Get College Funded

Bethany Goldszer

Get College Funded is your weekly guide to making college affordable for middle-class families. Host Bethany Goldszer, a college admissions and financial aid consultant, breaks down the strategies that have helped 2,500+ families access $25 million in aid—without sacrificing retirement or going broke. Every Monday, you'll get actionable financial aid tactics, scholarship spotlights, negotiation scripts, and insider knowledge to navigate the broken college funding system. If you make too much for need-based aid but not enough to pay $80K/year, this podcast is for you.

Episodes

  1. The Middle-Class Trap - Why You Can't Afford College (And How to Fix It)

    10/28/2025

    The Middle-Class Trap - Why You Can't Afford College (And How to Fix It)

    Why do middle-class families get stuck paying full price for college? If you've ever felt like you make too much money to qualify for financial aid but not nearly enough to afford a $70,000-$90,000 college bill, you're caught in the middle-class trap. And you're not alone—millions of American families are stuck in this exact situation. In this premiere episode, I break down exactly why this trap exists, how the financial aid system is broken, and, most importantly, what successful families are actually doing in 2025 to escape it. You'll learn: What the "middle-class trap" is and why the financial aid system penalizes families like yoursHow the Student Aid Index (SAI) works and why it has nothing to do with what you can actually affordWhy college costs have spiraled to $60K-$90K+ per year (and why complaining won't help)The critical difference between need-based aid and merit-based aid (and which one you should focus on)6 proven strategies successful families use to make college affordable without destroying retirementThe 3 biggest mistakes middle-class families make (and how to avoid them)Plus: In our Scholarship School Spotlight, I feature the University of Alabama—a school where a 3.5 GPA and a 1420 SAT score get you automatic FULL TUITION (worth $120,000 over four years).  Your income doesn't matter. This episode is the foundation for everything we'll cover in this podcast. Whether your student is in 9th grade or applying to colleges right now, you'll walk away with a clear understanding of the system you're dealing with and a roadmap for beating it. Resources mentioned: Free Financial Aid Quick-Start Guide: https://getcollegefunded.comHave a college funding question? Email getcollegefunded@gmail.com Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 2, where I'll walk you through the FAFSA and CSS Profile step-by-step—including the costly mistakes that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Big futures, small bills. Let's make it happen.

    26 min

Ratings & Reviews

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About

Get College Funded is your weekly guide to making college affordable for middle-class families. Host Bethany Goldszer, a college admissions and financial aid consultant, breaks down the strategies that have helped 2,500+ families access $25 million in aid—without sacrificing retirement or going broke. Every Monday, you'll get actionable financial aid tactics, scholarship spotlights, negotiation scripts, and insider knowledge to navigate the broken college funding system. If you make too much for need-based aid but not enough to pay $80K/year, this podcast is for you.