Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Latest Episodes:

Financial Aid and the Ivies; Choosing Courses; Subject Tests Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

If you aspire to the most selective colleges in the country and will need financial help to attend, don't miss our segment on how financial aid works at the Ivies. For those getting ready to head to college in the fall, we'll be talking through how to choose your courses for the first semester. And in Office Hours, we're sharing everything you need to know about subject tests, including whether or not you need to take them.

LinkedIn; Community College Financial Aid; Common App Account Jul 12, 2018

Show notes

We often think of social media as a negative element of the college process, but what if there was a way to use it to your advantage? We'll discuss this and some specific suggestions for using LinkedIn as part of your college applications. Did you know that financial aid is available at community college? We're giving you an inside look at one such office and offering tips on how to best leverage what's available to you there. In Office Hours, we're helping you get started on the Common App.

Saving on Dorm Supplies; UK Universities; After Freshman Year Jul 05, 2018

Show notes

College is expensive enough—you don't want to spend what's left of your money on books and dorm supplies. We're offering tips for finding bargains on this new round of expenses. If you're preparing to welcome your student back home (or worried about that moment in the future), we have some suggestions for what to expect and how to prepare. Finally, if you or your student are considering going abroad for college, we have suggestions on how to find the perfect university in the UK.

College in Canada; Office Hours: Listener Questions Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

If you're considering traveling outside of the United States for college (or even if you're not), you might want to include Canada in your college process. We'll walk you through why Canada might be a good choice and offer resources to help you search for the best fit options. In Office Hours, we're answering your college finance and admissions questions.

STEAM; Preparing for College; Starting at a Two-Year College Jun 21, 2018

Show notes

STEAM is a new acronym that has been tossed around quite a bit recently. In this week's show, we'll explain what it is and which colleges offer programs in this area. Sending a teenager off to college can be scary for many reasons. Preparing your teen financially for this transition can help to reduce fear and make for a smoother entry into this new environment. In Office Hours, we'll debate the pros and cons of starting the higher education path at a two-year college.

Summer Test Prep; Loan Forbearance; Year in Review and Goal Setting Jun 14, 2018

Show notes

One of the most important elements of the college process is making a plan and setting goals. This is the time of the year to review what was accomplished and write down some goals for the current year, and we'll be discussing suggestions for how to do this and what to focus on. Summer is also a great time to get in standardized test prep, and we'll offer ideas for that. Finally, if you've ever wondered what loan forbearance is and how it works, wonder no more—we're going to tell you all about it.

Summer College Visits; School Refund Policies; Common App Essay Jun 07, 2018

Show notes

Summer is a very important time in the college process. Two very important items to focus on: planning and making the most of college visits, and getting started on your main essay. We'll talk about both in this week's episode. We'll also explain how refund policies work, which is important to understand if you find yourself unable to attend for a semester for some reason.

College Finance and Admissions Q and A; ROTC May 31, 2018

Show notes

If you're considering Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC for short), don't miss this week. We welcome a recent program graduate and her mom to discuss how she decided this was the right program for her, how mom felt about the decision then and now, and things to consider from both the application and finance perspective. In Office Hours, we're answering your questions on college admissions and finance.

Distinguishing Excellence on the App; Activity Resumes May 24, 2018

Show notes

In last week's Getting In, we discussed the importance of a distinguishing excellence for those students hoping to be admitted to the most selective schools in the country. This week, we walk you through the best way to present that DE in your applications. In Office Hours, we're talking about starting the activity section of the application and creating an application resume if necessary. For all those work study students out there or those that simply hope to get a job, we're offering advice on applying for on-campus jobs.

Distinguishing Excellence and the Ivy League; Transition to College May 17, 2018

Show notes

If you aspire to one of the most selective colleges in the country, you must have something that takes you from competitive to compelling. We discuss the concept of a "distinguishing excellence"—what it is and how you can get one. For graduating high school seniors and their parents, we go over the required steps and offer some tips for making a successful transition to college.