March 10, 2026

The True Cost and Value of College with Shawana Singletary

Do students need to have their career figured out before starting college? How can high school students (especially juniors and sophomores) put themselves in the best position for a strong merit aid offer? Is the sticker price what families actually end up paying? Chief Enrollment Officer at Adelphi University, Shawana Singletary answers these questions and more!

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About this episode

In this episode, Chief Enrollment Officer at Adelphi University, Shawana Singletary, shares some great advice for high school students and families about actions they can take before senior year to start preparing for applying to colleges. She also breaks down the misconception that students coming into college should have their whole career figured out. Instead she encourages students to come in with an open mind so they can fully explore their interests and lean into their strengths, and remember that college is an investment in their future.

Shawana also recommends that students and families not be discouraged from applying to schools solely because of sticker prices. She gives some examples of different merit scholarships offered at Adelphi, and also reinforces the importance of filling out the FAFSA. Between scholarships and need-based aid, many students don’t actually pay the sticker price for college.

Mentioned in this episode

Host

Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut.Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Guest

Shawana Singletary

Shawana Singletary is the Assistant Vice President and Chief Enrollment Officer at Adelphi University, where she leads international, undergraduate, and graduate admissions and enrollment strategy. With more than 18 years of experience in higher education — spanning test preparation, admissions, financial aid, and enrollment planning — she has a strong track record of building data-informed processes and student-centered experiences. Shawana holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and she is deeply committed to advancing equity, access, and belonging in the student journey. At Adelphi, she drives initiatives that strengthen recruitment, support persistence, and enhance institutional responsiveness in a rapidly changing enrollment landscape.