I am a 44-year-old Korean dad living in Chicago.

As I raise a child in high school, the most common topic among parents around me is this: "How much does it cost to send a child to college in America?" So when everyone talks about full scholarships, it honestly still feels like a dream.

However, as I have lived as an immigrant and seen the experiences of seniors and juniors around me, I realized that this is not just a vague idea. If you set the right direction, the threshold is not as high as you might think.

The first thing to understand is Need-Blind and Full Need Met. What this means is that a student's financial situation is not considered in the admission process, and if accepted, the school covers tuition. Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, as well as top liberal arts colleges like Amherst, do this. If accepted, they cover almost all tuition and dormitory fees based on family income. Families with an annual income of $65,000 or less often find that it is almost free. This is not limited to Ivy League schools; there are quite a few mid-tier private universities that also offer this. The first thing to do is check the list of schools with high financial aid rates on the College Board website.

The second is FAFSA and CSS Profile. FAFSA is the U.S. version of the national scholarship application, and this is mandatory. It is not optional. As of 2026, the system has become somewhat simpler, but deadlines are still crucial. Especially if you are going to a private university, you also need to complete the CSS Profile, which requires detailed information about parental assets and businesses. The most important thing here is preparation. Since state grants are also based on FAFSA, submitting as soon as the application opens makes a significant difference.

The third is merit-based scholarships. These are scholarships awarded for good academic performance, regardless of financial situation. The key is to utilize safety schools. If you apply to schools one tier below your child's academic level, many schools will offer full scholarships and living expenses to attract excellent students. If you prioritize practicality over the Ivy League title, it is much wiser to focus on universities with Honors Colleges. Having a record of being a full scholarship recipient on your diploma will also help when applying for jobs or graduate school later.

The fourth is external scholarships. There is more money available than you might think. Scholarships from Korean associations, the Korean-American Scholarship Foundation, churches, and local branches of Korean companies are examples. There are many opportunities available just for being a Korean student, and the competition is relatively low. You should also search for scholarships from local rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, and your parents' companies. Collecting several small scholarships of $500 or $1,000 can cover textbook and living expenses.

Finally, it is important to create a long-term roadmap. You need to manage your GPA from 9th and 10th grades while establishing leadership and volunteer activities. It is important to have a consistent record in one area, not just any volunteer work. In 11th grade, you should aim to achieve the best possible SAT or ACT scores. Even though there are more test-optional schools, they still heavily consider scores when awarding merit-based scholarships. Starting in the summer of 12th grade, you should write scholarship essays in advance. You need to be able to articulate why you deserve this money, as this will determine your success or failure.

It is true that college tuition in the U.S. is expensive. However, there are few countries with scholarship systems as well-structured as in the U.S.

Parents need to continuously manage FAFSA and financial documents, while students should build their stories on top of their grades. The phrase "We can't go to college because we don't have money" does not hold in America.

If you follow these five strategies properly, graduating without student loans is entirely possible. I sincerely hope you achieve that day.