Paying for college isn’t about luck — it’s about understanding the system. Each year, more than $120 billion in federal college funding is available, yet millions of families leave money on the table simply because they don’t know how the process works, or they make costly mistakes on the FAFSA which can reduce their aid eligibility. In this practical session, you’ll learn the blueprint colleges use to award scholarships and financial aid, and discover how to position yourself strategically within the system. You’ll learn why EVERY family should file the FAFSA, how to avoid common FAFSA errors, how scholarships and need-based aid work together, legal strategies that can increase eligibility. College funding isn’t about what you earn — it’s about what you know.