If your child was accepted to college but the financial aid offer doesn’t reflect your real financial situation, you may be able to appeal — and win.

In this episode, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough explain how need-based financial aid appeals work, who should lead the process, and how colleges evaluate income, assets, businesses, and home equity. You’ll hear practical advice, insider insight from former financial aid professionals, and examples of appeals that resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in additional aid.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

Merit scholarships aren’t always final—and a smart appeal can make a real difference. In this episode of The Ol’ College Try, host Peg Keough sits down with Mike Hinderman, Director of Scholarships at the University of Oklahoma (and a CAP financial expert), to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how merit appeals actually work.

Mike breaks down OU’s approach to automatic merit scholarships, what the appeals process looks like, and why your admissions counselor can be your best ally. They also dig into what separates a strong appeal from one that gets ignored—like why the student must lead the appeal, how to share the right “missing context” (awards, leadership, challenges overcome), and what language to avoid (hint: “price match” and demands don’t land well at many public universities). Plus, Mike shares real examples of appeals that stood out to committees and why timing and demonstrated interest can influence outcomes.

If your family is staring at an award letter and wondering “Can we ask for more?”—this episode is your playbook.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

You got the acceptance letter—now what does the financial aid offer actually mean?

In this episode of Ol' College Try The Podcast, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down one of the most confusing parts of the college process: financial aid award letters. From grants and scholarships to loans and work-study, they explain how to read between the lines, spot misleading language, and understand what you’ll really pay—not just this year, but over all four years.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between merit scholarships and need-based grants (and why it matters long-term)

• How to tell when you’ve received your final financial aid offer

• Why loans and work-study can make a college look cheaper than it actually is

• Common red flags on award letters that families often miss

• What underclassmen parents should be thinking about now to avoid surprises later

Whether your student is Class of 2026 and actively receiving offers—or you’re planning ahead with a younger student—this episode will help you make smarter, more confident decisions about college affordability.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

It’s a New Year’s special on Old'College Try, and Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough are kicking off 2026 with the college-focused resolutions every family should consider.

In this episode, Matt and Peggy each share two practical, high-impact resolutions designed to reduce stress, improve communication, and lead to better college and financial outcomes. From starting honest conversations early, to understanding academic, personal, and financial fit, to teaching students how to advocate for themselves through financial aid appeals—this episode is packed with real-world advice families can actually use.

You’ll hear why transparency matters, how to give your student ownership without losing guardrails, and why “never accept the first offer” is a life skill—not just a college strategy.

If college is anywhere on your family’s horizon, this is the perfect way to start the year informed, confident, and prepared.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

In this special holiday edition of Ol’ College Try, hosts Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough tackle listener-submitted Q&A questions just in time for the end of the year. From financial aid appeals at state schools to common FAFSA and CSS Profile misconceptions, Matt and Peggy break down what families really need to know—without getting lost in the weeds.

This episode covers:

• How student and parent assets impact financial aid

• Whether retirement accounts affect FAFSA and the CSS Profile

• When and why it’s worth appealing a financial aid offer (even at state schools)

• How colleges think about full-pay families versus discounted offers

• When families should start working with College Aid Pro—and why earlier is better

Plus, the episode wouldn’t be complete without some holiday fun. Matt’s daughter, Emma Claire Carpenter, joins as a very special guest to answer the toughest Christmas questions of all—what’s on her wish list and what she loves most about the holidays.

Whether you’re navigating senior-year stress or just starting to think about college planning, this festive Q&A episode offers practical insights, reassurance, and a reminder to enjoy the season. Happy holidays from the Ol’ College Try team!

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

Early Decision and Early Action results are rolling in — and for many families, emotions are running high. In this episode of Old College Try, Matt Carpenter and Peggy Keough, the Fair Godmother of Financial Aid, break down what families should do when early college decisions arrive… especially when the answer isn’t what you hoped for.

They walk through the key differences between Early Decision, Early Action, deferrals, waitlists, and rejections, and share practical next steps for each scenario. Most importantly, Matt and Peggy dive deep into the emotional side of the college admissions process — how parents can support their students through disappointment, manage expectations, and keep perspective when a “dream school” says no.

Drawing from personal stories, professional experience, and years of working with families, this conversation reframes college rejection as a life lesson, not a life sentence. If your family is navigating early admissions decisions — or preparing for them — this episode offers reassurance, strategy, and much-needed clarity.

Topics covered include:

• What to do after an Early Decision acceptance

• How to respond to deferrals and waitlists

• Why college admissions decisions are business decisions, not personal judgments

• How parents can model healthy mindset and resilience

• Why where you go to college is not who you become

Whether your student was accepted, deferred, waitlisted, or denied, this episode will help you move forward with confidence and perspective.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

Got into your dream school Early Decision…but not loving the price tag? In this episode of Old College Try, Matt Carpenter and “fairy godmother of financial aid” Peg Keough break down how to appeal an Early Decision financial aid offer without breaking your ED agreement—or your budget.

They cover:

• What Early Decision really means (and why that contract is a big deal for parents, students, and counselors)

• Why “negotiate” is a dirty word in financial aid—and what language to use instead

• How to know if your offer is fair, low, or wildly under-awarded

• When merit aid appeals make sense (and when they really don’t)

• Real family case studies, including big wins from smart appeals

Matt and Peg also unveil College Aid Pro’s Net Price Calculator Challenge: run the college’s NPC, compare it to your myCAP projection, and if the college is more accurate than we are, we’ll send you $100.

If Early Decision decisions are landing at your house, this is your playbook.

Connect with Us!

Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠

Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠

PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

What is demonstrated interest—and can it really change a student’s chances of getting accepted? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try, host Peg Keough sits down with Mark Stucker, producer of Your College Bound Kid, to break down how colleges measure interest and why it matters for admissions and financial outcomes. You’ll learn how schools use demonstrated interest to predict yield (who’s likely to enroll), avoid “unlikely to enroll” applicants, and protect admit rates. Mark explains the most important ways students can show real interest—campus visits (in-person or virtual), college fairs, optional interviews, strong “Why Us?” essays, email engagement, and even website traffic colleges track through their CRMs. Peg and Mark also discuss which colleges care most about DI, common myths, and practical, low-stress strategies families can use to help students stand out and make better college decisions. If you’re building a college list or applying this year, this is a must-listen.

Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸

Connect with Mark Stucker!

Podcast: Your College Bound Kid

Website: https://schoolmatch4u.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-stucker-b59b5012/