Episodes

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 faced with a group and/or faculty interview in the admission or scholarship process, we have tips for navigating these trickier conversations. Finally, it’s not the new year if you don’t make resolutions, and we have some thoughts on how to make some related to college admiss...

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 out-of-state state schools often wonder if there is a way to establish residency and pay in-state tuition rates. Sounds too good to be true: is it? We’ll let you know! In Office Hours, we’ll offer tips about how to handle updates and changes to applications after submission...

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 programs that you need to consider before committing to them. In Office Hours, we’ll go through the supplements for Washington University in St. Louis and Barnard College.

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 two-segment Q&A featuring your burning concerns.

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 doing the second segment in our two-part series on getting ready to repay your students loans. And finally, in Office Hours, we’re offering tips for writing the supplement requirements for Boston College and Colgate.

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 in engineering. We’ll look at the differences between these majors so that you or your student can determine their best path forward. In part one of a two-part series, we’re offering insight into getting started on repaying student loans. And in Office Hours, we’re taking 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 phenomenon, and how to determine whether or not this is something to act on or wait out a bit longer. In Office Hours, we’re answering your questions.

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 the Carnegie Mellon and Syracuse University supplemental essay questions.

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 and, more importantly, how to handle these in the application. If you have considered using life insurance as a college savings vehicle—or been advised to do so by someone else—join us to get more information about the positives and negatives of this option. Finally, we’ll ...

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 Office Hours, we’re helping you let go by discussing the signs that suggest you are ready to press submit on your applications. And we’ll wrap up with suggestions for how you can keep track of your student loans while you’re in college.

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 option. We’re also sharing information about fast or priority applications that some colleges offer alongside other, more widely used applications. And in Office Hours, we’re answering your questions.

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 select a specific major on your college applications and how to think about that choice. In Office Hours, we’ll explain some of the nuances involved in reporting and submitting standardized test scores.

The FAFSA is out, and it’s time to get it done! We’re offering insight into the form and tips for completing it. A number of colleges and universities have begun to accept the Coalition Application, sometimes as the only way to apply. We’ll tell you more about it and who should consider using it. Finally, lots of students, colleges, and parents talk about study abroad, but what does that really mean? We’re exploring the options and offering suggestions for researching opportunities.

We’re all about early action on today’s first segment. We’ll tell you what EA is, discuss the pros and cons, and help you figure out if it’s the right choice given your personal situation. A former financial aid officer at Northeastern University also joins the show to share her insights into what goes on behind the scenes. In Office Hours, we’re taking you through the supplemental essay questions for Emory and Georgia Tech.

As admissions professionals, we’ve seen students make lots of mistakes when it comes to college applications. We’ve selected our top 5 and are sharing them with you this week. In Office Hours, we’re answering your college finance and admissions questions.

The FAFSA can seem very daunting—where do you go if you have questions? We know, and we’re sharing those resources on today’s show. We’re also welcoming a small business owner and marketing professional who happened to major in art history to discuss how her humanities degree has translated to work in the real world. In Office Hours, we’re explaining what demonstrated interest is, why it matters, and how to actually do it.

Ever wonder how to determine which colleges will be the best investment? Edmit is a college comparison-shopping resource designed to help families better understand the value of their college investment, with proprietary software that generates a personalized financial-fit score based on a college’s affordability, value, and post-graduation earnings. Learn more about our collaboration with Edmit on the show. We’re also talking to a communications expert about ways to prepare for the challenges o...

While it’s important to use college applications as an opportunity to translate your accomplishments in the most impactful way, too much “packaging” can be problematic. We’ll share more about what the looks like and why it’s an issue. We’re also offering tips for how to best highlight extracurricular activities in supplemental essays that don’t simply regurgitate your resume. Finally, did you know there are rules about making satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain financial aid elig...

Our podcast focuses on getting in to college, but what happens when it’s finally time to send your students off to school? A current college parent shares her thoughts on how to let go with grace. We’re also answering your college finance and admissions questions in our Office Hours Q&A segment.

We’re excited to welcome a current college student to the podcast to share her reflections on her college admissions process—what went well, what went wrong, and how it all ended up. In Office Hours, we’re looking at the pros and cons of early decision to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. We’ll also offer advice for reviewing your college bill and figuring out what you owe and when it’s due.

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to the college admissions process. This week we’re providing tips and suggestions on the best time to take standardized tests. We’ll also explain why merit-based scholarship awards will look very different depending on the institution granting them. Finally, Office Hours covers the who, what, where, when, and why of supplemental essays.

There are a number of accelerated degree programs offering students the chance to complete advanced degrees in either fewer years than it would normally take or without the hassle of applying to graduate school. Tune in to hear about the pros, cons, and special considerations of these unique programs from a current student. We’re also explaining why need-based financial aid awards can vary so much from school to school. In Office Hours, we’re sharing the changes to this year’s version of the Com...

A handful of colleges have begun offering special programs in which students spend the first year studying abroad. If you’re wondering what they’re all about and whether or not they’re right for you, we’re sharing more about these programs and who would be a good fit. We’ll also be answering your questions about college finance and admissions.

If you aspire to the most selective colleges in the country and will need financial help to attend, don’t miss our segment on how financial aid works at the Ivies. For those getting ready to head to college in the fall, we’ll be talking through how to choose your courses for the first semester. And in Office Hours, we’re sharing everything you need to know about subject tests, including whether or not you need to take them.