College Admissions Consulting Internships for High School Students, Plus Listener Questions Written by Emily Toffelmireon February 1st, 2018 I came to College Coach after working for many years in college admissions and high school counseling. As a school counselor, I assisted students in the college application process and wrote hundreds of letters of recommendation, while also helping them and their families cope with any emotional, social, and academic concerns throughout the year. I transitioned from the high school setting to the admissions office when I joined the University of Southern California as an assistant director, reading freshmen and transfer applications and collaborating on admission decisions for over 150 majors, including the liberal arts, engineering, business, cinema, and the fine and performing arts. I subsequently took on the role of senior assistant director in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where I coordinated the division's Mork, Stamps, Trustee, Presidential and Dean's merit scholarship selection process, as well as recruitment publications and outreach, and traveled everywhere from Honolulu to Miami presenting to and interviewing hundreds of applicants each year. Learn More About Emily college admissions process, css profile, fafsa, financial aid, On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Ian Fisher talks about internships for high school students and tackles a number of our listeners’ questions. Internships: What Are They and Do They Matter in the Admission Process? Sai Somboon joins Ian to discuss the variety of internships that now exist for high school students. They encourage students to not just say, “I want an internship,” but to narrow down their interests before starting their search. They point out that it’s not always the most prestigious or well-known corporations that provide the best hands-on learning experience for students; it may be startups, local boutique companies, or small charitable organizations that give students the richest opportunities for professional growth. They also discuss how to use your own community, friends, and family to find internships, and how best to present yourself via resumes and letters of interest. Listener Questions After the break, Ian is joined by Tara Piantanida-Kelly to take on listeners’ college finance and admissions questions. Finance If a non-custodial parent is unwilling to complete the CSS Profile, can we simply tell the colleges this and leave that parent off the CSS? My daughter wants to go to a college that, even with financial aid, is out of our price range. She’s asked me to cosign a private educational loan. What are my risks? My 21-year-old daughter works part time. Can she file a FAFSA without my financial info if I don’t claim her on my taxes? I just completed the FAFSA, but I’m worried because my 2016 income was much higher than my 2017 income. What should I do? My daughter has been offered admission and scholarships from several colleges. Can we contact these schools and see if any additional funding is available? Admissions My school counselor likes my application essay, my parents think it lacks emotion, and my English teacher wants me to add a ton of new info. What do I do?! Are alumni interviews important, and how do they factor into the admission process? I received a deferral from a university. What do I do next? My friend says all the best college essays are sob stories. Is this true? Want one of your questions answered on air? You can submit them here. And tune in to our next episode to learn more about athletics in the college admissions process, understanding Early Action decisions, and navigating financial aid appeals. 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
