Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

When COVID hit in March 2020, it disrupted life for everyone across the globe, including college admissions. Standardized test dates were cancelled, rescheduled, and cancelled again, and ultimately more than 1200 colleges and universities made them an optional part of their admissions process. We'll update you on test optional policies for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and share our thoughts on w...

There have been a few recent court cases related to the use of affirmative action in college admissions. But what is affirmative action in this case, and how is it really used in admissions? Jamiere Abney, Coordinator of Outreach for Opportunity & Inclusion at Colgate University joins us to share more. If you're worried that it's too late to apply to college this year, you're in luck—it's definite...

We often mention the difference between being competitive in a highly selective applicant pool versus being compelling, which is the difference between who gets in and who does not. We're sharing actual examples of compelling students we've worked with recently who have had success at this level. For those finding college too expensive even with scholarships and financial aid or those who want a d...

Have you read Jeff Selingo's book, Who Gets In and Why: A Year in College Admissions? Well our team has, and we'll be reviewing the book in this week's episode. Find out what we think he got right and if we think he missed some nuances—or maybe even got it completely wrong—based on our insights into college admissions as former decision makers.

As admissions decisions start to come in, you may receive scholarship offers from some of your schools. Did you know you can negotiate for more? Learn more about the dos and don'ts of this process. We also have details on why students planning for medical school might want to build in some time for a gap year or two (or three!). Tune in for another story from our team. Hear about how one of our fi...

We talk a lot about what to do as part of your college admissions process. This week, we have some cautionary tales of mistakes some have made in the hopes that you can avoid making similar bloopers. In Officer Hours, we're answering your college admissions and finance questions.

Seniors: your applications are in. What can you do now? We'll talk about steps you can take on the admissions and finance side while you wait for your decisions. Juniors: you're up! We have advice for starting the college process in earnest now that you're in the second half of junior year.

Just in time for the new year, we have some new year's resolutions for college admissions. We're also sharing two team stories this week: attending college as an adult and paying for college as an adult.

In another segment in our Med School Series, we'll consider post-baccalaureate programs, including what they are and who would benefit. We've been giving a lot of attention to early action, early decision, and priority decision admissions plans, but this week we're all about regular decision lists and planning. Finally, for those of you hoping to establish better financial habits in the new year,...

In another story from our team, Jen Simons will share her experience choosing and attending a women's college. We'll also answer your questions on college finance and admissions.

Early action, early decision, and priority admissions decisions have already started coming in, and many more will be released throughout December and into January and February. Many students applying under these plans will get a non-response in the form of a deferral, which is neither a denial nor an acceptance. Instead, it's an invitation to wait a bit longer to find out if they are in or out. W...

With the latest admissions scandal, it might feel like the only way to get into an Ivy or similarly selective university is through bribery. We're going to discuss the reality of getting into these highly selective institutions. We'll also help you prepare to start paying off your student loans and discuss how the pandemic might be impacting that process. Finally, as early admissions results start...

Working on your Notre Dame application and stumped by the supplemental essays? We're here to help! We'll also be answering listener questions on college finance and admissions.

Thinking about transferring colleges? If costs are a consideration, we have advice on how to start preparing financially for this transition. While many seniors have already submitted some or all of their college applications, many, many more are just getting started. We have tips on getting organized and planning ahead in order to maximize the time left before regular decision applications are du...

Wondering what to do now that you've submitted your financial aid applications? We've got you covered. Hear from a College Coach team member about her choice to attend a public honors college. And in Office Hours, we're reviewing the supplemental essays for Purdue and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In this week's episode, we have more supplemental essay advice, this time for the University of Washington and Arizona State. We're also answering your college admissions and finance questions.

Myths surrounding getting into and paying for college abound, and this year is no different. In fact, the current challenges created by COVID have only increased the misinformation being shared. We'll counter the biggest admissions and college finance myths we're hearing with the real story. As early deadlines near, we have advice on evaluating when your application is ready to submit.

We've covered what colleges are looking for in Why This College essays in a podcast a few weeks ago. But given how many of the Ivies have different versions of this essay, we are dedicating another segment to these supplemental pieces. We also have advice as you finalize your college lists, from determining whether it is balanced to considering it in conjunction with your expected family contribut...

Ever wonder what goes into the additional information section on the Common App—or if you even have to fill it out? How about what to include in the honors section? We have advice on maximizing these and other areas of the application, including the activities lists and the new COVID question. We're also sharing what you need to know about the CSS Profile as you prepare to complete this financial...

Standardized test date cancellations across the world have led many universities to institute temporary and permanent test optional policies. This week we'll help you decide whether or not to report your test scores to the colleges on your list who aren't requiring them. It's October 1, and the FAFSA is out—we have all the details you need to know to file this important financial document. Finally...

For those students interested in pursuing med school post-college, engaging with your pre-med advisor will be an important part of the process. Our resident med school admissions expert, Lauren DiProspero, will offer her suggestions for making the most of this relationship. We'll also answer as many of your burning college finance and admissions questions as we can.

The University of California application differs from other platforms in that it requires students to respond to four out of eight personal insight questions with four essays no longer than 350 words each. This week, we will walk you through each of the options and offer writing tips. We're also exploring early decision and early action—who are these application programs right for and the financia...

In another in our series of stories from our team, Sai Samboon will share his decision to apply to and attend college in the United States despite growing up in Thailand. We're also offering tips for the Georgetown application essays and previewing the FAFSA and CSS Profiles so that you can pull together the information you'll need to complete these when they become available this fall.

In theory, applications like the Common App, The Universal Application, and the Coalition App allow students to write one essay for all colleges. In practice, many colleges also require supplemental essays. We'll tell you what these are and how to find them, and offer tips on writing the most common prompt—Why This College? We're also discussing COVID-19's impact on college finance based on what w...

In terms of the college application process, almost nothing has been impacted quite as significantly by COVID-19 as standardized testing. A testing expert joins us to share her insights into what to expect when it comes to these evaluations this fall. In our second and third segments, we're answering your questions related to college finance and admissions.