College Admissions Consulting Honor Societies, the Senior Waiting Game, and Tax Breaks Written by Emily Toffelmireon January 17th, 2019 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 college tax breaks, getting in, honors, On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Ian Fisher discusses the pros and cons of honor societies, the wonderful world of tax breaks, and ponders just what it is seniors should be doing right now. The Pros and Cons of Honor Societies Ian first welcomes admissions educator Tova Tolman, formerly of Barnard College, Fordham University, and Montclair State, to weigh the merits of national and school-specific honor societies. What do they require, should you join, and do admission officers care about them? They also take on the mystery of those paid leadership program brochures sophomore and juniors may be getting in the mail. The Senior Waiting Game Next up, Ian chats with another former Barnard College admission officer, Kara Courtois, who shares advice for seniors, whether they’re awaiting decisions or ready to make some of their own. They touch on how to go about ensuring all your application materials have been received, immersing yourself in more in-depth and intensive research on your prospective colleges, and—perhaps most importantly—savoring your last semester of high school and all the friendships it has brought. Tips on Tax Breaks Finally, Laurie Peltier, former financial aid officer at Becker College and Anna Maria College, joins Ian for tax breaks galore. From 529 plans to student loan repayment strategies, Laurie has tips for parents with students of all ages. This is just the first in our two-part series on this topic. Tune in to our next episode when Elizabeth Heaton returns to discuss value in the college selection process with our partner, Edmit, and take on part two of our tax breaks series. Related Resources Read | Posted on November 5th, 2024 Not Your Ancestors' Apprenticeships: Everything You Need to Know about Apprenticeship Programs Read | Posted on October 31st, 2024 The Impact of Race-Neutral Admissions One Year Later Read | Posted on October 25th, 2024 Department of Education Extends Payment Pause for Millions of Federal Student Loan Borrowers as Legal Cases Continue
