Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Ever wonder how many AP courses colleges want to see—or if colleges even do expect to see them? Tune in to our segment on course selection for answers to these questions and insight into how to make the best curriculum choices for you and your journey to college. If you've already been accepted and plan to meet with the financial aid office during an upcoming accepted student day on campus, we have suggestions for the questions you should ask during that meeting. Finally, our experts will share some ideas for getting in college visits during your upcoming spring break.

Some high schools and colleges offer a unique way to earn college credit prior to graduation through dual-enrollment coursework. Learn more about this option, how it stacks up against AP and IB programs, and whether or not it's the right choice for you or your student. We'll spend the rest of the episode answering your college admissions and finance questions.

Last week we talked about appealing your financial aid awards, and this week we're covering how to negotiate for more scholarship money. If you didn't even know that was a possibility, you'll want to tune in to learn more. You may have heard about senioritis but don't know much about the impact. Can it truly be harmful to your college acceptances? In a word—yes. Finally, for those juniors eager to get a jump on application season, it might be time to start thinking about your essay. We'll offer suggestions for pre-work and planning that you can do now.

It is financial aid award season, and we're here to guide you through it. First up is how to appeal a financial aid award, from determining whether or not you have grounds for an appeal to how to approach the appeals process. We'll also discuss demonstrated interest, including what it is and how you can use it to positively impact your college application process. Finally, we'll talk you through the best ways to communicate with colleges.

There's snow on the ground and more to come, but believe it or not, summer planning starts now! We'll be talking through some things to think about as you get started. We're also exploring D3 athletics and how being a recruited athlete can impact admissions opportunities. Finally, as financial aid and merit award letters start to come in, you may find it difficult to figure out who is offering the best deal. We have tips for comparing awards in order to make the best decision.

If you or your student are interested in a career in the arts, you might be concerned about your ability to earn a living in such a difficult field. We'll talk about suggestions for students facing long odds in the creative field that will hopefully allow them to pursue their dreams while putting food on the table. We'll also be answering your college finance and admissions questions.

For most families, the ability to pay for college is as important as getting in. We welcome Edmit co-founder Sabrina Manville to the show to discuss how to build a college list with value in mind to help families develop a list that is more affordable while distinguishing when it might make sense to pay a little more. We're also doing part 2 in our Tax Breaks for Higher Education series, discussing options available when you are paying for college. Finally, in Office Hours, we're discussing what to do if you missed the January 1st deadlines but still want to apply to enter college in fall 2019.

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.