Many colleges and universities recommend that applicants have a college interview; several even require an interview as part of the admission process. As an international student applying to schools in the U.S. from abroad you might be thinking, “Can I interview?” The simple answer is yes. However, to get a better understanding of the process and determine if having a college interview is right for you, check out the Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com.

The Coalition Application has not been without its critics, but one quality the team behind the application has proven over the past three years is its ability to adapt quickly. In a presentation to high school counselors, Annie Reznik, Executive Director of the Coalition, recently announced four exciting changes to the platform. As counselors who have worked with thousands of students applying to college, we are thrilled about these changes. Check out the Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com for a brief rundown of the Coalition App’s major changes for the next application cycle.

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, including this week’s School Spotlight, Austin College. Unless you’re from Texas, Austin College is likely a gem you’ve never heard of. But that shouldn’t stop you from considering it as an amazing option, especially if you love the idea of spending four years in a diverse, engaging, and supportive campus environment that provides scores of life changing opportunities. For the 1,300 students enrolled at Austin College, one of the 45 Colleges That Change Lives, learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Thanks to JanTerm and Career Study Off-Campus, students gain hands-on experiences learning about new cultures and career opportunities on a regular basis. This upcoming winter, 10 amazing JanTerm courses will be taking place in locations such as Costa Rica (with a course titled The Power of Nature, Yoga, and Art to Heal Us); Mexico (where students can master the Spanish language); and Scotland (with a course titled Castles, Crosses, Kilts, and Celts). Given options like these, it’s not surprising that 70 percent of students complete some kind of international experience during their time at Austin College. Fun fact: students looking to immerse themselves in foreign language and culture may want to live in the on-campus Language House, where German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese are spoken throughout day.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone.  In this week’s Scholarship Spotlight, we look at the Japan Exchange Scholarship. This unique study opportunity offered through the non-profit Youth for Understanding provides special insight into life overseas. Scholarship winners will live in Japan for a period of four to six weeks in order to gain a better understanding of international issues. For more information on this scholarship and how to apply, check out the College Coach Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com.

The College Board made headlines this week with its new adversity score, which will be utilized by 150 colleges and universities this fall. The score will be calculated based on factors like neighborhood crime and poverty rates, parental income and education levels, as well as the curriculum and socioeconomics of the student’s high school. Given the current climate of college admissions thanks to high-profile legal cases like the Operation Varsity Blues scandal and the Students for Fair Admission v Harvard lawsuit, it’s unsurprising this news has been met with a wide variety of very strong opinions. Given how little we know of what colleges plan to do with adversity scores or how they may truly impact decisions, we at College Coach look forward to first learning more about the new policy implementation which, as with all things in the admission world, is probably more nuanced than it may seem at first glance. For the deepest dive on this story we’ve seen so far, check out The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

Common sense suggests you should apply to business school when you’re ready. But Matt Symonds of Fortuna Admissions demystifies how things work behind the scenes of MBA admissions and the reality of how seats are allocated from one admissions round to the next in a guest post on the Insider blog. Check it out at blog.getintocollege.com.

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.  In this week’s School Spotlight, we check out the spirited and down-to-earth University of Iowa, where 24,500 undergraduates find a warm and welcoming community that’s bursting with academic, extracurricular, and athletic opportunities. The University features 24 varsity teams that compete in the Big Ten conference. Wrestling is a particular standout, with 23 national championships earned since 1975. First year students are divided into one of six colleges, with the Colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Business, and Engineering being the most popular. Interested in pursuing a writing career? Not only does the University sponsor the world-renowned Iowa Writer’s Workshop, they also provide undergraduates the opportunity develop serious writing skills though courses such as The Art & Craft of Humor Writing, Creative Writing & Popular Culture, and Introduction to Literary Publishing. First year students looking for a supportive, tight-knit environment may want to consider joining one of Iowa’s residential communities. There are 19 options in all, including Women in Science & Engineering, First Generation, and Justice for All, each of which combines elements of residential life with academic coursework. Good to know: students who join the honors program have access to intimate honors-level classes, an honors residence hall, an honors student center, and special scholarships and funding opportunities.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone.  In this week’s Scholarship Spotlight, we look at the VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship. 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! For more information on this scholarship and how to apply, check out the College Coach Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com.

The student loan interest rates for the 2019/20 academic year have just been announced. Interest rates for the Federal Direct Loan program are set each year based on the 10-Year Treasury Note rate as of June 1. The Treasury Department just held its last T-Note auction scheduled prior to that June 1 date, so rates are now locked in.

Without further ado, interest rates for the 2019/20 school year will be:

• Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans for undergraduate students: 4.529%
• Unsubsidized Direct Loans for graduate students: 6.079%
• Direct PLUS Loans for graduate student and parents of undergraduate students: 7.079%

To learn more, visit the Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com.

No matter what a student’s interests, reading will fill in the gaps, expand their vocabulary, and perhaps even help with the navigation of the middle years of school, when their emotions are on a perpetual rollercoaster.  Now is a good time to set family goals around summer reading, so check out College Coach’s top 11 tips for getting your child reading this summer on the Insider blog at blog.getintocollege.com.