College Admissions Consulting First-Year Study Abroad Programs, Plus Listener Questions Written by Emily Toffelmireon August 2nd, 2018 I came to College Coach after working for many years in college admissions and high school counseling. As a school counselor, I assisted students in the college application process and wrote hundreds of letters of recommendation, while also helping them and their families cope with any emotional, social, and academic concerns throughout the year. I transitioned from the high school setting to the admissions office when I joined the University of Southern California as an assistant director, reading freshmen and transfer applications and collaborating on admission decisions for over 150 majors, including the liberal arts, engineering, business, cinema, and the fine and performing arts. I subsequently took on the role of senior assistant director in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where I coordinated the division's Mork, Stamps, Trustee, Presidential and Dean's merit scholarship selection process, as well as recruitment publications and outreach, and traveled everywhere from Honolulu to Miami presenting to and interviewing hundreds of applicants each year. Learn More About Emily ap exams, getting in, saving for college, standardized tests, On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Ian Fisher discusses intriguing first-year abroad programs for college freshmen and tackles loads of listener questions regarding SAT scores, student loans, the AP Capstone program, and recommendation letters. First-Year Study Abroad Programs Ian welcomes admissions educator Sara Calvert-Kubrom, formerly of Lewis and Clark College and Northeastern University’s NUin program, which gives incoming freshmen the opportunity to begin their college career overseas. This type of offering is becoming more and more common, but is it right for your student? Sara explains the rationale behind the program and the pros and cons of choosing this exciting but potentially challenging pathway. Listener Questions College finance consultant Kathy Ruby joins Ian for a round of listener questions including: Does a lower SAT Math score make a non-STEM applicant less competitive for highly selective colleges? I have a 9th grader; is it too late to start saving for college? Should I submit a lower AP score to my colleges? What pre-tax college savings are available? Should I pursue the AP Capstone program? Should I refinance my home to increase financial aid eligibility? Which teachers should write recommendation letters for a student who is undecided on major? Are there loans students can take out in their own name? School Spotlight The University of Waterloo is known for its robust engineering school that offers harder to find specialties for undergraduates including geological engineering, management, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. Waterloo also boasts the largest academic computer science research center in Canada and a popular co-op internship model, making its Computer Science major one of the biggest draws for American students. Tune in to our next show when Elizabeth Heaton will discuss this year’s changes to the Common Application, institutional variance in financial aid awards, and accelerated degree programs. Related Resources Read | Posted on April 29th, 2025 Navigating the Ethical Use of AI Tools in College Admissions 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?
