Episodes

For most people, writing a check for the tuition bill is a frightening prospect. What if you could spread those payments out? We have information on tuition payment plans offering an installment plan. We’ll also take a close ...

Many students enter their undergraduate years with their sights set on medicine. We have suggestions for pre-med activities that can positively impact med school applications. In our second and third segments, we’re answering...

One of the most important parts of the Common App is the section in which students list their activities. Involvement outside the classroom is a major selection component for many universities, and this is the primary opportu...

COVID-19 looms large for all of us this year, including high school students. For many, it might be tempting to write their essays about their experiences—but should they? We’ll talk through this question and offer our perspe...

There are some executive functioning skills that are essential to student success. Michael Delman, founder of Beyond BookSmart, joins us to go over those skills and share tips for how to develop them. We’ll also look at how t...

For some students, one of the biggest challenges of transitioning from high school to college is adjusting to the expectations of college level writing. Cassie Hemstrom of the UC Davis University Writing Program joins the sho...

With the pandemic disrupting in-person classes and raising the question of whether or not students will be on campus this fall, some families are investigating distance learning. Join us to learn more about who might flourish...

COVID-19 has disrupted many things in our world this year, including many high school students’ summer plans. We’ll be talking through how to adjust your activities with social distancing and cancellations in mind. For all th...

News articles, parents, and college themselves can often focus on the importance of earning As in high school classes. But the reality is that many, many of the students applying to college every year are earning Bs and Cs. W...

With next fall’s plans pretty a giant question mark, many families are trying to understand what online study versus on-campus study will do to their costs. We’ll share what you need to know about funding an online education....

This week’s show is all for the underclassmen, from mapping out a plan for your high school coursework to understanding the what and why of participating in extracurricular activities throughout your secondary school years. F...

With schools closing and COVID-19 impacting high school instruction across the country and world, some secondary schools are moving to a pass/fail grading scale for the second half of the year. We will discuss the impact of t...

While many seniors are still trying to figure out their final college choice for the coming fall, many in this year’s graduating class have committed to their institution. In our first segment, we’ll look what you need to do ...

Already know that you’d like to defer your enrollment for next year, whether for a specific reason or just to take a break? We have guidance on the who, what, where, and when of requesting a deferral. We’ll continue our Top 5...

Interested in participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps—ROTC for short—in college? We’re welcoming Rob Kirkland, author of The Insider’s Guide to the Army ROTC Scholarship for High School Students and Their Parents, to ...

While some colleges have pushed back their reply date from May 1 to June 1 or even later (we see you, Iowa State!), many students will need to commit to their college of choice within the next few weeks. We have suggestions f...

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on high school seniors and underclassmen, and on college finance. In today’s show, we’ll be tackling the question of how to get a feel for a college campus without visiting in person, and...

In a world in which everything seems to have changed overnight, what you have available to pay for college may have shifted drastically over the last few weeks. Appealing your financial aid offer may be more important than ev...

Congrats seniors: admissions season is in the homestretch. But just when you thought you would cross the finish line with no more issues, here comes COVID-19! We’re interviewing a senior who is in the middle of receiving admi...

Computer science programs and majors grow in popularity every year. We’ll explain what they are, who they are for, and what they look for in applicants. In Office Hours, we’re talking through questions to ask on campus tours,...

The Varsity Blues scandal hit the country on March 12, 2019. One year after the news exploded across this country and the world, we’re taking a look at what has changed, what has stayed the same, and how to avoid making these...

For students with an interest in the arts, whether visual, music, theatre, dance, and more, there are two primary college program options, the bachelor of fine arts, and the bachelor of arts. In this segment, we will take a c...

Every year, the National Association of College Admissions Counseling releases a report on the state of college admissions. Join us to learn more about the growth in application volume, the national average college acceptance...

Applying to US colleges can be complicated. The process can be even more difficult if you are coming from another country. We have advice designed specifically for international students who hope to attend college in the US. ...