Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation - March 13th, 2025

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation - March 6th, 2025

Have you heard that there are changes to the ACT? Not sure how that will impact you or your student? Host Sally Ganga will be joined by Dr. Megan Stubbendeck, Senior Director of Instruction at Arborbridge, a test prep company that is one of College Coach’s trusted partners. She will then be joined by College Coach colleague Lisa Albro to discuss why your major matters less than you think, and finally, by colleague and finance expert Alex Bickford to discuss changes to the 529 plan which allows rollovers to Roth IRAs. All the more reason to save for your child’s education!

It’s safe to say that 90% or more of us are concerned about college costs, and today’s show is all about paying for college, whether through merit scholarships, appealing financial aid awards, and comparing awards from different colleges and universities. Our host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by College Coach Finance Expert and colleague Michelle Smoley for the discussion.

Are you interested in starting your own business? Learning the pluses and the possible pitfalls? Host Sally Ganga has the great fortune to interview three different people who have followed non-traditional paths. She’ll be interviewing Steve “Nookie” Postal, a Chef and cookbook author, Jess McDaniel, a professional photographer who has her own business, and Kevin Heald, owner and head beer and cheese monger at the restaurant Malt & Mold on the Lower East Side of New York.

If you’re a long time listener of the Getting In podcast, or, just curious about how college admissions has evolved over the last ten years, this episode should be of interest. Hosts Sally Ganga, Shannon Vasconcelos, and ian fisher join Elizabeth Heaton, Getting In’s original host, to say goodbye and reflect on the podcast and admissions trends since its inception almost exactly ten year ago. Beth will also be introducing Kyra Tyler, another College Coach colleague and frequent guest on the pod who will be joining us as a host now that Beth is leaving.

Have you heard of Curious Cardinals? Host ian fisher of Bright Horizons College Coach will be chatting with Audrey Wisch, Co-founder and President, about CC’s mission to help high school students find their passion through mentorships. Are you concerned about financial aid and trying to understand what the SAI is? College Coach finance expert Dina Birmingham will be discussing how it is used in financial aid award notifications. In addition, while most of the discussions around colleges are focused around very highly selective ones, Carrie Lewis, College Coach colleague and former admission reader for Case Western and Chapman Universities, will be there to chat about how less selective colleges can give you remarkable opportunities and even a better bang for your buck.

Do you want to hear from our newest team members here at College Coach? Listen in for a very fun episode with our panel of three college admission experts: Karin Sherer and Mikhail Filarski, who both came to us from Lewis & Clark University admissions, and Kimberly Ortiz, formerly of Harvey Mudd and Caltech admissions. In addition, host Shannon Vasconcelos will be talking with our new finance team member Jess Mosley, who came to us after working in the financial aid offices of Reed College and the University of Chicago.

Interested in Emory University, or just want to hear from the Director of Admissions at a highly selective university about what is happening right now in undergraduate admissions? On this episode, we have the remarkable good fortune to interview Dr. Mark Butt of Emory for our first two segments. In addition, host Sally Ganga will be joined by finance College Coach colleague Michelle Clifton to discuss an update on the federal student loan program.

Given that it’s still cold out, you might think it’s too early to be looking at summer programs, but we’re here to encourage you to start now! Host Beth Heaton will be speaking with College Coach admissions counselor Landis Fryer about how to begin. Beth will also be speaking with Brendan Nelson of EdAssist, also part of the Bright Horizons family of services, about how to earn a degree paid for by your employer. Yes, there are companies that will pay for much of your undergraduate degree! In addition, College Coach finance colleague Beth Feinberg-Keaton will discuss how to balance work and school when your employer is helping to pay your tuition.

Seniors, have you submitted your applications? Feeling a bit anxious and wondering what to do now? You’ve entered a waiting period that can feel almost as stressful as completing the applications themselves, but if you listen in, you will hear the wise words of Kyra Tyler, College Coach veteran, who is addressing this topic with our host Shannon Vasconcelos. In addition, College Coach finance expert Jennifer Willcox will be there to talk about using this time to brush up on life skills in preparation for living away from your parents for the first time. There will also be one of our very fun Listener Question and Answer segments with College Coach admissions consultant Tova Javetz. And remember, you can always submit questions to us using one of our social media accounts, like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

The New Year is almost here, and host Sally Ganga will be talking with College Coach admissions counselor Julia Jones about resolutions for 2025 related to the college admission process and education in general. High school juniors, are you ready to start your college search process? College admissions coach Lisa Albro will be joining Sally to chat about the college search kick-off for juniors. And parents, are you struggling to let go of your current or soon-to-be college students? College Coach finance expert Michelle Smoley has some tips for parents in this situation.

The New Year is almost here, and host Sally Ganga will be talking with College Coach admissions counselor Julia Jones about resolutions for 2025 related to the college admission process and education in general.  High school juniors, are you ready to start your college search process? College admissions coach Lisa Albro will be joining Sally to chat about the college search kick-off for juniors.  And parents, are you struggling to let go of your current or soon-to-be college students? College Coach finance expert Michelle Smoley has some tips for parents in this situation. 

Did you apply Early Decision to a college? Were you deferred or denied? If so, you may be wondering what to do next. Host Ian Fisher will be talking with College Coach admissions counselor Brian Swann, formerly of Carleton College, about next steps. Seniors, are you considering a post-graduate or gap year? Either can be a wonderful option, but it’s important to plan carefully. Listen in when Ian talks with Jay Bonham, college admissions coach from Hamilton College. In addition, finance colleague Dina Birmingham will be answering the top finance questions from high school underclassmen and parents right now.

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation - December 12th, 2024

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation - December 5th, 2024

Host Beth Heaton is so pleased to be welcome Harry Feder, the Executive Director of Fair Test, the organization that has been advocating for test optional admissions for students for many years. Feder will be talking about the organization itself as well as the state of testing in undergraduate admissions today. In addition, seniors will soon be receiving decisions from many colleges if they applied early decision or early action. College Coach admissions consultant Christine Kenyon will discuss how to be intentional when you open your admission decision. It’s important to consider how to be kind to others when doing so! Last, did you know that November 18 through the 24th is National Apprenticeship week? College Coach finance expert Jan Combs will be joining Beth to discuss how to earn while you learn through an apprenticeship.

All About Drexel; Interview Tips; Holiday Spending Tips for Gen-Z

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation - November 7th, 2024

Continuing our series on college application supplements, we are addressing a doozy today! Beth Heaton will be joined by College Coach colleague Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn to discuss the University of Chicago’s supplemental essays. These are challenging, so if you’re thinking about applying, listen in. Colleague Nial Rele, resident of Vermont, will be there for another segment to discuss the thankfully more straightforward University of Vermont supplemental essays, and College Coach Finance expert Chrissy Foran will be joining Beth to discuss the reality of paying in-state tuition as an out-of-state student.