Episodes

This week we’re talking all things community college. We’ll hear about the financial and academic benefits of starting at a two-year college, things to think about if you’re a transfer student, and how dual enrollment programs work. We’ll also talk to a current community college student and a staff member to hear about their experiences on campus.

Even though it still feels like winter, it’s time to start planning for summer! From getting a job or taking a class to pursuing an internship or working on applications, summer offers a unique opportunity to focus on your interests for a few months. And don’t forget about saving any earnings to help pay for college. We’ll discuss all of this and more in today’s show. We’ll also welcome a current student to share how she created her own project while still in high school.

This week’s show is for students with physical or learning differences. Sasha Manus, who has CP and uses a service dog, will join the show to share advice on navigating college with a physical disability. We’ll also offer application and admissions tips for students with learning differences and discuss financial aid for students with physical and learning differences.

Tis the season for financial and merit aid packages, which are landing in students’ emails and mailboxes right now. We’ll be discussing the difference between appealing for more financial aid and negotiating for more merit aid and offering tips on how to go about each. We’re also talking all things standardized testing in today’s show, from the state of testing today to the new digital SAT.

Calling all juniors: it’s time to get started! Too early to think about essay writing? Of course not! Too early to think about how to pay for college? No way! With the heart of the college process right around the corner, we’re sharing advice to help students get started on essays and parents to get started on their financial plans. And in a second essay-related segment, we’ll look at essays centered on a trauma and talk through both when to proceed with what can be a tricky topic and how much t...

College prep does not begin in middle school, but these years offer students a chance to explore their interests and develop some skills that will help them be more successful in high school. We’ll talk through the academic, social, and personal opportunities available to middle school students. We’ll also offer suggestions for helping your middle school students learn more about personal finance topics and to take on some of their own fiscal responsibility.

Does your student want to transfer? We’ll break down the basics of the process. We also have information on education tax breaks just in time for tax season, and we’ll answer your college finance and admissions questions in our listener Q&A.

Financial aid award notifications are coming—are you ready? (Is anyone?) We have insights on how to understand these often confusing documents to determine what exactly you’ll pay, what discounts you’re receiving, and what debt you’ll be expected to take on. In other segments, our own Serena Frisina shares what she loves about visiting colleges, and a veterinarian joins the show to tell us about her journey to her current career.

Twice a year the College Coach team comes together for professional development and team building, and it’s our favorite time of the year! This year we’re bringing the podcast along for the ride, as Beth, Ian, and Sally sit down in the same room to host the podcast. We’ll give you a peak into our conversations and what we’ve learned at our most recent meeting.

Co-hosts Sally Ganga and Ian Fisher and regular guest Shannon Vasconcelos join today’s anniversary show celebrating eight years of weekly Getting In podcasts. We’ll discuss some of the big changes we’ve seen in our time hosting the show, and some of the things that have remained the same. Tune in and celebrate with us—we’re still sharing helpful tips and information alongside some pretend cake and champagne!

The first half of today’s show is all about the Cal State University system. We’ll provide an overview of options, updates on new programs, and important things to know related to admissions. Then we’ll welcome two alums from the system to share their own experiences at CSUs. In our final segment, we’ll cover state teacher loan forgiveness programs—a must listen for anyone working as a teacher.

Ever wonder what a conservatory education is all about? We’re welcoming a current conservatory student to the show to share! We’ll also hear from BHCC’s own Nick Mayernik about the path to his current position as our UX designer. Finally, we’ll share tips for education debt management.

Curious about what happens to your app once it’s in the hands of the admissions office? One of our former admissions officers, a veteran of four different admissions offices, will share more on the process. New year, new you? Or maybe just a new college savings plan. We have ideas! Finally, most college students have their sights set on a job post-graduation. We’re welcoming the former head of global recruitment for Bank of America to the show to share his tips for starting the process while you...

Hopefully seniors everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief—applications are in! Today’s show is entirely focused on next step, whether admissions or finance related or keeping your counselors and teachers updated on your college results and decisions.

College student home for the holidays and already talking about transferring? We’ll talk about how to think that through and what the next steps should be. It’s never too early to start thinking about summer activities for high school students, so we’ll finish off the year discussing those. And in Tuition Tidbits #2, we’ll cover the reality of getting in-state tuition as an out-of-state student.

Ever seen info from the Common Data Set or stumbled onto BLS.gov? Whether you’ve never heard of these information sources or have some passing insight, you’ll want to listen to today’s show. We’ll unpack what the CDS is and share how to best use it, and look into the wonders (our opinion!) of the Occupational Outlook handbook found at BLS.gov.

Early admissions decisions are in—what’s next? Whether you were admitted, deferred, or denied, we have information on how to handle each option. We’ll also update listeners on the federal student loan repayment options and when we anticipate repayment starting up again. Finally, we’ll welcome Anne Corriveau from Boston University to share insight on the BU supplement and what’s new at the university.

There are a number of interesting options out there for tuition costs. We’re going to cover them in a new college finance series, Tuition Tidbits. Segment one does a deep dive on tuition reciprocity and exchange programs. In the second segment in our Niche Colleges series, we’ll welcome Fumio Sugihara from Hampshire College to share what’s new with the Amherst, MA-based institution.

Ever wonder about the more unique colleges that are out there, especially why they do what they do and who they’re designed to serve? In our new series, Niche Colleges, we’re exploring some of the different options available to students. We kick things off with a visit from Ben Baum of St. John’s College, which focuses on a Great Books curriculum for all. Tune in to learn more. We’ll also answer your admissions and college finance questions.

Wondering if college is worth it? We’ll help you think through how to evaluate the return on investment and avoid some pitfalls that might decrease your ROI. Are you a senior or the parent of a senior who hasn’t yet done anything on the college process? We have some to dos and timelines to get you going! We’ll also discuss the who, what, where, when, and why of college interviews—tune in for some tips.

What’s a NESCAC anyway? Bates College admissions officer Scott Alexander joins the show to share a current view of his college and other NESCAC schools. Pitzer College admissions officer also joins the show to discuss the Pitzer essay supplements. And in our latest Personal Finance segment, we’ll go over the benefits of establishing an emergency fund.

As you know, we are in the season of supplements. We’ll look at both Ithaca College and Notre Dame while also tackling those pesky major of interest and why this college questions in general. In other news, we look at what’s next from a financial perspective for National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

Ten days to November 1—yikes!! We have advice for what to focus on now as we inch closer to those November 1 deadlines. We’re also sharing our takeaways from the annual conference for National Association of College Admissions Counselors—NACAC for short.

What the heck is a net price calculator and why should you use one? Glad you asked—we’ll tell all in today’s show! We also welcome Chris Perlongo from the University of Vermont to talk early action, early decision, and supplemental essays about Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Finally, we’re also sharing colleges with atypical deadlines and applications.