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About this episode

On this week's episode, Jeff Mavros, the Director of Admissions at Illinois State University, discusses what parents and students get tripped up on when it comes to college shopping. He suggests reframing affordability as managing the cost of college via smart planning, budgeting, and understanding how much each family can feel comfortable paying and borrowing.

He also explains the importance of filling out the FAFSA early, and how state grants like Illinois' MAP Grant can make college affordable for low-income families. He dives into some hidden costs of college, such as transportation, textbooks, and housing, and gives strategies to be a frugal college student, such as student discounts.

Jeff also describes different paths to a degree, such as two-year, four-year, and transfer pathways. He encourages students to consider long and short-term outcomes when deciding on a college, rather than only looking at the up-front price.