The World Cup Lesson Every College Applicant Needs to Hear Why believing the impossible—and writing a memorable college essay—can change a student's future. June 17, 2026 Hello Friend, today you are getting a special World Cup edition of the CFF Newsletter. If you are an international football (soccer) fan like me, I hope you are enjoying the World Cup. My situation is a little complicated when it comes to choosing who to support. I am rooting for several countries at once—the U.S. team, of...
3 days ago • 3 min read
A Step-by-Step College Admissions Coaching Program for Rising Seniors, Transfer students, and Families Navigating Financial aid Concerns. Our students have earned full funding offers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from selective and non-selective colleges alike. Spring is well underway and though the unofficial start to the summer season is tomorrow (Memorial Day) we are still about one month away from summer. If you are the parent of a high school junior (rising senior shortly) or...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hope you are having a good weekend. Here is a quick reminder that the registration deadline for the Summer 2026 session of CFF College Fully Funded® closes this on Friday, May 29. The Summer 2026 program starts June 8 and the intensive part runs for 3 months, followed by a 7-month application support membership. Over the course of the program, our students get our expert guidance and everything they need to know about applying to college. We work with them to find, apply, and secure admission...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
What Families Need to Know About AI and College Applications Learn what admissions officers are really looking for in the age of AI-generated writing. May 10, 2026 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there — myself included. As we celebrate today, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways parents support their children through the college admissions process, especially in an age where technology is changing how students search for information and make decisions. Recently, I read an article...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hampshire College is Closing A personal reflection—and an important shift every family with a college-bound student needs to understand. April 19, 2026 Hampshire College Library This is a difficult piece for me to write. This past week, I learned that my alma mater, Hampshire College, will close its doors after the end of the fall semester. Like many in the Hampshire community, I received the news by email. And while the closure marks the end of a 56-year experiment in higher education, it...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Decision Season Is Here: Are You Ready for May 1? Admission decisions are in. Learn what to do before May 1, how to choose wisely, and how families secure fully funded college offers. April 12, 2026 It’s that time of year—the college admission cycle is winding down. Students have mostly received their offers, and now it’s time to make one of the most important decisions in the process. First and foremost—congratulations. To every student and family who has navigated this journey, this is a...
3 months ago • 4 min read
What matters more—your GPA or your test scores? Learn how colleges evaluate both when it comes to admission and securing full funding. GPA vs SAT/ACT: What Really Matters for Full Funding in College Admissions Hello Reader, One of the most common questions I get from prospective college students and their families is this: What matters more in college admissions—in-school grades (your transcript) or standardized test scores like the SAT, ACT, or international exams such as GCSE or IB? The...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Admission Alone Isn’t Enough In this month’s CFF College Fully Funded® newsletter, I explain why financial aid applications are a critical part of the framework that helps students secure college admission with full funding. March 15, 2026 I hope you are having some beautiful warmer days as spring approaches despite all the challenges that abound around us. I am trying to do the same. I just took a few days to travel and spend time with my family during spring break. In the previous edition...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Families typically rely on grades, debt, or scholarships to handle rising college costs. Here’s why those approaches fail — and what works instead. The cost of a college education has risen exponentially — astronomically, really — over the last few decades. Meanwhile, household incomes have not kept pace. And yet… Education can still be one of the most powerful vehicles for upward mobility — if it’s done right and without the burden of education debt. To deal with rising costs, most families...
5 months ago • 2 min read