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Getting In: A College Coach Conversation: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Bright Horizons College Coach
Planning for college? Tune into Getting In: A College Coach Conversation to learn what colleges are really looking for and how to highlight your hard-won achievements for the best chance at success. Every week, we gather former admissions and financial aid officers as well as other expert guests for candid, behind-the-scenes talk. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday1h 1m
Navigating Middle School
Host Sally Ganga kicks off this episode with members of the Bright Horizons College Coach High School Planning Team—Lauren Randle, Caroline Damon, and Robin Khadduri—for a conversation focused on how students and families can make the most of the middle school years. They discuss how to strike the right balance between early preparation for potentially competitive college paths and avoiding unnecessary pressure too soon. The team emphasizes an important takeaway: what students do in middle school has little direct impact on college admissions, making this an ideal time for exploration, skill-building, and simply enjoying being a kid. In the second segment, Sally is joined by finance expert Patricia Pineiro‑Goodenberger for a closer look at California-based financial aid opportunities, including the Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship Program. Patricia explains who may qualify for Cal Grants, how much aid they can provide, and key timelines to maximize eligibility. She also breaks down the Middle Class Scholarship, including who qualifies and where it can be used, helping families better understand how these programs can make college more affordable.
- 1 weeks ago54 min
Happy (Early) National Saving for College Day!
Host Shannon Vasconcelos dedicates this special, all‑finance episode to National College Savings Day (5/29, 529 - get it?), beginning with Jonathan Hughes, Associate Director of College Planning and Content Creation at the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA). Jonathan explains how MEFA, a not‑for‑profit state‑chartered organization founded in 1982, helps families plan and pay for college through savings programs and loans, as well as its expanding focus on postsecondary pathways beyond college. The conversation dives deep into 529 plans—their history, purpose, how they work, and why they remain a cornerstone of college savings strategies. In the second segment, Shannon welcomes Finance Expert Beth Feinberg‑Keenan to explore alternatives to 529 plans. Beth outlines other ways families can save and invest for education, including Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, taxable investment accounts (in either a parent or student's name), Roth IRAs, and even real estate strategies. She highlights the pros, cons, and flexibility of each option to help families determine the best fit for their financial goals.
- 2 weeks ago51 min
Who Wore It Better? Consortium Style
Host Kyra Tyler explores the world of college consortiums in this episode, starting with College Coaches Shayla Bezjak‑Martinez and Geraldine Castaneda. Drawing from their experience with the Five College Consortium and the Claremont Colleges, they break down how these models compare: from campus proximity and walkability to differences in institutional style. They highlight the many benefits consortiums offer, including access to shared academic, social, and extracurricular resources that can give students a true "best of both worlds" experience. They also explain how the admission process works within consortium systems and what students should understand before applying. In the second segment, Kyra is joined by Andrea Breen, Senior Associate Director of Admission at Emmanuel College, for a closer look at the Colleges of the Fenway Consortium. Andrea discusses what makes Emmanuel distinct within the group and how students take advantage of cross-campus opportunities, from intramural sports to performance groups that bring together students from across the consortium.
- 3 weeks ago53 min
How to Become a Professional Athlete & Baseball Scout
Host Ian Fisher begins this episode with Josh Tobias, former professional baseball player and current scout, for an inside look at the path to competing at the highest levels of college and professional sports. Josh describes the work it took to reach his goals and what it was like playing at the University of Florida while balancing the demands of athletics and academics. He also discusses the increasing pressure college athletes face due to the rising business side of college sports and highlights the wide range of career opportunities within athletic organizations. In the second segment, Ian is joined by finance expert Russell Seidelman as part of the May‑day series with a focus on finding scholarships beyond the first year of college. Russell explains why students need to carve out time to continue applying for scholarships even while managing college responsibilities, and how to identify opportunities for current students on financial aid websites.
- 4 weeks ago51 min
What Do I Do If I Haven't Saved Enough to Pay for All Four Years of College?
Host Sally Ganga opens this episode with Ben Baum, Vice President of Enrollment at St. John's College, and Maggie McGuinness for an in‑depth look at what makes St. John's a truly distinctive institution. With two campuses and a reputation for "great books and great conversations," St. John's centers its entire academic experience on small classes and shared inquiry. Rather than offering traditional majors or interdisciplinary programs, the college rejects the idea of academic disciplines altogether—every student reads the same texts and wrestles with timeless questions like "How do I live a good life?" Ben and Maggie discuss why this approach can be powerful for students, the skills it develops, and the outcomes graduates experience. In the second segment, Sally is joined by finance expert Zachery Gries to address a common concern for families: what to do if you don't have enough money saved to cover all four years of college. Zachery walks through different ways families pay for college, the need to reassess resources as a student progresses (since costs and need‑based aid can change), and the tradeoffs between maintaining flexibility and making choices that could reduce overall costs.
- Apr 30, 202659 min
The Waiting Game: What To Do About Waitlists
Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with College Coach Joy Biscornet for a practical guide to college visits. Joy shares how to plan visits effectively, what to do once you're on campus, and which questions are worth asking, as well as which ones aren't. Most importantly, she explains how visits can help students decide whether a school truly feels like a good fit by seeing if they can picture themselves there. In segment two, Kyra is joined by College Coach Scott Alexander to tackle a common spring concern: being waitlisted. Scott breaks down what actually happens after a waitlist decision, what students can do beyond simply waiting, and how to weigh options between a school you've already committed to and one that might admit you later. He also explains why trying to decode why you were waitlisted is rarely productive and how colleges use waitlists strategically. The episode wraps up with finance expert Laurie Peltier, who walks families through everything they need to know about May 1st. Laurie covers the true costs of committing (from deposits and meal plans to immunizations) and explains how to officially accept financial aid offers and notify outside scholarship organizations where funds should be sent. And more!
- Apr 23, 202658 min
Oglethorpe University: "One Who Does Not Give Up"
Host Ian Fisher hosts several staff members from Oglethorpe University during a deep dive exploration of the school. In the first segment, Ginger Fay, Vice President of Enrollment, and Dr. Gabriel Barreneche, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs explore what makes Oglethorpe unique as a small university rather than a college and how the university's Core Experience shapes students' academic and personal paths. They also discuss Oglethorpe's long‑standing common reading list, which connects students across generations, and share what has surprised them most as relatively new members of the campus community. In segment two, Ginger Fay is joined by Chris Summers, Director of Financial Aid (and an Oglethorpe alum) for a conversation about athletics and affordability. They unpack the role athletics plays on campus (including the surprising fact that student‑athletes make up about a third of the student body), along with an overview of merit and financial aid, including two major programs tied to institutional support. To close the episode, Ginger Fay continues the conversation with Dr. Meredith Raimondo, Vice President of Student Affairs, to focus on student life at Oglethorpe. Together, they discuss the characteristics they see in students who thrive there and how the campus environment supports engagement, growth, and success.
- Apr 16, 202656 min
Is Applying Early Decision the RIGHT Decision?
Host Shannon Vasconcelos opens this episode with College Coach Blair Dixon and finance expert Chrissy Foran for a deep dive into Early Decision. They explore how to determine whether applying ED makes sense for you or your student from both an admissions and financial perspective. It can sometimes be the bump a student needs to be admitted, but committing to one college so early requires sacrificing a lot of the exploration process as well as a complete understanding of how you'll pay for it. In the second segment, Shannon is joined by College Coach Shayla Bezjak‑Martinez to talk about teacher recommendations. Shayla offers guidance on how to choose teachers who will best support your application, why recommendations from core curriculum classes are recommended, the importance of knowing if schools specify which subjects they want represented, and more.
About Getting In: A College Coach Conversation
Planning for college? Tune into Getting In: A College Coach Conversation to learn what colleges are really looking for and how to highlight your hard-won achievements for the best chance at success. Every week, we gather former admissions and financial aid officers as well as other expert guests for candid, behind-the-scenes talk. New episodes drop every Thursday.
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