Episodes

Fall Admissions Timelines for High School Seniors; Using Naviance
Aug. 26, 2021

Fall Admissions Timelines for High School Seniors; Using Naviance

School is officially back for most seniors, and it’s time to focus on the application process in earnest. We have timelines for both the admissions and the college finance process, including what needs to get done and when. F...
Community Service; Mental Health and Financial Aid; the PSAT
Aug. 19, 2021

Community Service; Mental Health and Financial Aid; the PSAT

A few years ago, we wrote a blog titled, “Colleges Don’t Care About Community Service.” In this week’s show, we’ll share whether or not our opinions on this topic have changed. In other segments, we’ll look at the link betwee...
Researching Colleges; Applying Early; Finance Tips for Graduates
Aug. 12, 2021

Researching Colleges; Applying Early; Finance Tips for Graduates

A great college list starts with academics, namely majors. If a college doesn’t have any in your areas of interest, it’s off the list! We have tips for how to go about researching majors. We also have finance advice for recen...
Stories From Our Team; Listener Q&A
Aug. 5, 2021

Stories From Our Team; Listener Q&A

In another in our series on our team’s own college stories, Kyra Tyler joins the show to talk about pursuing a bachelor of arts in flute performance at Northwestern despite having no interest in a musical career. Tune in to l...
Demonstrated Need; 3+2 Engineering Programs; Supplemental Essays
July 29, 2021

Demonstrated Need; 3+2 Engineering Programs; Supplemental Essays

What does it mean when a college states that they cover 100 percent of demonstrated financial need? Is that too good to be true? We have thoughts—and facts—and we’ll share them! For those students interested in engineering, w...
Financial Fit; Supporting Your Recruited Athlete; UC Myths
July 22, 2021

Financial Fit; Supporting Your Recruited Athlete; UC Myths

We frequently—and strongly—suggest that families discuss what they can afford when it comes to college. But talking money can be challenging. We have advice to make “the talk” a bit easier. Athletic recruitment has many movin...
Tips for Transitioning to College; The Importance of Saving Money
July 15, 2021

Tips for Transitioning to College; The Importance of Saving Money

Congrats to all graduating seniors who successfully applied to college and are preparing to start this fall. Laura Amigone, a college success coach from Rudder Coaching, joins the podcast this week to offer advice to these st...
Preparing for College Interviews; Listener Q&A
July 8, 2021

Preparing for College Interviews; Listener Q&A

College interviews aren’t part of the process at many colleges in the US. But interviews are an opportunity for candidates to add a more personal component to their applications at those institutions that offer them. Find out...
Early Education Degrees; Common App Essay; Personal Finance 101
July 1, 2021

Early Education Degrees; Common App Essay; Personal Finance 101

Interested in earning teaching young children as your career? Learn more about the Horizons Teacher Degree Program, a no-cost degree program for all full-time employees in Bright Horizon’s early education centers and preschoo...
Tips for Transfers; Paying for Advanced Degrees; Physical Therapy
June 24, 2021

Tips for Transfers; Paying for Advanced Degrees; Physical Therapy

Are you heading off to college pretty sure you want to transfer after year one? We have some thoughts about this approach that we’ll share with our listeners this week. If you’re wondering how students fund graduate and profe...
A Parent’s Perspective; Summer App Work; Tuition Payment Plans
June 17, 2021

A Parent’s Perspective; Summer App Work; Tuition Payment Plans

This year our own Elizabeth Heaton is in our listeners’ shoes as she helps her son navigate the college process. She’s sharing her thoughts with co-host Ian Fisher. We’ll also lay out a suggested schedule of summer work for r...
Med School Residency Matching; Listener Q&A
June 10, 2021

Med School Residency Matching; Listener Q&A

Many students think the final hurdle to becoming a doctor is graduating from medical school. But in fact there is another one looming: residency matching. If you don’t get a residency, you can not become a doctor. We have som...
ROTC, Tuition Reciprocity Programs, Recommendation Letters
June 3, 2021

ROTC, Tuition Reciprocity Programs, Recommendation Letters

Have you heard that you can pay in-state prices for an out-of-state school? One way to make this happen is through tuition reciprocity programs. We’ll discuss how those work in today’s podcast. We also have information about ...
Staying Healthy in College; Healthy Finances and Mental Health
May 27, 2021

Staying Healthy in College; Healthy Finances and Mental Health

This week’s show is all about health, from remaining healthy while you’re in college to maintaining healthy finances as a way of supporting mental health. Jill and Dave Henry, authors of the newly published College Health Gui...
Scholarship Searches; Film Majors; Common App Activities List
May 20, 2021

Scholarship Searches; Film Majors; Common App Activities List

As frequent listeners to our program know, the best sources of scholarship money are the colleges themselves. But there is more money out there for students willing to put the time in to look. We’ll offer tips on doing those ...
SAT VS ACT—What Are the Differences?: Listener Q&A
May 13, 2021

SAT VS ACT—What Are the Differences?: Listener Q&A

Those students who do plan to take standardized tests this year have a choice: ACT or SAT. But how do you make that choice if you don’t know what the differences are? ArborBridge CEO and former tutor and curriculum director M...
College Deposit; Working In College; Pre-Med Application Options
May 6, 2021

College Deposit; Working In College; Pre-Med Application Options

Congrats to all those seniors who have made their decision and deposited at the college they will attend next fall. Now what? We have what you need to know about what comes next. In our ongoing medical school series, we’re co...
Gap Year Options; Athletic Recruits; Project Management Tips
April 29, 2021

Gap Year Options; Athletic Recruits; Project Management Tips

Wanting a break before starting college or looking for something interesting to do before applying? Rebecca Barr of Education First will join this week’s podcast to discuss gap year options through Education First. We also ha...
Who Gets In and Why: A Conversation with Jeffrey Selingo
April 22, 2021

Who Gets In and Why: A Conversation with Jeffrey Selingo

Excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo to the show to discuss his latest, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. We discuss everything from the impact of marketing and rankings on...
Applying to Undergraduate Business Schools; Listener Q&A
April 15, 2021

Applying to Undergraduate Business Schools; Listener Q&A

Interested in majoring in business as an undergraduate? We’ll share information on coursework and activities that might help your application stand out. We’re also answering your college admissions and finance questions in ou...
Making a Final College Choice; Applying to Catholic Colleges
April 8, 2021

Making a Final College Choice; Applying to Catholic Colleges

If you’re a senior, you are likely in the middle of deciding where you’ll attend college next year. We have thoughts on how to evaluate your choices en route to making a final choice. We also have insight on Catholic colleges...
Summer Planning; Career Counseling for Teens; FAFSA Changes
April 1, 2021

Summer Planning; Career Counseling for Teens; FAFSA Changes

It’s almost summer (please!)—have you made plans to do something interesting? Tune in to learn more about finding and deciding on summer opportunities, whether in-person or virtual. If you aren’t sure what your career path is...
Discussion with reporter Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable
March 25, 2021

Discussion with reporter Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable

Join us this week for an in-depth discussion with Wall Street Journal reporter, Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable. We’ll delve into the who, what, where, and why of the Varsity Blues scandal. More importantly, we’ll tal...
Preparing for the College Essay; Listener Q&A
March 18, 2021

Preparing for the College Essay; Listener Q&A

For colleges that require it, the college essay can be a key component of a successful application. In no surprise to anyone, writing is hard! We have ideas on how to work on your writing skills in preparation for writing you...