Dear Debt’s Melanie Lockert paid off $81 thousand in student debt in just a few years. She’ll join us to talk about how she got to $81 thousand in the first place, what she would do differently if she could do it all again, and what led to the creation of her Dear Debt blog (now also a book). We’re also discussing how to choose your Common App prompt and what Common App supplemental essays are all about.

If you or your child plan to borrow federal student loans for the upcoming school year, we have some important news for you. We now know what student loan interest rates will be for the 2019/20 academic year.

Previously on Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, we talked about how and when to arrange college financing; on the latest episode, we’re tackling the bigger question of how much is too much to borrow. For those about to start researching and visiting colleges, we have tips on how to start developing a preliminary college list. Finally, if you’re interested in the University of California system, you’ll want to be up-to-date on the system’s A through G course requirements for high school students—we’ve got everything you need to know.

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.

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Sally Ganga talks with her guests about whether or not to disclose learning disabilities on the admission application, how you’ll know when you’re ready to submit your first college application, and how to keep track of student loans while you’re in college.

Recent college graduates must learn to navigate lots of new experiences—new freedoms, new responsibilities, and, yes, new bills. Graduates who borrowed student loans to help finance their undergraduate educations will soon be entering the world of student loan repayment—a domain that can be challenging to traverse, particularly on an entry-level salary. Borrowers wanting to get the lay of the repayment landscape should head on over to the Fortuna Admissions blog to learn about their loan repayment options from College Coach finance consultant, Shannon Vasconcelos.

On this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Ian Fisher talks all things summer. From test prep for rising seniors to self-reflection exercises for future ninth graders, he’s got you covered for ways to keep students occupied during the off-season. He also delves into the world of loan forbearance with a guest college finance educator.

Did you receive a scholarship from a US college or university? Consider yourself fortunate; everyone loves free money! For many college students and their families, education loans are part of the paying strategy. Loans are not free money. If you are an international student and regular reader of our blog, you already know that there are certain types of financial assistance that you will not be eligible for if you decide to pursue a US degree.

What about loans? Can they be part of your paying strategy if you don’t receive enough in scholarships or haven’t saved enough to cover your education? Given the reality that student loans are a big part of how families are covering college costs today, we wanted to explore the options available to international students.