The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number used by college financial aid administrators to measure families’ ability to pay for college. It’s part of the process of determining how much need-based financial aid your student is eligible to receive. SAI will be the new name for what was previously known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and it will go into effect on July 1, 2023, along with many other changes to the FAFSA and college financial aid process. Learn more about SAI, how it works, and what’s changing in my quick overview article.
financial aid
THCC Episode 164 – Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea is an accredited study-abroad program for college students, which takes place on a ship, MV World Odyssey. Students visit eight to 10 countries over a span of 100 to 105 days while they take classes aboard the ship as well as in the field, and gain invaluable experiences and a global perspective. On my podcast, I spoke with Scott Marshall, CEO of Semester at Sea, to talk about this fascinating program, how it works, and what if offers students. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 162 – Getting Into Law School
Students interested in attending law school should start preparing and learning about the process as early as possible, even before they apply to an undergraduate college. In my podcast interview with Sydney Montgomery, a leading consultant and expert on law school admissions and legal careers, we talked about what students should know and what they should do to prepare and apply for law school and maximize their chances of success. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 146 – Getting Out of College Debt-Free
Most parents and students assume there’s no way to graduate from college debt-free. But Kristina Ellis managed to graduate from college and grad school with zero debt, all thanks to honest conversations with her mom and an early start on scholarship applications and college planning beginning in her freshman year of high school. Hear Kristina’s best advice and recommended resources in the latest episode of the Taming the High Cost of College podcast. Listen Now…
THCC Episode 133 – College Planning Strategies and Timelines
In this episode, I’m joined by Todd Weaver, President of Strategies for College, Inc., to talk about college planning timelines and strategies, including when parents and students should get started, how to deal with family financial changes due to COVID-19, and what to do if you have a high school senior and need to get planning quickly. Listen Now…
Big FAFSA Changes and the New Student Aid Index
Big changes are coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in 2023, and the changes could dramatically affect how much parents and families end up paying for college and how much financial aid their students receive. Learn about what’s changing, including the new Student Aid Index, in my in-depth blog for parents.









