College Admissions Consulting STEAM Programs, Starting at a Two-Year College, and Budgeting for Freshmen Written by Lauren DiProsperoon June 28th, 2018 I began my undergraduate admissions career at Stanford University where I helped coordinate diversity events and outreach. This ignited a passion for higher education which led me to Columbia University where, after earning my masters, I began recruiting and reviewing the applications of students applying to Columbia College from all around the country including the northeast, mid-west, Texas and California. I also reviewed the applications of international students from countries across Asia as well as Canada and Mexico. During my time at Columbia, I was Director of Admissions at Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons where I oversaw the entire medical school admissions process, including recruitment, application review, interview days, and admitted student events. From there I became the Director of Enrollment Management at the University of San Francisco where I oversaw a team that supported both undergraduate and graduate admissions. In that role I recruited in Southern California and reviewed applications from multiple domestic territories for the undergraduate admissions team. Most recently, I was the senior director at Stanford Medicine, where I again oversaw the entire medical school admissions process. Learn More About Lauren community college, money management, stem, transition to college, On this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Sally Ganga talks about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) programs, beginning post-secondary education at two-year institutions, and how to teach your soon-to-be-college-student to set up a budget. Laurie Peltier, former financial aid officer, answers questions about how to best prepare your teen financially for college. Families tend to focus on tuition and room and board because they are the big ticket items for college, but Laurie reminds us that students will also spend money on other things while on campus. There are many factors that influence the size and content of the student’s budget but there are some basic rules to follow to keep help your student stay on sound fiscal footing. Next, Zaragoza Guerra, former admissions officer at MIT and Caltech, answers the question: What does art have to do with STEM? As Zaragoza explains, the synthesis of art and science has deep roots in human history and continues to this day. For example, the field of medicine may bring in artists to help communicate medical risk to better inform patients. This concept is gaining in popularity in middle and high schools as well as college campuses. After this week’s School Spotlight on Virginia’s University of Richmond, Sally speaks with former University of Southern California admission officer, Emily Toffelmire, about the pros and cons of starting at a two-year community college before transferring to a four-year college. This can be a wonderful option for students interested in saving money and those who may need a fresh start, but it’s important to understand some of the challenges that may be encountered. Listen in for recommendations on how to be a successful transfer student. Tune in next week when host Beth Heaton is back to take listener questions and discuss Canadian universities. 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
