Most families build college lists based on brand recognition, rankings, and admit rates. But those numbers don't tell you what college will actually cost your family — or whether the schools on your list are financiallyrealistic.

As a former Dean of Enrollment Management, I'll walk you through 5 realities about college financial fit that most families don't discover until April — when it's too late to change course.

You'll learn:

• Why net price calculators don't show the whole picture — and when to trust them

• How merit aid actually works (it's not what most families assume)

• Why your family's financial complexity can throw off cost estimates by $15,000-$30,000 per year

• What big scholarship numbers really mean — and what they hide

• Why assessing financial fit before your student applies changes everything