College!

About College!

Let’s give the college planning game an Ol’ College Try—together. New episodes every Thursday at 12PM ET. Ol’ College Try is your go-to podcast for students, families, and educators ready to tackle the college planning process with confidence. Hosted by Matt Carpenter, Co-Founder of College Aid Pro, and Peg Keough, Director of Education, each episode breaks down the ins and outs of financial aid, scholarships, student loans, and smart college planning—without the overwhelm. 💡 Get expert insights, insider strategies, and the latest updates to make college more affordable and less stressful.

Publisher

Matt and Peg's College Planning Podcast

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Feb 2025

Latest episode

22 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Is Your College Financially Stable? What Parents Need to Know About College Closures, Tuition & Financial Health

   What happens if your student's college closes before they graduate? And how can families tell whether a college is financially stable before committing thousands of dollars to attend? With colleges facing declining enrollment, rising expenses, and increasing pressure to offer bigger tuition discounts, understanding a school's financial health is becoming an important part of the college search. In this episode of Ol' College Try, Peg Keough sits down with Gary Stocker, founder of College Viability, to discuss the financial challenges facing colleges and universities—and what families should look for before making one of their biggest financial commitments. From shrinking endowments and tuition discounting to graduation rates, college mergers, and financial warning signs, Gary explains why parents should evaluate a college's financial stability just as carefully as its academic programs, campus experience, and affordability. Tell us more about you! Fill out this survey. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzf_dMkxTLB5awNIhAvZMwCo-62t40iznop05T1bDMYs2YaQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111955835266384605203) In this episode, we cover: 🏫 Why a college's financial health should be part of every family's college search 🏠 Why Gary compares evaluating a college to getting a home inspection before buying a house 📉 How declining enrollment and the demographic cliff are creating financial pressure for colleges 🏷️ Why some colleges are dramatically lowering their published tuition prices—and whether these tuition resets actually work 🏦 Why a college's endowment matters—and what families should know about restricted and unrestricted funds 🤝 Why more colleges are considering mergers—and Gary's prediction about large-scale consolidation in higher education ⚠️ Why even well-known colleges with substantial endowments can experience financial challenges 📈 How families can use historical data and side-by-side comparisons to identify potential warning signs 💡 Why Gary calls researching a college's financial health the "reverse FAFSA" Key Takeaway: Before committing to a college, families need to look beyond the beautiful campus, impressive amenities, and generous scholarship offers. Just because a college is well-known, highly ranked, or offering a significant tuition discount doesn't necessarily mean it's financially healthy. Gary encourages parents to pay particular attention to enrollment trends and four-year graduation rates. These indicators can help families understand whether a college is attracting enough students and successfully delivering the education they're paying for. And remember, a college's financial health is another important part of finding the right fit. A school may offer everything your student wants academically and socially, but families should also feel confident that it can provide a stable educational experience through graduation. The goal isn't to scare families away from certain colleges. It's to help them make informed decisions, ask better questions, and avoid unpleasant financial surprises. 🔍 Check Your College's Financial Health: Visit College Viability to access the free College Viability Inspection Report and explore financial health indicators for colleges you're considering. → https://mycollegeviability.com (https://mycollegeviability.com) 🎵 Songs of the Week: 🎶 Thank You for the Music from Mamma Mia! 🎶 No Time at All from Pippin 🎶 The Warm-Up Song (vocal warm-up) 🎧 Listen to our full podcast playlist here: https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0 (https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0) 📚 Resources & Links 🔢 Understand your college costs for FREE → Create your MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0 (https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0) 📄 Download the Student Loan Fact Sheet → https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0 (https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0) 💰 Get 15% OFF sitewide with code COLLEGETRY15 → https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/ (https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/) 📱 Follow College Aid Pro: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro (https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro (https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro (https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro) 🌐 Learn more about College Aid Pro: https://collegeaidpro.com (https://collegeaidpro.com)

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Sorority Rush & Greek Life: What Parents Need to Know About Recruitment, Rejection & Finding Your Fit

   Sorority recruitment isn't what it used to be. Between TikTok's #RushTok, competitive applications, recommendation letters, and carefully curated social media profiles, joining Greek life has become a much bigger process than many parents realize. But what happens when your student doesn't get into the sorority they wanted? And how can parents help their daughters navigate the pressure to fit in without losing sight of who they really are? In this episode of Old College Try, Peg Keough welcomes back Suzanne Hanna, founder of Suzanne Hanna Consulting, to explore the realities of modern sorority recruitment and the emotional challenges that can come with it. From understanding how recruitment works to managing rejection, building confidence, and recognizing the value of authentic friendships, Peg and Suzanne discuss what families should know about Greek life before their student steps onto campus. Tell us more about you and topics you would like us to speak on! Fill out this survey! (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzf_dMkxTLB5awNIhAvZMwCo-62t40iznop05T1bDMYs2YaQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111955835266384605203) In this episode, we cover: 🎓 How sorority recruitment has changed over the years—and why it's more competitive than many parents realize 📱 How TikTok's #RushTok and social media are influencing students' college decisions and expectations about Greek life 🏛️ Why some students are choosing colleges based on their sororities and Greek life communities 📝 What goes into a modern sorority recruitment application, including resumes, transcripts, recommendation letters, and introduction videos 📚 Why academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and community service can play a role in recruitment 👩👧 How involved parents should be in helping their daughters prepare for sorority recruitment 📅 The differences between fall and spring recruitment—and why timing can affect the experience 🧠 Why learning to handle rejection and uncomfortable situations is an important part of growing up 🌱 How parents can encourage students to work through challenges rather than immediately walking away when things get difficult 🏫 Why Greek life isn't the only way to find community, friendships, and a sense of belonging on campus Key Takeaway: Sorority recruitment can offer incredible opportunities for friendship, leadership, personal growth, and community—but it can also bring intense pressure, comparison, and rejection. The most important thing students can do is stay true to who they are. Getting into the most popular sorority doesn't guarantee happiness, and being rejected by a chapter doesn't determine a student's worth or their ability to find meaningful friendships in college. For parents, the goal isn't to eliminate every uncomfortable experience. It's to help students build the confidence and resilience to navigate those experiences, learn from them, and keep moving forward. And remember, Greek life is just one part of the college experience. There are countless ways for students to find their people, build connections, and create a college experience that feels right for them. 🎵 Song of the Week: Put the Message in the Box by World Party 🎧 Listen to our full podcast playlist here: https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0 (https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0) 📚 Resources & Links 🔢 Understand your college costs for FREE → Create your MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0 (https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0) 📄 Download the Student Loan Fact Sheet → https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0 (https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0) 💰 Get 15% OFF sitewide with code COLLEGETRY15 → https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/ (https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/) 📱 Follow College Aid Pro: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro (https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro (https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro (https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro) 🌐 Learn more about College Aid Pro: https://collegeaidpro.com (https://collegeaidpro.com)

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Early Decision vs. Early Action: When Should Your Student Apply to College?

   Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling Admission—what do all of these college application options actually mean? And could the deadline your student chooses affect not only their chances of admission, but also how much scholarship and financial aid money they receive? In this episode of Ol' College Try, Peg Keough sits down with CAP expert Melissa Meyer to break down the different ways students can apply to college and what families should consider before choosing an application strategy. From the financial risks of binding Early Decision to scholarship priority deadlines that may come before a college's regular application deadline, Peg and Melissa explain why families need to look beyond simply getting the application submitted on time. Tell us more about you! Fill out this survey: ⁠Ol' College Try Survey (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzf_dMkxTLB5awNIhAvZMwCo-62t40iznop05T1bDMYs2YaQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111955835266384605203) In this episode, we cover: 🎓 The differences between Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission 🔒 Why Early Decision is binding—and what students and parents are agreeing to when they apply ED 📅 The difference between ED1 and ED2 and how the timing can affect your application strategy 💰 Why families need to understand whether an Early Decision school is affordable before submitting the application ⚠️ Why applying ED without understanding the potential financial aid package can put families in a difficult position 💵 How Early Action and priority scholarship deadlines can be tied to merit scholarship opportunities 🚫 What Restricted Early Action and Single-Choice Early Action mean—and why families need to carefully read each college's rules 🏆 How waiting until Regular Decision could potentially mean missing out on scholarship opportunities 🔄 The difference between Rolling Admission and Rolling Decisions 🪑 Why waiting too long at a rolling admission school could mean fewer available spots—or less scholarship money 📬 Why students shouldn't wait until 11:59 PM on deadline day to submit their applications 🖥️ Why checking each college's student portal is critical for making sure transcripts, recommendations, test scores, and other materials have actually been received 📝 Why application materials don't always arrive at the college as one complete package 🗓️ Why families should start researching deadlines after junior year and work backward to build an application plan 😌 How getting applications done earlier can reduce stress and let students actually enjoy their senior-year holiday season Key Takeaway: Your student's college application deadline isn't just about admissions. The way—and timing—in which they apply can also affect scholarship opportunities, financial aid, and your family's ability to compare college costs. Before choosing Early Decision, make sure the college works academically, personally, and financially. For other schools, don't assume the published Regular Decision deadline is the only date that matters. Research Early Action and priority scholarship deadlines, understand every school's individual requirements, and aim to submit early enough to leave time to catch and correct any problems. The earlier families understand these deadlines, the easier it becomes to break the application process into manageable pieces instead of scrambling at the last minute. 🎵 Song of the Week: Aid Maze by Joe Smith 🎧 Listen to our full podcast playlist here: https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0 (https://hubs.li/Q03kvxZn0) 📚 Resources & Links 🔢 Understand your college costs for FREE → Create your MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0 (https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0) 📄 Download the Student Loan Fact Sheet → https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0 (https://hubs.li/Q04cmnWD0) 💰 Get 15% OFF sitewide with code COLLEGETRY15 → https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/ (https://shop.collegeaidpro.com/) 📱 Follow College Aid Pro: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro (https://www.facebook.com/CollegeAidPro) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro (https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@collegeaidpro) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro (https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro) 🌐 Learn more about College Aid Pro: https://collegeaidpro.com (https://collegeaidpro.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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