For families preparing for college, admissions and financial decisions are often deeply connected — and the timeline can catch even well-prepared families off guard. Early Decision is binding and typically requires committing before a family can compare financial aid offers. While Early Action preserves flexibility; it often comes with earlier FAFSA and CSS Profile deadlines than families expect. Choosing the wrong path can mean forfeiting negotiating leverage on aid, missing merit scholarship cutoffs, or locking in a school before 529 withdrawal and cash-flow strategies are fully mapped out.
This session, presented by Rick Clark and Brennan Barnard — two of the most respected voices in college admissions — will break down these admissions options, explore current trends and data across the college admissions landscape (including rising application volumes, shifting yield strategies, and how colleges use ED/EA to manage enrollment and financial aid budgets), and highlight what financial advisors should know when helping families evaluate college choices, affordability, and their broader education planning strategy. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for advising clients on when financial decisions need to be locked in relative to where a student applies.
Rick Clark has served on advisory and governing boards at the state, regional, and national levels. His work focuses on higher education affordability, return on investment, and economic mobility. He is the co-author of The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting in and Staying Together and a companion workbook, published under the same title from Johns Hopkins University Press. He is also the creator of the Georgia Tech Admission Blog. A native of Atlanta, Clark earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.Ed. from Georgia State University.
Brennan Barnard, M.Ed is the Director of College Counseling and Outreach at The Derryfield School, an independent day school in Manchester, New Hampshire and at US Performance Academy, an on-line independent high school for elite athletes. He is also the College Admissions Program Advisor with the Making Caring Common project at Harvard Graduate School of Education.