

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation
Bright Horizons College Coach
Planning for college? Tune into Getting In: A College Coach Conversation to learn what colleges are really looking for and how to highlight your hard-won achievements for the best chance at success. Every week, we gather former admissions and financial aid officers as well as other expert guests for candid, behind-the-scenes talk. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 4, 2025 • 56min
Part-Time Jobs, Lifelong Impact; Admission Interview Tips; One Big Beautiful Bill Finance Updates
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. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Aug 28, 2025 • 52min
Jenny West Anderson, Author of The Disengaged Teen
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. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Aug 21, 2025 • 55min
President of Kettering University; Getting Organized for the School Year; Saving Smart at College Orientation
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. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Aug 14, 2025 • 56min
Debating a Liberal Arts Education: Relevance, Demise, and the Financial Upside
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! Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Aug 7, 2025 • 54min
What's Happening in Higher Ed; Exploring AI Through Academic Lenses; Making College Dreams Financially Real
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. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Jul 31, 2025 • 51min
Landscape for International Students: Conversation with Founders of Elite Scholars of China; Attending College in California?
The landscape for international students hoping to attend a US college has been changing rapidly in recent years, and there is still a lot of uncertainty. Luckily, host Ian Fisher will be joined by the founders of Elite Scholars of China, Stacy Palestrant and Tomer Rothschild, who are based in China and work with students there hoping to attend college applying to US institutions. In addition, if you're considering attending college in California, you'll want to listen in as our finance colleague Beth Feinberg-Keenan talks about California Grant Programs. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Jul 24, 2025 • 54min
Interested in Law School?; Myth-Busting Law School; Tips for Your Scholarship Search
Interested in attending law school? Host Sally Ganga will be joined by the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, a student's perspective on law school will be provided by Jake Gold, who recently earned his JD from NYU. There are a lot of myths about what it takes to get in to law school and to be a good lawyer, so listen in to have those myths busted. Last, if you haven't started searching for scholarships, do so now! Russell Seidelman, College Coach finance expert, will be there to provide listeners with some tips. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Jul 17, 2025 • 57min
Wellesley College Deep Dive: Benefits of a Women's College; Setting Financial Aid Expectations
Interested in a women's college, or even Wellesley College in particular? If you're a women, our guests on this day will give you good reasons to add it to your list. Jen Pollard, Executive Director of Career Education and Beky Stiles, Director of Admissions at Wellesley will be joining host Shannon Vasconcelos along with a current Wellesley student as well to discuss all things Wellesley in particular but also the benefits of a women's college education both for current students and graduates. If you struggle to discuss college finances with your student, listen in as College Coach finance educator Aimee Yorsaner will be chatting with host Shannon about setting financial aid expectations before applying to college. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Jul 10, 2025 • 56min
College Admissions Changing Landscape; College Options in Hawaii; Tips on Saving for College
Does it seem like the college admissions landscape has been changing particularly rapidly in recent years? Host Kyra Tyler will be joined by College Coach colleagues Tova Javetz, Karen Spencer, and Nicole Doyle to discuss those changes and how counseling students through the process has and has not changed as a result. On cold winter days have you considered attending college in Hawaii? Our colleague Steve Fernandez-Brennan is here to tell you about your options in the Aloha state! Last, remember that July is Save Smart Month, so College Coach finance educator Chrissy Foran is will be giving tips on saving for college. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

Jul 3, 2025 • 55min
The Best College Traditions; Listener Questions with College Admissions and Finance
Join host Kyra Tyler and Bright Horizons College Coach's Jennifer Simons as they delve into the unique traditions that define college and university campuses. From quirky rituals to time-honored ceremonies, discover what makes each institution special. Plus, tune in for listener-submitted questions answered by Bright Horizons College Coach colleagues Sara Calvert-Kubrom and Michelle Smoley, offering insights and advice on navigating the College process. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach


