In this first installment of our series for international students interested in studying in the United States, college finance expert Robyn Stewart identifies what offices on American college campuses can help a student navigate the application and enrollment processes. For more information, check out our website at getintocollege.com.

by Jeanne Mahan, former financial aid officer at Tufts University

Summer is coming and we’re hoping we can all be out and about this year. Summer is my favorite season, and it always brings back memories of my high school and college years, when the academic work ended and summer fun and jobs began. I had several different summer jobs in those years: babysitter, hospital food service worker, waitress, and medical secretary. Each one of those jobs taught me important skills that I’ve carried with me throughout my work life: flexibility, patience, teamwork, and camaraderie.

by Sally Ganga, former admissions officer at the University of Chicago

When I bring up satellite campuses, I often hear these two questions: “What is a satellite campus?” and, “Is that where you go when you can’t get into the main campus?”

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the opportunity below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

The Coalition for College offers some great tools to help students get a head start on the college application process. Details of the Exploration Scholarship were announced previously and now the Coalition has unveiled a new opportunity for high school seniors. By using the tools on the website students will be on track for college success!

Scholarship: The Path to College Scholarship

by Steve Fernandez-Brennan, former admissions officer at Occidental College

When helping students prepare for college visits before COVID-19 I would encourage them to do their research, to know what they wanted to learn, to keep an open mind, and to have fun. Fourteen months into the pandemic, what would I say now? The exact same thing—with one addition: be polite!

Guest post by Jamiere N. Abney, Ed.M.

As a product of a Liberal Arts education, and now a professional promoting this type of postsecondary experience, I hear tons of conversation about the relative value of the Liberal Arts in today’s world. A 2020 article from the Washington Post asks whether this education is a “waste of money or practical investment?” For many students in conversation with admission professionals, like myself, this is the very discussion they will have with their parents as they choose where they will spend their undergraduate years.

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

by Michelle Richardson, former Assistant Vice President at Chase Student Loans

Congratulations! You graduated with your undergraduate degree, studied diligently for the MCAT, and applied to medical school using the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). You have put in many hours, blood, sweat, and even a few tears to prepare for medical school. One question remains: have you prepared financially?

Finding a job can be tough, especially if you are a teen looking for your first job with no experience. In this video, our college admissions experts provide some helpful tips to aid first time job hunters in their quest to land an interview. Tune in to the latest installment of the Bright Horizons College Coach video series, We Can Explain, to learn how.

This week’s show is all about health, from remaining healthy while you’re in college to maintaining healthy finances as a way of supporting mental health. Jill and Dave Henry, authors of the newly published College Health Guide will join the show to share what they’ve learned as coaches for young people over the years. And in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we will also look at the correlation of healthy finances and mental health.