With the latest admissions scandal, it might feel like the only way to get into an Ivy or similarly selective university is through bribery. We’re going to discuss the reality of getting into these highly selective institutions. We’ll also help you prepare to start paying off your student loans and discuss how the pandemic might be impacting that process. Finally, as early admissions results start coming in, we’re laying out what students can expect from those decisions.

Amid the health concerns associated with the global pandemic, the coronavirus has brought with it business closures, stock market volatility, and unprecedented economic uncertainty. People are worried about their jobs, their savings, and—yes—their student loans.

When college students graduate, they have a grace period of a few months before they need to start repaying their student loans. As that grace period is coming to an end, we have some thoughts on getting started on the repayment portion. In other segments, we’ll discuss who should consider a gap year, and offer suggestions for next steps if you are deferred in the early round from any of your colleges of interest.

Student loan indebtedness is always a hot topic these days, and there’s been a lot of media coverage recently about various federal loan forgiveness, discharge, and cancellation programs. Every program is a little bit different, and it can be downright confusing to figure out which program, if any, might work for you. We’ve decided it’s time to provide you with a summary of what’s out there.

On last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Ian Fisher discusses three very different phases of the college admission process: writing supplemental essays, receiving admission decisions, and repaying loans.

In the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coast Conversation, guest host Sally Ganga covers a wide range of topics, beginning with a discussion on how to prepare to repay student loans, and then an in-depth look at the supplemental essays for Loyola Marymount University and Occidental College. She wraps up with a lively conversation about the differences between studying the sciences and studying engineering in college.