Early Decision secrets, admission strategy myths, and what colleges really gain when students commit early.

In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy & Pearl Lockwood expose five closely-guarded truths about Early Decision that admissions offices rarely share. Learn why ED isn’t just “apply early and get in easier”—and how it can cost families money, options, and leverage.

Topics include:
✔ The financial and psychological strategy behind ED commitments
✔ Why “binding” isn’t as clear as colleges claim
✔ How colleges use ED to manipulate yield and rankings
✔ When applying Early Decision actually hurts applicants
✔ Smarter alternatives to ED for merit aid and flexibility
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#CollegeAdmissions #EducationPolicy #FAFSA #FinancialAid #CollegePlanning #StudentLoans #LoanForgiveness #Scholarships #HigherEducation #Parenting #CollegeBound #ClassOf2025 #ACTPrep #SATPrep #Parenting #2025 #DebtRelief #CollegeEssay#CollegeAdmissions #DoubleDeposit #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeDecision #CollegePlanning #EnrollmentMistakes #StudentAdvice #collegeplanning #collegefinancialaid #collegeadvisor

College planning mistakes, financial aid pitfalls, and application strategy errors that cost families time and money. Here are the five most common problems and how to avoid them. In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy & Pearl Lockwood share the most frequent planning mistakes they see from juniors and seniors and give simple fixes families can use right away to improve admissions and aid outcomes. Topics include: ✔ Building an unbalanced college list with too many reaches ✔ Filing FAFSA and CSS Profile late or incompletely ✔ Ignoring net price, merit strategy, and financial “safety” ✔ Weak essay and activity positioning that fails to differentiate ✔ Procrastination and last-minute submissions that create errors 🎙 This is just a clip from College Coffee Talk. 🎧 Catch the full episode on The College Admissions Edge podcast—available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 📞 Need help with college admissions? Visit LockwoodCollegePrep.com #CollegeAdmissions #EducationPolicy #FAFSA #FinancialAid #CollegePlanning #StudentLoans #LoanForgiveness #Scholarships #HigherEducation #Parenting #CollegeBound #ClassOf2025 #ACTPrep #SATPrep #Parenting #2025 #DebtRelief #CollegeEssay#CollegeAdmissions #DoubleDeposit #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeDecision #CollegePlanning #EnrollmentMistakes #StudentAdvice

Early Decision can feel like a promise, but what if you change your mind? Can you really back out?

In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy & Pearl Lockwood unpack a real case study of what happened when a student withdrew from an Early Decision commitment, and how the college reacted. More importantly, they explain what “binding” actually means: legally, ethically, and financially - and what families need to know before they apply ED.

Topics include:
✔ What “binding” really means in Early Decision contracts
✔ Why backing out can cause drama with admissions offices
✔ How colleges enforce (or don’t enforce) ED commitments
✔ Financial aid exceptions that make backing out legitimate
✔ The difference between moral obligation and legal ris

📞 Need help with college admissions?

Visit LockwoodCollegePrep.com

#CollegeAdmissions #EducationPolicy #FAFSA #FinancialAid #CollegePlanning #StudentLoans #LoanForgiveness #Scholarships #HigherEducation #Parenting #CollegeBound #ClassOf2025 #ACTPrep #SATPrep #Parenting #2025 #DebtRelief #CollegeEssay#CollegeAdmissions #DoubleDeposit #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeDecision #CollegePlanning #EnrollmentMistakes #StudentAdvice #collegeplanning #collegefinancialaid #collegeadvisor