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.

Congrats to all graduating seniors who successfully applied to college and are preparing to start this fall. Laura Amigone, a college success coach from Rudder Coaching, joins the podcast this week to offer advice to these students to help them make a smooth transition from high school to college. We’ll also discuss why saving is important for everyone in another of our Personal Finance 101 series.

by Sai Somboon, former admissions officer at University of Pennsylvania

As a college counselor, I’ve worked with all sorts of students: dancers, actors, athletes, computer programmers, debaters, student leaders, and much more. Sometimes the students I counsel feel overwhelmed by the process, and I encourage them to take a moment. We breathe together, collect ourselves, and restart. This simple act can replenish our bodies with air and empower us to concentrate on the awaiting tasks. I find that the practice of mindfulness—whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the process—can empower students to triumph and overcome negative feelings and move towards joy, peace, and calm.

College interviews aren’t part of the process at many colleges in the US. But interviews are an opportunity for candidates to add a more personal component to their applications at those institutions that offer them. Find out what types of interviews are available, which students should plan to take part, what to expect, and how to prepare. We’re also answering your college admissions and finance questions in our regular Listener Q&A series.

Guest post by Joanna Williams, Academic & Student Support, Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions

A career in early childhood education is a rewarding one. You get to work with children every day, championing their well-being and continual growth. The critical role played by early childhood educators in supporting families became especially apparent during the pandemic, as teachers helped children cope with stressful shifts in their daily routines and transitioned them to the acceptance of a new normal. Bright Horizons was one of the few child care providers to remain partially open during the pandemic, partnering with the First Responders First program, a joint effort with Thrive Global, the Harvard School of Public Health, and CAA, to provide care and education to the children of first responders.

by Jan Combs, former financial aid officer at Harvard Graduate School of Education

As a parent of three children, I often think about how they’ll manage their financial responsibilities as they venture forth in life. Part of working towards financial independence is building credit. Establishing a solid credit history is one of the keys to financial self-reliance. Your credit score affects approvals and rates for car loans, personal loans, and mortgages.  It also may be reviewed by landlords and cell phone providers. Building a solid credit history is vitally important.

Are you heading off to college pretty sure you want to transfer after year one? We have some thoughts about this approach that we’ll share with our listeners this week. If you’re wondering how students fund graduate and professional degrees, we’ll offer some insight. And finally, we have information for students interested in a career in physical therapy, from the education required to the skills necessary for the job.

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

Some things have changed since my time on a college campus but many have not. A walk through the Campus Center still provides several opportunities for students to drop some cash. Parents need to prepare their student financially, as well as academically, otherwise we are setting up this new group of undergraduates to fail.

This year our own Elizabeth Heaton is in our listeners’ shoes as she helps her son navigate the college process. She’s sharing her thoughts with co-host Ian Fisher. We’ll also lay out a suggested schedule of summer work for rising seniors who want to make the most of this time (hint—it includes writing and finalizing the essay!). Finally, we lay out the details of tuition payment plans, which can help some families avoid borrowing altogether.

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.