Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

We're excited to welcome a current college student to the podcast to share her reflections on her college admissions process—what went well, what went wrong, and how it all ended up. In Office Hours, we're looking at the pros and cons of early decision to help you decide if it's the right choice for you. We'll also offer advice for reviewing your college bill and figuring out what you owe and when it's due.

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to the college admissions process. This week we're providing tips and suggestions on the best time to take standardized tests. We'll also explain why merit-based scholarship awards will look very different depending on the institution granting them. Finally, Office Hours covers the who, what, where, when, and why of supplemental essays.

There are a number of accelerated degree programs offering students the chance to complete advanced degrees in either fewer years than it would normally take or without the hassle of applying to graduate school. Tune in to hear about the pros, cons, and special considerations of these unique programs from a current student. We're also explaining why need-based financial aid awards can vary so much from school to school. In Office Hours, we're sharing the changes to this year's version of the Common Application.

A handful of colleges have begun offering special programs in which students spend the first year studying abroad. If you're wondering what they're all about and whether or not they're right for you, we're sharing more about these programs and who would be a good fit. We'll also be answering your questions about college finance and admissions.

If you aspire to the most selective colleges in the country and will need financial help to attend, don't miss our segment on how financial aid works at the Ivies. For those getting ready to head to college in the fall, we'll be talking through how to choose your courses for the first semester. And in Office Hours, we're sharing everything you need to know about subject tests, including whether or not you need to take them.

We often think of social media as a negative element of the college process, but what if there was a way to use it to your advantage? We'll discuss this and some specific suggestions for using LinkedIn as part of your college applications. Did you know that financial aid is available at community college? We're giving you an inside look at one such office and offering tips on how to best leverage what's available to you there. In Office Hours, we're helping you get started on the Common App.

College is expensive enough—you don't want to spend what's left of your money on books and dorm supplies. We're offering tips for finding bargains on this new round of expenses. If you're preparing to welcome your student back home (or worried about that moment in the future), we have some suggestions for what to expect and how to prepare. Finally, if you or your student are considering going abroad for college, we have suggestions on how to find the perfect university in the UK.

If you're considering traveling outside of the United States for college (or even if you're not), you might want to include Canada in your college process. We'll walk you through why Canada might be a good choice and offer resources to help you search for the best fit options. In Office Hours, we're answering your college finance and admissions questions.

STEAM is a new acronym that has been tossed around quite a bit recently. In this week's show, we'll explain what it is and which colleges offer programs in this area. Sending a teenager off to college can be scary for many reasons. Preparing your teen financially for this transition can help to reduce fear and make for a smoother entry into this new environment. In Office Hours, we'll debate the pros and cons of starting the higher education path at a two-year college.

One of the most important elements of the college process is making a plan and setting goals. This is the time of the year to review what was accomplished and write down some goals for the current year, and we'll be discussing suggestions for how to do this and what to focus on. Summer is also a great time to get in standardized test prep, and we'll offer ideas for that. Finally, if you've ever wondered what loan forbearance is and how it works, wonder no more—we're going to tell you all about it.