What Most Parents Get Wrong About Paying for College - Episode 168

2026-03-12

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Send a textIn today's episode, I sit down with Shellee Howard to talk about how parents can help their kids go to college without taking on huge debt. We get into college planning, scholarships, FAFSA mistakes, and why the right school is not always the most expensive or most famous one. Shellee shares how her son went to Harvard debt free, why families need to start planning early, and how to think about college costs, return on investment, and real options before it is too late.About our...

Send a text

In today's episode, I sit down with Shellee Howard to talk about how parents can help their kids go to college without taking on huge debt. We get into college planning, scholarships, FAFSA mistakes, and why the right school is not always the most expensive or most famous one. Shellee shares how her son went to Harvard debt free, why families need to start planning early, and how to think about college costs, return on investment, and real options before it is too late.

About our guest:

Shellee Howard is the Founder and CEO of College Ready and CR Tutoring & Test Strategies, a Certified Independent College Strategist, two time best selling author, international speaker, and trusted consultant who helps families navigate college admissions and financial planning. A mother of four, Shellee turned her own family’s success into a mission after helping each of her children pursue college with thoughtful planning and graduate debt free, including her oldest son, who graduated from Harvard debt free, completed medical school at UC San Diego, and is now finishing an Orthopedic Surgery residency at UCLA.

That personal experience led Shellee to found College Ready so other families could build a smart college plan without overwhelming debt or financial stress. She has been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and other major platforms, and is widely recognized for helping families improve admissions outcomes while keeping college affordable. Shellee’s work is rooted in the belief that every student needs a personalized strategy built around fit, finances, and long term purpose, not just prestige.

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