Submission Accomplished: What's Next After Finishing Early Applications?

In this episode, host Kyra Tyler welcomes new voices and familiar experts to explore what happens both before and after students hit "submit" on their college applications.

First, finance expert Gina Valerius makes her podcast debut and shares her background before diving into one of the most important aspects of the college search: financial fit. Gina discusses why students should evaluate colleges not only for academic and social fit, but also for affordability. She explains the difference between a college's sticker price and its net price, highlights how financial aid policies can vary dramatically from one institution to another, and encourages families not to assume they won't qualify for aid.

Next, college coaches Jay Bonham and Serena Frisina pull back the curtain on the application review process. They break down common admission evaluation models, including territory management versus committee-based review, and answer questions many applicants have: How many people actually read an application? How are applications assigned to admission officers? And how do colleges arrive at final decisions? Their discussion provides valuable insight into what happens behind the scenes after students click submit.

To close the episode, college coach Karin Sherer joins the podcast for the first time to share her professional background and discuss a question many seniors face after early application deadlines: "Now what?" Karin offers advice on taking a well-deserved break while staying engaged in the process, explains why students should regularly monitor the email address used on their applications, and emphasizes the importance of accessing and checking each college's applicant portal for updates, missing materials, and important next steps.