Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Host Ian Fisher welcomes listeners for an episode featuring two familiar faces and one new voice.   In the first segment, Ian continues the "Meet an Educator" series with College Coach Stacey Badger . Stacey reflects on her career in admission at the University of Southern California , where she worked with applicants across multiple academic divisions, including both Viterbi Engineering and the D...

Host Sally Ganga continues our "Deep Dive" series with a closer look at Rollins College , a private liberal arts institution located in Winter Park, Florida , just outside Orlando. With approximately 3,000 undergraduate students , Rollins combines the personalized attention of a small college with the opportunities and resources of a vibrant metropolitan area. Sally is joined by Dr. Faye Tydlaska...

Host Kyra Tyler celebrates the 40th anniversary of Bright Horizons with an in-depth conversation with CEO Stephen Kramer and a look back at the company's remarkable journey.   In the first segment, Kyra continues the "Becoming" series with How to Become a CEO , sitting down with Stephen to trace his path from student to leader. He reflects on what he was like growing up and during his college sear...

Shannon Vasconcelos takes the mic for her final episode as host . Don't worry though, she'll be back as a guest at some point!   In the first segment, Shannon is joined by College Coach Kara Courtois to share essential tips for the senior summer . From managing logistics like dorm room shopping and campus prep to pausing and reflecting on the emotional transition ahead, Kara highlights how student...

Host Ian Fisher opens this episode with College Coach Lisa Albro to tackle what students should (and shouldn't) ask their high school college counselor . Lisa shares the questions counselors wish students would ask more often, those that spark meaningful exploration and help students better understand their goals, while also addressing the questions that are difficult to answer or ultimately don't...

Host Sally Ganga kicks off this episode with members of the Bright Horizons College Coach High School Planning Team — Lauren Randle, Caroline Damon, and Robin Khadduri —for a conversation focused on how students and families can make the most of the middle school years . They discuss how to strike the right balance between early preparation for potentially competitive college paths and avoiding un...

Host Shannon Vasconcelos dedicates this special, all‑finance episode to National College Savings Day (5/29, 529 - get it?) , beginning with Jonathan Hughes , Associate Director of College Planning and Content Creation at the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) . Jonathan explains how MEFA, a not‑for‑profit state‑chartered organization founded in 1982, helps families plan and pay f...

Host Kyra Tyler explores the world of college consortiums in this episode, starting with College Coaches Shayla Bezjak‑Martinez and Geraldine Castaneda . Drawing from their experience with the Five College Consortium and the Claremont Colleges , they break down how these models compare: from campus proximity and walkability to differences in institutional style. They highlight the many benefits co...

Host Ian Fisher begins this episode with Josh Tobias , former professional baseball player and current scout, for an inside look at the path to competing at the highest levels of college and professional sports. Josh describes the work it took to reach his goals and what it was like playing at the University of Florida while balancing the demands of athletics and academics. He also discusses the i...

Host Sally Ganga opens this episode with Ben Baum , Vice President of Enrollment at St. John's College , and Maggie McGuinness for an in‑depth look at what makes St. John's a truly distinctive institution. With two campuses and a reputation for "great books and great conversations," St. John's centers its entire academic experience on small classes and shared inquiry. Rather than offering traditio...

Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with College Coach Joy Biscornet for a practical guide to college visits . Joy shares how to plan visits effectively, what to do once you're on campus, and which questions are worth asking, as well as which ones aren't. Most importantly, she explains how visits can help students decide whether a school truly feels like a good fit by seeing if they can picture...

Host Ian Fisher hosts several staff members from Oglethorpe University during a deep dive exploration of the school. In the first segment, Ginger Fay , Vice President of Enrollment, and Dr. Gabriel Barreneche , Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs explore what makes Oglethorpe unique as a small university rather than a college and how the university's Core Experience shapes students' aca...

Host Shannon Vasconcelos opens this episode with College Coach Blair Dixon and finance expert Chrissy Foran for a deep dive into Early Decision . They explore how to determine whether applying ED makes sense for you or your student from both an admissions and financial perspective. It can sometimes be the bump a student needs to be admitted, but committing to one college so early requires sacrific...

Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with College Coach Brian Swann , who introduces listeners to the Classical Learning Test (CLT) . Brian explains what the CLT covers, who it's designed for, how it assesses students—and why its flexible format (including the option to take it at home) makes it an appealing alternative for some families. In our second segment, Kyra welcomes College Coach Michae...

Host Sally Ganga wraps up another pivotal admissions cycle with a two-part Year in Review episode, tackling the questions and trends families cared most about over the past year. In Segment 1 , Sally is joined by finance expert Michelle Smoley to revisit the most common financial planning questions families asked throughout the admissions process. They break down whether applying Early Action or E...

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with finance expert Pati Pineiro‑Goodenberger to unpack some California‑specific financial aid and residency questions. She explains how the Cal State and UC systems determine California residency , how the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program interacts with California colleges, and whether UCs offer merit scholarships .   In our second segment, Ian w...

Host Shannon Vasconcelos kicks off this episode with College Coach Lauren DiProspero , who pulls from her experience in both undergraduate admissions as well as her work with Columbia and Stanford's medical schools . Lauren breaks down BS/MD programs (accelerated pathways where students are admitted to both a Bachelor of Science program and medical school simultaneously) and explains why they're s...

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH finance expert Marina Zaretskiy , who shares what financial aid offices wish rising senior families understood before application season begins. From emphasizing that they are accessible to families with questions or who have updates to their financial situations to the differences between the applications, she offers a helpful behind‑the‑scenes look...

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Carrie Lewis , who answers a question many families have this time of year: Are colleges still accepting applications? Carrie walks listeners through the process of applying outside the traditional fall and early‑spring deadlines, which usually involves rolling admission.   In our second segment, Ian welcomes colleague Kennon Dick for a...

Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Caroline Damon , who breaks down February admit programs—those special events colleges host for admitted students to help them dig deeper into academics, campus life, and overall fit as they make their final decision about where to enroll. In our second segment, Kyra welcomes colleague Lisa Albro to tackle a question many families are as...

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Cesar Contreras , who talks about what juniors should be doing right now in the spring semester to stay on track. Spoiler alert: It's definitely not the time to slack off.   In our second segment, Ian welcomes colleague Karen Spencer for a similar discussion, but this time focused on seniors in their last semester. You may have guessed i...

Are you one of the 99% concerned about how to pay for college ?  If so, the g reat news  is that  this episode of Getting In is devoted entirely to that topic.   Host Shannon  Vasconcelos will be joined by  College Coach finance colleagues Michelle Sm o ley  and  Chrissy Foran   to discuss financial aid methodologies, appeals ,  and ,  in honor of February : F inancial  A id  A wareness  M onth, ...

Here at College  Coach  we have a resident college list expert, Nial  Rele, who is joining our host, K y ra Tyler , to discuss how to create  your l ist  of colleges . This is more complicated than you may  anticipate , as it should include colleges that are  r ea ch  schools , target schools, and safety schools,  and figuring out  which is which  can be challenging .   In addition , colleague Chr...

If you are interested in attending an HBCU (historically black college or university) or being in Washington, D.C. for your college years, be sure to tune in to this show when host Sally Ganga will be interviewing Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission Rahsaan Ellis and student Aniyah Gaffney from the University of the District of Columbia. In addition, Sally will be welcoming College Coach...

Today's podcast is very exciting because host Ian Fisher will be interviewing Hillary Powell, Director of Admissions at Pacific Lutheran University, to discuss both Pac Lu and explain what direct admissions is. Direct admissions is increasingly being used by colleges as a process by which applicants are essentially pre-admitted to colleges without even having to apply, thus greatly reducing the st...