In this must-listen episode of College!, host Peg Keough sits down with CAP Admissions and Financial Aid Expert Dan Bisig to break down everything families need to know about the Common App. What is it? When should students start? What are the big changes for this year’s cycle—and how can families avoid costly mistakes?

Dan shares expert insight on timelines, supplemental essays, scholarship opportunities, recommendation letters, and the biggest Common App updates for 2025 applicants. Whether you're a rising senior or a proactive junior parent, this episode is packed with actionable guidance to help reduce stress and maximize success.

🎧 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠College Aid Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
• Create a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free MyCAP account⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

The big, beautiful bill has passed—and it's bringing some of the biggest changes to higher education policy in years. In this episode, Matt and Peg break down what this means specifically for college-bound families.

They tackle the most important updates taking effect July 1, 2026, including:

• 📆 Timing: Who’s affected and when the changes kick in

• 💸 Pell Grant: What stayed the same and new usage rules

• 🚫 Parent PLUS Loan Cap: A new $65,000 lifetime limit—and why that might be a good thing

• 🧾 Simplified Loan Repayment: Two streamlined options, including the new “RAP” plan

• 🎓 529 Plan Flexibility: Expanded use for K–12 and workforce training

• 🏛️ College Accountability & Endowment Tax: How schools may feel the pressure to perform

Matt and Peg offer real talk and practical insights for families navigating the college planning process—plus a dose of optimism as they look ahead to a potentially more equitable and transparent system.

Don’t miss next week’s episode, where Peg sits down with CAP College Admissions Expert Dan “Lasso” Bisig to unpack the Common App before it officially goes live on August 1!

In this episode, Matt and Peg break down how colleges price, discount, and compete for students—especially post-May 1. From Syracuse’s aggressive merit offers to the broader strategy behind tuition discounting, you'll learn how to navigate financial aid, appeal offers, and avoid paying full price. Get insider tips to play—and win—the college funding game.

👉 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠College Aid Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
• Create a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free MyCAP account⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

Join Peg Keough and her son, Brennan Keough, as they unpack the real challenges of the college admissions journey—from building the right college list and having honest financial aid talks to navigating first-year loneliness and picking a school that fits. A must-listen for families preparing for the college process.

👉 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠⁠⁠⁠College Aid Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠!
• Create a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free MyCAP account⁠⁠⁠⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Us⁠⁠⁠⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

In this episode of College!, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough unpack a flurry of hot-button topics shaping the higher ed landscape.

First, they dissect the Wall Street Journal's latest report on elite colleges' response to a proposed tiered federal endowment tax, including an alternative plan from the so-called “Learn Alliance” (think Yale, Stanford, Princeton) to allocate 5% of their multibillion-dollar endowments toward student aid and teaching. Will it stick? And can it help flip the script on exclusivity in admissions?

Next, they react to Trump's controversial effort to ban international students from Harvard. They explore how international enrollment fuels the U.S. higher education system and why such rhetoric could drive top global talent away.

Finally, the duo continues their 529 college savings plan series, diving deeper into:

• How 529s work (tax-free growth & qualified expense rules)

• Missteps to avoid (like overfunding or risky late-stage investments)

• Comparison with custodial accounts, Roth IRAs, and private 529 options

• Smart savings strategies like dollar-cost averaging

• Tips for families in high-tax states

Whether you're a parent planning for your child’s education, a counselor navigating FAFSA policy shifts, or just trying to stay on top of the higher ed rollercoaster, this episode has insights you can’t miss.

Don’t forget to follow and share — and stay tuned for a special guest next week!

👉 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠⁠⁠College Aid Pro⁠⁠⁠!
• Create a ⁠⁠⁠Free MyCAP account⁠⁠⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠⁠⁠Follow Us⁠⁠⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

In this candid episode of College!, co-hosts Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough pull back the curtain on how they’re approaching college savings as parents—one with twins, one with a 10-year-old—and the different paths they’ve taken. Whether you’re just starting to think about saving or wondering if it’s too late, this conversation offers relatable, real-world insights with zero judgment.

Matt and Peg also dive into the latest major policy developments, including proposed federal cuts to Pell Grants and work-study programs. What do these shifts mean for families planning ahead—and what actions can you take to “control the controllables”?

Then, they tackle one of the most misunderstood tools in college planning: the 529 plan. From tax advantages to eligibility myths, they debunk common misconceptions and explain why this savings vehicle might be smarter than you think.

👉 In this episode:

• Two personal college savings journeys—and how values, timing & income shaped them

• What recent proposed cuts to Pell Grants and work-study could mean for your family

• The truth about 529 plans: who they’re for, how they’re taxed, and what qualifies

• Why saving doesn’t hurt your financial aid as much as you might think

• How to start where you are, and why alignment with your partner is key
  

🎧 Whether you're saving a little, a lot, or not sure where to begin, this episode offers honest guidance, financial clarity, and peace of mind as you plan for what’s next.

Big shifts are coming to student financial aid—and parents need to be ready. In this episode of the College! podcast, Matt and Peg break down the proposed education bill shaking up college funding. Learn how the potential elimination of subsidized federal student loans, new limits on PLUS loans, lifetime borrowing caps, Pell Grant changes, and endowment taxes could affect your family's college plans. Whether your student is in high school or already in college, this episode gives you the critical insights to plan smarter and stay ahead.

👉 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠⁠College Aid Pro⁠⁠!
• Create a ⁠⁠Free MyCAP account⁠⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠⁠Follow Us⁠⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

Explore the launch of MyCAP 2.0, last-minute appeal strategies for Class of 2025, federal student loan interest rate changes, and a deep dive into proposed college accountability legislation. Featuring expert insights from Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough.

👉 Subscribe and share with families navigating college planning!

• Learn more about what we do at ⁠College Aid Pro⁠!
• Create a ⁠Free MyCAP account⁠ here to start personalizing your college planning journey!
• ⁠Follow Us⁠ to hear exactly when new episodes drop!

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00)
2. Exciting Updates on MyCap 2.0 (03:38)
3. Navigating College Appeals and Financial Aid (05:24)
4. Understanding the Impact of Credit Rating on Student Loans (07:17)
5. Federal Student Loan Rates for 2025-2026 (08:49)
6. Proposed College Accountability Measures (10:42)
7. Challenges in Implementing Accountability in Higher Education (12:27)
8. Understanding Risk Sharing in Higher Education (22:47)
9. The Promise Grant and Its Implications (27:40)
10. Accountability in Higher Education (33:04)
11. Proposed Solutions for College Affordability (39:18)