{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"612: How to Maximize College Scholarship Opportunities","description":"Paying for college can feel overwhelming, especially for families who do not qualify for need based financial aid. In this episode, Megan and Erin break down how merit based scholarships really work and how families can be more strategic about reducing the cost of college. What We Cover in This Episode \u2022 The difference between need based aid and merit based scholarships \u2022 Why income level does not disqualify students from scholarship opportunities \u2022 How families should think about affordability when building a college list \u2022 The importance of choosing schools that want your student academically or talent wise \u2022 Megan\u2019s three step framework for maximizing scholarships \u2013 Identify your student\u2019s strengths and academic profile \u2013 Find colleges where your student is a strong match \u2013 Stay flexible and compare offers at the end \u2022 Why being a \u201cbig fish in a smaller pond\u201d can be an advantage academically and financially \u2022 How GPA, rigor, and test scores are evaluated for scholarships \u2022 Why weighted GPA matters far less than most families think \u2022 Where private schools often have more flexibility than public universities \u2022 How to use college fairs, school counselors, and college websites to identify scholarship friendly schools \u2022 Why most scholarships are about getting more for less, not going to college for free \u2022 Alternative cost saving paths including community college, transfer options, and tuition reciprocity programs \u2022 Why private outside scholarships are usually supplemental rather than the main source of aid Key Takeaway Most scholarship money comes directly from colleges trying to attract the right students. Families who are open minded, realistic about fit, and strategic about school selection often see the biggest financial wins. Have Questions About Scholarships? Send your questions to CollegePrepPodcast@gmail.com and let us know what topics you want us to cover next. More about the hosts Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT\/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.  Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social\/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.   ","author_name":"collegepreppodcast's podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/collegepreppodcast.com","html":"