Debt-free College Planning with Shellee Howard | Ep. 104

• Shellee emphasizes that the best strategy is to plan early with a set plan rather than waiting until junior year.

Most people go with the approach of, oh, we'll figure it out when they're a junior or we'll let them apply and see where they get in. And that's the number one way to get into debt.

• FAFSA looks at sophomore and junior year income, so waiting prevents families from optimizing their financial aid eligibility.

• Before eighth grade, parents should plant seeds by sharing college memories and taking kids on tours starting in fifth or sixth grade.

• In eighth grade, focus on helping children identify their core values, gifts, and talents rather than picking specific colleges.

The first classes they take their freshman year are critical. If they get put on a path of the basic no challenge path, the chances of them going to a mid-tier or top-tier school is going to be very difficult.

• Advocating for appropriate class placement (like advancing in foreign language) can significantly impact academic trajectory.

• Tiffany shares how her seventh-grade son is taking engineering classes and exploring different engineering disciplines.

If they think they wanted to go into something, take an online summer class. It doesn't take anything other than their time.

• Students often have misconceptions about careers (wanting to code without trying it) or misunderstand what different schools emphasize (theory vs. practical engineering).

• Visit both large public and small private schools, and schools offering different levels of focus in your major to understand preferences.

Do I want to be the big fish in the small sea or do I want to be the small fish in the big sea?

• Private schools often have deeper pockets and can provide better financial aid than expected, sometimes making them less expensive than public options.

A 17-year-old very rarely understands how much $250,000 in student loan debt is going to be.

• Start looking for scholarships immediately - there are opportunities available even for middle school students.

If there's no essay attached, do not apply. Because it's a bait and a switch.

• Skip scholarships under $1,000 - earning minimum wage is more time-efficient. Focus on vetted opportunities and community service projects.

The best way to get scholarships is through community service.

• The program starts when students finish eighth grade because colleges begin evaluating students from that point forward.

• Students stay in the program through college admission, receiving ongoing guidance via email, calls, texts, or Zoom.

• Shellee offers a free discovery call and a free copy of her book "How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money" at book.collegereadyplan.com.