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PODCAST

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

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.

kids & family education for kids

All Episodes

53:24

How to Become a Professional Athlete & Baseball Scout

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/05/14

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

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51:10

What Do I Do If I Haven't Saved Enough to Pay for All...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/05/07

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

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59:54

The Waiting Game: What To Do About Waitlists

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/04/30

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

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58:51

Oglethorpe University: "One Who Does Not Give Up"

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/04/23

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

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56:05

Is Applying Early Decision the RIGHT Decision?

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/04/16

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

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55:59

All About The Classical Learning Test

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/04/09

Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with College Coach Brian Swann, who introduces listeners to the Classical Learning Test (CLT). Brian explains what the CLT covers, who it's designed for, how it assesses students—and why its flexible format (including the option to take it at home) makes it an appealing alternative for some families. In our second segment, Kyra welcomes College Coach Michael Yager for Transfer Admissions 101. Michael walks through how to decide whether transferring is the

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53:57

The College Admission & Finance Year in Review

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/04/02

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

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51:45

The Cost of California Colleges; How to Choose from...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/03/26

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:

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56:27

BS/MD Programs; Answering Admission & Finance...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/03/19

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

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53:34

What Financial Aid Offices Wish Families Knew; What...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/03/12

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

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57:53

Are Colleges Still Accepting Applications?; How Many...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/03/05

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

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57:08

February Admit Programs; How to Demonstrate Interest...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/02/26

Host Kyra Tyler kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Caroline Damon, who breaks down February admit programs—those special events colleges host for admitted students to help them dig deeper into academics, campus life, and overall fit as they make their final decision about where to enroll. In our second segment, Kyra welcomes colleague Lisa Albro to tackle a question many families are asking this spring: "How are all the college tours already booked, and how can I still demonstrate

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01:00:45

Advice to Juniors for their Spring Semester; Advice...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/02/19

Host Ian Fisher kicks off this episode with BH College Coach Cesar Contreras, who talks about what juniors should be doing right now in the spring semester to stay on track. Spoiler alert: It's definitely not the time to slack off. In our second segment, Ian welcomes colleague Karen Spencer for a similar discussion, but this time focused on seniors in their last semester. You may have guessed it, but they also shouldn't slack off. Finally, College Coach finance expert Russell Seidelman joins

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56:31

Paying for College; Financial Aid Methods; February's...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/02/12

Are you one of the 99% concerned about how to pay for college? If so, the great news is that this episode of Getting In is devoted entirely to that topic. Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by College Coach finance colleagues Michelle Smoley and Chrissy Foran to discuss financial aid methodologies, appeals, and, in honor of February: Financial Aid Awareness Month, do a broad and deep dive into financial aid.

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56:51

Building a Smart College List; Summer Planning Starts...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/02/05

Here at College Coach we have a resident college list expert, Nial Rele, who is joining our host, Kyra Tyler, to discuss how to create your list of colleges. This is more complicated than you may anticipate, as it should include colleges that are reach schools, target schools, and safety schools, and figuring out which is which can be challenging. In addition, colleague Christine Kenyon will be there to discuss what students should be thinking about doing over the summer, and why it's important to

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49:48

Considering an HBCU in D.C.? Admissions, Student...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/01/29

If you are interested in attending an HBCU (historically black college or university) or being in Washington, D.C. for your college years, be sure to tune in to this show when host Sally Ganga will be interviewing Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission Rahsaan Ellis and student Aniyah Gaffney from the University of the District of Columbia. In addition, Sally will be welcoming College Coach finance expert Beth Feinberg-Keenan about what negotiation for merit scholarships really means. Learn

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52:37

Direct Admissions Demystified: Insights from Pacific...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/01/22

Today's podcast is very exciting because host Ian Fisher will be interviewing Hillary Powell, Director of Admissions at Pacific Lutheran University, to discuss both Pac Lu and explain what direct admissions is. Direct admissions is increasingly being used by colleges as a process by which applicants are essentially pre-admitted to colleges without even having to apply, thus greatly reducing the stress of the admissions process. In addition, College Coach finance expert, Michelle Clifton, will be on

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01:00:05

Applying Abroad? Your Essential Guide to Studying in...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/01/15

Are you considering applying to schools in the United Kingdom? If so, definitely listen in on this episode when Host Ian Fisher interviews Mubarik Ibrahim of University of York, Amanda Lunberg of University of Roehampton London and Haley Drogus from The University of Sheffield, all schools within the UK. Our guests will be discussing completing the UK application and other important information about attending college in the UK. Also, listen in to learn more about some excellent schools that are not

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51:11

Steps to Stay Safe on Campus, Homeschooling and...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/01/08

While college campuses are, by and large, very safe places, we know that crime can happen anywhere. Host Sally Ganga will be joined by Jessica Mertz of the Clery Center, an organization dedicated to helping colleges create the safest possible environment on campus and to advising families on campus safety. Jessica will be giving Sally some tips about students should be concerned about. Hint: it isn't what most people think about! Have you been homeschooled? Nicole Doyle, College Coach colleague,

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52:52

Common App; D3 Athletic Recruitment; Paying for...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2026/01/01

Join us for an in-depth conversation on navigating the college admissions process and financial planning. In this episode: Common App Deep Dive with Michaela Acorn from Common App – Learn tips and strategies to make your application stand out. D3 Athletic Recruitment: The Ins and Outs with Dylan Sanchez – Understand what it takes to succeed in Division III recruitment. Having "The Talk" on Who Pays for College with Michelle Smoley – Practical advice for families on discussing and planning college

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1,515 results

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