Episodes
June 6, 2024
True or False? Debunking Admissions and Financial Aid Rumors!
Does most of what you know about college and the college admission process come from friends, neighbors, and acquiantainces? Does the college admission process and higher education in general seem a bit scary as a result? If ...
May 30, 2024
Helicopter Parenting; Engineering at MSU; Loan Repayment Updates
We have an exciting guest today: our host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by Sean Fochtman of Michigan State University. He’ll discuss his insights from working with students in the College of Engineering as well as his cu...
May 23, 2024
How Social Media is Used in the College Admissions Process
How does college admissions and paying for college intersect? Listen to this show to find out. Host Ian Fisher will be talking with colleague Gabbi Tobias about how to use social media to research colleges. It can be a very h...
May 16, 2024
Questions NOT to Ask Admissions; Prep for the College Transition
Will you be attending a reception or a college campus and have a chance to meet with an admissions officer? Have you heard that all questions are good questions? Well, maybe not. Our host Beth Heaton will be talking with form...
May 9, 2024
Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad; Listener Q&A
Are you considering studying abroad in college? Listen in as our host Shannon Vasconcelos chats with colleague Elyse Krantz about the pros and cons. Then, Shannon with be answering listener questions with College Coach collea...
May 2, 2024
All about Working with College Admissions and Finance Counselors
Are you considering hiring help for college admissions and/or scholarship applications? Listen in, as host Sally Ganga, formerly a high school college counselor, will be joined by her colleagues Michael Yager, another former ...
April 25, 2024
Types of Institutions: Liberal Arts & Polytechnic; Loud Budgeting
Confused by some of the terms you hear that describe colleges? Host Ian Fisher and his guests, College Coach colleagues Serena Frisina, formerly of Lewis & Clark University, and Zaragoza Guerra, formerly of Cal Tech and MIT, ...
April 18, 2024
College Recommendation Letters; Focusing on Best Fit Colleges
Juniors, this episode is for you! Host Sally Ganga will be addressing how to ask for letters of recommendation with guest and college admissions counselor Karen Spencer as well as chatting with admissions advisor Christine Ke...
April 11, 2024
Unhappy with Acceptances? Late Applicant Tips; Saving for College
Seniors, are you unhappy with the colleges that have admitted you? Or, have you not yet applied? For this episode, our host Ian Fisher will be talking with College Coach admissions counselor Brittany Preston about what to do ...
April 4, 2024
Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld; Why You Should Fill out the FAFSA
What an exciting episode today! Our host, Shannon Vasconcelos, will be talking with author Emi Nietfeld about her memoir, Acceptance, in which she discusses growing up with a troubled mother and eventually in the foster care ...
March 28, 2024
All About Community Colleges
Are you considering attending a community college? Listen in, as we will be spending the full episode discussing the wonderful opportunities they provide and, of course, what to know to be a successful transfer, from admissio...
March 21, 2024
A Deep Dive on Union College
Go Union! This show is all about Union College in Schenectady, New York. We are lucky enough to have Matthew Maltesta, Vice-President of Enrollment, Ashok Ramasubramanian, Dean of Engineering and Co-Director of the Templeton ...
March 14, 2024
Should I Attend Admitted Student Day; Listener Q&A
This will be a fun show, as College Coach admissions expert Tova Javetz will be here to answer listener questions with our host Shannon Vasconcelos. Seniors, are you considering attending some admitted student programs? Colle...
March 7, 2024
Standardized Tests; Choosing Your College; Financial Aid Appeals
Juniors, are you confused about whether or not to take the SAT or ACT? You’re not alone. There have been lots of changes in recent months, and our host Beth Heaton will be joined by Megan Stubbendeck, CEO of ArborBridge, an o...
Feb. 29, 2024
College Auditions; Becoming a Musician; Negotiating Scholarships
Are you interested in studying music or musical theater in college? This is a great show; host Sally Ganga interviews experts in applying to college programs in each field. First, she will be joined by Charlie Murphy, Directo...
Feb. 22, 2024
The Cal State System; Pre-Med Post-Bacc; Not Enough Financial Aid
Do you know that California has great universities that are not UC schools? Listen in when host ian fisher interviews College Coach colleague Gabbi Tobias about the California State University system, typically called the Cal...
Feb. 15, 2024
Campus Safety; Homeschooled Students; Financial Aid Packages
While college campuses are, by and large, very safe places, we know that crime can happen anywhere. Host Sally Ganga will be joined by Jessica Mertz of the Clery Center, an organization dedicated to helping colleges create th...
Feb. 8, 2024
All about Transferring; Day in the Life of Financial Aid Officers
Have you invested yourself at your current college, working hard in your classes and trying out a few extra-curricular activities, but you still feel like it isn’t the right place for you? Or maybe you’re at a community colle...
Feb. 1, 2024
Parent Support; Engineering Nuts & Bolts; Financial Aid Awareness
Parents, do you have a high achieving student and are concerned about how to best support them in high school and the college process? Listen in as our host, Ian Fisher, will be talking with colleague DJ Meehan, former high s...
Jan. 25, 2024
The Athletic Recruitment Process; College Research
Are you a student-athlete planning to compete in college? If so, tune-in to hear our host, Beth Heaton, talking with college finance expert and parent of a college athlete Stacey MacPhetres. They will be joined by Michael Yag...
Jan. 18, 2024
College List Building; Campus Visit Tips; FAFSA Rollout
Juniors, and to a lesser degree sophomores, this is a great time to start thinking about the colleges where you’ll be applying! Our host, Shannon Vasconcelos, will be chatting with College Coach admissions expert Nial Rele ab...
Jan. 11, 2024
Senior Grades Matter; Job Search for College Seniors; Loan Debt
Seniors, have you heard the rumor that colleges don’t care about senior year grades? Well, that’s incorrect, and even if a student has been admitted, colleges can rescind admission offers if grades drop. Listen in as host Ian...
Jan. 4, 2024
Having the Paying for College Talk; Summer Plans; 11th Grade Tips
Have you and your student discussed who is paying for college, and how? Are you hesitant to do so because you don’t want to disappoint them? You aren’t alone! Listen in as we’ll be addressing that topic in our first segment w...
Dec. 28, 2023
College Admissions Resolutions; Student Loan Repayment Updates
Happy (Almost) New Years! Our host Shannon Vasconcelos will be discussing New Years resolutions with College Coach colleague and guest Kyra Tyler. Then, Michelle Clifton of College Coach’s Finance Team will be joining Shannon...