The Scholarship GPS Podcast: Your Directions to a Debt-Free College Degree

Behind the Scenes Insights from a Scholarship Provider + 8 Scholarships

Ingrid Moats of The Math Gift [https://themathgift.com/about] recently offered a scholarship, and in our conversation, she explained what it is like on the other side of the scholarship process, as a scholarship provider. From our conversation, you’ll gain a better understanding of why organizations offer scholarships and why they choose to host them on scholarship websites. She also provides insight into just how much (or how little) competition there really is for scholarships, and how students can stand out as scholarship applicants. In our conversation, we discussed: * Why she offered a scholarship * Why she chose the website she did to host the scholarship * How many applicants they received * How many of those applicants were actually eligible * The most common mistakes that students made when applying * What made the selected winner stand out * How she worked with her son in his scholarship journey * How math is having an impact on college admissions To connect with Ingrid, visit TheMathGift.com [https://themathgift.com/]. Get our free list of recommended scholarship websites here: ScholarshipGPS.com/scholarship-websites [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-websites] ---------- Featured Scholarships: * Burnett Injury Group $1000 Strength Through Recovery Scholarship [https://burnettinjurygroup.com/2026-strength-through-recovery-scholarship/] * $2000 Office Chairs Unlimited Scholarship [https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/p/2000-office-chairs-unlimited-scholarship-c3e?r=21d400] * $2500 Joy Cappel Innovation Scholarship [https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/p/2500-joy-cappel-innovation-scholarship?r=21d400] * $1500 “First Step” to Distraction-Free Driving Scholarship [https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/p/1500-first-step-to-distraction-free-0e7?r=21d400] * $2000 Bachus & Schanker, LLC Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/2000-bachus-and-schanker-llc-scholarship?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $5000 Christian College Scholarship [http://www.christianconnector.com/christiancollegesform.cfm?adref=ScholarshipGPS] * $2,000 Protestant Faith-Based College Scholarship [https://faithbasedcollege.com/Christian-colleges-form-SS.cfm?adref=ScholarshipsGPS] * $2,000 Catholic College Scholarship Drawing [https://catholiccollegeinfo.com/Christian-colleges-form-SS.cfm?adref=ScholarshipsGPS]

Gain Confidence for the College Admissions Process + 5 Scholarships

Abbie Metzler is a PhD student in psychology, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and someone who believes the college admissions process should not take away your sense of confidence and calm. Abbie started Confident College Admissions [https://confidentcollegeadmissions.podia.com/] because she’s seen how overwhelming and confusing this process can be. But with the right guidance and support, it can actually feel manageable, meaningful, and even exciting. Her approach combines evidence-based tools from psychology with clear, step-by-step strategies to help students feel prepared and empowered. Over the last 3 years, she’s worked with 200+ students on their essays, applications, and interviews, helping them tell their stories in a way that feels both authentic and impactful. With a background in positive psychology and mental health, she also supports students in managing stress, building confidence, and staying grounded throughout the admissions journey. In our conversation, we discussed: * What makes students successful in the college admissions process * The biggest misconception students have about personal statements and what actually makes an essay memorable * How Abbie’s background in psychology has influenced her approach to the way admissions and applications are handled * How strong college essays help students with scholarship applications * And much more… Abbie and I are teaming up with an amazing offer! Get lifetime access to the Scholarship GPS course, where you and your student will learn: * How to identify the best scholarships for your student * Best practices for scholarship applications, essays, and projects * The importance of crafting your student’s Personal Narrative -- a key element in winning scholarships Additionally, you will have access to helpful tools such as: * A scholarship tracking tool preloaded with quick and easy no-essay scholarships for immediate application * A scholarship checklist template to ensure completion of applications * An activity log to track your student’s volunteer experiences As an added bonus, you’ll get Abbie’s Write Your Personal Statement with Confidence Course, a step-by-step course to help you write a personal statement that’s honest, powerful, and true to you. With clear lessons, real examples, and a companion workbook, you’ll go from stuck to submitted, feeling proud and confident every step of the way. Get lifetime access to both programs at a special, limited price. Go to ScholarshipGPS.com/confident [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/confident] to learn more. ---------- Campuswink.com [https://campuswink.com/] gives students and families direct access to hundreds of current college students nationwide for personalized campus tours and virtual Q&A sessions. Ask the questions that official tours won’t answer and get insider insight before stepping on campus. So, choose your school. Choose your Guide. Ask anything. Personalized tours and live student connections are available nationwide. Go to CampusWink.com [https://campuswink.com/] to learn more. ---------- Featured Scholarships: * $1000 Conflict Conqueror Scholarship [https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/p/1000-conflict-conqueror-scholarship?r=21d400] * $1000 Digital Justice Scholarship [https://www.fort-pierce-criminal-lawyer.com/2026-digital-justice-scholarship/] * $2500 Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Scholarship [https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/p/2500-mesothelioma-cancer-victims-9a5?r=21d400] * $2000 GeneTex STEM Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/2000-genetex-stem-scholarship?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $2500 Cheers to 250 Scholarship [https://www.collegexpress.com/reg/signup?campaign=july26&utm_campaign=reg_push&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=ScholarshipGPS]

Get The Real Scoop on College Tours + 5 Scholarships

A conversation with one of Alex’s friends completely altered his college search process. His friend just started his first year at Duke University and was raving about the campus, the culture, and the opportunities. At that time, Duke wasn’t super high on Alex’s list, but that conversation set him on the path of becoming a life-long Blue Devil. As Alex’s college experience played out, he came to realize the influence of those words and see that the most valuable thing a prospective student could have during a college visit was insights to someone who genuinely lived the experience they were imagining for themselves. Someone with similar interests, goals, and concerns not too long ago. So Alex started Campus Maven [https://www.campus-maven.com/] to connect prospective students with current university students who just went through the process themselves, creating private, personalized tours that go beyond what any official campus visit could offer. In our conversation, we discussed: * How to best approach the college tour process * How college tours help multiple aspects of the admissions process * How “real” official campus tours are * How a tour with Campus Maven gives a different perspective * And much more… To learn more, visit Campus-Maven.com [https://www.campus-maven.com/] ---------- Featured Scholarships: * $1000 Future in Family Law Scholarship [https://ctfamilylaw.com/future-in-family-law-scholarship/] * $1000 Making the Leap for Transfer Students Scholarship [https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/making-the-leap-scholarship-for-transfer-students/?aff=26] * $1000 KB Delta Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/1000-kb-delta-scholarship-c99?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $2000 Legal Marketing Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/2000-legal-marketing-scholarship-8af?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $2500 "No Sweat" Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/weekender-2500-no-sweat-scholarship-442?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] FREE Premium Cirkled In Student Portfolio Platform & Scholarship Database! Students in any of the Scholarship Navigator Program [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/services]s get a FREE premium CirkledIn membership! So, in addition to benefits like a custom list of scholarships that match the student’s profile, scholarship application and essay help, and access to the Scholarship GPS course to learn scholarship best practices, students will also get a premium Circkled In profile which they can share with colleges, internships, employers, and scholarships. Plus, students can access the scholarship database with over 6000 vetted scholarships, updated daily! Click here [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/services] to learn more about the Scholarship Navigator Programs.

Parents Still Matter in the Scholarship Process + 6 Scholarships

When families begin the scholarship journey, many parents assume there are only two options: Top of Form Bottom of Form Either parents take over the process completely, or they step back and let students handle everything on their own. Neither approach works very well. The most successful scholarship families usually find a healthier balance... ---------- Student Loan Rates Drop! Last Monday, one of Scholarship GPS’s partner organizations, Juno, saw a significant rate drop for undergraduate loans on Juno’s platform. Juno leverages collective bargaining to negotiate lower student loans. After receiving input from families, they shared feedback with their partner lenders who then lowered rates compared to previous weeks. For many people who need to borrow for college, rates may now be lower. If you’ve completed a rate check before, it is worthwhile to do it again. We don’t know how long these rates will last, and are encouraging families to lock in a rate now. After completing a rate check, if you submit a full application and are approved, your rates are generally locked for 30 days. You can check your rates by clicking here [http://joinjuno.com/p/sgps]. ---------- Featured Scholarships: * $1000 Public by Default Scholarship [https://www.pickporter.com/public-by-default-scholarship/] * Maschka Personal Injury $1000 Safety Advocate Scholarship [https://mrr-law.com/2026-safety-advocate-scholarship/] * $1000 Jeanne Murphy Scholarship: Compassion in Action [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/1000-jeanne-murphy-scholarship-compassion?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $1000 “Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship [https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/commencing-at-community-college-essay-scholarship/?aff=26] * $1000 No Essay Scholarship by Sallie [https://tracking.scholarshipowl.com/aff_c?offer_id=24&aff_id=1832&url_id=260&source=sallie] * $2026 ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship [https://tracking.scholarshipowl.com/aff_c?offer_id=24&aff_id=1832&url_id=237] ---------- Free Resource: Click here [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-websites] to download our list of recommended scholarship websites. ---------- Click here [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/services] to learn more about the Scholarship Navigator program.

6 Scholarship Myths That Cause Families to Miss Opportunities & 6 Scholarships That Disprove Those Myths

Featured Scholarships: * $1000 Swift Justice Scholarship [https://swiftjusticelaw.com/swift-justice-scholarship/] * Soloff & Zervanos Personal Injury Attorneys $1000 Forward-Thinking Future Scholarship [https://soloffandzervanos.com/2026-forward-thinking-future-scholarship/] * $1000 Marcus W. Viles Community Growth Scholarship [https://www.vilesandbeckman.com/about-us/community-growth-scholarship/] * $1500 Do-Over Scholarship [https://open.substack.com/pub/nodebtcollege/p/1500-do-over-scholarship?r=21d400&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] * $5000 MyOTC Scholarship for Health Access [https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/myotc-com-scholarship-for-health-access/?aff=26] * $2026 No Essay Scholarship from ScholarshipOwl [https://tracking.scholarshipowl.com/aff_c?offer_id=24&aff_id=1832&url_id=237] * $10,000 Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship [https://app.scholarships360.org/?redirect=/dashboard/scholarships/10000-no-essay-scholarship&aff=26] I've put together a free Scholarship Website Guide that explains the websites I recommend, what each one does well, and the pros and cons of each. It can save you a lot of trial and error and help you focus your scholarship search where it matters most." To get your free copy go to ScholarshipGPS.com/scholarship-websites [https://www.scholarshipgps.com/scholarship-websites]