What Do I Need to Do this Summer If I'm Starting College in the Fall?

Host Sally Ganga brings together admission and finance perspectives for a timely conversation about preparing to start college this fall, followed by another installment of our “Meet an Educator” series featuring one of the newer members of the Bright Horizons College Coach team.

In the first segment, Sally is joined by College Coach Tova Javetz and finance expert Alex Gonzalez to discuss what students and families should be doing during their senior summer. Tova and Alex walk through the key tasks to tackle, from completing required paperwork to using college-provided checklists to stay organized and on track. They also discuss the financial side of the transition, including understanding the full cost of attendance and ensuring a solid plan is in place to cover expenses. The conversation also explores the legal realities of students turning 18, including situations where families may want to consult an attorney to better understand issues such as privacy rights, medical decision-making, and state-specific regulations that could affect their student once they arrive on campus.

In the second segment, Sally continues the “Meet an Educator” series with College Coach Katie Phung. Katie shares her path from working in admission most recently at Boston College to joining Bright Horizons College Coach. Sally highlights the value that new team members bring when they arrive directly from college admission offices, offering fresh perspectives on current trends and practices while benefiting from the collective experience of longtime College Coach colleagues. Katie also looks back on her own college search process and her decision to attend Bryant University, where she took advantage of the network she built to explore the administrative side of higher education after graduation during what she describes as a “professional gap year.” The conversation provides insight into both the admission profession and the experiences that shaped Katie’s career helping students navigate their own college journeys.