Operations
Our 90-day pilot plan
A focused plan to validate the problem, serve real students, measure impact, and publish what we learn.
- Phase 1
Build and prepare
- Finalize the intake form
- Prepare the College Cost Summary template
- Create a partner outreach list
- Prepare a student interview script
- Phase 2
Validate the problem
- Interview 10 students
- Interview 3 counselors or community partners
- Collect examples of confusing financial aid letters
- Document repeated pain points
- Phase 3
Serve first students
- Help 10 to 50 students
- Create College Cost Summaries
- Track deadlines
- Draft appeals when appropriate
- Phase 4
Measure impact
- Pre/post confidence survey
- Aid letters decoded
- Appeals submitted
- Aid won and debt identified
- Deadlines completed
- Phase 5
Publish first impact report
- Anonymized results
- Lessons learned
- Partner quotes
- Next goals
Pilot targets
Concrete goals we are holding ourselves to.
10
student interviews
3
adult expert interviews
2
partner organizations
10–50
students served
10
cost summaries delivered
5
appeal drafts created
1
impact report completed