Ol' College Try

Military service can open the door to education benefits worth tens of thousands—and sometimes hundreds of thousands—of dollars. But are veterans and military families taking full advantage of everything they've earned? In this episode of Ol' College Try, Peg Keough sits down with Mike Hunsberger, a College Funding Expert at College Aid Pro who served 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, for a...

Could applying for financial aid hurt your student's chances of getting into college? What can middle-income families do when they earn too much to qualify for significant need-based aid but still can't afford full tuition? And are you reporting your family's assets correctly on the FAFSA and CSS Profile? In this episode of Ol' College Try , Peg Keough and Matt Carpenter are back t...

What happens if your student's college closes before they graduate? And how can families tell whether a college is financially stable before committing thousands of dollars to attend? With colleges facing declining enrollment, rising expenses, and increasing pressure to offer bigger tuition discounts, understanding a school's financial health is becoming an important part of the college se...

Sorority recruitment isn't what it used to be. Between TikTok's #RushTok, competitive applications, recommendation letters, and carefully curated social media profiles, joining Greek life has become a much bigger process than many parents realize. But what happens when your student doesn't get into the sorority they wanted? And how can parents help their daughters navigate the pressure...

Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling Admission—what do all of these college application options actually mean? And could the deadline your student chooses affect not only their chances of admission, but also how much scholarship and financial aid money they receive? In this episode of Ol' College Try , Peg Keough sits down with CAP expert Melissa Mieyr to break down the diff...

Feeling overwhelmed by college planning and have no idea where to start? You're definitely not the only parent asking that question. In this month's Old College Try Q&A, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough tackle three questions that get to the heart of paying for college: where families should start when everything feels overwhelming, whether you should still file the FAFSA when tuition is...

FAFSA season is officially here—but when should you actually submit it? Do you need to rush to file on October 1? And which mistakes could potentially cost your family financial aid? In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough dive into all things FAFSA, walking families through what they should be doing now, how to approach the application, and some of the most common mista...

Can homeschooled students get into competitive colleges? Are they eligible for merit scholarships? And what exactly does a homeschool parent need to do when it comes time to apply? In this episode of Old College Try , Peg Keough sits down with Caitlyn Obolsky, a homeschooling mom of six who recently sent her two oldest daughters off to UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Caitlyn shares what she's learned fr...

What actually happens after your student hits “submit” on their college application? And why can two equally qualified students receive completely different admissions—and financial aid—outcomes? In this episode of Old College Try , Peg Keough is joined by College Aid Pro expert Christina Lopez, former Dean of Enrollment Management at Barnard College with more than 20 years of experience in higher...

The CSS Profile is officially live—but what exactly is it, who needs to complete it, and why can it have such a major impact on what your family pays for college? In this episode of Old College Try , Peg Keough goes solo for a deep dive into the CSS Profile, the second financial aid form required by roughly 250 colleges and universities. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile takes a much deeper look a...

What’s the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized student loans? What credit score do you actually need to borrow for college? And can those ads promising to slash your Student Aid Index by 50% really be trusted? In this month's Old College Try Q&A, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough tackle some of the biggest questions families are asking about paying for college. From federal student...

FAFSA season is almost here—and even if you think your family won't qualify for financial aid, you should still file. In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough kick off the 2027–28 FAFSA season by breaking down what the FAFSA actually does, why they recommend every family submit it, and what parents of Class of 2027 students should be doing now to prepare. They also co...

"Free tuition." "No-loan school." "Families making under $200,000 pay no more than $20,000." These college affordability promises sound incredible—but what do they actually mean for your family? In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down the push for greater transparency in higher education, including the College Transparency Act and...

Should your student take AP classes, dual enrollment, or honors courses? Will they improve admissions chances? And can they actually save you money on college? In this episode, Peg Keough is joined by College Aid Pro admissions expert Joe Korfmacher to break down the biggest misconceptions surrounding advanced high school coursework. They explain how colleges evaluate course rigor, when AP or dual...

How do you choose the right student loan? What happens if you have two kids in college at the same time? And are outside scholarships really worth it if colleges reduce your financial aid? In this solo Q&A episode, Matt Carpenter answers some of the biggest questions families are asking right now about borrowing, financial aid, and paying for college. From understanding the new Parent PLUS Loa...

The first few weeks of college can be exciting...and overwhelming. In Part 2 of Peg Keough's conversation with life coach Suzanne Hanna, they dive into what really happens after move-in day. From homesickness and making friends to building healthy routines and succeeding academically, this episode is packed with practical advice to help students navigate one of life's biggest transitions a...

Senior year isn't just about applications, acceptance letters, and graduation it's one of the biggest emotional transitions your family will ever experience. In this special episode, Peg Keough is joined by life coach and former educator Suzanne Hanna to discuss what seniors are really going through behind the scenes. From mood swings and anxiety to growing independence and uncertainty abo...

Why does college cost so much and who's actually responsible? In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, take a step back from day-to-day college planning to explore the bigger picture behind skyrocketing college costs. From federal lending and college pricing strategies to consumer behavior and Wall Street, they unpack the forces drivi...

Major federal student loan changes officially took effect on July 1 and the impact could be far bigger than most families realize. In this episode, host Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, break down the new Parent PLUS Loan rules, rising federal loan interest rates, and why these changes could leave thousands of families unable to afford the college they've already...

Got questions about paying for college? In this month's Q&A episode, host Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, tackle some of the most common questions families are asking right now—from scholarships and financial aid to borrowing strategies and 529 plans. In this episode, we cover: 🎓 The biggest misconception families have about scholarships 💰 Why need-based aid and m...

What happens when your student's college plans take an unexpected turn? In this special parent spotlight episode, host Peg Keough sits down with College Aid Pro parent Michael Dodge to discuss his family's journey through the college admissions and financial aid process. From early dreams of engineering schools like MIT and Georgia Tech to discovering the perfect fit at Kenyon College, Mic...

Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do test scores still matter? And if a college is test-optional, is it really optional? In this episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough are joined by College Aid Pro admissions expert Joe Korfmaker to break down everything families need to know about standardized testing in today's admissions landscape. Joe brings experience from both the hig...

What does “financial fit” actually mean? Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do weighted GPAs really matter? And how do merit scholarships actually work? In this month’s College Admissions Grab Bag episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough answer real questions submitted by families navigating the college process right now. From financial aid strategy to GPA confusion to choosing co...

Are you planning college visits but not sure where to start? In this episode, host Peg Keough sits down with CAP financial aid expert Jonathan West to break down everything families need to know about college visits — from sophomore year exploratory tours all the way to decision-day campus trips. In this episode, we cover: Why college visits matter (and how they impact demonstrated interest) When...

What if the biggest mistake families make in the college process happens before they even apply? In this episode, Matt sits down with College Aid Pro expert and former USC Director of Financial Aid, JP Schmidt, for an inside look at how colleges really operate—from admissions strategy to financial aid packaging to the business side of higher education. JP shares what he learned working behind the...