement the right plan.
In our conversation, Audria shared:
The attributes her “average” son leveraged to earn scholarships
Why it is not financially sound to rely solely on merit aid (from the college)
The freedom that scholarships gave her son
Some of the non-monetary benefits of scholarships
The importance of college major and career clarity for winning scholarships
Advice for students and parents
The importance of intentionality, resilience, and the role of parents for winning scholarships
The one thing she will do differently with her younger child
The importance of starting the scholarship process early
If Talon and Audria’s story has inspired you, and you would like to get the same support that I provided them, check out the Scholarship Navigator programs.
There are Scholarship Navigator programs for:
College students
High school seniors (Class of 2027)
High school juniors (Class of 2028)
High school sophomores (Class of 2029)
High school freshmen (Class of 2030)
Middle school students
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Featured Scholarship:
Dolan Divorce Lawyers $1000 Mediation & Conversations Scholarship
$2,000,000 NHS Scholarship
mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship
$200,000 Mensa Foundation Scholarship
Weekender: $2500 "No Sweat" Scholarship
42 min
September 21A $100,000 Scholarship! + Is a Christian College Right for Your Student?
To learn more about GradGuard Tuition and Renters Insurance Plans, click here.
Featured Scholarships:
Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia $1000 Ripple Effect Scholarship
$1000 College Here I Come Scholarship for High School Seniors
Lowenthal & Abrams $1000 Hospital Safety Awareness Scholarship
Dr. Pepper $100,000 Tuition Giveaway
$5000 Christian Connector Scholarship
$2,000 Protestant Faith-Based College Scholarship
$2,000 Catholic College Scholarship
To have all of our featured scholarships and interviews delivered to your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship.
31 min
September 14What This Scholarship Provider Saw + 5 Scholarships, Including the Future Ready Scholarship for All High Schoolers
Most families know scholarships can help pay for college.
What most families do not know is how to actually win them.
They are overwhelmed by where to start. They are unsure which scholarships are worth pursuing. They do not know what scholarship judges are really looking for. And many students wait too long to begin.
That is exactly why the Scholarship Bootcamp was created.
The Scholarship Bootcamp is a five-week guided program for high school students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.
But this is not just another course full of generic scholarship advice.
Students will actually apply for real scholarships during the program, with expert guidance, personalized feedback, and step-by-step instruction along the way.
By the end of the program, your family will not only understand how the scholarship process works, but will also have the knowledge and confidence to continue applying for scholarships for years to come.
The Fall Scholarship Bootcamp begins on September 14th. Click here to learn more: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-bootcamp-fall-2026
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Featured Scholarships:
$35,000 Voice of Democracy Contest
$1500 Shout it Out Scholarship
$8000 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship
The Hagan Scholarship
$2250 Future Ready Scholarship
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With nearly two decades of experience in college application coaching, Dr. Kellie Coppi provides expert guidance tailored to each student's unique needs. Dr. Coppi's background in higher education ensures that she understands the nuances of crafting compelling admissions essays.
Dr. Coppi recently offered a scholarship, and what she saw as a scholarship provider gives insight into how your student can become a better scholarship applicant.
In our conversation, Dr. Coppi and I discussed:
Why she offered a scholarship and why she chose to list it on a popular scholarship website
The percentage of students who submitted entries that failed to meet the entry requirements or respond to the essay topic
How she identified AI-written essays
What current seniors should be doing right now in the college admissions process
How senior year grades can affect college admissions
How younger students can build a better profile by not spreading themself too thin
And much more…
To connect with Dr. Coppi, go to https://sayyestotheessaywithdrcoppi.com/
To get my free list of recommended scholarship websites, click here.
50 min
September 07Full-Tuition+ Scholarship Winner Shares Advice + Multiple Scholarship Opportunities + Fall Scholarship Bootcamp Announcement
Learn How to Win Scholarships by Applying for Real Scholarships
Most families know scholarships can help pay for college.
What most families do not know is how to actually win them.
They are overwhelmed by where to start. They are unsure which scholarships are worth pursuing. They do not know what scholarship judges are really looking for. And many students wait too long to begin.
That is exactly why the Scholarship Bootcamp was created.
The Scholarship Bootcamp is a five-week guided program for high school students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.
But this is not just another course full of generic scholarship advice.
Students will actually apply for real scholarships during the program, with expert guidance, personalized feedback, and step-by-step instruction along the way.
By the end of the program, your family will not only understand how the scholarship process works, but will also have the knowledge and confidence to continue applying for scholarships for years to come.
The Fall Scholarship Bootcamp begins on September 14th. Click here to learn more. Or visit scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-bootcamp-fall-2026
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When our kids turn 18, we lose many rights that we take for granted when they are minors.
That is why I recommend getting a Power of Attorney in place. Mama Bear Legal Forms makes the process quick and easy, and listeners can save 20% with discount code ScholarshipCoach20 when you use this link: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/youngadult?oid=1&affid=44
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Featured Scholarships:
Goostree Law Group $1000 Bright Futures Scholarship
$1000 Building Bridges Scholarship
Scholarships360 Making the Leap for Transfer Students Scholarship
“Get Inspired” TikTok Scholarship
40 min
August 31Are Scholarships Taxable? Must Scholarships Be Reported To Your College? + $250,000 Scholarship for Students Ages 13-18
The Fall Scholarship Bootcamp is now open!
Most families know scholarships can help pay for college.
What most families do not know is how to actually win them.
They are overwhelmed by where to start. They are unsure which scholarships are worth pursuing. They do not know what scholarship judges are really looking for. And many students wait too long to begin.
That is exactly why the Scholarship Bootcamp was created.
The Scholarship Bootcamp is a five-week guided program for high school students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.
But this is not just another course full of generic scholarship advice.
Students will actually apply for real scholarships during the program, with expert guidance, personalized feedback, and step-by-step instruction along the way.
By the end of the program, your family will not only understand how the scholarship process works, but will also have the knowledge and confidence to continue applying for scholarships for years to come.
So, to learn more, click here. Register by September 5th and use discount code EARLYBIRD for a 20% discount.
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Featured Scholarships:
$250,000 Breakthrough Junior Challenge
$1000 Commencing at Community College Scholarship
$10,000 Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship
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Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, to have all of our interviews and featured scholarships delivered to your inbox: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/
38 min
August 24Getting An Early Edge in This Competitive Job Market + 7 Scholarships + Don’t Let Scholarships Become an Afterthought
Scholarship success is usually not about one perfect application.
It is about having a system and staying consistent long enough for the opportunities to add up.
Inside the Scholarship Navigator programs, I help families create that strategy.
That includes helping students and parents:
organize scholarships and deadlines
prioritize the best opportunities
review essays and applications
stay accountable throughout the process
reduce stress and overwhelm
Because the scholarship process feels very different when families have a plan instead of panic.
There are Scholarship Navigator programs for college students and high school students in the Class of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, and now, have a program for middle school students. Click the links to learn more.
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Featured Scholarships:
Siniard Law $2500 Gravitate Scholarship
$10,000 Fund Your Future Scholarship
Duffy and Duffy $1000 Compassionate Caregiver Scholarship
$5000 Pizza Hut Foundation Scholarship
$5000 Christian College Scholarship
$2,000 Protestant Faith-Based College Scholarship
$2,000 Catholic College Scholarship Drawing
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Natalie Schoonover and Stephanie Turner help college students cut through the noise and take smart, confident steps toward their future.
At LaunchPoint Talent, they do not just prepare students to land their first role. Natalie and Stephanie help them launch a career that aligns with their strengths, values, and ambitions.
Before founding LaunchPoint Talent, Natalie and Stephanie spent decades leading early career recruiting and talent strategy at top global professional services firms, reviewing and hiring tens of thousands of students into internships and full-time roles across business, accounting, finance, consulting, and marketing.
They know what works because they have been on both sides of the table.
From resume refinement to interview readiness, networking to negotiating offers, Natalie and Stephanie bring structure, personalization, and a strategic lens to every phase of the recruiting journey. They are not recruiters. They are coaches and strategic partners, helping students build the skills, confidence, and judgment they will use long after their first job.
In our conversation, we discussed:
Why strong, qualified students keep getting passed over.
When parents are doing college tours, what career-related questions should they actually be asking that most families don’t think to ask.
Does the name of the school actually matter in recruiting? Public vs. private, big name vs. lesser known?
For families whose student is about to start college, what that first semester or first year actually look like from a career standpoint.
What a high school student can do right now, before they even set foot on campus, to give themselves a real edge in recruiting later.
How students should think about extracurriculars from a recruiting standpoint, not just a resume-building one.
And much more…
To connect with Natalie and Stephanie, visit LaunchPointTalent.com.
46 min

About The Scholarship GPS Podcast: Your Directions to a Debt-Free College Degree

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The Scholarship GPS Podcast features Dave The Scholarship Coach, who brings you the latest scholarship information, interviews with college-prep experts, and much more. It is perfect for students and…