Turning the Dial to Turning the Tide

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation covered the recently published “Turning the Tide” report, continued our students’ perspectives series, and perhaps most importantly, offered timely advice for appealing financial aid awards! Turning the Tide Harvard Graduate School of Education’s recently published report has been making waves in the college admissions community. Host Ian Fisher, Elyse Krantz, and Elizabeth Heaton boiled the report down to its three overarching recommendations. They also discussed the ways they feel that the report will (and won’t) change what admissions offices are looking for in applicants. Keep an eye out for a return to this topic in the coming weeks, both here on the blog and on the radio show. The Student Perspective Current Brown University freshman Mike Colonna shared insights into his application process, focusing especially on how he developed his selection criteria. Michael shared how he arrived at one of his more unconventional selection criterion—schools that would challenge him to mature both personally and academically. Michael also provided some fodder for the conversation on the Turning the Tide report, sharing his wish to have committed more deeply to the activities he most loved in high school. Appealing Financial Aid Awards Michelle Clifton returned to the show for the first in a two-part series on appealing financial aid awards. Michelle set the stage by categorizing the three main types of appeals for listeners and also by offering numerous tips and tricks to get on—and stay on—your financial aid officer’s good side throughout the appeals process.