UGMA? UTMA? 529? Saving for college can be overwhelming and daunting. Erin is here with her finance experience to break down the difference between them and help you determine what is the best financial plan for your needs.

The post 600: College Investment Information appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Megan and guest host Gretchen Wegner explore the concept of cognitive overload and its impact on students’ learning abilities, particularly focusing on working memory and its limited capacity.

Listen to learn about working memory which has a limited capacity and our goal in learning which involves transferring information to our long-term memories which have almost unlimited capacity. Various factors such as emotions, environmental clutter, and sensory input can overload this memory space, impacting learning and information processing. Understanding brain science and learning strategies can help students fine tune their study habits. 

You can learn more about Gretchen’s programs at https://antiboringlearninglab.com/courses

The post 599: Cognitive Overload in Student Learning with Gretchen Wegner appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

This week we are answering a listener question. Jason’s 9th and 19th graders are on track to exceed their state’s graduation requirements by the end of their third year in high school. They will also have surpassed the maximum number of AP credits many colleges accept. Should they try to start college early?

Listen as Megan and Erin discuss:

If you have questions for us, please send them to [email protected]

The post 598: Pros & Cons of Early College Entry appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Writing college admissions essays is hard. We are here to help.

This week, Megan and Erin discuss strategies to produce better essays and tips for educators and parents looking to support students through this process. 

We share lots of ideas and some cautions like don’t rely on AI and be watchful of parent over editing. 

The post 597: Supporting Students with College Essay Writing Strategies appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

We love getting listener questions!

Today we answer a question about universities in the UK and Canada.

The post 596: Universities in the UK & Canada: Is admission the same? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

This week we are answering a listener question: is it feasible for a 10th grader to take two AP courses, compete in varsity swim, and still have time for everything else?

Listen as we discuss:
— the rationale behind taking two social studies AP classes and the potential challenges for the student
–the importance of academic rigor and extracurricular involvement but stress the need for sustainability
–evaluating the student’s past performance and considering alternative courses that might better set them up for success
— having a balanced schedule that includes core subjects like English, math, history, science, and a foreign language
–understanding the student’s motivation for taking the classes and whether it’s driven by personal interest or peer pressure
— the potential benefits and drawbacks of taking AP classes in 9th grade and the typical age range for AP classes
— physical activity and the benefits of varsity sports for students
— considering the student’s overall well-being and not just academic success
— knowing the student and understanding their individual needs and capabilities
— the importance of a balanced approach to academics and extracurricular activities for overall success

Send your college planning questions to collegepreppodcast [at] gmail [dot] com

The post 595: Is Two AP Classes + Varsity Sport Too Much? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

We are seeing it already this school year— students making bad schedule choices. 

High school course selection is important. Students and parents should make informed decisions. Listen as we discus

A bad schedule choice can result in daily struggles. Avoid making decisions based on rumors; seek out accurate information from reliable sources.

The post 594: Bad schedule choices based on rumor appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

As we head back to school, there are a lot of changes. We have some changes at “The College Prep Podcast” too. Listen as we discuss:

— How to decide when a big change is necessary

— How to focus on what is important as we start a new school year

— The challenge of getting clear on priorities when you feel conflicted

— Learning to STOP is as important as learning to start new things

— Our goals for the new year

The post 593: Another School Year– Goals and Outlook for Fall appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

UPDATE– this episode didn’t post correctly last week, so we are releasing it with the correct audio .

Most college students don’t fall behind at midterms. They fall behind starting Week 1 and it can rough to dig themselves out.

In this mini-episode, we cover:

This is the exact kind of structure that helps students stay afloat—and ahead—all semester long.

Did you know 60% of first-year college students are underprepared to succeed? LAUNCH is a flexible, summer-before-college program that equips students with the learning, mindset, and productivity skills they need to THRIVE starting from Day 1.

Join us at almamodern.com/launch

The post 591: Three Warning Signs Your Student Is Behind (and how to fix it) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

UPDATE– this episode didn’t post correctly last week, so we are releasing it with the correct audio .

Most college students don’t fall behind at midterms. They fall behind starting Week 1 and it can rough to dig themselves out.

In this mini-episode, we cover:

This is the exact kind of structure that helps students stay afloat—and ahead—all semester long.

Did you know 60% of first-year college students are underprepared to succeed? LAUNCH is a flexible, summer-before-college program that equips students with the learning, mindset, and productivity skills they need to THRIVE starting from Day 1.

Join us at almamodern.com/launch

The post 591: Three Warning Signs Your Student Is Behind (and how to fix it) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.