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College Ready with Shellee Howard

Y’all… this one is a must-listen if you’ve got high schoolers (or even middle schoolers 👀) under your roof. We sat down with college admissions expert Shellee Howard, and wow — she dropped SO many gems on how to help your kids go to college without taking on student loan debt. And yes, even if you’re not “low income.” There is strategy. There is money. And you’re probably missing it because you don’t know what you don’t know. Until now.

🎙 Here’s what we cover inside this episode:

• The biggest misconceptions parents have about college admissions (you’ve probably thought at least one!)
• Why relying on your high school counselor to help with college planning could cost you big time 💸
• The three buckets of money (merit, independent scholarships & need-based aid) and how to tap into them
• What really makes a student stand out on applications
• Why community service is the golden ticket — and how to help your kid find their unique lane 🎯
• The ROI mindset shift that’ll change how you and your kids pick a school
• Genius email tips (parents, your teen will miss deadlines… unless you do this ✅)

💬 Real talk moments we loved:

• “If you’re letting your teen pick their college list based on football teams or campus colors...we gotta talk.”
• “You’re not just sending them to college — you’re making a six-figure decision. So let’s treat it like one.”
• “Merit aid = they want you. So your kid better know how to bring it.”

👀 Favorite quote:

“There is SO much money out there. It’s not about being poor. It’s about knowing where to find it — and how to position your child as an asset to the school.”

📝 Free resources Shellee shared in this episode:

• College Ready Plan info: https://collegereadyplan.info (she’s got a hidden spot just for our listeners 😉)
• Empower Education World: A student-led nonprofit offering service hours + real impact https://empowereducationworld.org

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