Dream School to Debt-Free: The College Planning Playbook with Shellee Howard

In this episode of The Above Board Podcast, John talks with Shellee Howard, college planning expert, founder of College Ready, and author of How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money. Shellee shares how families can navigate the college process with confidence by finding the right school, minimizing debt, and making smart decisions from start to finish. Whether your student is a freshman or a senior, this conversation will help you plan with purpose and peace of mind.

• Learn more at www.collegereadyplan.com
• Get Shellee’s book: How To Send Your Student To College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money

• 00:18 Meet Shelly Howard: College Planning Expert
• 01:17 Shelly's Personal Journey into College Planning
• 02:56 Building a Strategy for College Planning
• 06:48 The Importance of Passion and Purpose
• 12:01 Challenges Faced by High School Counselors
• 16:49 Empowering Students to Make Big Decisions
• 23:04 Starting College Planning Early
• 27:39 Financial Planning for College
• 28:54 The Importance of GPA and Test Scores
• 29:59 Creating a Unique Test Strategy
• 31:03 Maximizing Scholarships Through PSAT
• 31:45 Community Service and Passion with Purpose
• 33:39 The Role of Athletics and Extracurriculars
• 39:54 Understanding Different Buckets of Money
• 41:13 Negotiating College Scholarships
• 42:53 The Student Aid Index and FAFSA Insights
• 48:01 Wrapping Up and Additional Resources