Many of the most selective colleges in the country rely on alumni interviewers to get some additional perspective on applicants. We’re excited to welcome one of our regular listeners, who also happens to be an alumni interviewer for her alma mater, to the show to offer some perspective on how the process works and tips for interviewees. We’ll also discuss FERPA, including what it is and how it impacts students and families. And finally, in Office Hours we’ve got insight on how to maximize the Common App activities section.

It’s application season, and application season means supplemental essays! In this week’s show, we’ll dissect the supplemental questions for Vassar and University of Rochester. We’ll also answer your college admissions and finance questions in our Listener Q&A segment.

When working with high school students on their college admission process, I get a few common questions about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors and careers. “I like my math and science classes; what STEM field should I major in?” or “How can I find out if I really like engineering?” or “I want to go further in my STEM studies; where can I start?”  There are literally hundreds of careers that fall under the umbrella of STEM, and sorting out which ones are right for you might seem daunting. The answer may be finding a STEM mentor who can help you explore these questions and help you discover opportunities to further your interests. But where would you look for such an advisor? Here are some of my best tips:

When it comes to financing your college education, there are a lot of options. We’re going to tell you about them and give you the information you need to make the best choice for your family. Landing on a college campus can be a daunting experience. We have some suggestions about the staff members every college student should get to know. Finally, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about the Apply Texas application.

A College Counselor’s (& Parent’s) Perspective on Exploration vs. Specialization

Back in May, I shared this article with my colleagues, along with my own quick response: “Fun article valuing exploration rather than early specialization. References data that pre-meds and similarly focused students earn more out of the gate, but the explorers outpace them long term.” The author is a new parent, like myself, and his parenting values aligned with my own: nurture your kid’s curiosity, encourage them to explore and play and try new things, and don’t get wrapped up in any particular talent or accomplishment. It’s a good read, a reassuring read, for parents who aren’t raising a Perfect Golden Child. (And for all regular people, really.)

Michelle Jones, founder of Wayfinding Academy, joins this week’s show to offer her thoughts on how Wayfinding is approaching college from a different perspective. We’ll also discuss this year’s changes to the Common App and talk about how you can prepare your college bound student for the financial challenges ahead.

There are a lot of early admissions deadline options: early action, early decision one and two, priority admissions, restrictive early action, etc. How do you know which, if any, is the right choice for you? We’ll help you figure that out. We’ll also help you figure out the college bill that’s coming your way, and discuss what makes a college a safety, i.e., a school where you have a better than 90% chance of being admitted.

Ever wonder if what your high school doesn’t do, like offer many (or any) AP or IB courses or rank students, might actually hurt you or your student in the college admissions process? We’ll share our thoughts on how this works. We’re also answering your college finance and admissions questions in our Office Hours segment.

At College Coach, we spend a lot time thinking about your children. Can I help her improve her activities descriptions? How is his freshman year going? Are they frustrated that we sent them back to the drawing board on that last essay? But we’re human, and we also spend a good deal of time thinking about them outside of their college admissions process. Did she seem extra anxious the last time we spoke? Is he getting enough sleep? How could I have helped them better prepare for that disappointment?

Now that the dust has settled on the 2018-2019 admissions season, we’re looking at the changes we’re seeing in college admissions that will likely impact the upcoming year. We’ll also explore the differences between federal work study and student employment, and discuss what subject tests are, how to decide which ones to take, and who actually needs to take them.