by Kara Courtois, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Amidst the uncertainty of what his first year of college will look like, I got the chance to catch up with a recent high school graduate, Ben. Knowing what he knows now, I asked if he would share any tips for high school students, including specific advice for rising seniors embarking on the college application process. Here’s what Ben had to share.

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: University of Tampa
Tampa, FL

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.

High school students may not be able to vote, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have opinions about our country. Since 1947, this scholarship opportunity has provided “democracy loving” high school students the chance to express themselves in an audio essay contest and make their voice heard!

Scholarship: Voice of Democracy Scholarship

by Julie Wolf, Guest Writer

“While remote or online learning is different than face-to-face, it truly isn’t less than.”

A professor friend told me this. I believe it’s true, but some students are anxious. Who better to address their concerns than experienced faculty members? A dozen professors in varying fields (art history, architecture, writing, literature, African-American studies, nutrition, philosophy, computer science, and electrical engineering) from varying institutions (midsize Ivy League and liberal arts schools, large private universities in the Northeast, even larger state universities in the South and Midwest) weighed in: What can students do to achieve a successful fall semester? Their advice will be helpful not just for college students, but for students in high school as well.

For most people, writing a check for the tuition bill is a frightening prospect. What if you could spread those payments out? We have information on tuition payment plans offering an installment plan. We’ll also take a close look at the Common App essay topics and offer suggestions for approaching those. Finally, Bright Horizons’ director of learning and development services will join us to share data on strengths-based coaching.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

College is the time that most pre-med students have been waiting for: they finally have the time and freedom to dig in and explore the field of medicine. Academically, pre-med coursework is mostly prescribed to meet the prerequisite coursework expected by medical schools. As a result, students look towards their involvement outside of the classroom as a way to confirm their desire to go to medical school. That exposure and reflection is crucial for creating a successful application. Medical schools do expect students to develop core competencies in addition to exploring what it means to become a doctor through experience. Admissions committees look for evidence of: empathy, ethics, compassion, maturity, leadership, and an understanding of a medical career. The experiences a student has in college, and beyond, can show all of these and more.

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: Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA

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.

In honor of the former Senator George J. Mitchell, this scholarship provides a unique learning opportunity for future American leaders to study in Ireland. Senator Mitchell was a key contributor to the Northern Ireland peace process and this scholarship rewards academically talented students who demonstrate a commitment to community and public service.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

In my last blog post, I reviewed the pros and cons of applying to accelerated BS/MD programs. If you’ve decided an accelerated medical program is a good fit for your educational goals, let’s move next to what the programs are looking for from successful applicants.

Many students enter their undergraduate years with their sights set on medicine. We have suggestions for pre-med activities that can positively impact med school applications. In our second and third segments, we’re answering your questions related to college finance and admissions.