Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Is your student considering studying abroad in college? Host Kyra Tyler will be joined by College Coach colleague Jay Bonham, who will give a parent's perspective on his experience when his son studied abroad.

Interested in applying to Yale, Harvard, or Stanford? Colleague Jen Simons will be there to give tips on completing their challenging supplements.

In addition, College Coach finance colleague Zach Gries will be there to discuss what the families of high school seniors should focus on now.

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Here it is, thanks! Interested in Cal Tech and Harvey Mudd, but not sure how to approach their supplemental essays? Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by Kimberly Ortiz, a College Coach colleague who is also a former admission officer at both institutions. Also, if you are looking for updates on the ever-changing world of standardized testing for college admissions, in addition to some tips and tricks, friend of the pod Meghan Stubbendeck of Arborbridge will be there to fill us all in. Last but not least, if you're applying for financial aid at an institution that requires the CSS Profile, you'll want to listen in on finance colleague Beth Feinberg-Keenan's explanation of the methodology used by the College Board for that form.

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Students, are you beginning high school and trying to think ahead about your extracurricular activities? Concerned that you have to choose all your activities now? Colleague Tova Javetz is happy to let Host Ian Fisher know that the early years of high school is the perfect time to experiment with a variety of pursuits in order to find out which you find most fulfilling. Once you've established your preferences, it's okay to drop some of them!

Ian will also be chatting with colleague Serena Frisena about how to use, and not use, social media in the admission process. It has a place, but caution is advised.

Last, finance colleague Aimee Yorsaner will be there to provide five facts about the FAFSA.

We're very excited for the return of Taryn Andrea, College Coach's career expert. She'll be talking with host Ian Fisher about alternatives to saturated and very popular majors in fields like healthcare, engineering, law, and computer science, some of which will not require a full four year or Bachelor's degree.

In addition, College Coach finance expert Michelle Smoley will join Ian to talk about financial resources for career, trade, and apprenticeship programs.

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Today we go over some frequently asked questions about admissions. Ever wonder what colleges mean when they say they track demonstrated interest? Think that maybe sending weekly emails to the college admissions representative at your favorite college is a good idea? Host Sally Ganga is welcoming colleague Gabbi Tobias, who will not only define "demonstrated Interest," she'll tell you how much "interest" is too much and how much is just right. In addition, she'll cover colleges that do not track interest. (Hint: Stanford and Harvard are two of them.)

Sally will also be talking with colleague Jen Simons about the purpose and some of the different kinds of supplemental essay topics, and Michelle Clifton, college finance expert, will be giving updates regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill's impact on student loans.

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Do you know that college admission officers value part-time jobs on a students resume? Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by new College Coach colleague Shayla Bezjak-Martinez to talk about how part-time jobs can set you up for success in many ways, not just for college. In addition, Shannon will be talking with colleague Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn about admission interviews. Are they required? How do you prepare? Last, finance colleague Laurie Peltier will be there to discuss finance updates from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill.

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Host Ian Fisher has the remarkable good fortune to welcome guest Jenny West Anderson, author of The Disengaged Teen. If you're a parent, this episode is a must-listen, especially if you've seen any indication that your student is losing their excitement for learning or is in danger of academic burnout. Our guest will help you identify your student's attitudes towards learning and give strategies to help them find their spark. In addition, College Coach Finance Consultant Chrissy Foran will join Ian to clarify the difference between the sticker price versus the net price of a college education.

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For this episode, Host Sally Ganga is so honored to have guest Dr. Robert K. McMahan, here to tell us about the institute where he is president, Kettering University in Michigan. Formerly General Motors Institute, Kettering continues to focus on engineering, computer science, and business and is known for it's coop program in which students get two and a half years of paid work experience before graduating. Perhaps there's no surprise, then, that it's also recognized for student innovation.

Next, for the high school juniors and seniors listening, College Coach colleague Elyse Krantz is joining Sally to discuss how to get organized before starting your school year. Elyse is an organizational marvel, so listen in!

And last, College Finance Consultant Dina Birmingham will be here to talk about getting the best bang for your buck at your college orientation. How do you chose the best bank? What about in-network ATMs? And all the other seemingly little decisions that can add up.

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What even is a liberal arts education? Hasn't it gone the way of the dodo bird? Colleagues Zaragoza Guerra and Carrie Lewis will be joining host Sally Ganga to discuss both the demise of the liberal arts and, counterpoint, why they are as relevant as ever. College Finance colleague Beth Feinberg-Keenan will also be there to talk about the financial benefits of liberal arts colleges. Listen in to enjoy the debate!

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Keeping up with the evolving world of higher education can be overwhelming, but host Ian Fisher is here to help. In this episode, Ian is joined by College Finance Consultant Jess Mosley to break down the latest headlines and trends in the college landscape. He also introduces Major Interest, a new segment exploring how different academic disciplines—like neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and political science—can offer unique insights into current events, including a story about AI chatbots secretly released into a Reddit thread. Finally, College Finance Consultant Chrissy Foran joins to discuss how families can align their college goals with financial realities, offering practical advice for navigating the cost of higher education.

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