Back in March, I wrote a blog post about a friend of mine who dropped out of college and has nonetheless been very successful. College wasn’t for her. While I usually work with students who are very invested in earning, at a minimum, their Bachelor’s degree, I occasionally encounter high school students who, like my friend, see college as a barrier to beginning their professional life rather than an opportunity. Understandably, parents of such high schoolers tend to be very concerned. For a few generations we’ve been told that college is the path to financial security. And this is largely borne out by statistics; census data tells us that the average high school graduate makes $35,000 a year, while a college graduate will take home closer to $54,000 annually.

Despite a recent downturn in the number of international students moving to the United States to attend college, the U.S. remains a popular academic destination. But there’s no denying that the cost of an American education is a deterrent to many prospective students. If you’re eager to move to the U.S., but the price of our universities gives you pause, you may want to consider beginning your educational journey at a community college. Also referred to as junior or two-year colleges, these schools are usually much more affordable than a four-year institution, and the requirements to gain admission are minimal.

It may be hard to believe, but it’s mid-July already, and for high school seniors, that means it’s time to start work on college applications. With that in mind, host Elizabeth Heaton provides a jam-packed hour of tips and insight. In this episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Beth helps listeners understand a great way that they can use social media in their applications, discusses financial aid options for students looking at community colleges, and provides some tips for getting started on the Common Application.

On this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Sally Ganga talks about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) programs, beginning post-secondary education at two-year institutions, and how to teach your soon-to-be-college-student to set up a budget.

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?

California residents have long been aware that the University of California system plays by a different set of rules than many other colleges and universities. Your GPA is based only on grades earned in 10^th and 11^th grade. You must take a fine arts class in order to be minimally qualified for admission. And application readers are much more interested in the story you tell in your essay than the language or style you use to tell it.

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Sally Ganga welcomed guests to explore the college transfer process and opportunities for private scholarships.

On the June 2^nd  episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Sally Ganga stepped back into the hosting chair, covering topics from Greek life to challenges for community college students, and 529 college savings plans.