I’ve received many great questions about college recommendation letters. It’s in your best interest to get the best possible letter. Here’s how to get started!

Links mentioned:https://sites.allegheny.edu/covid19/https://www.beloit.edu/back-at-beloit/https://www.desu.edu/student-life/student-health-services/covid-19

While there’s nothing wrong with being undeclared, it does mean you have to ask yourself slightly different questions when you’re choosing a university. In this episode, Pam talks about what to do when choosing a college whey you don't know your major. In the scholarship segment, Pam shares tips on getting organized by deadlines.

Students make major life decisions about where to go to college and what to do when they get there, without ever having spent time learning about themselves to make informed decisions. In today's episode, Pam talks about how personality tests can be used in the college admissions process. In the scholarship segment, Pam talks about the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship.Links mentioned:Free Personality Test https://www.16personalities.com/Coca Cola Scholarship https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/

This month, states all over the U.S. are sponsoring free College Application Month events where students and families can get help with the application process. In this episode, Pam talks about College Admission Month what it is and how you can participate. In our scholarship segment, Pam talks about the Horatio Alger Scholarship.Links mentioned:https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/states/https://scholars.horatioalger.org/

Are you wondering what to look for in a college? In today’s episode, I am going to talk about factors to consider when choosing a college. In our scholarship segment, I am going to talk about how to find institutional scholarships.

Seven things that every college-bound high school students should plan for in their academic year.Learn more about College Admissions Academy

This is part 2 of two-part mini-series. In last week's episode, I talked about what student activism is. In today's episode, I share a few scholarships for students who are activists or involved in their communities.Links Mentioned:Episode 153 College Admissions Academy

Do you have a teen interested in student activism? In today's episode, I'm going to talk about the history of student activism. Why colleges welcome it and how your team can get involved.Join the College Admissions Academy Group Coaching Program

The Common App has added a special “Additional Information” optional essay about how COVID-19 has impacted you.  Should you write this extra essay? And if so, what should you talk about?Links:Natural Disasters Cannot Stop You from Applying to CollegeJoin College Admissions Essay Bootcamp

Today’s episode is part 1 of a 2 part mini-series on Tackling the Common App. Today I’m giving an overview of the Common App and the  Common App essay and next week the COVID-19 question that is appearing for the first time on the common app. If your student has not already started on their Common App essay, now is the time. Links Mentioned: College Essay Bootcamp for Class of 2021Common App Activities

This is our 150th episode! If you are new to our podcast, then this is a good episode to get started. In this episode, I talk aboutAbout PamCore topics and themes in this podcastWhere to get startedCore Topics such as The Four Types of Financial Aid Do you have a student graduating in 2021 or 2022? Then learn more about College Admissions Academy.

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Scholarships for Families Who Don’t Qualify for Need-Based Aid This podcast is a continuation of our “Ask Pam” series and addresses an important listener question: “What are the top 10 scholarship opportunities for families that will not qualify for need-based financial aid?” Ten places to find scholarships that aren’t need-based: Start with your high school’s […]The post 130: Don’t Qualify for Need-based Aid? (Replay) appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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What is CSpan C-SPAN, the public affairs network providing Americans with unfiltered access to congressional proceedings, was created in 1979 as a public service by the cable television industry and is now wholly funded through fees paid by cable and satellite companies that provide C-SPAN programming. C-SPAN connects with millions of Americans through its three […]The post 127: StudentCam Competition appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

  About Scholarship America Established in 1958, Scholarship America is an organization that’s committed to supporting students in paying for college, and advocating for college grant funding legislation. Two Main Pools of Scholarships: Dollars for Scholars – just under 500 chapters in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Search Scholarship America to find a […]The post 126: Interview With Scholarship America appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Amie Lucas, the executive director, spoke with us about the Bryan Cameron Foundation, established in 2015. Bryan Cameron is passionate about the youth of America and is a firm believer in education. Every year, the foundation awards 10-15 Cameron Impact Scholars full tuition at the four-year school of their choice. These merit-based scholarships are awarded […]The post 125: Interview With Bryan Cameron Foundation appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

About Scholarships360 Born out of a desire to share scholarship resources with students, the website now profiles more than a thousand scholarships and offers guidance in other areas of the financial aid process. Scholarships are being added daily. They do not collect and sell students’ personal information for marketing purposes. How it works Visit the […]The post 124: Interview With Scholarships 360 appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

About Do Something DoSomething.org is the largest tech company exclusively for young people and social change. The are activating 5 million young people (and counting!) to make positive change, online and off, in every US area code and in over 131 countries. When you join DoSomething.org, you join something bigger than yourself. You team up […]The post 123: Interview With Do Something appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

  November is National Scholarship month! Throughout November, stay tuned to The Scholarship Shark podcast for resources to help college-bound students find money-saving options. Peterson’s Scholarship Database The database is free and easily accessible and includes private aid which can be applied to a number of schools. Peterson’s lists 1.6 million different awards in more […]The post 122: Interview With Peterson’s appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program Foundation Overall The foundation features student-centered experiences including field trips to the presidential library, immersive leadership development experiences, and leadership semesters in Washington, DC. In Simi Valley, students can engage in a week-long intensive summer camp. Educational opportunities are geared towards students in middle school through college and beyond. About the […]The post 121: Interview With Reagan Foundation appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

About Raise Me Raise Me is a free college readiness tool that rewards students with micro-scholarships for their accomplishments throughout high school. The micro-scholarships are created in conjunction with 4-year institutions as a way for high school students to gradually accrue funding. Getting Started To get started, create a profile, add achievements to your portfolio, […]The post 120: Interview With Raise Me appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

November is National Scholarship month! Throughout November, stay tuned to The Scholarship Shark podcast for resources to help college-bound students find money-saving options. About Thrivent Student Resources Thrivent Student Resources (TSR) offers online, do-it-yourself resources for navigating the journey before, during and after college. The TSR site includes a scholarship search tool that offers more […]The post 119: Interview With Thrivent Student Resources appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

National Scholarship Month November is National Scholarship Month, referred to by the National Scholarship Providers Association as a time to raise awareness of scholarship opportunities for current and future college students. In today’s interview, I talk with Kevin Ladd, COO of Scholarships.com. Kevin Ladd led a varied career before becoming a web developer. He built […]The post 118: Interview with Scholarships.com appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

You may not think that the words free college tuition would be found in the same sentence. It may come as a surprise, but there are, in fact, several colleges across the nation that offer free college tuition. In today’s episode, I am talking about colleges that offer free college tuition, what they are, how […]The post 117: Tuition Free College appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

  Paying for college is often compared to paying for airline tickets because no two people pay the same price. How much you pay for college depends on so many factors. In this episode, I talk about knowing what those factors are and how to determine what your costs will be. What Is Net Price? […]The post 116: How Much Will I Pay for College? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Knowing when to apply to college requires a bit of planning. Typically students wait until they have settled on test scores that will most likely get them into their dream school. But not having the ideal test score should not stop you from planning when to apply.  Before knowing when to apply, it is essential […]The post 115: When Should I Apply to College? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

  Order out of Chaos Background After her son’s diagnosis with ADHD and other learning differences, Leslie sought ways to untangle his world, harnessing her intuition to transform things for him. 15 years later, Leslie is a coach, global speaker, community leader, and she’s committed to helping parents help their students be successful in learning […]The post 114: Creating Order Out Of Chaos With Leslie Josel appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

  What Brings Families Speech Therapy? Parents seek speech therapy when they discover communication can be a frustration point for their young child. Older children may be able to express their own concerns about communications skills based on challenges they experience at school, or they have organization and planning concerns.   For middle schoolers moving […]The post 113: Helping Teens Become Better Communicators With Jann Fujimoto appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

      Testing and assessments used Psychoeducational evaluation – determines if a child is eligible for services. Identifies if there is a learning disorder; assesses general cognitive abilities. Neuropsychological assessment – looks at processing issues that can interfere with learning, attention, executive functioning, memory, social/emotional functioning.   Expected outcomes Dr. Wilson lays out a […]The post 112: Understanding The Adolescent Brain With Karen Wilson appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

With this podcast, we’re kicking off our four-part series on back-to-school resources to help students reach their next stage of development. Throughout the series, strategies and insights shared by our speakers will be useful to students of all abilities. Today’s guests include Rachel Kapp and Stephanie Pitts, educational therapists and co-hosts of the Learn Smarter […]The post 111: Helping Teens Learn Smarter appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, I talk about what students in the 9th, 10th and 11th grade should be doing to prepare them for the college application season in their senior year.The post 110: Academic Planning for 9th, 10th and 11th Grade Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In today's episode, I answer a caller's question about homeschooling and the college admissions process.  I invite my dear friend, Cheryl Carter into the conversation to answer the caller's question. We discuss how to create a high school transcript the “homeschool advantage” – what it is and how to use it the importance of raising […]The post 109: [Ask Pam] College Planning for Homeschool Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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Before you send your teens back to school, make a supply list that includes items they will need to prepare them to apply to college.  In this episode, Pam shares her top five must-have back to school supplies for college-bound teens.     Paper Planner It’s easy to let your phone or electronic organizer take over […]The post 106: Back-to-School List for College-Bound Teens appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Aaron Peterson has worked in the education space for close to 20 years and is President and Founder of Achieve Today. Mr. Peterson’s goal is to promote personal and educational development using one-on-one coaching and a customizable education platform. Achieve Today works with clients of all ages and has created a youth program called Teen […]The post 105: Achieve Today Scholarship appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, Pam shares scholarships for c students.  If you do not have a 3.0 GPA, there is good news!  There are plenty of scholarships for students who deserve to be win one for something other than high grade. Also, in this epsidose, Pam shares that it's her birthday!  She would love to hear […]The post 104: Scholarships for C Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

While many colleges require a 3.0 or higher GPA for admissions into their schools, there are some schools that are willing to accept students with less than perfect grades.  There are colleges that recognize that some students are late bloomers and yet, can still handle the rigors of a collegiate environment.  They factor other metrics […]The post 103: College Planning for C Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Many families dream of BIG sports scholarships for their students without knowing what it actually takes to get them.  What colleges offer full-ride scholarships and how many do they actually offer?  In this episode, Pam talks about the truth about athletic scholarships. According to the NCAA, approximately eight million students currently participate in high school […]The post 102: Reality Check – The Truth About Athletic Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

If you are a parent of a high freshman or school sophomore, you may be thinking you have plenty of time before you need to start thinking about planning for college. However, the early years are a great time to start thinking about college. There are several ways you can put your 9th and 10th-grade […]The post 101: Getting Your Teen College Ready appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It’s our 100th episode!  In this episode, we talk about Pam’s background and how she entered this industry, who we are, what we do and whom we serve. Pam Andrews is a mom of four with children from elementary school to college.  After graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in electrical […]The post 100th Episode Celebration appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

CLICK HERE to attend the Live Information Session:  College Admissions Academy   Bookoo Scholarship Bookoo is a local, free place to buy and sell stuff from your neighbors. The setup is similar to Craigslist, but more local.   You can email or mail, but you’ll need to print several pages and complete the application. Amount: […]The post 099: July Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Many colleges develop summer reading programs with one or more books for their incoming freshmen to read.  This is often organized through the college’s orientation department and is typically the first assignment a student gets.  According to the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina, […]The post 098: Summer Reading for College-bound Teens appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

End of Year Senior Checklist Graduation is behind you and the fall semester will be here before you know it.  In this episode, Pam shares a few things that first-year students and their parents should do now before school starts.The post 097: End of Year Senior Checklist appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

You may think that it’s too late to apply to college and get financial aid.  Well, for some colleges it’s not. There are currently about 500 colleges and universities that are still accepting applications for fall 2019 and get this — some with financial aid and housing available! In this episode, Pam talks about how […]The post 096: It’s NOT Too Late to Apply to College appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Getting a high school student ready to apply to college while the parent serves in the military can present a unique set of challenges. In this episode, Pam with talks with two military moms about those unique challenges.  You will hear from Misti McAniff and Natalie Mack about military life, their families and how college […]The post 095: Conversations with Military Moms appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, we are talking about college and financial planning for the dependents of those who served. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This allows institutions of higher learning (IHL) that grant degrees to enter into an agreement with the VA. The schools will […]The post 094: College Planning for Military Dependents appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode we talk about what US Military Schools are, the admissions requirements and the duty requirements after graduation. This episode is a part of a series that celebrates National Military Appreciation Month. Links Mentioned: Service Academies US Military Academy US Naval Academy US Airforce Academy US Coast Guard Academy US Merchant Marine AcademyThe post 093: What are US Military Schools? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Mother’s Day Episode 92 This episode celebrates Mother’s Day with other moms who are walking the parent path both as moms and as members of the college admissions industry.   Our guests today include Monica Matthews, Debbie Schwartz, and Christine Maziarz. Monica Matthews, mother of three, helps guide families through the scholarship process at How […]The post 092: Convo with College Moms appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Spring College Planning for High School Juniors The junior year is a turning point for high school students.  Think about this.  You are three-quarters of finished with your high school career and have less than a year to finalize planning for college.  If you have not started planning for college, start now.  In this episode, […]The post 091: Spring College Planning for Juniors appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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Behind the Scenes of Instructional Learning                     Episode 89 Instructional learning is an emerging field that benefits both the academic and corporate environments, and it is being used in a variety of contexts, including: corporations (training and professional development), government, corporate-higher educational partnerships and higher education. Massive […]The post 089: Behind the Scenes of Online Learning appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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Distinguished Young Women Scholarship ProgramEpisode 87 This episode is the final episode in our series that celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of women! Originally founded in 1958, the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program aims to empower young women to reach their full individual potential. This is done through a free program that offers life skills […]The post 087: Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and Girls   Episode 86 This episode is a continuation of our series that celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of women! Dr. Sharon Jones is an educator who has taught computer science and IT for the past 16 years. She has taught mainly in the business and IT realm, including teaching […]The post 086: Women and STEM appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Reasons to Choose a Women’s College    Episode 85 This is a continuation of our series that celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of women! Women’s colleges are great places for women to get a taste of what it feels like to be in charge, and they help increase the chance that a woman will become […]The post 085: Reasons to Attend a Women’s College appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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Colleges that Change Lives – Reed CollegeEpisode 81 This is our fourth episode in the 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Our guest speaker is Milyon Trulove, Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, at Reed College located in Portland, Ore. At 1,400 students, Reed is a small, liberal arts college. […]The post 081: Reed College [CTCL] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Colleges that Change Lives – New College of FloridaEpisode 80 This is our third episode in the 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Sharon Alcock, Associate Director of New Student Recruitment, is actively engaged in recruitment efforts for the New College of Florida. New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college, offers […]The post 080: New College of Florida [CTCL] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Colleges that Change Lives – Allegheny College                     Episode 79 This episode is the second in a 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Be sure to download the action guide that corresponds to this series linked in the show links. Jason Andracki, a first-generation college […]The post 079: Allegheny College appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Colleges that Change Lives                                                        Episode 78 This episode is the first in a 6-part series focusing on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Be sure to download the action guide […]The post 078: Colleges that Change Lives appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Where Are They Now? Episode 77   Over the holidays, I reached out to past scholarship winners to find out how they’re doing. These were high-performing, very active students during high school and they have continued their trajectory as community leaders in the years since.   Check out their “after” testimonies on this podcast and […]The post 077: Where Are They Now? [Scholarship Winners] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

2019 Trends in College Admissions Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! Starting this month, we’ll release new podcasts on Fridays instead Wednesdays. This change will allow us to spend more dedicated time with our clients each week.   Be on the lookout for two new Scholarship Shark programs: Scholarship Bootcamp – for graduating seniors […]The post 076: 2019 Trends in College Admissions appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Here’s the final installment of our 2018 Holiday gift guide! This episode features an interview with Shante Nicole. Nicole is an author, financial educator, certified credit consultant and founder of two nonprofit organizations, including Financial Common Cents. Her game, Fundamentals of Finance flash cards, is a brand-new financial literacy program geared towards helping children and […]The post 075: Financial Common Cents [2018 Holiday Gift Guide] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Here’s the second installment of our 2018 Holiday gift guide! This episode features an interview with Paul Vasey, creator of CashCrunch Games. Vasey, a former teacher of Business Studies, set up an educational business with the mission of helping young people learn about and make sense of money. CashCrunch Games are based on a straightforward […]The post 074: Cash Crunch Games [2018 Holiday Gift Guide] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Holiday Gift Guide Episode 73 Let’s kick off our 2018 Holiday gift guide with the first of three gift-oriented episodes! This episode features an interview with Raeshal Solomon of My Little Banker. Solomon has written more than 20 books for young children and self-published the “My Little Banker” series. Solomon loves teaching financial literacy to […]The post 073: My Little Banker [2018 Holiday Gift Guide] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Happy Thanksgiving! This is the time of year where we pause to give thanks.  In this bonus episode, Pam shares with students the five people they should thank in the college admissions and scholarship application process. Say thanks to… The sponsoring organization Those who wrote your recommendation letters Guidance Counselors Mentors and advisors Your parents […]The post 072: Give Thanks appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

This episode is part two in a two-part series of interviews with college admissions representatives at the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) National College Fair held in Philadelphia, Pa. These events are a great way for students to hear first-hand from college representatives or alumni, and to learn about programs they might not […]The post 071: Interviews at a College Fair (Pt. 2) appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

INTERVIEWS AT A COLLEGE FAIR This episode is part one in a two-part series of interviews with college admissions representatives at the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) National College Fair held in Philadelphia, Pa. These events are a great way for students to hear first-hand from college representatives or alumni, and to learn […]The post 070: Interviews at a College Fair (Pt. 1) appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Scholarships for Graduate School Students This podcast is the final episode in the “Ask Pam” series and addresses an important listener question: “I’m starting graduate school in a few weeks. How do I weed out the scholarships for graduate students? Also, how do you stay motivated when loans appear so much more convenient?” But first, […]The post 069: [Ask Pam] Scholarships for Graduate School Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

This podcast is a continuation of our “Ask Pam” series and addresses an important listener question: “I’m Interested in playing basketball in college. How can I do that?” Depending on your level of competitiveness and long-term goals, there are several associations and divisions to consider for collegiate athletics. What are the different associations of collegiate […]The post 068: [Ask Pam] Playing Sports in College appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, Vanessa asked what scholarships are available for families who do not qualify for need-based aid. Scholarships for Families Who Don’t Qualify for Need-Based Aid This podcast is a continuation of our “Ask Pam” series and addresses an important listener question: “What are the top 10 scholarship opportunities for families that will not […]The post 067: [Ask Pam] Scholarships If I Don’t Qualify for Need-based Aid appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, I will talk about scholarships for private high schools and scholarships by school year. THE COST OF PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS The private elementary school average is $9,398 per year and the private high school average is $14,205 per year.  Because of these costs, families are looking for ways to reduce the cost […]The post 066: Scholarships to Attend Private High Schools appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Scholarships This episode provides an overview of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) scholarships. This podcast also concludes our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. What is a HACU school? There are more than 300 HACU-recognized schools, also called Hispanic-Serving Institutions, where total Hispanic enrollment constitutes a […]The post 065: HACU Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Applying for the National Hispanic Recognition Program The National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) was initiated in 1983, by the College Board, to identify outstanding Hispanic high school students and to share information about these academically well-prepared students with subscribing colleges and universities. In this episode Pam shares What the National Hispanic Heritage Program is How to apply […]The post 064: Applying for the National Hispanic Recognition Program appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

WHAT IS THE HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors planning to enroll in a four-year college after graduation, community college transfers, and students already enrolled in college or graduate school. HOW IS HISPANIC HERITAGE DETERMINED To qualify for this program, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino […]The post 063: Applying for the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

What is Financial Aid? Financial aid is money that can help you pay for college.  There are four types of financial aid that students may be eligible to receive.  Some financial aid needs to be paid back or earned, and some financial aid does not need to be repaid.  There is financial aid money available to all kinds […]The post 062: 4 Types of Financial Aid appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

College Hurricane Preparedness If a major hurricane threatens your college town, it is vital that you have a plan in the event of an evacuation.  Most college campuses will close and not allow students to stay in campus buildings as a storm shelter if an evacuation order is given.  Because of this, students must have […]The post 061: College Hurricane Preparedness appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

What Are Accommodations? Accommodations allow students to bring eligible items into their SAT and ACT centers and any other adjustments that fit the needs of test-takers with health conditions and disabilities. These adjustments do not remove standardization, but instead, provide students with health-related needs equal opportunity. They are not limited to students with only cognitive […]The post 060: Taking the SAT/ACT with Different-abilities appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, I talk about how to use your past SAT or ACT to help you improve on future tests.  What if I told you that you could get a copy of your past ACT or SAT test booklet with the correct answers? What if I told you that you could use the results […]The post 059: Using Past SAT/ACT to Improve Your Score appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, Lauren and I talk about What is a good SAT or ACT score What it means to “aim high and look low” Know when to take the test ABOUT LAUREN GAGGIOLI Lauren Gaggioli is a Number 2 Pencil Nerd. At least, that's what her dad nicknamed her in high school because she […]The post 058: Interview with Test Prep Expert Lauren Gaggioli appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Demystifying the SAT and ACT The ACT and SAT are nationally recognized standardized tests and common admission requirements for US schools.  Both tests have questions that are objective and only have one right answer. A common myth is that elite colleges look more favorably upon SAT than ACT scores. In reality, all colleges and universities […]The post 057: Demystifying the SAT and ACT appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Creating a Test Prep Timeline In this episode, I talk about how to create a test prep timeline for the SAT, ACT and the PSAT so that you have a solid strategy to improve your chances of scoring well.  Although many high schools recommend starting in the spring of the junior year, I talk about […]The post 056: Creating a Test Prep Timeline appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

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I Like You, Do You Like Me?  Understanding Demonstrated Interest Deans of Admission are under pressure to enroll an exact number of students each year.  They do this by factoring in what is called, Demonstrated Interest. Demonstrated Interest has proven to be a valuable tool to achieve this aim.  One way for them to know […]The post 054: Demonstrated Interest appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Three Questions to Ask Colleges About Money There are about 2,500 four-year public and private college and universities in the United States.  Along with focusing on the academic environment, families can focus on college financing by asking these three specific question.   In this episode, we’ll discuss three questions that families should ask colleges about money.  […]The post 053: Three Questions to Ask Colleges About Money appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Kim Harvey is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and currently resides in Delaware with her husband Sylvester “Ty” Harvey, Jr. Kim has worked 30 years in the telecommunications industry at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, and currently Nokia. Her experiences include Systems Engineering, Operations Planning, Product Management, Market Development, Technical Sales, and Supply […]The post 052: How to Administer a Church-sponsored Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Scholarship Winner Miracle Olatuji is an entrepreneur, public speaker, forthcoming author and a recent graduate of the Charter School of Wilmington.  She is the founder of OpportuniMe, a startup with the mission to help high schools and their students to easily find and create year-round, high-quality experiential learning opportunities. Additionally, she has volunteered with Headbands […]The post 051: Interview with Scholarship Winner Miracle Olatunji appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE TRAVELING THIS SUMMER Do you know what to do if you are traveling this summer?  In this episode, we will talk about how high school students can use the experiences they acquire this summer on their college admissions application. We also share a few scholarships that students can apply […]The post 050: What to Do If You Are Traveling This Summer appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING THIS SUMMER Do you know what to do if you are volunteering this summer?  In this episode, we will talk about how high school students can use the experiences they acquire this summer on their college admissions application.  We also share a few scholarships that students can apply […]The post 049: What to Do If You Are Volunteering This Summer appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

What are your summer plans?  Are you going away, studying abroad, or taking classes this summer, or maybe you are working during the summer? While you might prefer to be laying on a beach, the reality is that having a summer job can be a big help by making it easier to pay tuition, housing, […]The post 048: Working During the Summer appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

If you are wondering what the AP Scholar Awards are and why you may want to achieve this designation, then listen to this episode.  What Are the AP Scholar Awards? The AP Scholar Awards are a series of awards given by the College Board to students who have earned a score of 3 or above […]The post 047: AP Scholar Awards appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

What is a 529 Plan A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs. 529 plans, legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code  What can you do if you have unused money in a […]The post 046: What Should I Do With Unused 529 Money appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Whether your student is still in the decision making process about which school to attend in the fall or has made a decision, making the most of accepted students day is a critical first.  Accepted Students Day allows students to experience life as a student.  This can include deeper exploration into your chosen major, discuccsions […]The post 045: Making the Most of Accepted Students Day appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, I talk about coping strategies for anxiety in teens with Teen Therapist Mallory Grimste.  We discuss what are some signs that teens are experiencing anxiety and stress, how parents can support their teens and what teens can do before getting to the tipping point.  Finally, Mallory share tips on handling rejection and […]The post 044: Coping Strategies for Anxiety in Teens appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It's always nice when our kids call home, but coming home is so much better!  My son is home from college on spring break and joins me in this episode.  We talk about the differences between his first year of college and his sophomore year, summer internships and the importance of calling home to Mama.  […]The post 043: [Interview] Sophomore Year Update with Darrell Jr. appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The #NeverAgain movement started after 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County in Florida were gunned down on Feb. 14. In this episode, we discuss several key student leaders in this movement, upcoming walkouts and marches, many high schools' reactions to the movement and the commitment that many colleges and […]The post 042: #NeverAgain appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

February is National Financial Aid Awareness Month.  In this episode, we discuss the six common FAFSA mistakes that impact financial aid. A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid.  About 30% of all FAFSAs are selected for verification.  Verification is the process to identify and correct common FAFSA […]The post 041: FAFSA Mistakes that Impact Financial Aid appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

You remember as if it were yesterday: you were watching your child crawl when they suddenly began to walk. Now they are young adults, fully walking, and about to leave home. When you are face-to-face with the reality that your child is going to college, no matter how independent they may be, you worry about […]The post 040: Six Months Until Send-off appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Michelle Lofton's daughter, Lauren, has been accepted to several colleges and awarded merit scholarships.  One of the schools has awarded all but $2,000 through scholarships and grants.  But the challenge for Michelle is that this is not her daughter's #1 choice.  Should she continue to apply for private scholarships as she waits on decisions from the other […]The post 039: [On-air Coaching] Should My Daughter Apply for Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, Pam is joined by a very special guest, nationally-recognized motivational speaker, Darrell “Coach D” Andrews.  Darrell is known as “The Education Motivator.”  He has authored several books including, The Purpose Living Teen:  A Teen's Guide to Living Your Dream and The Parent as Coach:  Developing a Family Dream Team.  He is the creator […]The post 038: [Interview] Success Strategies for the New Year appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In sixth grade, when middle school bullies and crushes seem to be the only thing on everyone’s minds, Sydney Floryanzia was finding a way to solve one of the National Academy of Engineering’s fourteen Grand Challenges of the 21st century; Reverse Engineering the Brain. Her journey to this unusual point was even more peculiar, as […]The post 037: [Scholarship Winner] Sydney Floryanzia Connects Unlikely Things appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode two of my mom friends and I have a conversation about parenting young adults.  We talk about how to support them during the college application process, the transition to college and what are our next parenting steps.  We share parenting challenges and I even talks about my unconventional way of getting in […]The post 036 Parenting Young Adults [Conversation with College Moms] appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

High School Juniors and Seniors, make your winter break count! Think about your list of college questions. Think about size and location of a college you want to attend. Brainstorm a list of attributes that you want for your college. If your family is traveling for the holidays considered stopping with your parents to visit […]The post 035 What to Do During Winter Break appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Today I am so excited to introduce to you one of the students who worked with me while he was in high school! His name is Quan Usher and he is currently a freshman at the University of Michigan. These student interviews are my favorite episodes! Each student shares such great advice and nuggets of […]The post 034 [Scholarship Winner] Quan Usher appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 033: [Holiday Gift Guide] Money Mindset Gifts for Kids appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Special Feature: Pam and her daughter, Sophia, attended TEDx Teen NYC 2017 In early November, I had the awesome opportunity of attending TEDx Teen NYC 2017 with my fifteen-year-old daughter, Sophia. I am so excited to have her as a guest here for the first segment of the podcast! Some of our favorite speakers at […]The post 032: Gratitude and the College Admissions Process appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

I love receiving questions and feedback from my listeners and from students who have decided to work with me to maximize their opportunities to get into the college of their choice. Some of the feedback I've been receiving lately has been in the form of one particular question: What is the best practice for filling […]The post 031: Maximize Your Extra Curricular Activities to Get More College Money appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

There are many ways to wisely approach preparation for college in order to get the most out of it, and one of the best is the possibility of taking dual enrollment courses while still in high school. On this episode of The Scholarship Shark, I outline what dual enrollment is, how it works for high […]The post 030: Are Dual Enrollment Courses Right For You? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It is always exciting to speak to an ambitious young person who is both eager to learn and diligent in pursuing their learning. Tamara Marshall is one of those people and I absolutely love talking with her. On this episode of The Scholarship Shark, the two of us chat about Tamara's experience applying for college, […]The post 029: [Scholarship Winner] Tamara Marshall Gives Her Advice to Prospective College Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It’s always a good idea to do your homework before applying to colleges and one of the best ways to do that is to attend a college fair. I recently had the opportunity to attend a Christian college fair and was able to chat with 6 different admissions counselors about their schools, application processes, scholarships […]The post 028: Q&A With Admissions Counselors at a Christian College Fair appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Even if it’s not statistically true, 2017 seems to have been one of the biggest years for natural disasters in history. I can’t remember a time when we’ve had so many crisis events going on at the same time, and the timing is especially difficult for high school students who are beginning their college application […]The post 027: Nothing Can Stop You From Applying For College, Not Even Natural Disasters appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

If you’re looking for college admissions assistance for yourself or your child who’s a future college student, this episode of The Scholarship Shark should be of particular interest to you. I was recently in attendance at a HBCU College Fair and chatted with a number of admissions counselors. My goal was to learn exactly what […]The post 026: College Admissions Assistance: Advice from College Admissions Counselors appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It’s not a normal thing by any stretch, but on occasion, students are offered money for college, by schools attending college fairs. Today’s episode features a student who was offered scholarship money on the spot at a fair. Leslie Tyler is a senior from Wilmington, Delaware who recently attended a college fair with her mother. […]The post 025: [Scholarship Winner] How College Fairs CAN Be a Place to Find Scholarship Money appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Perhaps you’ve heard of The National Merit Scholarship Program and wonder what you need to do to apply. If so, that’s what this episode of the Scholarship Shark Podcast is all about.  The NMSP is an academic scholarship competition administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. This […]The post 024: How to Apply for the National Merit Scholarship, Step by Step appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

What are some ways to get involved on campus?  How do you manage balancing classes and activities?  Three returning students share how they started clubs and got involved both on and off campus.  In this final episode of the New Student Success series, Arianna McAniff, Tamara Marshall and Jacob Hansen answer these questions and more. […]The post 023: Getting Involved on Campus appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

According to Forbes Magazine, Career Services is the most important department on campus.  Career Services has one goal and that is to assist students and alumni land a job.  Career Services, which may be alternatively called a career center, career placement office, or career office help students meet that goal.  They do this by offering […]The post 022: [New Student Success] What is Career Services? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Academic resource center provides writing assistance, test preparation, study skills instruction, help with English as a Second Language and time management.  They also arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities to assure them access to instruction and campus activities.  Academic support is not just for students with a documented disability or IEPs.  It's for all […]The post 021: [New Student Success] What is Academic Support? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In order to succeed academically and to enjoy all the campus has to offer, students must be cared for mentally and have a sense of well being within their campus community.  Student health and counseling centers focuses on student well being by providing medical care and counseling that are accessible to students. Dr. Robinson received […]The post 020: [New Student Success Series] Understanding Transition and Campus Health Services appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Academic Advisors assist students in developing an academic and career plan, monitor students in the major, and discuss how a course of study fits a particular academic or career interest.  Advisors answer questions concerning a specific academic concern, such as problems with a particular class, and guide students through the registration process, including help if […]The post 019: [College Freshman Success] What is Academic Advising? appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 018: [Student Interview] Meet Nic Wilcott appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 017: [Scholarship Winner] Winning a $10,000 Scholarship for Dreamers, Innovators and Creators appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 016: [Interview] College Fairs Online appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 015: [Scholarship Winner] Creating A Scholarship Video Essay appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Four CRITICAL steps that students entering the junior year of high school in the fall should do.The post 014: What You Should Do Prior To Your Child’s Junior Year appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post #013: Success Leaves Clues with Daniel Nathanson appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Summer is a great time for high school students who are college-bound to use that time to their advantage.  In this episode, Pam Andrews discusses four things that students should do this summer. Mentioned in this episode: To register for the SAT To register for the ACT Follow:    /ScholarshipShark    @BiteCollegeDebt Subscribe:    The […]The post #012: Summer Tips for College-bound High School Students appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Meagan Warren is 13 years old and lives in Bexley, Ohio with her mom. She attends Bexley Middle School and is in the 8th grade. Meagan founded her own 501c3 charity, Books For Bedtime, when she was 11 years old and in the 6th grade. Her favorite classes in school are Latin and Language Arts, […]The post 011: [Scholarship Winner] You’re Never Too YOUNG to Win appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Rusty Fields is an enthusiastic, passionate, and highly self-motivated individual who consistently seeks new opportunities to learn and grow. His burning desire and passion for becoming a neurosurgeon are equally matched by his dedication and commitment towards civic engagement and public service. He attributes his industrious spirit and creative nature to his Jamaican-immigrant mother. A […]The post 010: [Scholarship Winner] Creating Volunteer Opportunities appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

Amira Daughtery graduated from Dekalb Early College Academy (DECA) in 2016.  She is currently attending Agnes Scott College.  Amira is the recipient of the Coca-Cola Scholarship, the Honors Merit Award at Agnes Scott College and the Writing Award at Agnes Scott College.  Amira graduated at the top of her class as the Valedictorian.  She is […]The post 009: [Scholarship Winner] Earning Associates Degree in High School appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It’s the time of year when high school seniors have applied to colleges and are waiting for their acceptance and award letters. For some, it’s an exciting time receiving the news of “Congratulations you have been accepted to ABC University.” But for others, it is getting the news that they did not get accepted into […]The post 008: [Interview] How To Overcome Rejection appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

This is the second in our 2017 series “Success Leaves Clues” where Tyler Miles, a college freshman at Yale University shares about establishing good habits in high school, tips for writing the essays and his process for winning scholarships. Scholarships Won: Gates Millennium – up to full cost of college after aid and parent contributions […]The post #007: Success Leaves Clues with Tyler Miles appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities.  The scholars program provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to students pursuing a bachelor's degree at select universities.  In this […]The post #006: Winning the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

It's a New Year and a great time for new beginnings.  This is the time of year when we focus on setting goals, planning for the future, revisiting our hopes and making resolutions.  Having hopes for the new year is good, but when it comes to the college planning process, HOPE is NOT a strategy.  […]The post #005: Understanding The 4 Phases Of College Planning appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, you'll hear from Grace a first year college student at Rice University.  Grace is the founder and director of Kickin' Violence, a 501(c)3 non-profit that seeks to empower the next-generation of leaders in non-violence advocacy through a unique platform of education, service, and martial arts. In high school, she served as President […]The post 004: [Scholarship Winner] Non-violence Advocacy Wins appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

In this episode, I'll share a strategy to reduce your taxable income so that you can lower the estimated family contribution (EFC) on your FAFSA when filing for school year 2018. Disclaimer:  This post provides a guide or a place to begin.  It is an education tool that presents general information.  It is not intended […]The post 003: Prior Year IRA Contributions and the FAFSA appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 002: The New SAT appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.

The post 001: Turning Summer Experiences into College Scholarships appeared first on The Scholarship Shark.