EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 28 MIN
College Admissions Q&A: Financial Fit, Merit Aid, GPA Myths, and Test Scores Explained
from Ol' College Try · host Matt and Peg's College Planning Podcast
What does “financial fit” actually mean? Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do weighted GPAs really matter? And how do merit scholarships actually work?In this month’s College Admissions Grab Bag episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough answer real questions submitted by families navigating the college process right now. From financial aid strategy to GPA confusion to choosing colleges without knowing a major, this episode is packed with practical advice families can use immediately.In this episode, we cover:🎓 What “financial fit” really means — and how to avoid colleges your family can’t realistically afford💰 Why borrowing limits and financial planning matter more than ever📝 SAT vs. ACT: Does one look better to colleges?📊 Weighted vs. unweighted GPA explained (and why colleges recalculate anyway)🤔 What to do if your student has no idea what they want to major in🏫 The difference between colleges vs. universities and private vs. public schools💸 How merit aid actually works — and which students are most likely to qualify📈 Why starting college planning early can create more scholarship opportunities later💡 Key takeaway: College planning gets much less stressful when families understand both the academic and financial side of the process early. Financial fit matters just as much as admissions fit.🎵 This episode’s song pick: Waylon Jennings classics, including Luckenbach, Texas, Lucille, and Good Hearted Woman — Matt’s road-trip soundtrack recommendation after returning from Zion National Park.🎧 Listen to our full podcast playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7qS...📚 Resources & Links🔢 Understand your college costs for FREE→ Create your MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0→ Student Loan Fact Sheet: https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0💰 Get 15% OFF sitewide with code COLLEGETRY15→ https://collegeaidpro.com
What this episode covers
What does “financial fit” actually mean? Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do weighted GPAs really matter? And how do merit scholarships actually work?In this month’s College Admissions Grab Bag episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough answer real questions submitted by families navigating the college process right now. From financial aid strategy to GPA confusion to choosing colleges without knowing a major, this episode is packed with practical advice families can use immediately.In this episode, we cover:🎓 What “financial fit” really means — and how to avoid colleges your family can’t realistically afford💰 Why borrowing limits and financial planning matter more than ever📝 SAT vs. ACT: Does one look better to colleges?📊 Weighted vs. unweighted GPA explained (and why colleges recalculate anyway)🤔 What to do if your student has no idea what they want to major in🏫 The difference between colleges vs. universities and private vs. public schools💸 How merit aid actually works — and which students are most likely to qualify📈 Why starting college planning early can create more scholarship opportunities later💡 Key takeaway: College planning gets much less stressful when families understand both the academic and financial side of the process early. Financial fit matters just as much as admissions fit.🎵 This episode’s song pick: Waylon Jennings classics, including Luckenbach, Texas, Lucille, and Good Hearted Woman — Matt’s road-trip soundtrack recommendation after returning from Zion National Park.🎧 Listen to our full podcast playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7qS...📚 Resources & Links🔢 Understand your college costs for FREE→ Create your MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0→ Student Loan Fact Sheet: https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0💰 Get 15% OFF sitewide with code COLLEGETRY15→ https://collegeaidpro.com
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College Admissions Q&A: Financial Fit, Merit Aid, GPA Myths, and Test Scores Explained
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