Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Much has been written lately about the amount of debt incurred by students pursuing bachelor's degrees at four year institutions. But what about community college? We'll welcome Jessica Braithwaite, a postdoctoral research associate at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University's Teachers College, to the show to discuss whether or not this is a viable option for many students. We'll also take a closer look at the role Greek life, i.e., fraternities and sororities, can play on campus and discuss the things you need to consider when using funds from a 529 plan to pay for college.

A semester in Paris. A year in Johannesburg, South Africa. A summer in Melbourne, Australia. Lots of colleges tout their multiple study abroad programs as reasons to attend. Maybe you've wanted to study abroad ever since your first day in Spanish class, or maybe it's the last thing you're considering. In this episode we'll discuss the benefits of study abroad and how to pay for it if you decide it's a good option for you. We'll also welcome Marie Bingham, former Wash U admissions officer, current private school college counselor, and outspoken advocate of higher education access, to the show to discuss the new Coalition App.

Thousands of students hope to study in the University of California system but either don't have the money for four years of study or don't have the grades and test scores to get in right out of college. The UC system actually has a specific pathway to the UC via community college, which can offer a solution to both the cost and selectivity issues. We'll tell you all about it. We'll also look into opportunities to pay for college expenses out of pocket and answer your questions on admissions-related issues.

Last week we welcomed an international student studying in the US to our show. This week, we're going to be discussing the ins and outs of applying if you are an international student interested in attending college in the US. With Malia Obama's recent announcement that she'll defer freshman year for a year, gap years are all over the news. We're going to investigate the options and take a closer look at what you should consider before you decide to take a year off. Finally, we'll be answering listener questions related to college finance.

It may seem that all you need to do after you deposit is buy some extra-long sheets for your dorm room bed and show up in time for the first day of classes. In reality, there are lots of different deadlines and forms, particularly as they relate to the financial side of college, that require your attention after you select your school. We're going to walk you through some things to think about in this area. In other segments, we'll welcome an international student who chose to pursue undergraduate studies in the US and discuss her experiences here. And finally, we'll be taking a look at post-graduate years after high school: what they are, why you would do one, and where you can find out more about them.

One of the best parts of the college process should be the moment when the tables are turned and students get to decide which school they will attend out of all those who made them offers. But this process can sometimes be as fraught with issues as putting together the initial list. If you're struggling to make a decision, we'll be offering tips to help. We'll also be discussing the Academic Common Market, also known as the regional tuition reciprocity program in the South, in part four of our series. And we'll wrap it all up by answering your college admissions questions.

It's every college going student and parent's nightmare: decisions from colleges arrive, and there isn't a yes in the bunch. Does this mean that the college dream is over? Definitely not, since there are actually many institutions still accepting applications even at this late date. Join us to learn more about how to find them and what to do. On the flip side, what if the student has choices, but the family—namely mom and dad and student—disagrees on the best option? We'll discuss some tips for sorting through the different considerations leading up to a final decision. Finally, we're running part three in our tuition reciprocity series, this time focusing on the Western Undergraduate Exchange.

What happens if you got into most of the colleges on your list, but now you're realizing you don't really like any of them? We'll be looking at what you can do if you find yourself in this situation. We'll also talk to a student about her decision to attend the University of Michigan and the path she took to get there in another segment on students' college choices. We'll wrap it all up by answering your college finance questions.

College visits can be an incredibly valuable part of the college process—or they can be a big waste of time and money. Students and families can make these worth their while by thinking ahead about the kinds of questions they want to ask and of whom, and we'll be offering guidance around both in this week's show. In another of our ongoing segments on students' college choices, this week we'll hear from a student who chose the University of South Carolina after originally setting her sights on small liberal arts colleges. And finally, we're running part two in our series on tuition reciprocity agreements with a focus on the New England Regional Student Program.

In our first segment on Turning the Tide, Ian Fisher, Elyse Krantz, and Beth Heaton discussed the relative merits of the report and plan but only had time to cover the basics. In this week's show, they'll return to dig a bit deeper and uncover what this means for students. Should they change their approach to course selection? Opt for fewer APs? Move community service to the top of the list of extracurriculars? Worry less about all of those in general? Tune in and find out! In this week's college finance segment, we'll be talking about taxes and their impact on college students.