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...
24 days 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...
24 days 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...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
College admissions isn’t random. It’s about fit. Here’s how students secure admission with full funding. Hello Reader, All colleges have preferences. They are looking for certain kinds of students who match what they value and need in a given admissions cycle. Those preferences may be connected to course of study, leadership, athletics, artistic talent, geographic diversity, institutional priorities—and more. To be successful in college admissions, there must be a true fit between a college’s...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
The Memorable College Essay: A Key to College Without Debt A standout college essay isn’t just about getting in — it can help determine how college is funded. Learn why memorability matters. February 8, 2026 I hope you’re staying warm if you’re in one of the many parts of the United States experiencing record-low temperatures right now. ❄️ In recent editions of this newsletter, we’ve been digging into a big question many families are wrestling with: Is college worth it? We’ve established that...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Happy February! I hope this message finds you well, even as we continue under extreme cold conditions in the northeastern United States. If you are in this region, I hope you are keeping warm. Yale made major headlines this past week with an announcement that’s worth unpacking carefully. The news: Students from households with incomes below $200,000 will now receive full tuition. Students from households with incomes below $100,000 will have their entire cost of attendance covered—tuition,...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, I hope this message finds you well amid the monster winter storm sweeping a significant portion of the United States and the political storm sweeping this country. Today I want to share with you my answer to a question I have received many times. Students often ask how they should build their college list. Should they rely on college rankings such as U.S. News and World Report? Are highly ranked colleges inherently better? Below is a video clip of my answer to this question...
3 months ago • 2 min read
The College Affordability-Democracy Nexus As college costs rise and alternatives are promoted, I examine why higher education still matters—for students, families, and democracy. January 11, 2026 In this first newsletter of 2026, we are picking up where we left off in our last issue: the question so many families are asking right now — is college still worth it? As I shared previously, for most people who would enjoy college and are prepared for its academic rigor, the answer remains yes. The...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Year-End Reflections: Is College Still Worth It? In our final newsletter of the year, we reflect on grief, gratitude, and why helping students secure college admission with full funding matters now more than ever. Why access, affordability, and full funding must be part of the conversation December 23, 2025 As we arrive at almost the end of December—and the close of another year—I want to pause and acknowledge something important. We made it. And yet, even as we give thanks for life, this...
4 months ago • 2 min read
