Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

For all those rising seniors out there, summer is a great time to start work on your college applications! If you're currently stuck staring at the Common App prompts and wondering where to go from there, don't miss this episode! In part one of a two part series, Ian Fisher will be offering tips and suggestions for approaching the first two prompts on the Common App. We'll also welcome Fordham's Monica Esser to offer her perspective on international admissions to US colleges. Stacey MacPhetres will also walk us through the pros and cons of consolidating college loans.

While 529 savings plans and pre-paid tuition options get a great deal of coverage in the media, there are actually quite a few different ways to save for college. In this week's episode, we'll explore using a Roth IRA for just this purpose. We'll also explain the science behind all of those college marketing materials currently flooding your mailbox and inbox and help you understand what it all means to you. And for the artists in the audience, we'll be welcoming photographer and artist Lisa Sorensen to walk students through using an art portfolio to augment a college application.

Ever wonder if it makes sense to select different majors at each school to improve the odds of acceptance? Maybe you heard that admissions officers really like essays that focus on an example of doing good in the community? On this week's show we're going to address the issue of tailoring the applicant to the college in a segment on presenting your authentic self in those applications with former Reed admissions officer Ian Fisher. If you or anyone you know is suffering from a severe case of senioritis, former Georgetown admissions officer Karen Spencer will discuss how to understand and handle the potential fallout, including a rescinded offer of admission. Finally, former Ana Maria College financial aid officer Laurie Peltier will walk us through the first college tuition bill.

While applying to college can be long and arduous and figuring out the financial piece is often just as challenging, it's really just a precursor to the biggest hurdle of all: going to college. In this week's show, we're talking about making a successful transition. Kennon Dick and Laurie Peltier, College Coach experts who also went through this process themselves just last year, will share tips for both parents and students about how to transition to college as painlessly and successfully as possible. We'll also welcome Jeanne Mahan back to the show to talk about using parent financing to pay for college—whether that is the ideal situation for you and how to go about doing it.

Securing a nomination. Passing the physical fitness test. Taking the appropriate coursework. If the idea of attending West Point, Annapolis, or another service academy in preparation for serving your country appeals to you, then tune in to hear College Coach expert Lisa Albro's tips on when and how to go about this often confusing application process. Alex Bickford will discuss how to best use your college savings when it's time to pay for college. All set with your summer plans? If not, don't miss Mary Sue Youn and her last minute summer plan suggestions for high school students.

Ask any high school junior how they're feeling, and the almost inevitable reply will be, Stressed. The root of much of that stress these days is college. Whether students are overloading themselves with coursework, overbooking themselves with extracurricular commmittments or simply worrying about it, the looming spectre of college is what can push them over the edge on a regular basis. Former teacher and Barnard admissions rep Kara Courtois will be with us to talk about some things students and parents can do to try to ease that pressure. Sally Ganga will be back to discuss gap years, including what they are, why students might consider them, and how they might impact college options. Former financial aid officer Laurie Peltier will offer thoughts on making a successful financial transition to college

There are a lot of numbers involved in the admissions process: GPAs, standardized test scores, admit rates, class rankings, etc. Although in general numbers are a fairly black and white matter, the fact is that there is a lot of gray area when it comes to numbers and college admissions. Julia Jones, former senior admissions officer at Brandeis University and College Coach's list guru, will explain how students can evaluate their numbers and use them to help craft a college list. College finance expert Alex Bickford also joins us to go over the basics of saving for college. In our final segment, former University of Chicago admissions officer Sally Ganga will stop by to trade funny essay stories--the bad, the ugly, and the unbelievable. If you've ever wondered what not to do in your essay, this will serve as a great primer!

Ever wonder how you or your child can stand out in the ultra-competitive Ivy League admissions process? The answer is developing a distinguishing excellence. In a continuation of a discussion begun in our last episode of Getting In, we will be answering your questions about what a distinguishing excellence is, and how students can both identify and work towards developing one. For those students aspiring to a professional field of study such as veterinary medicine, pharmacy, or physical therapy, former Cornell senior admissions officer Marj Southworth will be sharing her advice on high school curriculum and extracurricular activity choices. Finally, Kathy Ruby is back to discuss the important question of whether or not a student should work while in college

Do you or your child aspire to the Ivy League or similarly highly selective colleges? Don't miss this episode of Getting In, when former Yale admissions officer Amy Alexander will join us to discuss the basics of admission to the Ivies, including curriculum choices, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, and more. We'll also welcome Lisa Albro to the show to go over the importance of demonstrated interest in the admissions process and how to most effectively, well, demonstrate interest! Finally, Jeanne Mahan will share her thoughts on assessing the value of a particular college, something top of mind of most parents and students looking at college costs in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Worried about the college admissions essay? Unclear about how to use the prompts provided on the Common App? Wondering what changed about the Common App prompts this year? We've got answers! Elyse Krantz, former senior admissions officer and Common App expert, will share information about the new prompts and how to best use them in the essay process. If you're concerned about college loans, you won't want to miss college finance expert Beth Feinberg Keenan's tips on how much debt parents and students should consider taking on. If early decision, priority admissions, restricted early action, and all the other early options make your head spin, Tova Tolman will be here to help you make sense of your choices. Send us your questions to gettingin.voiceamerica@gmail.com and join us this Thursday!