Hiring a College Consultant, Arranging Financing for College, Admitted Student Days

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Elizabeth Heaton talks with her guests about admitted student days, how and when to arrange financing for college, and what to look for when hiring an independent counselor. Hiring an Independent Counselor Erica Blades, our Senior Director of Client Services, and Beth discuss why families choose to hire an independent college counselor and what to look for if you explore that option. There are many reasons why a family may hire an independent counselor, ranging from additional support earlier in high school to preserving the peace at home. Independent counselors can be a trusted source for students and their families as they move through this process. But it is important to find one who is ethical, shares the same philosophy as your family, and your child feels comfortable working with. Erica provides some thoughtful ways to find out that information and shares red flags to watch out for before you sign up. Arranging Financing for College Michelle Richardson joins Beth to discuss how to arrange financing for college. Now that decisions are starting to come back, and will really pick up in the next few weeks, Michelle talks about what options there are for financing your child’s college education and when to start exploring that financing. She provides timelines and really helpful advice—the most important being that the financial aid office will be sending the financial aid award to the student, not the parents! There are some important aspects of this process to be aware of and to consider, including how you can utilize college payment plans, so tune in to find out more. Admitted Student Days Along with acceptances come invitations to admitted student days. In the final segment, Christine Kenyon joins Beth to talk about how to decide if it makes sense for your student to attend and what to expect during admitted student days. Admitted student days are more comprehensive than the tours and information sessions that you may have experienced during college visits. They are geared toward an admitted student. This means you will be able to meet your future classmates, see inside the dorms, hear from professors, and get a sense of what it would be like to live and learn at that college. This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered, and Christine has some helpful tips to make the most of those admitted student events. Tune in to our next episode when guest host Ian Fisher talks with guests about the A-G requirements in the University of California system, how much is too much to borrow, and getting started on a preliminary college list.