Advanced College Planning

08/27/2026

FAFSA is changing again — and one of the biggest things families need to be prepared for this year is identity verification.

Students and parents may be asked to take additional steps to confirm their identity as part of the FAFSA process. The problem? If you wait until you’re ready to submit the FAFSA to figure this out, a verification issue could create an unnecessary delay.

My advice to Connecticut families: start early.

Make sure the student and required parent contributors can access their StudentAid.gov accounts, that their information is accurate, and that they’re prepared to complete any identity-verification steps requested.

Financial aid planning shouldn’t start the night before a deadline.

At Advanced College Planning in Rocky Hill, CT, we help families understand the FAFSA, CSS Profile, financial aid strategy, college costs, and the steps that can reduce stress throughout the process.

📍 Serving families throughout Connecticut
🌐 advancedcollegeplanning.net

08/26/2026

If a college consultant guarantees admission, run.

No consultant controls an admissions office. What experienced college planning can do is help families replace guesswork with strategy, strengthen applications, and make smarter decisions before deadlines arrive.

Parents in Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Newington, Berlin, and Cromwell — if your student is starting the college process, let’s make sure you have a real plan.

Advanced College Planning has helped Connecticut families since 1992.

Message us or visit AdvancedCollegePlanning.net to schedule a complimentary consultation.

08/25/2026

College admissions help in Connecticut should never come with a “guaranteed admission” promise.

No college consultant controls an admissions office. What experienced college planning can do is help families replace guesswork with a thoughtful strategy: building a best-fit college list, strengthening applications, staying on top of deadlines, and making smarter decisions about college costs and financial aid.

At Advanced College Planning, we help Connecticut families focus on the real goal: finding the right college fit so students can grow, succeed, and graduate in four years.

Trusted by families since 1992.

Ready to start planning with confidence?
Visit AdvancedCollegePlanning.net or message us to schedule a complimentary consultation.

08/24/2026

Parents of the Class of 2028: junior year does not come with a warm-up period.

Academics, activities, SAT preparation, test dates, driver’s ed and busy sports seasons can collide very quickly.

A few smart moves now:

1. Map out the entire year before the calendar fills.
2. Ask for help before your student feels overwhelmed.
3. Use open weekends and school holidays for nearby college tours.
4. When possible, visit two schools in one day to make each trip more productive.

Thoughtful planning now means less stress, stronger decisions and more options later.

Learn how Advanced College Planning helps Connecticut families prepare for college at advancedcollegeplanning.net.

08/24/2026

Connecticut parents of freshmen and sophomores: college applications may be years away—but college planning has already started.

The classes your student takes, the activities they join, the academic support they use and the balance they maintain will all help shape their future applications.

This week, ask three questions:

1. Which clubs or activities will you explore this month?
2. How will you access academic support under the new block schedule?
3. Do your current classes still fit your goals—and your well-being?

Advanced College Planning’s college planning consultants in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, help families across Greater Hartford build thoughtful, manageable plans for college admissions and affordability.

Thoughtful planning now creates more confidence, opportunity and options later.

Learn more at advancedcollegeplanning.net.

08/20/2026

Advanced College Planning is proud to sponsor Casual-la: A Night of Heroes, but for me, this is much more than another community event.

Like many children, I needed heroes when I was young. My community stepped forward and provided them when I needed them most, without my ever having to ask.

I have never forgotten what that meant to me.

Now, we have an opportunity to be those people for children who need someone in their corner. The funds raised will help provide healthy meals for preschool-aged children in Connecticut’s foster care system.

Please read the post below and consider joining us. Come enjoy a wonderful evening, support an important cause and help remind these children that their community sees them.

Sometimes, being a hero simply means showing up.

Jeff Bliss
President and Managing Partner
Advanced College Planning

I want to explain what Casual-la: A Night of Heroes actually is, because this event means a lot to me personally.

Yes, it’s a night out.

Cocktail hour. Dinner. Drinks. Awards. Raffles. A 50/50. Networking. A room full of business owners, community leaders, friends and people who want to do some good while having a great night.

But that’s not really what this night is about.

It’s about kids.

There are preschool-aged children in the foster care system who don’t have the security many of us take for granted. They may not have a permanent home. They may not know what their family will look like six months from now. Their futures are anything but certain.

I can’t imagine growing up without knowing my mom and dad were in my corner. And as a dad, I can’t imagine my daughter going through childhood without knowing someone was there to protect her, feed her and make sure she was okay.

Some kids don't have that.

We can't solve everything for them. But we can do something.

The money we raise through A Night of Heroes helps provide healthy meals, day in and day out, for preschoolers in the foster care system.

So when you buy a ticket, yes, you get dinner, a drink, entertainment, networking, awards and a great night.

But you also get to be part of a community saying to these kids:

We see you.
You matter.
And even if we can't be your family, we can still be in your corner.

That’s why I’m asking my friends, fellow dads, business owners and community leaders to show up.

Come have a drink with me. Have dinner. Meet some great people. Win some stuff. Celebrate some incredible people.

And while we're at it, let's make sure some kids who need us have a little more security tomorrow than they have today.

That’s what A Night of Heroes is about.

Be a hero. Show up.

Current Sponsors: Advanced College Planning USA Waste & Recycling Ruff and Tumble dog salon Joe the Plumber Macomber Tree and Garden LLC Dawn Mikuláštík Gagliardi Katie Media-Weber Greater Hartford Trades Scholarship Foundation Flow Tech, Inc.

Raising funds and awareness for: The Village for Families & Children

Hosted by: Burden Media Trash Panda Pictures Big Dawg Home Improvements Sips n Soirées Liza’s Salon Chair

To become a sponsor or buy your tickets visit Casual-la.org

or

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/casual-la-for-the-village-2nd-annual-tickets-1992430947599

08/20/2026

Connecticut families, your fall weekends are about to fill up quickly. 🍂

Between fairs, festivals, sports, and college open houses, it is easy to treat a campus visit like just another family outing.

But a college open house should help your family answer three important questions:

1. Does the college offer the academic opportunities your student actually wants?

2. What might this college realistically cost your family after scholarships and financial aid?

3. Can your student genuinely picture living, learning, and growing there?

Take notes, ask thoughtful questions, and discuss your impressions before visiting the next college. After several tours, campuses can quickly start blending together.

We created a Connecticut fall calendar featuring local fairs, festivals, and several important 2026 college open houses to help your family plan ahead.

Save this Reel, share it with another Connecticut parent, and follow Advanced College Planning for more guidance throughout the college process.

AdvancedCollegePlanning.net
860-721-6110

08/19/2026

Penn State just had a major drug bust, and there’s a bigger issue here that parents need to understand.

Colleges have enormous incentives to protect their reputations. Applications, enrollment, rankings, alumni support and millions of dollars can be tied to the perception that a campus is safe.

So what happens when crime, drugs or other serious problems threaten that image?

In this video, I break down why parents shouldn’t assume that everything happening on a college campus will immediately show up in the glossy brochures, campus tours or marketing materials, and why a situation can look very different once federal law enforcement gets involved.

The Penn State case is a reminder that choosing a college isn’t just about rankings, acceptance rates and beautiful facilities.

Parents need to ask harder questions.

How transparent is the school about crime and safety?

What do the actual crime reports show?

What’s happening beyond the official campus narrative?

And most importantly, what information should your family investigate before sending your child there?

College is one of the biggest financial and personal decisions a family will make. Do your homework beyond the brochure.

08/19/2026

Our thoughts about the recent news around Penn State, more importantly, a reminder for parents!

08/19/2026

Fall weekends fill quickly. Save this calendar for Connecticut fairs and several major 2026 college open houses.

A campus visit is more useful when your student arrives with a plan: explore the academic program, ask about admissions and financial aid, tour the residence halls, and pay attention to how the campus actually feels.

Open-house dates were verified on official admissions pages for , University, and on August 19, 2026.

Fair dates can change, so confirm directly with each organizer before traveling.

AdvancedCollegePlanning.net | 860-721-6110