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

• "Test-Optional is a Lie" + 5 Scholarship Opportunities

  I recently spoke with Brian Eufinger of Edison Prep. Brian graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004 and a Healthcare MBA in 2006. He serves as a founding board member of the National Test Prep Association and is an Associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. More recently, he represents Edison Prep in a consortium of four tutoring companies that created Assessiv, an online digital SAT practice platform that Edison Prep students and students nationwide use. In our conversation, Brian and I discussed: Why, in many situations, “Test-Optional” is a lie How test scores can result in tens of thousands of dollars in merit aid How Brian supplemented merit aid with private scholarships The opportunity cost of failing to prepare for standardized tests and applying for scholarships Why GPA is ‘sacred’ Merit Aid Grids - the easy-to-use, free website to find out how much your student can receive in scholarships based on their GPA and test score And much more… To connect with Brian and learn about their approach to SAT and ACT Prep, and to get a special discount, click here: https://edisonprep.com/scholarshipgps/ ---------- If your child is turning 18, whether they are going away to college or remaining at home, please consider getting a Power of Attorney in place. You can use my discount code, ScholarshipCoach, to take 20% off the total price at Mama Bear Legal Forms: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/youngadult?oid=1&affid=44 ---------- Start your scholarship journey this summer with the Scholarship Summer Camp. 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! The Scholarship Summer Camp is for high school students in the Classes of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029. Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contests $10,000 Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship Scholarship $1000 Stand Up to Distracted Driving Scholarship $1000 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest Weekender: $1000 No Essay Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/  

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• Six Scholarships + How to Protect The Second-Largest Investment You Will Ever Make

  I had the opportunity to talk with Peyton Rudolph, Vice President of Marketing for GradGuard. In our conversation, Peyton explained how GradGuard helps students and parents protect one of the largest investments of their lives. Plus, she shared the details of their news scholarship with us, in which five students will each earn $3000! Learn more about GradGuard here: https://gradguard.sjv.io/c/4021661/2331223/29624?trafsrc=affiliate ---------- Start your scholarship journey this summer with the Scholarship Summer Camp. 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! The Scholarship Summer Camp is for high school students in the Classes of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029. Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: $1000 Trey Porter Law Scholarship $1500 GrassRoots Turf Scholarship $2500 Terry Bryant Scholarship National Video Game Museum Scholarships $3000 GradGuard Scholarship $1000 No-Essay Appily Weekender Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

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• Saving, Budgeting, and Paying for College + A Scholarship Open to Elementary, Middle School, High School, and College Students + 5 Other Scholarships

  I recently spoke with Suzanne Scullion. Suzanne is the Head Coach of G.R.A.C.E. Financial Coaching. Over the past ten years, she has helped hundreds of clients reprioritize their spending, pay down debt, and master their income without dismantling their lifestyle. Suzanne also hosts a podcast and YouTube show called, “Lessons Learned: The Dumbest Thing I’ve Ever Done with Money.” In our conversation, Suzanne and I discussed: What to do when your student is headed to college soon and you haven’t saved enough to pay for it What to do when you have a young child and you want to start planning for college Changes in 529 college savings plans that you need to know about Alternatives to 529 plans for college savings How scholarships can fit into a plan to pay for college, including more than just tuition The need for parents to protect their kids from their lack of understanding on the dangers of student loans And much more… To connect with Suzanne and learn how she works with her clients, go to gracefinancialcoaching.com ---------- We know sending your student off to college is equal parts exciting and anxiety-producing; both for you and for them. Cards2College series of cards was created to allow you to pour your words of wisdom into your student one weekly card at a time. Each card has an inspirational quote and motivational message on one side, leaving the other side of the card for your weekly words! We know how busy life gets, so they’ve automated the process for you. When the intention is there, but the time isn’t, Cards2College can help! Click here to learn more. ---------- Back by popular demand for Summer 2025! Start your scholarship journey this summer with the Scholarship Summer Camp! 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! The Scholarship Summer Camp is for high school students in the Classes of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029. Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp and save $30 with coupon code PODCAST ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: $1000 Review It Scholarship $1000 Momentrix Scholarship $1000 College is Power Scholarship $1000 Access to Education Scholarship We the Future Contest (For Elementary, Middle School, High School and College Students) CollegeXpress Favorite TV Show Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

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• Your College Planning Coach on Admissions & Paying for College + 6 Scholarship Opportunities

  I recently spoke with Luanne Lee, Owner of Your College Planning Coach. Luanne wanted to do something where she could make an impact to help families and feel good about what she did every day, so she began her career in Financial Services in 1996. Luanne decided to focus on the specialty of College Planning and Funding when she saw how student loan debt was hampering so many parents and students from reaching their retirement goals. Little did she know at the time just how specialized college planning was! Luanne has undergone extensive licensing and training as a College Financial Planning Specialist and for the past 15+ years has devoted her practice to providing financial education and efficient solutions to families maneuvering through the complex process of planning and funding for college without jeopardizing their retirement goals. In our conversation, Luanne and I discuss: Whether in-state college is always the least expensive option Whether you can rely on your guidance counselor through the college admissions process Whether families should “go it alone” through the college planning process Why parents are usually on the hook for their kids student loans Why families who “make too much money” should still fill out the FAFSA Whether saving for college will hurt the student’s ability to get financial aid The importance of outside scholarships in paying for college Whether AP Courses will cut the cost of college by letting the student graduate earlier And much more… To connect with Luanne and learn more about how she works with students and families, go to ycpcoach.com. Get your free College Money Report™ Find the answers your family needs to get the most free money for college. In under 5 minutes Get a fully customized report that demystifies your student's college financial aid outlook. Your College Money Report™ gives you answers to 3 critical things every family needs to know before entering the college funding maze. How much colleges think you can afford. If you will qualify for grants and/or scholarships. How much you will be expected to pay out of pocket. Click here to get the College Money Report: https://planning.college/luanne-lee/cmr ---------- Whether it’s a high school or college diploma, a varsity letter, military display, professional credentials, or another custom frame, check out Church Hill Classics today! Use discount code Dave2025 for $15 off any purchase of $100 or more. ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: $3000 All About Education Scholarship $1000 Good Deeds Scholarship $2500 Good Life's Community Scholarship Melissa A. Stoneberger Foundation Scholarship Digital Responsibility e-Waste Scholarship Weekender: $5000 Christian College Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

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• What Your Student-Athlete Needs to Know About Sports Scholarships + Full-Tuition for Class of 2026 + 5 More Scholarships

  I recently spoke with Reid Meyer of A2A Academy and the Student-Athlete Advisors. Reid always knew that sports would be a significant part of his life. Growing up, he dreamed of playing college sports, and he vividly recalls feeling anxious about second-guessing every decision he made in high school regarding his college opportunities. After attending four schools in four years and ultimately giving up the sport he loved after just two, Reid realized there had to be a better way to support student-athletes and their families. Following years of schooling, training, and feedback, the A2A Academy emerged as the premier program to assist student-athletes and their families as they navigate one of the most critical decisions of their lives to date. In our conversation, Reid and I discussed: The expectations, based on statistics, that students and families should have about playing Division 1 sports The need to find the right fit college for student-athletes Why tenacity is needed when it comes to getting noticed by colleges and coaches Funding opportunities for student-athletes at Division 3 colleges And much more Connect with Reid at https://www.joina2a.com/ or https://www.thestudentathleteadvisors.com/ ---------- Whether you are prepping for the May or June SAT, J&J’s test prep starts on April 13th. Jackie has kindly offered my readers $50 off the Digital SAT® Intensive Course. Use code SCHOLARSHIPGPS50 at checkout at this link: https://www.jjtestprep.com/satintensive-scholarshipgps Or, for asynchronous test prep, visit https://scholarshipgps.nobsprep.com/ ---------- BUY ONE GET ONE FREE OFFER! This is really a one-two punch for minimizing the cost of college. In Buying College Better, Beth shares the proven blueprint to confidently choose the right school, save up to 50% on college costs, and have a quarter million more in retirement. Then, with Scholarship GPS, you’ll learn how to earn additional scholarships to cover even more of your student’s college expenses.   For just $197, you’re getting both programs, which can help you save tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. To get this limited time offer, go to https://www.scholarshipgps.com/bogo ---------- The Bryan Cameron Foundation Scholarship is just the first of the many HUGE scholarship opportunities your Class of 2026 student will have over the next year. Starting your scholarship journey now provides your student with many advantages, including: Getting a head start with scholarships compared to their peers 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 The Class of 2026 Scholarship Navigator Program. To learn more, go to https://www.scholarshipgps.com/2026navigator ---------- Whether it’s a high school or college diploma, a varsity letter, military display, professional credentials, or another custom frame, check out Church Hill Classics today! Use discount code Dave2025 for $15 off any purchase of $100 or more. ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: Bryan Cameron Education Foundation (Full Tuition for the Class of 2026) $2500 Rover.com Scholarship $2000 RealtyHop Scholarship $10,000 Science Saves Scholarship $1500 Aging Matters Scholarship $1000 ScholarshipOwl No-Essay Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

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