Ol' College Try

In this episode of The Ol' College Try Podcast, host Peg Keough sits down with admissions expert Jenna Schebell to pull back the curtain on what really happens after students submit their college applications. Before diving into the admissions conversation, Peg shares this week’s song pick: Slide by Goo Goo Dolls — the fun, sentimental song she chose for the choreographed mother-son dance at h...

Making your final college decision? You’ve got a number—but do you actually have a plan to pay it? In this episode, Matt and Peg tackle your biggest end-of-month Q&A just days before the May 1 deadline. From 529 strategies to student loans and financial aid, they break down what families should be thinking about right now to avoid costly mistakes. Making your final college decision? You’ve got...

Waitlisted? You’re not alone—and you’re not out of the game… but you’re not in it either. In this episode, Peg is joined by CAP expert Dan “Lasso” Bisig to break down one of the most confusing parts of the college admissions process: the waitlist. What does it actually mean? How do colleges use it? And what should families be doing right now if their student is stuck in limbo? They cover: Why coll...

With the May 1 college decision deadline fast approaching, this episode breaks down exactly what families need to be doing right now to make the smartest possible choice—financially and academically. Matt and Peg dive into real-world strategies for navigating this critical moment, including when (and if) it makes sense to put down multiple deposits, how to handle schools delaying financial aid app...

What if everything you thought you knew about paying for college… was wrong? In this episode of Ol’ College Try , Matt sits down with Dr. Jason Slone—former professor, dean, financial advisor, and now CAP College Affordability Expert—to break down the reality behind college costs and financial aid. Jason shares his unique journey from small-town Ohio to academia, the private sector, and ultimately...

What does it really take to get into college today—and is it worth the cost? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , Peg Keough sits down with former Stanford student, longtime English teacher, and college essay expert Mark Hernandez to break down the realities of the admissions process. From the myth of “perfect stats” to the truth about how decisions are actually made, Mark shares what he saw f...

In this open Q&A episode of Ol' College Try , Matt and Peg tackle some of the biggest (and most misunderstood) questions families have about paying for college. From Parent PLUS vs. private loans to loan forgiveness for teachers, they break down what really matters when borrowing for college—and how to avoid costly mistakes. They also dig into the reality for middle-class families who feel...

Federal student loans are changing—big time. From the elimination of the SAVE repayment plan to new caps on Parent PLUS loans, these updates could dramatically impact how families pay for college. In this episode, Matt sits down with College Aid Pro expert and Air Force veteran Mike Hunsberger to break down what’s changing, who it affects, and what families should be doing right now to prepare. Wh...

What is it really like to attend one of the most selective colleges in the world? In this episode of Ol' College Try , host Peg Keough sits down with Mark Hernandez —a Stanford graduate, former high school English teacher of 25 years, and now a college essay consultant with a growing social media following. Mark shares his unexpected path to Stanford (including applying just four days before t...

Most families assume colleges look at their current income when determining financial aid. They don’t. In this episode, Matt and Peg break down the “prior-prior year” rule —one of the most important (and misunderstood) concepts in college financial aid. Colleges actually use income from two years earlier , meaning the financial decisions you make today could determine how much aid your student rec...

It’s a true Tale of Two Cities episode—Matt’s digging out from the Blizzard of ’26 in the Northeast while Peggy’s bracing for 80-degree temps in Arizona. After a little Bruce Springsteen love (yes, 10th Avenue Freeze-Out makes an appearance 🎸), they dive into your biggest college planning questions in this month’s Open Grab Bag Q&A. In this episode, Matt and Peggy break down: Why your financi...

What happens when federally funded college access programs, a cutting-edge STEM lab, and one determined high school student collide? 🚀In this special episode of Ol’ College Try, Matt sits down with Valeria Garcia-Lopez of the TRIO/GEAR UP programs at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, Keith Young, CEO of Ecotek Lab, and Carlos — a Class of 2027 student already presenting research at NASA’s John...

Private scholarships can feel overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes too good to be true. So how do families actually use them to lower the cost of college? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , Peg Keough sits down with Jocelyn Pearson, founder of The Scholarship System, to do a deep dive into the world of private (aka external) scholarships. Jocelyn shares how she personally earned six figure...

In this episode, Peg Keough sits down with fellow Jersey girl and longtime College Aid Pro advocate Lisa Burfeindt , Director of School Counseling for the Cranford Public Schools—and an application reader for UC Berkeley . With decades of experience guiding students and families through the college process, Lisa brings a rare dual perspective: what high school counselors see and what really happen...

College costs feel overwhelming—and this week on Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough open up the grab bag to tackle the real questions families are asking right now. From understanding the difference between FAFSA (federal methodology) and CSS Profile (institutional methodology) , to how rental properties, LLCs, trusts, inheritances, and child support impact financial aid, this episode...

If your child was accepted to college but the financial aid offer doesn’t reflect your real financial situation, you may be able to appeal — and win. In this episode, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough explain how need-based financial aid appeals work, who should lead the process, and how colleges evaluate income, assets, businesses, and home equity. You’ll hear practical advice, insider insight from f...

Merit scholarships aren’t always final—and a smart appeal can make a real difference. In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , host Peg Keough sits down with Mike Hinderman, Director of Scholarships at the University of Oklahoma (and a CAP financial expert), to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how merit appeals actually work. Mike breaks down OU’s approach to automatic merit scholarships, what t...

You got the acceptance letter—now what does the financial aid offer actually mean? In this episode of Ol' College Try The Podcast , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down one of the most confusing parts of the college process: financial aid award letters . From grants and scholarships to loans and work-study, they explain how to read between the lines, spot misleading language, and understan...

It’s a New Year’s special on Old'College Try , and Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough are kicking off 2026 with the college-focused resolutions every family should consider. In this episode, Matt and Peggy each share two practical, high-impact resolutions designed to reduce stress, improve communication, and lead to better college and financial outcomes. From starting honest conversations early,...

In this special holiday edition of Ol’ College Try , hosts Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough tackle listener-submitted Q&A questions just in time for the end of the year. From financial aid appeals at state schools to common FAFSA and CSS Profile misconceptions, Matt and Peggy break down what families really need to know—without getting lost in the weeds. This episode covers: How student and par...

Early Decision and Early Action results are rolling in — and for many families, emotions are running high. In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough, the Fair Godmother of Financial Aid, break down what families should do when early college decisions arrive… especially when the answer isn’t what you hoped for. They walk through the key differences between Early Decision,...

Got into your dream school Early Decision…but not loving the price tag? In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and “fairy godmother of financial aid” Peg Keough break down how to appeal an Early Decision financial aid offer without breaking your ED agreement—or your budget. They cover: What Early Decision really means (and why that contract is a big deal for parents, students, and cou...

What is demonstrated interest —and can it really change a student’s chances of getting accepted? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , host Peg Keough sits down with Mark Stucker, producer of Your College Bound Kid , to break down how colleges measure interest and why it matters for admissions and financial outcomes. You’ll learn how schools use demonstrated interest to predict yield (who’s lik...

It’s a special Thanksgiving mailbag episode of The Ol’ College Try podcast! Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough go in totally unprepared and answer your toughest, most common college-planning questions on the fly. They tackle what happens when you have two, three, or even more kids in college at once (and why some schools give a break while others don’t), how FAFSA and CSS Profile work for divorced or s...

Private scholarships are the biggest distraction in the college affordability world — and today, we’re setting the record straight. In this episode of Old College Try , hosts Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down what families think they know about scholarships versus how the system actually works. From the myth of private scholarship riches to the colleges where every admitted student gets a d...