We are often asked about what happens to a GPA when a student transfers high schools. In Texas, many high schools convert grades to an unweighted GPA, which can be very confusing—and perhaps even frustrating, especially when it’s on top of adjusting to a new home and new high school. However, it’s an expected process and not something to worry too deeply about. I hope I can offer some clarification on what is going on when a GPA is converted.

In the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Ian Fisher helped listeners brave the cold, with an hour packed with resources and information—for parents looking to help their students better manage their finances, for high school students looking for summer opportunities in STEM fields, and for seniors finishing up their college applications.

The college application process is fraught with stressful decisions to make: what colleges to apply to, whether to apply early, what essay topic to choose, and, of course, which standardized test to take. While any college that requires standardized testing will accept either SAT or ACT scores, the two tests have a number of differences that students and parents should consider when deciding which test to pursue.

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Beth Heaton covered how gap years might play into your college application strategy, as well as tackling a number of our listeners’ questions.

Community colleges were once considered a place to go if you couldn’t get in to a “better” college. How times have changed! More students and their families are giving serious consideration to community colleges as a great place to start their education. Why?

As the first quarter of the academic year wraps up and sophomores settle into their new position of being old enough to know college is coming sooner rather than later, but young enough to still be able to make some educated decisions, here are some common questions to consider.

So you’ve booked that college interview. You feel prepared. You’re able to speak to your interests, you can articulate why you hope to attend this particular college, and you’re armed with some good questions to ask your interviewer about the school. What’s stressing you out though? The eternal question: what to wear??? Have no fear. Enter former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, Sai Somboon, to answer the question, “How should I dress for a college interview?”

When applying Early Action or Early Decision you might have been expecting one of two decisions—admit or deny. However, there is a third type of decision you might receive—a deferral.

Deferrals can be as upsetting, and sometimes even more so, than being denied. You’ll have to continue to wait for that ultimate decision in the spring; it can feel like being stuck in limbo. If you just received this decision, take a deep breath. Give yourself a moment, or a day, to let your emotions settle. Then, come back here to learn more about what a deferral really means, and how to move forward.

While many students come to the decision to pursue an MBA later in life—long after attaining their undergraduate degree and experiencing the professional world, there is a subset of future business leaders who have had their sights set on an MBA from their time that they were in high school.  If you know that business school is your end-game—or at least a non-negotiable step toward your end-game—should your goal be to get that MBA as soon as possible?

On the last episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Sally Ganga spent the majority of the show responding to listeners’ questions. Sally also had a timely conversation regarding Regular Decision application lists.