by Sai Somboon, former admissions officer at University of Pennsylvania

As a college counselor, I’ve worked with all sorts of students: dancers, actors, athletes, computer programmers, debaters, student leaders, and much more. Sometimes the students I counsel feel overwhelmed by the process, and I encourage them to take a moment. We breathe together, collect ourselves, and restart. This simple act can replenish our bodies with air and empower us to concentrate on the awaiting tasks. I find that the practice of mindfulness—whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the process—can empower students to triumph and overcome negative feelings and move towards joy, peace, and calm.

College interviews aren’t part of the process at many colleges in the US. But interviews are an opportunity for candidates to add a more personal component to their applications at those institutions that offer them. Find out what types of interviews are available, which students should plan to take part, what to expect, and how to prepare. We’re also answering your college admissions and finance questions in our regular Listener Q&A series.

This year our own Elizabeth Heaton is in our listeners’ shoes as she helps her son navigate the college process. She’s sharing her thoughts with co-host Ian Fisher. We’ll also lay out a suggested schedule of summer work for rising seniors who want to make the most of this time (hint—it includes writing and finalizing the essay!). Finally, we lay out the details of tuition payment plans, which can help some families avoid borrowing altogether.

by Julie Wolf, Guest Writer

My oldest child graduated from high school in 2019. For her, the time from junior year to graduation was spent seeking out college fairs and admissions information sessions in our area. We toured and explored campuses when possible. Virtual tours were already a thing then. They just weren’t our thing—or the only thing.

Fast-forward to 2020, and on to 2021, and the virtual tour (or virtual admissions session, or virtual college fair) is practically all we’ve got. My current high school junior has amassed Zoom invitations for myriad online admissions events. Colleges and universities have adapted their “customer service” to fit these physically distanced times, and the shows they once took on the road now come to our venue of choice: bedroom, dining room table, living room couch.

by Karen Spencer, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

We are often asked how homeschooled applicants are evaluated in the admissions process, and the answer is, per usual (if you read our blog regularly), “It depends.” Some colleges have an admissions officer who reads all homeschooled applicants separately, whereas other colleges have each admissions officer read them alongside the rest of their assigned applicant pool (which is often divided by region of the country). I polled my colleagues who worked at an array of colleges across the U.S.—private and public, selective and not-selective—to understand more of the nuances behind this review process and just what it is admission officers hope to learn from homeschooled applicants.

Excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo to the show to discuss his latest, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. We discuss everything from the impact of marketing and rankings on college admissions over the past 30+ years to the concept of “buyers” and “sellers” and how those distinctions can and should impact students’ college application decisions. He also shared what he’s hearing from enrollment managers this year and his thoughts on the COVID-dictated changes he thinks might stick.

by Lisa Albro, former admissions officer at Goucher College

While it isn’t unheard of to attain an officer’s rank without a college degree, two highly sought-after paths involve earning both the title and a bachelor’s degree concurrently: military academies and ROTC programs. But which one is the best fit for you?

Join us for an in-depth discussion with Wall Street Journal reporter, Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal. We’ll delve into the who, what, where, and why of the Varsity Blues scandal. More importantly, we’ll talk through the behavior that allowed this to happen on a grand scale and discuss how to avoid similar thinking and actions that can lead to similar ethical transgressions. Finally, we’ll offer tips on what to look for in an ethical college counselor.

For colleges that require it, the college essay can be a key component of a successful application. In no surprise to anyone, writing is hard! We have ideas on how to work on your writing skills in preparation for writing your strongest essay. We’re also answering your college finance and admissions questions.

COVID, COVID, COVID. Are you as tired of it as we are? As you know, COVID has impacted a number of things about the admissions process, especially visiting colleges. Traditionally the gold standard of demonstrating interest to colleges, what do you do when campuses are closed to visitors? We have thoughts, including why the changes wrought by COVID might actually be a good thing in leveling the playing field around demonstrating interest.