# 731. FINANCIAL AID HORROR STORIES

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tests-and-the-rest-college-admissions-podcast-563572/731-financial-aid-horror-stories
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tests-and-the-rest-college-admissions-podcast-563572/731-financial-aid-horror-stories.md
Podcast: [Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/tests-and-the-rest-college-admissions-podcast-563572)
Published: 2026-06-02T09:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://testsandtherest.libsyn.com/731-financial-aid-horror-stories
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/testsandtherest/TATRFinancialHorrorStories.mp3?dest-id=1349983
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tests-and-the-rest-college-admissions-podcast-563572/episodes/731-financial-aid-horror-stories
Duration seconds: 1472

## Resource

Getting into your top choice college may feel like a dream come true, but figuring out how to pay for it can turn into a nightmare, especially when you don't know what you're doing. Amy and Mike invited financial aid expert Howard Freedman to recount some financial aid horror stories. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How can transferring assets to reduce assisted living costs hurt a student? How can failing to report reportable assets on a financial aid form reduce financial need? What is the impact of grandparents giving money to their grandchildren for college? How can failing to establish accountability lead to family stress? How can getting a jump on financial aid forms turn into a timely mess? MEET OUR GUEST Years after founding Financial Aid Consulting, Howard Freedman was recruited to oversee the ACCESS Program at Boston Public Schools. This position broadened his experience by providing financial aid services and scholarships to over 2,700 high school seniors at more than 20 schools. Consequently, he received a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He graduated from the College Board's Financial Aid Institute and completed ongoing training with experts from college financial aid and admissions departments. This helped me gain a better understanding of how these organizations are taught and operate. He was a member of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) and the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA), where he connected with college representatives and guidance counselors to gain diverse perspectives on higher education and student support. Howard assumed leadership roles in professional organizations while also becoming a public speaker and author for national publica…

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