Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

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 increasing pressure college athletes face due to the rising business side of college sports and highlights the wide range of career opportunities within athletic organizations.

In the second segment, Ian is joined by finance expert Russell Seidelman as part of the May‑day series with a focus on finding scholarships beyond the first year of college. Russell explains why students need to carve out time to continue applying for scholarships even while managing college responsibilities, and how to identify opportunities for current students on financial aid websites.

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 traditional majors or interdisciplinary programs, the college rejects the idea of academic disciplines altogether—every student reads the same texts and wrestles with timeless questions like "How do I live a good life?" Ben and Maggie discuss why this approach can be powerful for students, the skills it develops, and the outcomes graduates experience.

In the second segment, Sally is joined by finance expert Zachery Gries to address a common concern for families: what to do if you don't have enough money saved to cover all four years of college. Zachery walks through different ways families pay for college, the need to reassess resources as a student progresses (since costs and need‑based aid can change), and the tradeoffs between maintaining flexibility and making choices that could reduce overall costs.

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 themselves there.

In segment two, Kyra is joined by College Coach Scott Alexander to tackle a common spring concern: being waitlisted. Scott breaks down what actually happens after a waitlist decision, what students can do beyond simply waiting, and how to weigh options between a school you've already committed to and one that might admit you later. He also explains why trying to decode why you were waitlisted is rarely productive and how colleges use waitlists strategically.

The episode wraps up with finance expert Laurie Peltier, who walks families through everything they need to know about May 1st. Laurie covers the true costs of committing (from deposits and meal plans to immunizations) and explains how to officially accept financial aid offers and notify outside scholarship organizations where funds should be sent. And more!

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' academic and personal paths. They also discuss Oglethorpe's long‑standing common reading list, which connects students across generations, and share what has surprised them most as relatively new members of the campus community.

In segment two, Ginger Fay is joined by Chris Summers, Director of Financial Aid (and an Oglethorpe alum) for a conversation about athletics and affordability. They unpack the role athletics plays on campus (including the surprising fact that student‑athletes make up about a third of the student body), along with an overview of merit and financial aid, including two major programs tied to institutional support.

To close the episode, Ginger Fay continues the conversation with Dr. Meredith Raimondo, Vice President of Student Affairs, to focus on student life at Oglethorpe. Together, they discuss the characteristics they see in students who thrive there and how the campus environment supports engagement, growth, and success.

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 sacrificing a lot of the exploration process as well as a complete understanding of how you'll pay for it.

In the second segment, Shannon is joined by College Coach Shayla Bezjak‑Martinez to talk about teacher recommendations. Shayla offers guidance on how to choose teachers who will best support your application, why recommendations from core curriculum classes are recommended, the importance of knowing if schools specify which subjects they want represented, and more.

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 Michael Yager for Transfer Admissions 101. Michael walks through how to decide whether transferring is the right move, from realizing your current school doesn't offer the major you want to navigating family changes that make being closer to home a priority. He also cautions against chasing a "better" option without fully understanding what you might be giving up.

Finally, finance expert Dina Birmingham joins the show to break down the cost considerations of transferring colleges. Dina explains how financial aid forms are reviewed differently by each institution, what to know about merit awards for transfer students, and the limitations that sometimes come with them.

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 Early Decision has a financial impact, clarify when and why students should complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and share practical strategies for finding and securing scholarships and grants—along with other key insights to help families plan wisely for college costs.

In Segment 2, college coaches Zaragoza Guerra and Mary Sue Youn reflect on the admissions landscape and the biggest shifts they observed this year. The conversation explores why more students are submitting standardized test scores even as roughly 90% of colleges remain test-optional (or don't consider scores at all), what happens when decision season brings multiple denials due to a top‑heavy college list, and the growing popularity of Southern universities, especially SEC schools.

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 welcomes first-time guest College Coach Maya Gee for a conversation many students face this time of year: how to choose the "best" college from the schools they've been admitted to. Maya shares guidance on weighing fit, academics, finances, and personal priorities to make a confident final decision.

Finally, College Coach Kristine Sawicki joins the show to address a common source of frustration students face: Why are colleges sending me so much mail? (And emails… and maybe even texts.) She explains how they get contact information and how they choose who to reach out to. She also discusses how to manage the onslaught of communication by making a plan that works for you.

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 so appealing while clearing up some common misconceptions families often have about these highly selective options.

In our second segment, Shannon is joined by College Coach Sara Calvert-Kubrom and Finance Expert Zachery Gries to answer listener questions. Together, they tackle timely topics such as how to navigate a waitlist, what to do if you earn a lower grade fall of senior year after being admitted Early Action, and how to compare financial offers from different colleges.

If you have a listener question, please submit them so we can answer them on a future episode!

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 at how it all works.

In our second segment, Ian welcomes BH College Coach Robin Khadduri to dig into what colleges wish rising seniors knew. She talks through how to ask thoughtful questions, how demonstrated interest works, the importance of students sharing their authentic voice, and more.

Finally, BH College Coach Nicole Doyle and her son, high school senior Jack Doyle, join the show to share what students wish colleges knew. Jack also shares what it's like to navigate this process when your parent is an expert in the field and what types of discussions seniors have about the application process.