For Financial Aid Counselors ·
What you'll accomplish
You'll use Claude to produce a full suite of financial literacy materials (workshop scripts, student handouts, comparison guides, and website FAQ content) in a single focused session. Content that used to take days to create gets done in an hour, with Claude maintaining consistency in tone and reading level throughout.
What you'll need
Before starting, write down:
This takes 2 minutes and dramatically improves the output quality.
I'm a financial aid counselor at a [community college / university]. I need to create financial literacy materials for [describe audience — e.g., "first-generation college students who have never applied for financial aid before"]. Reading level: [grade level or description]. My institution is in [state], so state grant programs include [mention relevant state aid programs]. Please write in plain language — avoid jargon, and define any technical terms you do use.
Run these prompts one at a time, saving each output:
Handout: Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
Create a 1-page student handout explaining the key components of a college financial aid package. Cover: grants (free money — Pell, institutional), work-study, and loans (subsidized vs. unsubsidized). Include a "What to do next" checklist at the bottom. Plain language, first-generation student audience, 8th-grade reading level.
Handout: FAFSA Step-by-Step Guide
Create a numbered step-by-step guide for completing the FAFSA. Include: what documents to gather first, the 5 main steps on the FAFSA form, common mistakes to avoid, and what happens after you submit. Under 400 words. First-generation student audience.
Workshop Script: Financial Aid 101 (30 minutes)
Write a 30-minute workshop script for a Financial Aid 101 session for incoming college students. Cover: what financial aid is, types of aid (grants, loans, work-study), how to read your award letter, and the 3 most important things to do in the first month. Conversational, presenter-style. Include 3 "pause and ask the audience" moments.
FAQ Page Content
Write FAQ entries for a college financial aid website. Cover these questions: (1) What is the difference between a grant and a loan? (2) Do I have to accept all the aid offered? (3) What is Expected Family Contribution? (4) What happens to my aid if I withdraw? (5) Can I get financial aid for summer classes? Plain language, under 100 words each.
What you should see: For each prompt, a well-formatted, readable document section ready to copy into your actual materials
Plain-language explainer: "Explain [financial concept] in plain language for [audience type]. Under 150 words. No jargon."
Comparison guide: "Create a comparison table of [option A] vs. [option B] for college students. Focus on: what it is, how to get it, pros, and cons."
Email template for specific scenario: "Write an email to students who received aid but haven't completed their enrollment process. Urgent but supportive tone. Include clear next steps and deadline."
Translation request: "Translate this handout into [Spanish / Mandarin / other]. Keep the same reading level and plain language." [paste English content]