Help—we can’t agree on a college! You won’t be the first student and parent not to be on the same page when it comes to college choice, and we’re pretty sure you won’t be the last. Tune in for our advice on how to navigate what can be a challenging decision. We’ll also look into the latest trends in micro scholarships, and, in Office Hours, we’re discussing AP exams and their role in the college admissions process.

Guest Post by Sabrina Manville, Co-Founder of Edmit

It’s decision season! After all the time you’ve spent figuring out where to apply, submitting applications, doing interviews, and… waiting, most families now know where they stand at the colleges they applied to. And that means you have to decide where you put down your deposit.

Devastated about not getting into your dream school? There’s no doubt this is a tough time, but you can’t abandon college just because your top choice didn’t come through. Tune in for tips on choosing the best colleges from those eager to welcome you to campus.

On last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Ian shifts the focus of our attention to the juniors and what goes into building the college list. But before we completely close the book on our current seniors, the opening segment explains a bit more about what goes on behind the waitlist process.

As students make sense of the admission decisions they’ve received these past few weeks, some families might be feeling not only excitement but dread—excitement for prospective dreams fulfilled, but dread when contemplating the cost. Numbers once considered hypotheticals are now becoming hard and fast expenses. While we’re often told, “pursue the dream and things will take care of themselves,” should we be holding college dreams to the same standard, costs be damned?

Making the Final College Decision

Congratulations on your child’s college acceptances! Their hard work has paid off and now the decision as to which college is best for them needs to be made. I always encourage parents and their child to step back for a moment. Don’t worry about choosing that one perfect college, as there are likely many colleges that fit your child’s needs and would ultimately provide a rich college experience. College is what a student makes of it, and what they accomplish while they’re on campus matters much more than the name of the college. Choosing the student’s preferred college, while also balancing financial considerations however, can present some challenges to a family. It is those very challenges that prompt me to share some important considerations that may assist you in making the final college decision.

For Seniors, The Transition to College Has Already Begun

It’s official, my daughter is going to college.  She, her mother and I all huddle around the computer as she pays her deposit and clicks send.

It’s very exciting for her to finally have made a choice; she’s excited to start this next phase of her life.  However, as the discussion afterward progresses, I realize that the process for her at this stage is totally different from mine.  I waited until the summer to find out who my roommate would be and hoped we would be compatible coexisting in a small room.  I nervously wrote letters over the summer to introduce myself and establish a rapport before the start of school.  Still, it was with anticipation that we met on move in day and relaxed as we came to the realization that it was all going to work out.  Over time, we settled in and were roommates for the next two years.

The Academic Common Market

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation opened with host Beth Heaton and college financial aid consultant Shannon Vasconcelos, rounding out Part IV of the tuition reciprocity series a discussion on the Academic Common Market (you can find parts I-III in our Archives). Learn why a student from Alabama who wants to study English in South Carolina isn’t going to qualify for this program, while a student seeking a marine bio major from landlocked Tennessee could be eligible! Not every college participates in the program even among the 15 member states, and those that do participate may impose their own restrictions in terms of capping the number of students or mandating a minimum GPA requirement, and our expert provided tools to determine participation guidelines.

It’s hard news to hear, especially at this time of year, but not everyone gets into the school(s) of their dreams. It can be tough to feel disappointed when seemingly everyone around you is celebrating. Your confidence may take a major hit, and it can be difficult to get revved up and excited about where you have been admitted. While this experience is a part of the admissions process for thousands of students every single year, it’s a topic many don’t like to talk about. Below, college admissions advisor Karen Spencer, former admissions officer at Georgetown University and Franklin & Marshall, offers advice to parents looking for help in moving their grieving seniors past disappointing decisions:

Getting the Student Perspective

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, hosted by Sally Ganga, continued the trend of welcoming a current student to discuss her college selection process. Zainab Bindher, a College Coach alumnus and current student at the University of Michigan, introduced us not only to her application process but also the first year at UM. It was really intriguing to hear her description of her “Living Learning community,” a residential offering that enables her to connect with others with the same values both inside and outside the classroom. Because of her interest in social justice and aspirations for law school, Zainab’s participation in this community has been a huge part of her UM experience. For more stories from Zainab, including favorite courses and future goals, give the show a listen!