October 21, 2025

An Insider’s Perspective on Admissions and Affordability with Jim Bock

Take it from Jim Bock: College can be more affordable than you think. In this episode, Jim gives insider perspective on how college admissions and financial aid work. He includes great tips for students looking for an affordable option for college.

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About the Episode

Students have no clear way to bridge the gap between a college’s sticker price and its true cost. Some colleges with high price tags can actually be cheaper for applicants once financial aid and merit scholarships are factored in. But before they apply, students have no clear way to know.

In this episode, Jim Bock guides students and their families through the admissions process to give them the tools to predict what kind of financial aid packages they will receive from various institutions. He encourages applicants to consider transfer pathways to selective institutions, and reminds us that merit aid can offset staggering price tags.

He also defines key terms like ‘demonstrated need,’ ‘no-loan school,’ and many more. If you have any unanswered questions about the admissions and financial aid process, Jim can help. His practical advice encourages students and families to look beyond the sticker price, understand their options, and make informed educational decisions.

Mentioned in the 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

Jim Bock

Jim Bock currently serves as Vice President and Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA, just outside of Philadelphia, PA. He has spent his entire career in selective college admissions. He is originally from Texas and is graduate of Swarthmore College where he earned a BA in religion, and he received his M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. He is a staunch advocate for the value of a liberal arts degree, particularly from a residential liberal arts college. As a financial aid recipient himself, he remains dedicated to access and affordability for all students.