Episodes

Wondering what it means to be waitlisted and, more importantly, what the likelihood is that your application will actually get switched from waitlist to admit? We'll get some answers from former Swarthmore senior admissions officer Kennon Dick, who will also discuss what students can do to improve--or decrease--those odds. Greg Grauman, assistant vice provost of undergraduate admissions at American University, will join us to share what test optional really means at the institutions that practic...

What happens when the modern family--divorced, remarried, stepparents, stepchildren and all--applies for financial aid? What do you do if your ex doesn't want to be involved? Will your new spouse be expected to pay tuition for your child from a previous marriage? Join us for the March 19 episode of Getting In, when we'll discuss these issues and more with financial aid expert Beth Feinberg Keenan. We'll also talk through the potential impact of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets o...

Visiting colleges can be time consuming and expensive. On this episode, we'll welcome college visit expert Bill Ruben to talk about getting the most out of those visits, from when to go to what to see and do while you're there. We'll also dig into searching for private scholarships with Stacey MacPhetres, former financial aid offices at Emerson College and Elms College. Got a budding athlete in your house?Alex Santiago, a college athlete and former senior admissions officer at the University of ...

Can you really reposition family assets to create more financial aid eligibility? Are there ways to hide assets and lower your expected family contribution? Is it possible to get colleges to consider your child financially independent of you? Former Tufts and Boston University senior financial aid officer Shannon Vasconcelos will stop by to address college finance myths and offer real, ethical tips that everyone can use to maximize financial aid eligibility. Kathy Ventura, who heads up the guida...

Standardized tests are a key component of most college applications. But when should students start taking the SAT or ACT, and how far in advance should they begin to prepare for the tests? We'll talk through these questions with Jake Neuberg, CEO of Revolution Prep. We'll also welcome College Coach finance expert Kathy Ruby to discuss putting together a college list that factors finances and the ability to pay into the equation. For those students and parents who are starting to think about the...

Ever wondered what activities colleges most want to see on a student's application? Curious about whether or not community service or sports are required or if a job counts? Former Georgetown admissions officer Karen Spencer will join me to talk about whether or not there are right or wrong things for students to get involved in. In our second segment, Kyra Tyler, former admissions officer at Brandeis, will offer some great suggestions about the nuts and bolts of researching colleges and putting...

In this week's Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Elizabeth Heaton will talk to college finance expert Laurie Peltier to cut through all the misinformation floating around and find out more about who actually qualifies for financial aid.The answer may surprise you! She'll also welcome former admissions officer and current College Coach colleague Steve Brennan to discuss getting started on the college list, and dig into making the most of summer break. The episode will wrap up with a ...

Join us for the inaugural episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, where Elizabeth Heaton and colleague Sally Ganga will discuss high school curriculum choices and attempt to answer the eternal question of whether it is better to get an A in the college prep course or a B in the honors level. Beth and guests Jake Neuberg of Revolution Prep and Mary Sue Youn of College Coach will also examine the new SAT, including what's changed, when it will debut, and how it might impact admissions...