Your Guide to FAFSA Renewal: Deadlines, Steps, and Common Mistakes to Avoid FAFSA renewal is one of those college tasks that sounds more complicated than it actually is. It pops up every year, and while it may feel repetitive, it plays a big role in keeping your financial aid on track. FAFSA is the form […]
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Not being able to complete FAFSA can make college feel uncertain, but it does not automatically close the door. Many students run into FAFSA barriers for reasons outside their control. The truth is that federal aid is only one piece of the puzzle. There are college funding options that do not rely on the FAFSA,
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The Financial Responsibilities They Don’t Teach You in School Most students leave school knowing how to write an essay or pass a test. Few, however, know how to read a credit card statement or plan for an unexpected expense. That gap can be jarring once real life starts moving quickly. This is why so many
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Winning the Home Stretch: Strategies to Beat Senioritis The senior year of high school looks easy from the outside. Less challenging classes, more freedom, and graduation right around the corner. But for many students, this is when everything starts to fall apart. Grades drop. Motivation disappears. Deadlines stop feeling real. It happens so often that
What is Senioritis? Signs, Causes, & Strategies to Stay Motivated Read More »
Campus Tour Essentials: What to Look for When a College Becomes Your Fit You can learn a lot about a college from its website, brochures, videos, and virtual tours. For many students, those tools are the main way they explore schools. If you do get to visit in person, it can offer another perspective. Hearing
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A Day of Discovery: Reality Changers Students at the Symposium A group of students from Reality Changers recently spent a day exploring STEM careers at the 2025 ABET Symposium, where they got an up-close and personal look at how science and engineering come to life beyond the classroom. Reality Changers partnered with ABET to give
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Confident Beginnings: How to Build Your Professional Self After Graduation The transition from student to professional life can feel exciting and overwhelming all at once. Many young people need extra support to build confidence in the workplace—especially as schools face tighter budgets and pull back from non-academic programs like career readiness training. Programs like Reality
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Bridging the Gap: How Local Programs Protect Student Futures Despite Budget Cuts When education funding is cut, students feel the impact. Tutoring programs close quietly, counselors take on double caseloads, and enrichment opportunities start to fade. For families who rely on these supports, the loss can change the course of a student’s education. In many
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Internships & Side Hustles: How to Build a Career Early Getting an early start on your career can change everything, especially if you’re the first in your family to go to college. Internships and side hustles for students can help you earn money, gain real-world experience, and figure out what kind of work inspires you.
Internships & Side Hustles: Building a Career as a First-Gen Student Read More »
Tutors & Mentors: The Heartbeat of Student Success Every student does better when someone believes in them. Tutors and mentors step in at the moments when guidance and encouragement matter most. The importance of tutoring goes beyond grades, helping students build confidence, stay curious, and learn how to work through challenges on their own. Mentors
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First-Gen and Proud: Redefining Success on Our Own Terms If you’re the first in your family to go to college, you know what it means to work hard for every win. At Reality Changers, we see first-generation students not as exceptions, but as leaders. You’re the ones redefining what success really looks like. Why Being
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How I Balance College, Work & Life: Real Supports That Make It Possible Figuring out how to balance college and work takes patience, planning, and plenty of support. At Reality Changers, students get help finding the resources they need to stay focused in class, manage responsibilities, and keep moving toward their goals. Why Hidden Supports
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Email & Phone:
Info@RealityChangers.org
619.516.2222
Mailing Address:
PO Box 50220
San Diego, CA 92165
Since 2015, Reality Changers’ programming has been funded in part by a City of San Diego Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). These funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the City of San Diego.
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