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Danny and Karen Umali | The Hidden Game of College Admissions — And How You Can Win
Season 1 Episode 31
You’re about to rethink everything you thought you knew about getting into college—and paying for it.
In this episode of the Magnify Your Message Podcast, you’ll get to know Karen and Danny Umali, founders of Game Theory College Planners and absolute wizards at turning the broken, expensive, and outdated college admissions process on its head.
Karen, a sharp strategist who’s been called the brains of Game Theory, and Danny, a former retail exec and turned college enrollment expert, have made it their life’s work to help families do college smarter, faster, and cheaper—without sacrificing dreams.
Inside this episode, you’ll discover:
🚀 Why the most expensive colleges often cost the least out of pocket — and why you should stop fearing the $80,000 price tag.
🚀 The ugly truth behind the “four-year degree” myth — and why only 19% of students actually graduate on time.
🚀 Why applying to schools farther from home can actually save you tens of thousands of dollars—seriously.
🚀 The fatal mistake most families make when planning for college—and how Karen and Danny’s method finds you money you didn’t know existed.
🚀 How Danny’s decision to not finish college became his superpower, giving him a powerful edge over outdated industry thinking—and how you can benefit from it.
This is not your typical “save a little, borrow a lot” advice. This is counterintuitive, game-changing wisdom that could literally save you, your kids, or someone you love six figures of debt.
🔗 🎧 This episode is too good to keep to yourself → Listen and share it!
If you’ve got kids thinking about college—or if you know anyone who will—you need this episode in your life.
You’ll walk away inspired, empowered, and ready to tackle the system like a pro.
About the Guests
Karen and Danny Umali are the founders of Game Theory College Planners, a revolutionary firm helping families crack the code of college admissions and funding. With backgrounds in financial services, strategic enrollment management, business operations, and education advocacy, they’ve built a smarter, counterintuitive approach that saves families thousands while opening doors to top-tier colleges.
Danny, a former retail executive turned financial strategist, and Karen, the operational brain behind Game Theory, combine real-world experience and practical strategy to outsmart a system that often feels rigged against students.
Together, they’ve helped families across the country secure millions in scholarships and grants — proving that with the right strategy, you don’t have to drown in student debt to get a world-class education.
Resources:
Website: https://gametheory.college/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegewalkandtok
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gtheorycollege
Published on 5 months ago