Summer offers the clearest conditions for reflection → before the next wave of financial aid applicants come ashore.
Financial aid might not be year-round on paper, but in practice, we all know the work never really stops. Summer offers a rare moment at the helm: fewer meetings, quieter inboxes, and space to take a step back (and exhale). This is your chance to shift from reacting to refining and to look back at:
- What held steady?
- Where things drifted off track?
- What needs realignment before the next season begins?
A few thoughtful course corrections now can save you time and smooth the waters when the 2026-2027 financial aid season ramps up this fall.
Here are six ways to make the most of this calm stretch:
Recalibrate: Your Platform’s Formula
Think back to the files that tested the limits of your current approach. Where did the numbers feel off? Where did you override the outcome to better reflect a family’s reality or your school’s budget constraints? If patterns are emerging, it may be time to revisit your formula levers to better reflect shifting family circumstances and institutional priorities.
Summer is also a good time to take stock of broader economic trends such as rising housing costs, evolving family structures, and regional cost-of-living pressures that could warrant adjustments to how need is assessed across your applicant families.
Refresh: Your Family Communications
Use this quieter stretch of the year to refresh the materials families rely on most—award letters, appeal responses, platform instructions, and any messaging around deadlines or required documents.
Are your expectations clearly stated? Is your tone supportive and consistent with your school’s values? Are your instructions easy to follow the first time? A few thoughtful edits now can prevent confusion, reduce back-and-forth, and help families move through the process with clarity and confidence.
Revisit: Your Policies and Internal Workflows
Strong decisions start with strong foundations. Now’s the time to revisit the internal policies and protocols guiding your financial aid process.
Over time, practices can shift—especially with new team members, changing roles, or informal adjustments. Are folders reviewed consistently across your team? Are policies clearly communicated and applied in practice?
Use summer to align on what’s working, clarify expectations, and document the workflows that support consistency and transparency. From award guidelines to internal checklists, make sure your infrastructure is still supporting your school’s goals.
Re-Assess: Your Subset of Folders
Pull a small, varied batch of applications from last season like business-owning families, two-household applicants, edge cases, and more straightforward files and take a second look by walking through them with a fresh lens.
Would you make the same decisions today? If not, what’s changed: your process, your policy, or your interpretation? Was anything missed? Reviewing different folder types can help identify where your protocols are strong, where inconsistencies creep in, and where additional clarity might be needed.
Revisit: Your Appeals
Appeals often reveal where your policies fall short or where communication leaves families uncertain. Which cases caught you off guard? Where did you make exceptions, and why? Reviewing appeals with fresh eyes can surface policy gaps or gray areas that need clearer guidance.
It’s also worth reviewing your appeal process itself: Is it accessible and well-communicated? Are outcomes consistent with your policies? Even small refinements in how you manage and communicate appeals can lead to better outcomes (and fewer surprises).
Refresh: Your Website Content
Before the new season picks up, take time to review the financial aid section of your school’s website. Are deadlines current? Is the application process clearly explained, with required documents easy to find? Does your affordability messaging reflect your actual policies and speak in a tone that aligns with your school’s values?
It’s also worth considering where visuals can do some of the heavy lifting. A simple infographic or summary chart can help families quickly understand what your program covers, what supports are available, and how to get in touch with questions. When done well, these tools don’t just inform. They reduce uncertainty, build clarity, and earn trust.
Looking Ahead
The 2026–2027 financial aid season will bring its own set of currents. But summer is your moment to steer with clarity and intention. Whether you’re recalibrating platform levers, revisiting policies, or exploring ways to ease your team’s review load, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
🌊 Let’s chart the course together.
Schedule a summer consult to make sure you have the right support in place. Before the next wave arrives!
