Why is FAFSA your new favorite F word? Because it’s the one that helps you get money to help pay for college! The FAFSA (or Free Application for Federal Student Aid) sometimes gets a bad rap—it can intimidate first-time filers who don’t think they’ll qualify for financial aid. But have we got news for you! Find out more about the FAFSA (and it’s cousin, the CSS Profile) in this week’s episode. 

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In the college planning bowl of alphabet soup, what difference does the PSAT make? Does a preliminary SAT have any correlation to the actual SAT? And if it isn’t required for college applications—what does it do for students anyway? This week, we’ll be talking about the PSAT (coming up for juniors) and what it means to become a National Merit Finalist or Scholar as a senior. 

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Next Week: Deadlines

This week we welcome two special guests to talk about transferring. Whether you’re shifting from a two-year college, or changing four year colleges for a better fit, these experts can help you understand the process. Thanks to Graham Kiser, Senior Admissions Counselor, and Kenna Chen, Assistant Director of Admissions, from the Lipscomb University Admissions Transfer Team, as we talk about this sometimes neglected topic in college admissions.

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Next Week: PSAT and National Merit Scholars 

Deadlines—seems like they’re popping up all over the place for high school seniors applying to colleges. Every college may have its own unique set of deadlines to meet—applications, scholarships, financial aid, housing, honors colleges. What’s a procrastinator to do? Time to get organized! 

Colleges toss around the term “holistic admissions,” but what does that really mean? As much attention as we give to GPA and ACT or SAT scores, it’s important to know that colleges look at students as more than a number. What goes into the holistic admissions process, and how can best students tell their stories?

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It’s time to talk about the most exciting part of applying to college—standardized tests! Those three little letters —ACT and SAT—pack a punch, and can mean thousands of dollars in scholarships or admission to an honors college, even if you choose to apply test-optional. We’re sharing a few tips toward helping you fill in the bubbles to get your best results. 

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The application is done, but when to submit? If the college isn’t on rolling admissions (meaning they constantly accept applications and notify students of admission decisions), they’ll likely have decision deadlines—early action, early decision, and regular decision. Which is best for you, and when do you choose one over the other? 

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Next Week: Prepping for the ACT and SAT

Asking for praise from someone might feel strange, but it’s part of the college application process. Whether it’s a teacher, coach, or counselor (but definitely not your dog), here’s the when, where, and how in asking for letters of recommendation. 

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Next Week: Early Admission, Early Decision, and Regular Decision

It’s a balancing act—choosing the most challenging classes but still maintaining a good GPA. What are colleges looking for when they use terms like “academic rigor,” and how many AP classes should you be taking anyway? There’s no one right answer. Let’s talk about all those acronyms and what they mean when you’re applying to college. 

Your college resume is a snapshot of your high school career. It’s not about how many activities you can squeeze into those years, but how meaningful those experiences were for you. Your interests and passions show colleges what you have to offer as a future active member of their student body. So choose wisely you must, young padawan.