‘Tis the season—for holiday parties, shopping, and preparations. But for high school seniors, it’s also the season for finishing up their college applications. And with that in mind, the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation has some help for those students working on the Columbia University application. Host Beth Heaton covers that topic, as well as soliciting some great advice on the role that leadership plays in an MBA application and also some guidance for parents getting a late start on saving for college.

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?

Guest Post By Judith Silverman Hodara, Fortuna Admissions and former Head of Admissions at The Wharton School

As you approach your undergraduate degree, do you imagine business school in your future? If so, the most important thing you can start doing now is to cultivate your leadership potential.

Have you always known you wanted to study business?  If you know that an MBA is in your future, many assume that attending an undergraduate business school is a no-brainer.  College Coach admissions consultant and former Babson College admissions officer Christine Kenyon, however, says, “Not so fast!”

Thinking about heading to business school after completing your undergrad degree, but wondering how you’ll afford it? Need-based financial aid can make up one important piece of your payment puzzle, but strategies to maximize this aid need to be put in place long before submitting that business school application.

Guest Post By Judith Silverman Hodara, Fortuna Admissions and former Head of Admissions at The Wharton School

Every year, as Wharton’s Head of Admissions, I fielded calls from anxious pre-college parents. They were seeking advice for their ambitious adolescents on choosing between undergraduate programs. Which school would best position their child for a future MBA at a top tier school like Wharton, Harvard or Stanford GSB?

Considering pursuing an MBA, but worried about the debt burden it would require you to take on? Well, I’ve got good news for you. It is possible to get your student loans forgiven. Qualifying for repayment assistance can be tricky, however, so check out Shannon Vasconcelos’ guest post on the Fortuna Admissions blog for the details on the complex requirements for student loan forgiveness.

You may have seen our recent post, “What is an MBA and Should I Pursue One?” If this article got your wheels turning about the possibility of furthering your education in the field of business, you’re likely concerned about how to pay for that MBA. The 6-figure price tag on a typical MBA program is nothing to sneeze at.

Guest post by Caroline Diarte Edwards, Fortuna Admissions

The Masters in Business Administration is among the most coveted advanced degrees in the US—especially from a top institution. It’s a door-opening, international credential that offers a passport to the management and executive ranks of a wide range of industries. As such, the MBA attracts high-potential performers seeking opportunities to lead in the competitive, fast-paced and rapidly-changing business world. Most US programs are two-years, while some of the most competitive programs abroad distill the experience into a single, high-velocity year.

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation was all about planning for what’s coming down the road. From saving for college to thinking about graduate school after college, Beth Heaton was back in the host chair to tackle it all.