College Financial Aid 101: Understand What You’re Really Paying For

Overview:

Confused by confusing financial aid terms? Worried about making a costly mistake before college even begins? College Financial Aid 101 is a quick, practical course designed to help rising college freshmen and their families understand what college will really cost—and how to pay for it without regret.

In just a few easy-to-follow videos, you’ll learn:

How to read and understand your financial aid offer
The difference between subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loans
How to calculate your total cost of attendance and what you’ll actually owe after graduation

We break down complex topics into simple language and real-life examples, so you can make smart decisions with confidence.

📘 Perfect for: First-time college students and parents who want clear, honest guidance
📊 Tools included: Walkthroughs of StudentAid.gov, loan simulators, and sample aid packages
🎓 Outcome: Feel prepared, not panicked—ready to borrow wisely and plan ahead

Meet Your Instructor
Nathan Garcia

I’m Nathan Garcia, the creator of the Pocket Plan. For the past 17 years I’ve worked as a financial professional to help clients make better decisions. In this class you’ll learn about the information and tools to get comfortable with paying for college. You’ll also learn to avoid the financial mistakes and frustrations that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in interest, penalties or fees.

What You Will
Learn

Learning Objectives:

How to read and understand your financial aid offer
The difference between subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loans
How to calculate your total cost of attendance and what you'll actually owe after graduation
Student loan repayment options while you're in school and beyond
Tactical methods to reduce the amount of interest & overall borrowing cost to minimize your debt burden

Key Takeaways:

Understand Your Total Cost of Attendance. Don’t just look at your financial aid offer—build a year-by-year projection of all costs, loans, and interest to get the full picture.
Know Your Loan Limits by Year
Use the Loan Simulator on StudentAid.gov
Unsubsidized Loans Accrue Interest Immediately
Start Thinking About Repayment Now
Student Loans = Real Money

Get In Person Mentoring From Nathan Using Pocket Plan

As a student, you’ll access resources including Mentoring from Nathan Garcia. This ensures that you’ll get more than education to move forward with confidence; you’ll also have coaching hours to get direct feedback on your personal situation and implementation of the concepts learned in class.