Scholarships, FAFSA, dual credit, financial aid, and college planning guidance from an Indiana school administrator who helped his own four children secure over $500,000 in grants and scholarships.
The college planning process rewards families who know the rules โ and quietly penalizes those who don't.
A course earning credit at a dual credit partner college may earn zero credit at your target university. Every course must be verified against every school on your list โ before you commit.
Indiana's College Core gives students 30 free college credits guaranteed to transfer to Indiana public universities. Private colleges and out-of-state schools are not bound by it.
Most families accept the first award letter. A competing offer from a comparable school is powerful leverage โ and most financial aid offices will work with you if you know how to ask.
Many institutional merit scholarships have deadlines in November and December โ before most families have even finished their applications. Miss them and the money is gone.
Many Indiana colleges went test optional but still use SAT/ACT scores to determine merit scholarship amounts. A student who doesn't submit scores may be admitted but receive significantly less merit aid than a student who did. Not submitting scores can cost thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
Indiana offers forgivable loans and scholarships based on financial need and area of study โ meaning the money never has to be repaid if certain conditions are met. Most families never apply.
Most Indiana families applying to private colleges file FAFSA and think they're done. The CSS Profile is a separate financial aid form required by schools like Butler, Notre Dame, DePauw, Wabash, and Rose-Hulman. Missing it means forfeiting institutional grant money โ permanently. Most families have never heard of it.
Families see $58,000 at Butler and cross it off the list immediately. But after grants and merit scholarships the actual cost for many Indiana families is $20,000โ$30,000 โ sometimes less than a public university. Families eliminate the best options based on sticker price and never find out what they would have actually paid.
I was right where you are โ a parent about to put my first child through college, and I didn't know much of anything.
What drove me wasn't passion for the process โ it was necessity. I was bound and determined not to allow my children or our family to go into any more debt than absolutely necessary for college. So I got to work. I researched, spoke with counselors, read everything I could find, and learned the ins and outs of preparing and applying for college.
That commitment paid off. My four children have secured over $500,000 in grants and scholarships โ with very little out of pocket. Cornerstone College Prep exists so your family can do the same. You don't have to figure this out alone.
Every Indiana family filing FAFSA needs this. Key dates, documents, and the five most common mistakes โ all on one page. Free, no strings attached.
Every family is at a different stage and has a different budget. Start wherever makes sense for you.
Everything Indiana families need to file FAFSA correctly, on time, and with maximum financial aid.
Verify which dual credit and AP courses actually transfer to your target colleges โ includes full ICC guide.
A complete system for finding, tracking, and winning scholarships โ local sources ranked by competition level.
All 11 guides, roadmaps, trackers, and templates โ everything your family needs from junior year through May 1.
The financial aid form most Indiana families don't know exists โ unlocks institutional grants at private colleges.
Month-by-month action plan for junior year โ testing, college list, scholarships, financial aid prep.
Month-by-month execution plan from first application deadline through enrollment on May 1.
Side-by-side comparison tool for up to four colleges โ real cost, fit, pros and cons, and final decision scorecard.
Three word-for-word letter templates, a phone script, and follow-up email to negotiate a better financial aid package.
All 7 prompts decoded, topic selection framework, structure guide, clichรฉ table, and final revision checklist.
Where to find, how to apply, and how to win Indiana scholarships โ starting with local sources most families completely overlook. Includes state program breakdown and 15-scholarship tracker.
How to write "Why Us?" essays, activity essays, short answers, and every other supplemental prompt colleges require.
What every Indiana family should be doing sophomore through senior year โ and when.
Download Free โKey dates, documents, and the five most common FAFSA mistakes Indiana families make.
Download Free โAll 25 major Indiana colleges in one quick-reference table โ type, cost, CSS, programs, and fit.
Download Free โEvery program includes personalized strategy, written session summaries, and access between sessions โ built around your student's specific situation.
We talk through your student's situation โ grade, college list, financial picture, biggest concerns. No obligation. Just clarity.
We identify which level of support fits your family โ a single session, hourly access, or a full program from junior through senior year.
Regular sessions, written summaries, and access between meetings to keep your family moving forward with confidence.
May 1 arrives and your family makes an informed, confident choice โ with a clear picture of real cost, fit, and financial aid secured.
Most families start with a free 20-minute call. We'll talk through your student's situation and figure out together what makes sense โ no pressure, no sales pitch.
317-385-2683
john@cornerstoneprepin.com
Indiana families statewide