Episodes
March 28, 2019
Applying Out of State. Choosing a College. College and Retirement
Devastated about not getting into your dream school? There’s no doubt this is a tough time, but you can’t abandon college just because your top choice didn’t come through. Tune in for tips on choosing the best colleges from t...
March 21, 2019
College Admissions Scandal: What Happened and What Can You Do Now?
We interrupted our regularly scheduled programming to focus an entire episode on the scandal rocking the admissions world involving wealthy parents, corrupt coaches and standardized test proctors, and a villain for the ages i...
March 14, 2019
UC A-G Requirements; How Much to Borrow; Starting a College List
Last episode we talked about how and when to arrange college financing, and this week we’re tackling the bigger question of how much is too much to borrow. For those about to start researching and visiting colleges, we have t...
March 7, 2019
Admitted Student Events; College Consultants; College Financing
Graduating seniors and their families have one more college decision looming: whether or not to spend more money to visit college campuses where the students were accepted for admitted student events. We’ll talk about what to...
Feb. 28, 2019
How Many APs Do I Need?; Accepted Student Days; Visiting Colleges
Ever wonder how many AP courses colleges want to see—or if colleges even do expect to see them? Tune in to our segment on course selection for answers to these questions and insight into how to make the best curriculum choice...
Feb. 21, 2019
Is Dual Enrollment Always a Good Idea? Plus Listener Questions
Some high schools and colleges offer a unique way to earn college credit prior to graduation through dual-enrollment coursework. Learn more about this option, how it stacks up against AP and IB programs, and whether or not it...
Feb. 14, 2019
Negotiating Scholarships; Senioritis; Starting the College Essay
Last week we talked about appealing your financial aid awards, and this week we’re covering how to negotiate for more scholarship money. If you didn’t even know that was a possibility, you’ll want to tune in to learn more. Yo...
Feb. 7, 2019
Financial Aid Appeals; Demonstrated Interest; Contacting Colleges
It is financial aid award season, and we’re here to guide you through it. First up is how to appeal a financial aid award, from determining whether or not you have grounds for an appeal to how to approach the appeals process....
Jan. 31, 2019
Exploring D3 Athletics; Summer Planning; Comparing Award Letters
There’s snow on the ground and more to come, but believe it or not, summer planning starts now! We’ll be talking through some things to think about as you get started. We’re also exploring D3 athletics and how being a recruit...
Jan. 24, 2019
Avoiding the Starving Artist Scenario; Listener Q and A
If you or your student are interested in a career in the arts, you might be concerned about your ability to earn a living in such a difficult field. We’ll talk about suggestions for students facing long odds in the creative f...
Jan. 17, 2019
Value and the College List; Tax Breaks; Options Post-January 1
For most families, the ability to pay for college is as important as getting in. We welcome Edmit co-founder Sabrina Manville to the show to discuss how to build a college list with value in mind to help families develop a li...
Jan. 10, 2019
The Admissions Waiting Game; Tax Breaks; Scam Honor Societies
Seniors are now in what can be the toughest part of the process: waiting to get an answer from colleges. Is there anything you can do now that the applications are in? We have some thoughts that we’ll share with you. Paying f...
Jan. 3, 2019
Roth IRA to Pay for College; Resolutions; Group/Faculty Interview
Colleges do not consider retirement savings in their financial aid calculations, but you can use a Roth IRA to pay for college. We’ll share more about who can take advantage of this option and factors to consider. If you’re f...
Dec. 27, 2018
Applications: Submitting and Follow Up; How to Pay In-State Tuition
If you’re about to submit all of your applications or your last few, we’ll take you through the nuts and bolts of submitting your applications and necessary follow up. Students recently accepted or considering applications to...
Dec. 20, 2018
Co-Op Programs; Essay Prompts for Wash U and Barnard College
As students and families look to get more work experience while they’re in college, co-ops are becoming a more popular option. We’ll share more details about co-ops, including what they are, and the financial aspects of the p...
Dec. 13, 2018
What to Do if You re Deferred Admissions and College Finance QandA
You applied early in the hopes that you’d have some decisions before the end of the year, and you got…deferred. What now? We’ll tell you all about how to best handle this non-decision. We’re also answering your questions in a...
Dec. 6, 2018
ED, EA, and Priority Results; Repaying Loans; BC and Colgate Essays
The results from early decision, early action, and priority admissions programs are starting to come in, and we’re here to help! We’ll discuss what to expect, how to prepare, and how to handle whatever comes your way. We’re d...
Nov. 29, 2018
Engineering VS. Math Science Majors; Repay Student Loans Essays
Students who excel in math and science are often pushed to consider engineering. Conversely, students who love science or math might be considering a degree in one of those disciplines, overlooking the possibilities available...
Nov. 15, 2018
What if your Student Already Wants to Transfer? Listener Q and A
While most parents will be thrilled to have their college students home for the holiday season, what happens if the main topic of conversation is around transferring? Listen in as we talk through the reasons behind this pheno...
Nov. 8, 2018
The UC app, CA Financial Aid; Carnegie Mellon and Syracuse Essays
Come learn more about all things UC application, as one of our resident California experts breaks down what you need to know. We’ll also look at state financial aid programs in California and offer advice about approaching th...
Nov. 1, 2018
Disciplinary Issues; Life Insurance Savings; Admissions Anxiety
Students who have been suspended, expelled, or been subject to disciplinary action of some kind will likely need to address this infraction in their college applications. Tune in to learn more about the potential consequences...
Oct. 25, 2018
To Disclose or Not Disclose; When to Press Submit; Student Loans
One of the most frequent questions we get involves disclosing challenges that students have faced while going through high schools. We’ll touch on a few of these, including learning differences, ADD/ADHD, and Autism. In Offic...
Oct. 18, 2018
Early Decision Trends; Fast Applications; Listener Questions
Binding Early Decision, ED for short, isn’t for everyone. But it’s important to understand the trends in how colleges are using these programs and what that can mean for your chances at an institution that presents it as an o...
Oct. 11, 2018
Choosing a Major, the CSS Profile, Submitting Test Scores
Last week we covered the FAFSA, and this week we’re diving into what you need to know about completing the CSS Profile, required in addition to the FAFSA by a number of colleges. We’re also going to explore what it means to s...