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

Abbie Metzler is a PhD student in psychology, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and someone who believes the college admissions process should not take away your sense of confidence and calm. Abbie started Confident College Admissions because she’s seen how overwhelming and confusing this process can be. But with the right guidance and support, it can actually feel manageable, meaningf...

A conversation with one of Alex’s friends completely altered his college search process. His friend just started his first year at Duke University and was raving about the campus, the culture, and the opportunities. At that time, Duke wasn’t super high on Alex’s list, but that conversation set him on the path of becoming a life-long Blue Devil. As Alex’s college experience played out, he came to r...

When families begin the scholarship journey, many parents assume there are only two options: Top of Form Bottom of Form Either parents take over the process completely, or they step back and let students handle everything on their own. Neither approach works very well. The most successful scholarship families usually find a healthier balance... ---------- Student Loan Rates Drop! Last Monday, one...

Featured Scholarships: $1000 Swift Justice Scholarship Soloff & Zervanos Personal Injury Attorneys $1000 Forward-Thinking Future Scholarship $1000 Marcus W. Viles Community Growth Scholarship $1500 Do-Over Scholarship $5000 MyOTC Scholarship for Health Access $2026 No Essay Scholarship from ScholarshipOwl $10,000 Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship I've put together a free Scholarship Website...

Success on the road to college depends as much on what you do during summers as during the school year. If you’re looking to make this summer count, find out everything you need to know about when and how to prep for the important SAT & ACT and submit successful scholarship applications. With over 30 years of intensive experience in every aspect of standardized test preparation, Mike Bergin, F...

Alicia is the founder of College Redefined . She grew up as a homeschooled student. During middle school, she became motivated to find ways to complete her college degree faster while making it cost-efficient at the same time. Through hard work and dedication, she graduated from high school with almost 2 years of college already completed. Upon graduation, she worked full-time as a school teacher...

Scholarship GPS student, Teagan, was recently awarded a full-tuition scholarship! This wasn’t an accident. Teagan was focused on her end goal and took purposeful action throughout high school to set herself up for success. In our interview, we discussed: What motivated Teagan to start her scholarship journey How extracurriculars led Teagan to her full-tuition scholarship as well as her future coll...

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, ScholarshipCoach20, to take 20% off the total price when you use this link: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/youngadult?oid=1&affid=44 ---------- The Scholarship Summer Camp is for high school students in the Classes of...

In late February, I woke up in the middle of the night and checked my email. There was a message from Carter telling me that she had been awarded a full-tuition scholarship! That incredible accomplishment was not luck. It was the result of many months, even years, of focused effort to achieve this goal. Carter and her mom, Tiffany, were kind enough to talk about their scholarship journey, offering...

Multiple surveys indicate that people with student loan debt regret taking out the loans. A 2026 ScholarshipOwl survey of over 12,000 students found that 71% of those who already hold debt regret the decision, with concerns centered on unaffordable monthly payments and economic uncertainty. A 2022 Givling survey reported that 63% of borrowers regret taking out student loans. A 2024 Ramsey Solution...

Applying to college isn't just about submitting applications in senior year. It starts with months or even years of preparation, which many families are caught off guard by once their teen becomes a rising senior. But don't worry. We are here to give you some tips and tricks to reduce the stress and confusion that can come from having all the information thrown at parents at once. Knowing how to w...

THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion. In This Free Session You'll Discover: The two common mistakes even supportive parents make that quietly stall momentum and increase dependence. How to know with confidence if their next step — college major, career path, or other training — actually fits who the...

For more than a decade, Lisa Marker-Robbins has helped over 4,000 teens and young adults gain the insight, experiences, and confidence they need to successfully embark on their graduation career path. But along the way, she saw a troubling pattern: Too many young people were unsure of their direction—and it showed. They were overwhelmed by choices, confused about college majors, or pursuing paths...

In the last 45 days, I have had multiple Scholarship GPS students earn full-tuition and other large scholarships. But the road to those students' scholarship success started many months before. These students learned what scholarships are looking for in applicants. They practiced their scholarship skills by applying for several scholarships. They made scholarships a priority and learned how to imp...

Students who graduate college debt-free don't rely on just one source of scholarships or financial aid. They layer their scholarship sources, one on top of the other.  Shellee helped her son receive multiple full scholarships. I helped my son earn 23 outside scholarships, allowing us to pay only $1500 for his college degree - tuition, room, board, books, and fees included.  Today, Shellee and her...

Free Scholarship Resources: Click here to request my free LIST OF RECOMMENDED SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITES to find the best scholarships based on your student’s unique profile. Click here to request my free SCHOLARSHIP TRACKING TOOL. It’s the same tool I used when coaching my son to 23 scholarship wins. Layer Your Scholarship & Financial Aid: Students who graduate college debt-free don’t rely on just...

I recently spoke with Shellee Howard of College Ready. After helping her son get into Harvard and after he received multiple full scholarships, Shelle went back to school to get her College Consulting degree. She worked as an independent College Consultant for two years before founding College Ready. Shelle has been featured on FOX, CBS, and NBC. In addition, College Ready has been the topic of ma...

I recently spoke with Jennifer Gershberg, a campus and keynote speaker and former University of Maryland professor. Through her campus programs, keynotes, trainings, and online courses, she helps prospective and current college students build confidence and competence by teaching them the fundamental skills they need for academic and professional success. While on the faculty at the University of...

Lisa Rouff, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and independent educational consultant with more than thirty years of experience helping teens and families navigate major life transitions with clarity and confidence. She co-founded The College Admissions Collective, where she guides students—especially those with ADHD, anxiety, learning differences, and perfectionism—through a calmer, more structured...

Two College Prep Programs - One Low Price Get access to the Scholarship GPS Course and Summit Academic Support's College Essay Starter Kit for one low price! College Essay Starter Kit Designed by veteran English teachers and college essay coaches, this self-paced course helps high school students confidently begin the college essay process. In just six modules of expert video instruction, students...

THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion. In This Free Session You'll Discover: The two common mistakes even supportive parents make that quietly stall momentum and increase dependence. How to know with confidence if their next step — college major, career path, or other training — actually fits who the...

The ACE Network (Access to College Admissions Experts) is a private, subscription-based group designed to give parents direct access to trusted experts in the college preparation process. Our team includes specialists in admissions advising, essays, scholarships, financial aid, and test prep. Inside the group, parents can post their specific questions — from essay feedback to scholarship searches...

FREE Expert-led Financial Aid Webinars: FAFSA Tips & Tricks: Tuesday, 2/10/26 @ 8pm ET: Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717679098185/WN_WL4G1MmWT92K8CpJ1MxVyQ Understanding Student Aid Index: Thursday, 2/12/26 @ 8pm ET: Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4217679099261/WN_NxWKorMBRbmL-46qdqGd_w   Appealing Financial Aid: Tuesday, 2...

Click here to learn more about the ACE (Access to College Experts) Network, where you will get expert guidance for college admissions, essays, test-prep, scholarships, and even dorm planning, for less than the price of a tank of gas! ---------- Featured Scholarships: $1000 Making the Leap Scholarship for Transfer Students $2000 Better Financial Future Scholarship $1500 Ag Day Video Contest $1000 P...

Click here to learn more about the ACE (Access to College Experts) Network, where you will get expert guidance for college admissions, essays, test-prep, scholarships, and even dorm planning, for less than the price of a tank of gas! ---------- Featured Scholarships: $5000 New Year Scholarship $10,000 Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship “Caretakers on the Climb” Scholarship for Nursing Students $...