February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating by covering the basics of financial aid, from the definition to available options to funding sources. We’re also welcoming a guest to the show to share his journey from music major to SVP at IDW Publishing, offering some proof that you don’t have to study business in college to be successful in the business world. And finally, if you’ve hired a private counselor, we have some insight from a former school counselor on when and how to share that with your high school counselor.

We regularly speak to students with an interest in the medical field and the different paths available to them. This week, a working nurse will join the show to discuss his journey to becoming a nurse and offer insight into his work. We’ll also be answering your college finance and admissions questions.

Today, we are fortunate to have former University of Chicago Dean of Admission, Ted O’Neill, offer a retrospective of his 30+ years serving in admissions. We will wrap up the show focusing on tax season, and we have information on education tax breaks—what they are and how to take advantage of them.

Did you know that you can ask for more merit money? Well you can, and we have some information about when and how to do this. We’re also looking at the myths that surround the SAT and ACT, and digging into what we mean when we talk about finding good fit colleges. Hint: my good fit and your good fit are highly unlikely to be one and the same.

2021 was the year when we were supposed to emerge from beneath the COVID cloud. It didn’t exactly pan out that way, but we did emerge! We’re sharing insight into what went well for our students in the college admissions process and how to think about your own process with those experiences in mind. On the paying for college front, we’re looking at income-driven repayment options and helping you decide if this could be a good path for you.

Is it too early to start thinking about the summer? Of course not! Early winter is the perfect time to think about what you want to do and where you want to do it—we have tips for getting started. We’re also answering college finance and admissions questions in our Office Hours segment.

Your applications are in. Now what?! We’ll tell you! As the New Year approaches, and with it, resolutions, we’re offering some suggestions for you to consider on both the admissions and personal finance front. Start the New Year with some new goals in place.

Graduates with student loans need to prepare: the CARES Act and loan payment accommodations are scheduled to come to an end early in the new year. We’re sharing what you need to know and do next. Some students will return home from their first semester in college ready to transfer. We have advice on how to handle those conversations, including the questions to ask and the actions to take. Finally, many, many well-meaning family and friends will have questions, thoughts, and advice on your college process. We’re offering tips on how to prevent others from unintentionally ruining this important time in your life.

As colleges offering Early Decision and Early Action deadlines start rolling out their decisions, students will soon have to act on those decisions. We have next steps for everyone getting acceptances, deferrals, and denials in early rounds. For those in school already, your spring tuition bill is coming. If you’re not sure how you’re going to pay it, we have advice covering it using tuition payment plans and loans. For those juniors about to embark on the process, we have tips on how to maximize your upcoming winter break.

Last year was a whole new world for college admissions, both for admissions officers and for the applicants and their families. One of our educators shares her experiences as an admissions officer that cycle, including how they viewed the impact on coursework and extracurricular activities, and offers tips for approaching applications this year. We’re also answering your college finance and admissions questions in Office Hours.