{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The College Debt Crisis Starts With a Missing Plan","description":"Most families don't talk about college money until it's too late. Dr. Zed breaks down why student debt isn't just a college problem, it's a planning problem, and what you can do right now to make sure you're not adding to the $1.7 trillion. In this episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) tackles the student debt crisis head-on and reframes it as something that is largely preventable with the right plan in place. Whether you're a student, a parent, or both, this episode will change how you think about paying for college. Dr. Zed covers: Why $1.7 trillion in student debt is a planning failure, not just a college problem The real cost of changing your major and how extra years multiply your debt The difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans and why it matters now Why brand-name schools aren't always the best or most affordable choice How smaller schools often offer better financial aid packages than Ivy Leagues The step-by-step process for building your college cost spreadsheet How FAFSA works, why timing matters, and how to optimize your student aid index If you don't have a plan, you're already falling behind. This is where the plan starts.   ","author_name":"The Standard in Career Planning","author_url":"http:\/\/thestandard.libsyn.com\/Dr.Zed","html":"