by Tom O'Hare | Nov 3, 2026 | College Planning, Uncategorized
Families of high school seniors bound for college in September 2027 have been filing applications and are now 90% complete… a relief, but now we wait. Although the heavy lifting feels over, all eyes should shift to: will I get in and, equally important, how will we pay?
Choosing a college and and managing the “how to get” process is critical, but deciding how to select your choice after high school is vital. One of the 5 Criteria to Say Yes is affordablity. Don’t overlook completing and filing financial aid and external private scholarship applications.
Completing and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uncovers a student and families eligibility for need-based financial aid. Resources provided to eligible students and families from all public and private colleges, universities, approved career institutions, federal and state programs, and some private external scholarship providers. Take the 30 minutes to complete and file the FAFSA. Need help – call.
Another vital activity while waiting to learn about acceptances is applying for scholarships. Yes, it is reported to be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, but uncovering a scholarship and receiving an award can mean the difference between going and not. Please email me at tom@getcollegegoing.com, and I’ll send you a PDF copy of my Scholarship Workbook. It contains tips and ideas on how to find $$$$.
Community College – Career School
Heading in a different direction after high school requires planning, too. Don’t leave learning the rules and guidelines for attending and paying until the last minute. Many programs fill up fast, and applying for financial aid and scholarships follows the same timelines as at a four-year college.
T-day Break
Thanksgiving is the first significant break in the action for college and career students, especially first-year students who left in September. It was their first brief but extended break. As the father of four, I always found the break interesting, with new dynamics and my desire to learn everything about their academics and campus life.
As parents, we’re anxious to learn everything, while students are interested in the three R’s: refueling, reconnecting, and recharging their batteries. They can be talkative or quiet. Don’t despair; just be patient.
The moment will come to ask questions and dig into how campus life is going—and whether there are potential bumps in the road. As parents, we must listen for signs and be patient. Please send them to the T-Day football game and feed them. Then, inquire about the first semester. If they’re struggling, let them know it’s normal, but encourage them to consult academic support and resident life and explore options for joining a club or organization to get involved. Thanksgiving is a bit past the midpoint of the semester. Your student has three weeks to “crush it” before the end of the semester and Christmas break. Address things now.
My colleague, Mya Anderson from Student Empowered, shares other important tips and ideas to support your 1st-year student at home this holiday season.
Finally, families of 11th-grade students, your journey begins now. PSATs are over; this marks the official start of your student’s and family’s college planning. November and the Fall provided a great time to get an early jump on building study and time-management skills that impact GPA and SAT scores, and to begin the discussion on funding, finding, and setting realistic expectations for life after high school. Please take a second to review my Fall activities for 11th graders. https://getcollegegoing.com/fall-planning/
Everything starts with a conversation!
We help students, families, and individuals with one-on-one consultations, support for the DIY-AI parent, and when questions force you to the ledge.
We share our knowledge, answer your questions, and give you peace of mind.
Learn more at www.getcollegegoing.com
by Tom O'Hare | Oct 5, 2026 | College Admissions, College Planning, College Readiness, Uncategorized
- College is No Longer the Only Path
- One Path Can Be Extremely Expensive
- Life After HS Planning Begins Now
Life after high school shouldn’t be just one thought, go to college. Students and families can follow six pathways after graduation. Sure, you might hear someone talk about it, or politicians and educators express the need, but few pathways are supported and celebrated as intensely as college. Now, don’t get the wrong idea: college is an essential future path for students and families. As a college advisor, I recognize the need for more skilled trade professionals, more people willing to serve, and more young entrepreneurs who are reskilling. We have an unfortunate gap in how we invest in early awareness, education, and counseling to expose and support students in middle school and the early days of high school. Let’s start holding signing sessions and raise a glass to all destinations after high school. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/is-there-a-counseling-gap-for-non-college-going-students/2026/08
To pursue a college education after high school, students and families need to budget and plan. The sticker price now averages $70K to $100K a year to purchase a year’s worth of education at leading colleges in Massachusetts, New England, and across the country. While few pay the sticker price, many students and families can expect an annual funding gap of $20K to $30K. A gap that reflects choices. What college we investigate, select, and attend, and what influences our decision. A gap ultimately paid from monthly disposable income, savings, and potentially credit-based financing. HINT: Financial aid DOES NOT cover the whole gap.
September of a student’s senior year is a time of excitement and joy, as twelve + years of structured education come to an end. For many, it is a time of stress, anxiety, and emotions as they worry about what’s next. Many parents, caregivers, and guardians feel the same. The reality is, September doesn’t have to be this way. Too many students and families wait until September to start thinking about life after high school. We leave it to the professionals who surround students daily, but in reality, they are overextended and under-resourced to meet every student’s needs. Parents, please take the reins and begin planning the end of 10th grade. This process involves education and awareness, conversation and goal setting, assessing academic and financial strengths and weaknesses, and applying resources to help. Creating a student and family plan and working through it at a life-balanced pace can lead to a stress-free, successful outcome.
Closing Thought – Op-Ed Comment
If this September is an example of how our educational and business community is supporting and advocating for change – the dial is moving ever so slowly. In my work as a college and career school advisor, I continue to experience a growing number of students and families scrambling to figure out what to do after high school. Their questions are the same as my parents’ generation, but now come with an increasingly high level of stress and anxiety that is negatively affecting school and work-life balance. These questions span all socioeconomic statuses and neighborhoods. Unanswered questions can lead to risky personal and financial decisions.
If what you’re reading strikes a chord, reach out and share your thoughts. Email me at tom@gtcollegegoing.com. If you’re a business leader or educator and think your workplace might benefit from a seminar or friendly employee Q&A session, let’s get something on the calendar.
by Tom O'Hare | Jun 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
Do you have your family’s college and career school planning team in place? Here are some of professional on my team.
Financial Advisor to guide you on how to build resources to help with your purchasing power.
CPA/Tax Professional to ensure your tax returns are in place and ready to be synched with the FAFSA.
PSAT/SAT/ ACT tutor to help booster academics, and testing readiness.
Estate Planner to secure the correct legal, academic, and medical documents to protect you and your student who becomes an adult at 18 YRS of age.
Private Education Loan Lenders to help with financing the gap between COA and resources to cover the cost to enroll in school and refinancing programs to help with debt on the books.
Insurance Agent to double check your auto for cars on campus, home policies for lost in a dorm, or left on a train or plane, and medical or health reasons makes them leave school and you paid tuition out of pocket.
As a holistic college advisor these are the many professionals on my team as I work to guide and advise high school and college age families to meet their educational goals at the right college and career school, as well as graduates entering the workforce carrying educational debt.
Is your team in place ready to support you and your family?
Reach to me at Get College Going if you need to build a local and trusted team or you need someone to come in from the bullpen.
by Tom O'Hare | Mar 30, 2026 | Uncategorized
Education Loan Changes July 1, 2026
The Trump Administration, through the Office of the Secretary of the US Department of Education, has implemented major policy changes affecting federal student loan financing and repayment.
These changes affect several loan programs, including the Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS Loans. Changes that begin in July of 2026 and run through 2028.
Individuals and families hoping to access the federal loan program need to plan now to avoid critical financing challenges in September and for future enrollment.
Individuals who paused their student loan repayments or need to make adjustments due to changes in budgets and financial programs also need to move quickly to understand the new rules.
Download the Factsheet explaining the changes.
Contact us at Get College Going with questions or to discuss your planning needs.
by Tom O'Hare | Mar 10, 2026 | Uncategorized
As I wrote last month, the current approach is the old way! Planning for college and career school after high school, or in our adult years, is no longer about finding the school first, applying and getting in, and then figuring out how to pay for it. Why? Well, let me ask you.
Known as the Enrollment Barrier1, students and families discover too late in the senior year of high school, when it’s crunch time to decide, and while enrolled in college or a career school, that they can make the payment. Families will take out a private education loan to cover the payment, which may carry a high interest rate if credit is a concern.
The New Reality is approaching the process of acquiring a college or career school education as one would purchase a first home, buy a car, or invest for retirement. Ask yourself, would you make one of these high-cost investments without first understanding the cost of the investment? What will the long-term cost be, especially if loans are involved? Do we have the financial resources to make the 1st year, 2nd-year, and subsequent payments? Are resources immediate, disposable income, savings, or a reliance on scholarships and need-based aid?
To determine your purchasing power, conduct a college or career funding assessment. What would your demonstrated need be if applying today, based on family income and assets? Would we qualify for merit scholarships, and what would the net process amount be? Then ask, where will the money come from, what’s the financing strategy?
Shopping without this critical knowledge does not preclude a student or a family from pursuing their dream. It means ensuring that the search, evaluation, cost comparison, selection, and enrollment are grounded in reality rather than hope and dreams, thereby protecting one’s personal and financial investment.
College Planning in March looks a little different for high school seniors than their counterparts in the lower grades.
Class of 2026 – Decision Season
The focus shifts from possibilities to which institution will be my next educational home.
- Watch for Admissions Decisions: All notifications should arrive in March or early April. Check your applicant portals frequently, as many schools no longer send physical mail.
- Compare Financial (Aid) Offers: Once you are accepted, you will receive a financial aid award letter. Review these carefully, comparing “net price” (what you actually pay) rather than just the scholarship amount.
- Visit Campuses: March and April are prime times to ask the hard questions to uncover the answers to the 5 Criteria to Say Yes. Go as a family to “Admitted Student Days” or through visits arranged by the Admission Counselor.
- Mid-April Decisions Due: Official deposit day is May 1, but to lessen stress, get it in on or before the deadline.
Class of 2027 – Launch Stage
If we’re heading to college or a career school after high school, it’s time to get serious.
- Spring Testing: This is a peak time for national testing. More and more colleges and universities are reinstating admissions requirements. The March SAT is a popular first attempt, allowing you to identify weak spots, obtain help, and plan retakes in May or June.
- Build Your List: Start narrowing down your “Stretch, Match, and Safety” schools. The aim is a balanced list of 10-15 by August. You should attend Open House events and schedule your own visits to evaluate your options.
- Draft a Résumé: A snapshot of your high school career to date, academics, activities, awards, and work—an important reference tool to share and demonstrate your uniqueness.
- Plan Summer Activities: Research internships, summer programs, or work. Admissions officers look for “meaningful engagement” during the summer before senior year.
The journey of finding and selecting a college or career school can be complex, daunting, and exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here is how parents can simplify the process and lower the temperature:
1 Have the Money Talk before the search starts to qualify the aspect of purchasing a higher education
- Talk about the Process, Journey periodically, not every day. Too much can lead to burnout for students, parents, and guardians.
- Stay organized; use calendars to track appointments, visits, and especially admissions, financial, and scholarship deadlines.
- Need help, outsource the nudge using your high school counselor, testing, essay, or college adviser. Keep the student-parent relationship strong.
- Read the 10 Admissions “Secrets” Families Often Miss2 by Kate Sonnenberg
For retirement savings, we turn to a financial adviser; for buying a home, to a realtor; and for home remodeling, to contractors. Thinking of college & career school; how to pay, where to go, and how to get in, and managing education debt? That’s our lane, our expertise!
Schedule a free consultation or learn more at www.getcollegegoing.com
1 NASFAA: Report: The Biggest Barriers to Higher Ed Enrollment Are Cost and Lack of Financial Aid
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
by Tom O'Hare | Feb 15, 2026 | Before, College Planning, Uncategorized
Now that the new year is in full swing, we’re wrestling with whether to keep our resolutions or change them; life’s events keep pressing forward and filling the calendar.
Can you believe it? Students are entering the final semester of their 1st year of college, their K-12 career, 4 years of college, or 18 months of career school. WOW
When speaking with students, especially high school seniors, they express a strong sense that things “are real now”. “Ya, I am going to be done in May. Those completing their 1st year of college often note that classes, faculty, and possibly the adjustment were more complex than anticipated. For now, focus on preparing yourself as a parent! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deviced/202205/how-to-parent-a-graduate
ICYMI
Significant changes are coming to college funding this July 1, 2026
The changes affect the rules governing federal student loan financing and repayment programs. Here is a small taste of what’s ahead for new and existing families and individuals:
- Elimination of Grad PLUS Loans: This program has been a critical resource for individuals seeking financial aid to pursue professional degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Physical and Occupational Therapists, and Teachers.
- Parent PLUS Restrictions: New Parent PLUS loan limits to be capped at $20,000 per year, with an aggregate limit of $65,000.
- Limited Repayment Options: New borrowers after this date will only have access to two plans: the New Standard Plan and the RAP.
Final details on the full implementation of these changes have not been revealed. My calls to Congress and the Administration to inquire have gone unanswered. We will share more as we learn.
NOTE: Before you plan to raid your retirement or ask a 65+ to co-sign a private education loan, check with your financial professional or call me. There is always PLAN B.
Employers & Employees
Last month, I briefly touched on the impact of financial wellness on employees’ productivity and mental well-being. Money stress isn’t just a personal problem anymore—it’s a business risk.
Managing debt, financing college, and helping high school- and college-age students pursue their dreams are not employers’ direct responsibilities. But if your employees bring their stress to work, and they will, having the workforce’s financial well-being programs can save your bottom line. can have on the bottom line and spark employee loyalty. Call to learn more.
WHAT’s NEXT
Families of High School Seniors
- Comparing College Offers – Apps are in, and now it’s time to step up the process of evaluating and comparing offers, admission & financial aid to select the college, university, or career school to attend in.
- Don’t Be Pressured – Postponing the start of college by taking a gap year is becoming increasingly common among students at all levels. After a K-12 journey, many students question their next steps, need a break, or want to evaluate which path to pursue after high school. Read my blog article on Education and Career Pathways After High School https://getcollegegoing.com/education-career-pathways-after-high-school/
- Scholarships – The hunt is on! Check with the School Counselors Office, current employers, colleges of interest, and beyond. Be creative, use unique keywords, and make it a family competition. The more you can find, the less you might need to borrow.
Families of High School Juniors
- The Old Way is Broken – What is your spending and buying power? Are you ready for the cost to obtain a 4-year public or private undergraduate degree, or a career school education? Understanding investment savings, eligibility for financial aid, and expectations for each family is critical before creating a list or visiting a campus. The financial risk is too high!!
- Line in the Sand – This year is Pivotal! Students need to focus on their academic and personal development. Enrolling in challenging academic courses, maintaining strong grades, drafting an essay, and refining one’s skills are essential this year. I’m asking my clients, what makes you unique?
- Build College Relationships – If you think college admissions know you, think again. They buy students’ names, mail, and email love notes, and we all think we’re being recruited. No!! Students need a resume, a LinkedIn profile, and a plan to reverse the recruitment process.
Kickstarting Your Return – Transfer
Whether you’re a recent high school grad, have been out for a short while, or are considering a different venue, your work is not any different. Just shorter!!
- What are your personal goals? – Are you ready for full-time or part-time? Do you need to keep working to maintain your lifestyle or meet your family’s needs? Which educational environment suits me best? Community College, Certificate, Online, or Skilled Professional Training at the IBEW Training Center?
- How will I afford this reboot? – Employee tuition assistance, traditional college financial aid, scholarships, and other resources are all on the table.
Guidance – Counseling & Advice?
For retirement savings, we turn to a financial adviser; for buying a home, a realtor; and for home remodeling, contractors. Thinking of college & career school; how to pay, where to go, and how to get in, and managing education debt? That’s our lane, our expertise. Consider Get College Going!
Schedule a free consultation to learn [617-240-7350] (email: tom@getcollegegoing.com ) or visit www.getcollegegoing.com
