College Admissions Consulting Choosing a College, Texas Public Universities, and Education Tax Breaks Written by Lauren Randleon March 30th, 2017 I learned firsthand about the world of highly selective admissions as a former assistant director of admissions at Georgetown University. I traveled the United States, in and out of high schools and auditoriums, to eagerly educate students and their families about the application process, and then painstakingly reviewed thousands upon thousands of applications to fill our class. I reviewed applications for all four of Georgetown’s colleges (Georgetown College, McDonough School of Business, Walsh School of Foreign Service, and School of Nursing & Health Studies), and chaired the admissions committee for the School of Foreign Service. I experienced the nuances of the recruitment process as the admissions liaison to the Georgetown women’s soccer team, and also understood the significance of the admissions interview as the co-coordinator for Georgetown’s alumni interviewing process. I left admissions to pursue a master of education degree at the University of Virginia to broaden my knowledge of student development theories and current trends in higher education. There I decided that it was time to work more directly with students and families at the high school level, where my support and encouragement would have a more personal impact. That desire led me across the globe to Hong Kong, where I worked at a competitive international high school helping students with their college applications to the world's best universities. My international experience offered me the opportunity to work with extraordinary students and see extraordinary places. Learn More About Lauren choosing the right college, college tax breaks, getting in, On last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host, Sally Ganga, and guests covered a range of topics: pulling the trigger on where to enroll, a deep dive into Texas public universities, and tax breaks that you or your student could potentially leverage. Making the Final College Choice In the first segment, former Georgetown admissions officer, Karen Spencer, helped current seniors struggling with “analysis paralysis” when it comes to making the decision on where to enroll next year. What do you do if you have multiple offers to choose from? Let’s first remember that this is a good problem to have! But that doesn’t stop the decision from feeling overwhelming. Karen and Sally picked through the reality of the situation, helping listeners evaluate priorities. They offered some concrete considerations for families to think about, like accepted student weekends and financial consequences. Exploring the Public Universities of Texas Sally was next joined by former CalTech admissions officer and Texas native, Zaragoza Guerra, for an insider’s view on public universities in Texas. Highlighting University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Houston, University of Dallas, and University of Texas at San Antonio, Zaragoza proved that there is a college in Texas for just about anyone! Wondering where you’ll find “nerd pride” or the most cowboy boots at Texas colleges? Tune in to the full segment for the Lone Star State spotlight! Taking Advantage of Education Tax Breaks While tax season may not be everyone’s favorite time of the year, college finance expert, Cynde Quinn, helped shine a positive light on tax breaks that you may not have known about. Cynde walked through the three major tax breaks as the federal level and explained that they serve different populations of college-goers. Or perhaps you are wondering who gets the credit? The person in college or the one footing the bill? Tuning in to this segment could save you money before you send off your tax forms! On our next show, Beth Heaton and guests will give guidance on how to handle a waitlist offer, highlight scholarships students can still apply for, and help families understand college campus crime statistics. Related Resources Read | Posted on April 16th, 2024 Understanding Direct Admission: A Pathway to Success Read | Posted on April 10th, 2024 Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld; Why You Should Fill out the FAFSA Read | Posted on April 9th, 2024 Community Colleges with Campus Housing
