COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR ALL
March College Success Newsletter
Spring is in the air!
And with it comes a sense of renewal, possibility, and (for many families) the very real momentum of college planning season.
Wherever you are in the college planning journey, this issue has something for you. We dig into why "likely" colleges deserve serious attention, spotlight gerontology as a growing and purpose-driven field of study, break down how to actually read a financial aid award letter, and share 10 steps to find colleges that work for ADHD brains, because thoughtful planning at every stage makes all the difference. College planning doesn't have to be about chasing prestige or meeting someone else's expectations; it's about finding the right fit for your student to truly thrive.
Take a look at what’s inside—and as always:
We're here to support you every step of the way!
Topic of the Month
The Importance of Likely Colleges
Most students add a few likely colleges to their list almost as an afterthought. They focus their energy on Reach and Possible schools and assume the likelies will simply be there if needed. But that mindset misses the point.
A well-chosen likely school should never feel like a backup plan. It should feel like a place you would be genuinely excited to attend.
Start by identifying the characteristics you are seeking in your college experience. Are you looking for strong academics in a particular major? A collaborative environment rather than a competitive one? School spirit? Research access? Internship pipelines? An urban setting? A close-knit campus? You can find all of these qualities at colleges that admit more than half of their applicants — and at institutions where your academic profile makes you a strong candidate.
In admissions language, a likely school generally means two things: the institution often admits 50-75% or more, and your academic credentials fall comfortably within or above the middle 50% of admitted students’ test score ranges. While colleges evaluate applications holistically, academic performance remains the foundation of an admission decision.
It’s also important to understand that colleges, even those that admit a majority of students, do not want to feel like a safety school. If a college believes you are unlikely to enroll, it may defer, waitlist, or even deny you to manage its yield and protect its admission statistics. Demonstrated interest, thoughtful supplemental essays, and campus engagement matter everywhere.
Now, here is the strategic piece families sometimes overlook: what will your experience look like once you arrive?
Recently, a strong student was admitted to a highly selective university and to one of her likely schools, where she was offered a generous merit scholarship. After visiting both campuses, she realized something important. At the more selective school, large introductory STEM courses were graded on a strict curve. At her likely school, she was invited into the honors program and offered early research opportunities, where she could quickly connect with professors. She chose the likely school. By sophomore year, she was conducting research, holding a leadership role in a pre-med organization, and maintaining a GPA that positioned her well for medical school applications, all while graduating with significantly less debt.
From an ROI perspective, that decision mattered. Lower undergraduate debt meant greater flexibility when applying to medical school. Strong grades and faculty relationships translated into competitive recommendations. Confidence can lead to leadership and initiative. The return on investment was not just financial; it was academic and emotional. This is especially important for students thinking about graduate school in fields such as medicine, law, business, or STEM, where undergraduate GPA plays a meaningful role in admissions. Attending a “likely” school, your student can earn strong grades, build close relationships with professors, and stand out, which can create long-term advantages.
At some highly selective universities, students who were at the very top of their high school classes suddenly find themselves in the middle of a very competitive curve. Some thrive in that environment, while others quietly struggle with confidence. Being in a position to earn strong grades, build relationships with professors, conduct research, and secure leadership roles can matter more than the institution's name.
This idea isn’t new. In his book David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell discusses research suggesting that students often benefit from attending a college where they are among the stronger students in the class. When students feel capable and competitive, they are more likely to raise their hands, pursue ambitious opportunities, and persist in challenging majors.
Many outstanding colleges admit over half of their applicants. Institutions such as the University of Utah, the University of Oregon, Elon University, and the University of Denver all have strong academics, vibrant campus communities, and meaningful alumni networks. Many offer generous merit scholarships to attract high-achieving students. Smaller private colleges in the 50% admission range often boast excellent student-to-professor ratios, creating access and mentorship that can be harder to find at larger or more highly selective universities. The goal is not to attend the most selective college that will admit you; the goal is to choose a college where you will thrive.
Major Spotlight
Gerontology
Think about your grandparents for a minute. Or an older neighbor. Or even the people you see volunteering, working, traveling, and staying active well into their seventies and eighties. In fact, one in five Americans will soon be over 65. That shift is creating new careers, new challenges, and real opportunities for students who want to make a difference. In today’s rapidly aging society, careers that focus on older adults are essential. That shift is changing everything from healthcare and housing to transportation, technology, and public policy. If you’re someone who enjoys understanding people, solving real-world problems, and making a difference, studying aging, often called gerontology or aging studies, may be worth a look.
Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. In classes, you might learn how memory and cognition change over time, why diseases like Alzheimer’s affect the brain, and how lifestyle choices such as exercise, nutrition, and social connection influence long-term health. Case Western provides a multidisciplinary program designed to integrate research and theory about age, aging, and human development. At San Diego State University, you’ll find a dedicated School of Social Work with gerontology concentrations. The University of Southern California offers a social science track or a health science track. At UMass Boston, a nationally recognized aging studies program emphasizes research, social justice, and community engagement. In other words, you might see this interest reflected in majors like social work, human development, aging studies, long-term care administration, public health, or even healthcare management. The names vary, but the focus is similar: understanding how to improve the quality of life as people age.
Coursework often blends science with real-world experience. Many programs require internships in senior centers, hospitals, assisted living communities, or government agencies. You might help design activities for residents in a memory care unit, assist families navigating Medicare and Medicaid, or evaluate community programs that support “aging in place.” These hands-on experiences matter. They help you develop communication skills, empathy, leadership, and the ability to work with families during meaningful and sometimes difficult moments.
Technology is also part of the conversation. Students explore how telehealth, wearable health monitors, and smart-home systems allow older adults to live independently longer. They study public systems like Social Security and emerging policies that support caregivers. If you’re interested in law, public policy, healthcare, psychology, business, or nonprofit leadership, this field can connect to all of them.
Career paths are broad. Graduates work as program coordinators, elder-care advocates, activities directors, case managers, policy analysts, or healthcare administrators. Some continue to graduate school in social work, occupational therapy, nursing, public health, or law. With the senior population growing quickly, the demand for professionals who understand aging isn’t slowing down.
Studying aging isn’t just about jobs. It’s about understanding resilience, dignity, and community. It’s about helping families navigate change with compassion and skill. If you want a career that blends purpose with practical opportunity, this is a field that deserves your attention.
Career Paths for Gerontology Majors
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Social worker
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Neuroscientist
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Health service manager
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Social scientist
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Mental health associate
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Geriatric care manager
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Geriatric advocate
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Public policy administrator
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Grant writer
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Personal assistant
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Grief counselor
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Pharmacist
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Assisted living administrator
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Health educator
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Physical therapist
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Occupational therapist
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Geriatric psychologist
Money Matters
Understanding Your Financial Aid Letter
You’ve opened the email, logged into the portal, and there it is: your student has been admitted and offered a financial aid package. Relief and excitement last about thirty seconds. Then you start scrolling. Numbers appear. Some seem promising. Others are confusing. Loans and grants blur together, unfamiliar acronyms pop up, and suddenly you’re wondering whether this school is truly affordable or whether you’re missing something important.
You’re not alone. Financial aid award letters are notoriously difficult to interpret, largely because there is no required standard for how colleges present them. While schools follow general federal guidelines, they are free to format award letters however they choose. That means two colleges can offer very similar aid packages and make them look completely different on paper. Understanding how to read these letters is essential before making any enrollment decision.
A financial aid award letter outlines what a college is offering for one academic year. Most include some version of the school’s cost of attendance, the types of aid offered, your student’s Student Aid Index (SAI), and the remaining amount the family is expected to cover. The problem is that these elements aren’t always clearly labeled or even fully included.
One of the biggest sources of confusion is how loans are presented. Grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid, are often listed right alongside work study funds and loans that do need to be paid back. In some cases, the only clue that something is a loan is a small code such as “L” or “LN.” This distinction matters because most financial aid offered nationwide comes in the form of loans, not free money. A package that looks generous at first glance may rely heavily on borrowing.
Another common issue is how colleges calculate and present costs. Many award letters underestimate the true cost of attending the school. Some list only tuition and fees, leaving out room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Those missing line items can easily add $15,000 to $25,000 per year. Families often don’t realize this gap until the semester begins and unexpected expenses start appearing.
To make sense of the numbers, it helps to understand two terms that often appear on award letters: net cost and net price. Net cost subtracts all financial aid—including loans and work-study—from the cost of attendance. Net price subtracts only gift aid, meaning grants and scholarships.
This difference is critical. Net cost can give the impression that the school is covering more than it truly is, because borrowed money is included. Net price is closer to reality. It reflects the discounted price of the college after free money is applied, but before loans. This is the number families ultimately need to plan for, whether through savings, income, borrowing, or a combination of the three.
You may also see your Student Aid Index buried somewhere in the letter. The SAI represents what the federal formula estimates your family can contribute. It is not financial aid, even though colleges may roll it into their calculations or remaining balance.
Because award letters rarely show the full picture, families should reconstruct the true cost themselves. Begin with the school’s full cost of attendance, ensuring it includes housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Then subtract only grants and scholarships. What remains is the amount your family must realistically expect to cover each year. The NASFAA comparison worksheet is a useful tool.
There are additional details worth close attention. Some colleges “front-load” financial aid, offering higher grants during the first year and less in later years. This can make a school appear affordable at the start, but far more expensive over time. Ask whether grants and scholarships are renewable and whether typical aid amounts change after the first year. If answers are vague, tools like the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator can provide helpful context.
Private scholarships can also affect aid packages in unexpected ways. At some schools, outside scholarships reduce loans. At others, they reduce institutional grants. This practice, known as scholarship displacement, can significantly change the value of a private award. Always ask how outside scholarships are treated before assuming they will lower your out-of-pocket cost.
Finally, remember that financial aid offers are not always final. If a package doesn’t reflect your current financial situation or seems inconsistent with offers from similar schools, you may have grounds to appeal. Appeals are most effective when they’re based on documented changes or clear comparisons, not just disappointment.
Financial aid award letters aren’t designed to make this process easy. But with the right framework, they become far less intimidating. The goal isn’t just to see how much aid is offered—it’s to understand what’s free, what must be repaid, and what your family will truly be responsible for paying, both now and in the years ahead.
You’ve opened the email, logged into the portal, and there it is: your student has been admitted and offered a financial aid package. Relief and excitement last about thirty seconds. Then you start scrolling. Numbers appear. Some seem promising. Others are confusing. Loans and grants blur together, unfamiliar acronyms pop up, and suddenly you’re wondering whether this school is truly affordable or whether you’re missing something important.
You’re not alone. Financial aid award letters are notoriously difficult to interpret, largely because there is no required standard for how colleges present them. While schools follow general federal guidelines, they are free to format award letters however they choose. That means two colleges can offer very similar aid packages and make them look completely different on paper. Understanding how to read these letters is essential before making any enrollment decision.
A financial aid award letter outlines what a college is offering for one academic year. Most include some version of the school’s cost of attendance, the types of aid offered, your student’s Student Aid Index (SAI), and the remaining amount the family is expected to cover. The problem is that these elements aren’t always clearly labeled or even fully included.
One of the biggest sources of confusion is how loans are presented. Grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid, are often listed right alongside work study funds and loans that do need to be paid back. In some cases, the only clue that something is a loan is a small code such as “L” or “LN.” This distinction matters because most financial aid offered nationwide comes in the form of loans, not free money. A package that looks generous at first glance may rely heavily on borrowing.
Another common issue is how colleges calculate and present costs. Many award letters underestimate the true cost of attending the school. Some list only tuition and fees, leaving out room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Those missing line items can easily add $15,000 to $25,000 per year. Families often don’t realize this gap until the semester begins and unexpected expenses start appearing.
To make sense of the numbers, it helps to understand two terms that often appear on award letters: net cost and net price. Net cost subtracts all financial aid—including loans and work-study—from the cost of attendance. Net price subtracts only gift aid, meaning grants and scholarships.
This difference is critical. Net cost can give the impression that the school is covering more than it truly is, because borrowed money is included. Net price is closer to reality. It reflects the discounted price of the college after free money is applied, but before loans. This is the number families ultimately need to plan for, whether through savings, income, borrowing, or a combination of the three.
You may also see your Student Aid Index buried somewhere in the letter. The SAI represents what the federal formula estimates your family can contribute. It is not financial aid, even though colleges may roll it into their calculations or remaining balance.
Because award letters rarely show the full picture, families should reconstruct the true cost themselves. Begin with the school’s full cost of attendance, ensuring it includes housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Then subtract only grants and scholarships. What remains is the amount your family must realistically expect to cover each year. The NASFAA comparison worksheet is a useful tool.
There are additional details worth close attention. Some colleges “front-load” financial aid, offering higher grants during the first year and less in later years. This can make a school appear affordable at the start, but far more expensive over time. Ask whether grants and scholarships are renewable and whether typical aid amounts change after the first year. If answers are vague, tools like the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator can provide helpful context.
Private scholarships can also affect aid packages in unexpected ways. At some schools, outside scholarships reduce loans. At others, they reduce institutional grants. This practice, known as scholarship displacement, can significantly change the value of a private award. Always ask how outside scholarships are treated before assuming they will lower your out-of-pocket cost.
Finally, remember that financial aid offers are not always final. If a package doesn’t reflect your current financial situation or seems inconsistent with offers from similar schools, you may have grounds to appeal. Appeals are most effective when they’re based on documented changes or clear comparisons, not just disappointment.
Financial aid award letters aren’t designed to make this process easy. But with the right framework, they become far less intimidating. The goal isn’t just to see how much aid is offered—it’s to understand what’s free, what must be repaid, and what your family will truly be responsible for paying, both now and in the years ahead.