When reviewing college applications, admissions officers like to see that students have challenged themselves academically. A student can do this through the successful completion of honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes, or they could undertake the demanding curriculum program known as the International Baccalaureate, or IB. In this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert, former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling answers the question, “What Are IB Classes?” to help you figure out if the International Baccalaureate curriculum may be a good fit for you or your child.

by Robyn Stewart, former financial aid officer at College of the Holy Cross

Spend 10 minutes speaking with the parent of a high school senior, and I guarantee that I will spend some time dispelling some halftruths that have emerged from today’s college financing process. Anecdotal stories – you know the thing you heard that happened to your neighbor’s son’s friend’s cousin – all seem to have these magical happy endings that we understandably want to replicate.

Here are some top financial aid chestnuts that walk the fine line between myth and reality.

“Students can walk into a bank and get a student loan.”

by Kimberly Asselta, former admissions officer at Babson College

I spent seven years as an admissions officer at Babson College, a business school ranked #1 in entrepreneurship for the last 24 years. It’s an amazing place, but when I started working there I honestly didn’t understand the world of business, much less entrepreneurship. It was 2004, five years before the first episode of Shark Tank aired, and the idea of creating a product or service and a business model around it wasn’t quite mainstream. But my time at Babson introduced me to the amazing opportunity these students were given to create their own path. Additionally my eyes were opened to just how broad and varied the study of business can be. There’s no “perfect” business student; our applicant pool was just as unique and diverse as many other colleges and universities. However, many of our best applicants did have a few things in common. Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind if you are considering applying to a business college or program.

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: National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT
New York, New York

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 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 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics students and professionals by empowering them to help consumers live healthier lifestyles. Annually, the Foundation provides various leadership awards and education stipends to members and students.

Scholarship: Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarships (Various)

by Lisa Albro, former admissions officer at Goucher College

We recently discussed the relative merits of military academies and ROTC programs as a means to earn a four-year degree and an officer’s rank in the United States military. This week we take a more targeted look at some more specifics of ROTC programs.

If you’re interested in attending a traditional four-year college and embarking on a commitment to serve as an officer in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, you’re in luck! Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs can be found on over 1,700 college and university campuses in the United States. (The Coast Guard offers its own program, called the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, or CSPI). In many cases, an ROTC scholarship is a way for students to pay for some or all of their college tuition—in exchange for several years of military service, of course.

The month of April means it is time to file your taxes. Families who have paid for college over the past year may be eligible for a tax break. Some people may be surprised to learn that you can claim education tax credits and deductions even if you paid for college expenses with a student loan or out of pocket. In this video, finance educator Alex Bickford highlights what to consider when looking at the handful of education-related tax benefits that may be available to families.

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: Texas State University
San Marcos, TX

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 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.

This organization’s mission is simple: “to provide lifelong learning.” Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) administers several scholarship and fellowship programs. Some of the opportunities are need-based and others are purely merit-based. The common denominator is that successful applicants must demonstrate strong community involvement.

Scholarship: Educational Advancement Foundation Scholarships

by Lisa Albro, former admissions officer at Goucher College

While it isn’t unheard of to attain an officer’s rank without a college degree, two highly sought-after paths involve earning both the title and a bachelor’s degree concurrently: military academies and ROTC programs. But which one is the best fit for you?