College Admissions Consulting Getting Started on College Essays; Planning to Pay for College Written by Sally Gangaon March 15th, 2023 I started my career as an assistant director of admission at Reed College, my alma mater, where I ran the transfer program. From there, I went to Whittier College as an associate director, and then moved on to The University of Chicago, again as associate director, where I was in charge of the application reading process and the awarding of our top merit scholarships. The diversity of my experience was very helpful when I transferred to the high school side, where I assisted students applying to colleges at all levels of selectivity. Learn More About Sally getting in, essays, writing college essays, paying for college, Calling all juniors: it’s time to get started! Too early to think about essay writing? Of course not! Too early to think about how to pay for college? No way! With the heart of the college process right around the corner, we’re sharing advice to help students get started on essays, and parents to get started on their financial plans. And in a second essay-related segment, we’ll look at essays centered on trauma and talk through both when to proceed with what can be a tricky topic, and how much to disclose. To listen to other episodes, visit Getting In: A College Coach Conversation on VoiceAmerica or search for us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re there, please leave us a rating or review! We appreciate your feedback. Related Resources Read | Posted on April 22nd, 2025 Demystifying Liberal Arts: What They Are and Aren't Read | Posted on March 11th, 2025 Does a Teen Need to File a Tax Return? Read | Posted on March 5th, 2025 Mastering the Final Round: How to Ace Your College Scholarship Interview and Stand Out