Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Seniors are now in what can be the toughest part of the process: waiting to get an answer from colleges. Is there anything you can do now that the applications are in? We have some thoughts that we'll share with you. Paying for higher education can mean tax breaks come April. Part One of a two part series will look at options if you are saving for college and repaying education loans. Finally, you or your student may be receiving invitations to join some honor societies or "nominations" to expensive summer programs. We're giving tips to determine what is real and what is more of a scam.

Colleges do not consider retirement savings in their financial aid calculations, but you can use a Roth IRA to pay for college. We'll share more about who can take advantage of this option and factors to consider. If you're faced with a group and/or faculty interview in the admission or scholarship process, we have tips for navigating these trickier conversations. Finally, it's not the new year if you don't make resolutions, and we have some thoughts on how to make some related to college admissions.

If you're about to submit all of your applications or your last few, we'll take you through the nuts and bolts of submitting your applications and necessary follow up. Students recently accepted or considering applications to out-of-state state schools often wonder if there is a way to establish residency and pay in-state tuition rates. Sounds too good to be true: is it? We'll let you know! In Office Hours, we'll offer tips about how to handle updates and changes to applications after submission.

As students and families look to get more work experience while they're in college, co-ops are becoming a more popular option. We'll share more details about co-ops, including what they are, and the financial aspects of the programs that you need to consider before committing to them. In Office Hours, we'll go through the supplements for Washington University in St. Louis and Barnard College.

You applied early in the hopes that you'd have some decisions before the end of the year, and you got…deferred. What now? We'll tell you all about how to best handle this non-decision. We're also answering your questions in a two-segment Q&A featuring your burning concerns.

The results from early decision, early action, and priority admissions programs are starting to come in, and we're here to help! We'll discuss what to expect, how to prepare, and how to handle whatever comes your way. We're doing the second segment in our two-part series on getting ready to repay your students loans. And finally, in Office Hours, we're offering tips for writing the supplement requirements for Boston College and Colgate.

Students who excel in math and science are often pushed to consider engineering. Conversely, students who love science or math might be considering a degree in one of those disciplines, overlooking the possibilities available in engineering. We'll look at the differences between these majors so that you or your student can determine their best path forward. In part one of a two-part series, we're offering insight into getting started on repaying student loans. And in Office Hours, we're taking a closer look at the Loyola Marymount and Occidental supplements.

While most parents will be thrilled to have their college students home for the holiday season, what happens if the main topic of conversation is around transferring? Listen in as we talk through the reasons behind this phenomenon, and how to determine whether or not this is something to act on or wait out a bit longer. In Office Hours, we're answering your questions.

Come learn more about all things UC application, as one of our resident California experts breaks down what you need to know. We'll also look at state financial aid programs in California and offer advice about approaching the Carnegie Mellon and Syracuse University supplemental essay questions.

Students who have been suspended, expelled, or been subject to disciplinary action of some kind will likely need to address this infraction in their college applications. Tune in to learn more about the potential consequences and, more importantly, how to handle these in the application. If you have considered using life insurance as a college savings vehicle—or been advised to do so by someone else—join us to get more information about the positives and negatives of this option. Finally, we'll look at ways to use mindfulness to combat the anxiety that often accompanies the college admissions process.