Private Scholarships Demystified: How to Find Them, Win Them, and Avoid Costly Mistakes

Private scholarships can feel overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes too good to be true. So how do families actually use them to lower the cost of college?In this episode of The Ol’ College Try, Peg Keough sits down with Jocelyn Pearson, founder of The Scholarship System, to do a deep dive into the world of private (aka external) scholarships. Jocelyn shares how she personally earned six figures in scholarships—enough to graduate debt-free with overage checks—and how families today can create a repeatable strategy to do the same.You’ll learn:The difference between private scholarships, merit aid, and need-based grantsWhy your FAFSA Student Aid Index does not automatically disqualify youHow to identify your student’s unique “scholarship superpower”Which scholarships are worth your time (and which are just sweepstakes in disguise)When to start applying—and why junior year is idealHow recurring scholarships workWhat scholarship displacement is and how to protect your awardIf your family falls into the “income gap” and you’re worried about taking on debt, this episode will give you practical, actionable steps to start closing that gap the smart way.Whether you have a high school junior, senior, or even a current college student, it’s not too late to build a strategy that works.Tune in and learn how to turn private scholarships from a buzzword into a real plan.Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Sign Up for Our FREE College Success Bootcamp: https://hubs.li/Q042SVt10 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸Connect with Jocelyn! Website: ⁠⁠https://thescholarshipsystem.com/ Sign Up for Her Free Master Class: https://thescholarshipsystem.com/mycap/