Listen to the episode (00:23:30)
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:
Email: shellee@collegereadyplan.com
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