About this episode
Ben Kaplan’s background Won ~24 scholarships totaling $90,000, enabling Harvard admission.First scholarship call: “Congratulations, you’ve just won $15,000 from Discover Card.”Authored How to Go to College Almost for Free and new book Scholars and Dollars. Exploring breadth and depth “Try a lot of things” to discover interests, then go deeper in passions. College fit matters most “Are you part of something bigger than yourself?”Seek a community that feels like home and challenges you just enough. Setting a positive milestone Treat admissions as your first chance to take ownership of your future.Make small action steps, seek advice, and build momentum. "Professional judgment” in financial aid Financial aid officers can adjust inputs (e.g., average income over 3 years) for special circumstances.Document high medical expenses or variable income to swing aid by $50,000. Effective scholarship searching Use free databases like Scholaroo (scholaroo.com).Check your and neighboring schools’ career center listings.Don’t neglect small, local scholarships—they boost credibility for larger awards. Leveraging applications Recycle college essays for merit-based scholarships.A holistic approach maximizes effort and results. Manage scholarship outreach Create a throwaway email to avoid inbox clutter. Key resources Scholars and Dollars (available on Amazon). Websites: scholaroo.com and learnipity.com (courses, essay feedback, toolkits).Connect with Shellee Howard: WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedInEmail: shellee@collegereadyplan.com
🎁 Episode Gift & Contact 🎓 College Planning Support for ParentsWant help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes? 📘 Workbook Gift:https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook 🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?Email Julienne at julienne@collegereadyplan.com
