Graidy
The Graidy Blog
Honest, specific help on paying for and planning college, without a $10,000 counselor.
You don't need a $10,000 counselor: the system that replaces one Most of what an expensive college counselor sells is structure. Here is the system that delivers it without the five-figure bill. Jun 16, 2026 · 4 min read What a college counselor actually does, and which parts you can do yourself A service-by-service look at what you pay a college counselor for, and an honest take on which parts you can handle on your own. Jun 16, 2026 · 5 min read The complete college-planning timeline, freshman to senior year What to actually do each year of high school to be ready for college applications, without cramming it all into senior fall. Jun 16, 2026 · 6 min read How to actually find local scholarships (not just the national ones) National scholarships have huge applicant pools and long odds. Local awards are where the real money hides, if you know where to look. Jun 16, 2026 · 4 min read How to build a balanced college list (reach, target, likely) What reach, target, and likely actually mean, how many of each to include, and why your list has to fit your budget, not just your grades. Jun 16, 2026 · 4 min read How much does a college counselor cost (and what you're actually paying for) A clear breakdown of what private college counselors charge, from hourly rates to five-figure packages, and what actually drives the price. Jun 16, 2026 · 4 min read ChatGPT vs a real college plan: where generic AI falls short ChatGPT is a great brainstorming partner for college, but it forgets your kid, makes up deadlines, and never follows up. Here is the difference. Jun 16, 2026 · 5 min read Are private college counselors worth it? What a private college counselor actually costs, what you get for the money, and when a cheaper system gets you most of the same result. Jun 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Start your free plan
Graidy is an AI college counselor. Free to start; Pro is $9.99/month.