Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Now that the dust has settled on regular decision 2022, we're sharing the results and trends we're seeing. We're also exploring things to think about if you're trying to decide whether to move out of the dorm to an off-campus apartment next year.

Babson, Olin, and Wellesley Colleges may seem like three very different colleges sharing only a similar location. But they've come together for an interesting collaborative program impacting students at each of the schools. Their three admissions deans join today's podcast to share more about it.

Did you receive one of the dreaded "not a no but not a yes" waitlist offers? There are some strategies you can employ, and we'll share them on the show today. It's also tax season, and we have some tax-advantaged ways for you to save for college. Finally, one of our own seniors joins the show to share his college search, application, and decision process.

It's late April, and most seniors are getting ready to make their final choice and deposit at the college they'll attend next fall. We're covering all the next steps they need to be thinking about. Many students with top choice colleges feel like they should attend a summer program at that college. We're also talking through the value of attending a college that participates in a consortium of some kind, from the Five Colleges in Massachusetts to the Claremont Schools in California.

Student athlete hoping for a scholarship? In honor of National Student Athlete Day on April 6, we have everything you need to know about athletic scholarships for college. In another story from our team, Vanessa Garrido will share her story of applying to college as the first generation daughter of immigrants. And for those students with access to Naviance through their high school, we're offering tips on how to use it to its fullest potential.

For all the seniors celebrating their acceptances and making their final selection, there are a few unhappy with their results and contemplating a different path. If you are thinking about taking a gap year and reapplying, we have some suggestions for evaluating your options and deciding how best to move forward with this process. High school students choosing courses for the coming school year may be wondering if they should add AP or IB coursework to their schedules. We have thoughts! And finally, it's never too late to start saving for college, and we'll share how to get started.

Students have been warned about cleaning up their social media presence, but many don't realize that some sites can be beneficial to high school and college students. Andrew Cohen, senior enterprise account executive for the education vertical at LinkedIn joins the show today to share how high school and college-bound students can best utilize and leverage LinkedIn during the college admissions process. In Office Hours, we're answering your college finance and admissions questions.

Many families will take out loans to help pay for college. We're exploring the good, bad, and ugly of parents borrowing money to fund this big expense. We're also discussing sports academies and how to determine if this is the right choice for your student athlete. In Office Hours, we have tips on getting started on a preliminary college list.

Many students with top choice colleges feel like they should attend a summer program at that college. We'll talk about the pros and cons of that decision and share our bottom line on this. We will also cover admitted student events: why you might want to attend and what to do while you're there. We're also unpacking Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF for short) and how to determine if you qualify, how to take advantage of the program, and how to avoid making mistakes that could disqualify you for PSLF.

Regular decision results are coming out, and we can help! We have advice about how to decide and what to do if you are waitlisted. In honor of Women's History Month, we're discussing what makes a someone a good candidate for a women's college. In Office Hours, we're answering your college finance and admissions questions.