Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

Host Sally Ganga wraps up another pivotal admissions cycle with a two-part Year in Review episode, tackling the questions and trends families cared most about over the past year.
In Segment 1, Sally is joined by finance expert Michelle Smoley to revisit the most common financial planning questions families asked throughout the admissions process. They break down whether applying Early Action or Early Decision has a financial impact, clarify when and why students should complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and share practical strategies for finding and securing scholarships and grants—along with other key insights to help families plan wisely for college costs.
In Segment 2, college coaches Zaragoza Guerra and Mary Sue Youn reflect on the admissions landscape and the biggest shifts they observed this year. The conversation explores why more students are submitting standardized test scores even as roughly 90% of colleges remain test-optional (or don't consider scores at all), what happens when decision season brings multiple denials due to a top‑heavy college list, and the growing popularity of Southern universities, especially SEC schools.

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with finance expert Pati Pineiro‑Goodenberger to unpack some California‑specific financial aid and residency questions. She explains how the Cal State and UC systems determine California residency, how the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program interacts with California colleges, and whether UCs offer merit scholarships.
 
In our second segment, Ian welcomes first-time guest College Coach Maya Gee for a conversation many students face this time of year: how to choose the "best" college from the schools they've been admitted to. Maya shares guidance on weighing fit, academics, finances, and personal priorities to make a confident final decision.
 
Finally, College Coach Kristine Sawicki joins the show to address a common source of frustration students face: Why are colleges sending me so much mail? (And emails… and maybe even texts.) She explains how they get contact information and how they choose who to reach out to. She also discusses how to manage the onslaught of communication by making a plan that works for you.

Host Shannon Vasconcelos kicks off this episode with College Coach Lauren DiProspero, who pulls from her experience in both undergraduate admissions as well as her work with Columbia and Stanford's medical schools. Lauren breaks down BS/MD programs (accelerated pathways where students are admitted to both a Bachelor of Science program and medical school simultaneously) and explains why they're so appealing while clearing up some common misconceptions families often have about these highly selective options.
 
In our second segment, Shannon is joined by College Coach Sara Calvert-Kubrom and Finance Expert Zachery Gries to answer listener questions. Together, they tackle timely topics such as how to navigate a waitlist, what to do if you earn a lower grade fall of senior year after being admitted Early Action, and how to compare financial offers from different colleges.
 
If you have a listener question, please submit them so we can answer them on a future episode!

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH finance expert Marina Zaretskiy, who shares what financial aid offices wish rising senior families understood before application season begins. From emphasizing that they are accessible to families with questions or who have updates to their financial situations to the differences between the applications, she offers a helpful behind‑the‑scenes look at how it all works.
 
In our second segment, Ian welcomes BH College Coach Robin Khadduri to dig into what colleges wish rising seniors knew. She talks through how to ask thoughtful questions, how demonstrated interest works, the importance of students sharing their authentic voice, and more.
 
Finally, BH College Coach Nicole Doyle and her son, high school senior Jack Doyle, join the show to share what students wish colleges knew. Jack also shares what it's like to navigate this process when your parent is an expert in the field and what types of discussions seniors have about the application process.

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Carrie Lewis, who answers a question many families have this time of year: Are colleges still accepting applications? Carrie walks listeners through the process of applying outside the traditional fall and early‑spring deadlines, which usually involves rolling admission.
 
In our second segment, Ian welcomes colleague Kennon Dick for a conversation about one of the most common academic questions students ask: How many APs do I need to take to get into college? Kennon breaks down what curriculum rigor really means, how to find balance, and how colleges evaluate a student's choices within their specific context.
 
Finally, finance expert Jennifer Wilcox joins the show to offer a Federal Student Loan update, outlining what has (and hasn't) changed for 2026.