A common question we are asked as college admissions consultants is, “How do you address a disability in your college application?” Or, to step back a bit, “Should you address a disability at all?” Former MIT and Caltech admissions officer, Zaragoza Guerra, tackles this complicated question in the latest installment of our video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert.

Starting the University of California application and wondering how to tackle those essays? We’ll discuss how to approach them in this episode. In another in our series on our team’s own college stories, Lisa Albro shares the challenges she faced as a first generation college student and then as a graduate entering the work world during a recession. Finally, we’ll update you on mandatory administrative forbearance and when you’re likely to have to restart federal loan repayments.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

Did you know that there are three paths pre-med students can take to medical school? Many high school students know they want to go to medical school. However, most are not really sure what that means or what their path might be to the get there.

School is officially back for most seniors, and it’s time to focus on the application process in earnest. We have timelines for both the admissions and the college finance process, including what needs to get done and when. For those students with access to Naviance, we have suggestions for how to use that through the application process.

A few years ago, we wrote a blog titled, “Colleges Don’t Care About Community Service.” In this week’s show, we’ll share whether or not our opinions on this topic have changed. In other segments, we’ll look at the link between mental health and financial aid, and dig into the PSAT and whether or not students should plan to prep for it.

A great college list starts with academics, namely majors. If a college doesn’t have any in your areas of interest, it’s off the list! We have tips for how to go about researching majors. We also have finance advice for recent college graduates, and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of submitting applications in the early decision, early action, and priority rounds.

In this installment of our series for international students interested in studying in the United States, college finance expert Robyn Stewart breaks down the differences between need-blind and need-aware admissions practices, and explains why these policies matter to international students.

by Landis Fryer, former admissions officer at Dartmouth College

Admission for international students (non-U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents) to American universities can be challenging to understand for families unfamiliar with the process. If you add to this confusion a few big changes in admissions, many related to the pandemic, the process becomes even more overwhelming. As an educator who has worked with many international families, I have heard countless questions about applying as “international” and concerns about perceived challenges, so let me share some insight into this process.

by Laurie Peltier, former financial aid officer at Becker College

If your child is headed off to college in the fall, you are probably worrying about a lot of things: What if they have a medical emergency while at school? What if they run out of money? How will I know they are passing their courses if I don’t see any of their school work?

There are documents pertaining to health, money, and college records that your child can sign to give you some peace of mind. Not all of these are required, but you may want to consider if you need them or not.

We frequently—and strongly—suggest that families discuss what they can afford when it comes to college. But talking money can be challenging. We have advice to make “the talk” a bit easier. Athletic recruitment has many moving parts, and it’s often the parents who are charged with keeping track of everything. We’ll share suggestions for ways parents can help their recruited athletes. Finally, we will address the most common myths we hear regarding the University of California schools.