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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.

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All Episodes

54:34

Setting Your 2026 Goals; Undecided About Your Major?;...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/12/25

Merry Christmas! As soon as you're done opening presents, consider your New Year's Resolutions with host Sally Ganga and College Coach colleague Kimberly Asselta, who will be addressing 2026 goals for high school students. Also, are you undecided? Or, have you picked a major because you think you need to but you aren't sure it's right for you? College Coach colleague Christine Kenyon will be there to discuss when it is and isn't okay to be undecided. And last, if you are still looking for

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56:41

EF Language Abroad Programs; National Merit...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/12/18

Are you interested in experiential, educational travel? Listen in, as host Kyra Tyler will be talking with Durban Rose Ripley of EF Language Abroad programs about their philosophy and offerings, which include trips all over the world, inclusive of both service and culture focused tours. In addition, College Coach finance expert Laurie Peltier will be discussing the National Merit Scholarship program and what that does for students. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

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01:00:26

Unusual College Mascots; Early Decision...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/12/11

Did you know there is a college whose mascot is the Banana Slugs? And another whose mascot is the Poet? Listen in to the December 11th show when host Shannon Vasconcelos discusses college mascots with College Coach colleague Tova Javetz. They aren't all eagles, lions, and wolves. Early Decision round one results are out. New College Coach colleague Jenni Gargano, former Associate Director of Admission at Dartmouth College, will be on the show to discuss what students can do now whether they

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50:52

Honors Programs; Computer Science Majors; Student...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/12/04

Are you looking for a big university with of lots of school spirit but also small class sizes and lots of research opportunities? An honors college at a large university may be your best bet. Listen in as host Shannon Vasconcelos, herself a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Honors College, talks about what honors colleges are and their benefits with colleague Jen Simons. Then, new colleague who came to us straight from the Carnegie Mellon admission office Lauren Savage with be

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53:50

Earning & Learning During Holiday Breaks; The...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/11/20

Many students are interested in an engineering career, but some don't know what studying to be an engineer requires or about the different kinds of engineering, from traditional ones like mechanical to newer fields like biomedical. Host Sally Ganga will be joined by colleague Mary Sue Youn, who has been advising aspiring engineers professionally on their college applications for years. But first, Sally will be joined by finance colleague Michelle Smoley who will expound on the virtues of working

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59:32

College Admissions In The Media; Putting Merit In...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/11/13

Hopefully you caught our first edition of College Admissions in the Media, which went live on June 12th of 2025. Today host Kyra Tyler is continuing that conversation with colleagues Blair Dixon and Aysha Wong. In addition, College Coach finance colleague Chrissy Foran will be joining Kyra to discuss choosing colleges which offer merit aid for your college list. Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

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54:38

Questbridge Scholarships; Glimpse Videos; Does Your...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/11/06

Are you a high-achieving, low-income student? Listen in as our host Ian Fisher discusses the Questbridge Scholarship with College Coach Finance expert Alex Gonzalez. Have you heard that all college admission essays must have a "hook"? Confused about what the colleges want in these essays? New College Coach educator Shayla Bezjak-Martinez, formerly of Harvey Mudd and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is here to clarify what colleges are really looking for in the admission essay "genre." Last, did you

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50:33

Don't Be Scared To Hit Submit On Early Apps; Making...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/10/30

Working frantically to finish up your Early Decision application? Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by College Coach colleague Karen Spencer to discuss putting the final touches on your Common Application. Are you still trying to decide whether you should apply Early Action to a school? Listen in, as College Coach colleague Brittany Preston will tell you what to consider in making the decision. And last, Finance colleague Laurie Peltier will be there to tell you that you don't need

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55:52

The Cal State Application; University of California...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/10/23

Celebrating our 500th (!!) episode If you're applying to the Cal States or University of California schools, listen to today's show. Host Kyra Tyler will be interviewing colleague Steve Fernandez-Brennan about how to fill out the Cal State Application, and then Kyra will be joined by Cesar Contreras, who just came to us from the admission office at UCLA, to discuss the University of California Personal Insight Questions. In addition, College Coach Finance Colleague Jennifer Wilcox will be there

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54:10

What's Supp, Columbia, Barnard and University of...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/10/16

Applying to Columbia University, Barnard College, or the University of Chicago? Host Sally Ganga, who worked in admissions at the University of Chicago, will be interviewing colleague Mary Sue Youn, who worked at Barnard, about Barnard and Columbia's supplemental essays. Then Mary Sue Youn will turn the tables and interview Sally about Chicago. Let's see if Sally can handle the change in roles. In addition, College Coach Finance Colleague Chrissy Foran will be there to help us understand what

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55:47

Studying Abroad: Parent POV; Tackling Tough...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/10/09

Is your student considering studying abroad in college? Host Kyra Tyler will be joined by College Coach colleague Jay Bonham, who will give a parent's perspective on his experience when his son studied abroad. Interested in applying to Yale, Harvard, or Stanford? Colleague Jen Simons will be there to give tips on completing their challenging supplements. In addition, College Coach finance colleague Zach Gries will be there to discuss what the families of high school seniors should focus on now.

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56:33

ArborBridge Standardized Testing Updates; Harvey Mudd...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/10/02

Here it is, thanks! Interested in Cal Tech and Harvey Mudd, but not sure how to approach their supplemental essays? Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by Kimberly Ortiz, a College Coach colleague who is also a former admission officer at both institutions. Also, if you are looking for updates on the ever-changing world of standardized testing for college admissions, in addition to some tips and tricks, friend of the pod Meghan Stubbendeck of Arborbridge will be there to fill us all in. Last but

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53:58

Experimenting With Extracurriculars; Social Media in...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/09/25

Students, are you beginning high school and trying to think ahead about your extracurricular activities? Concerned that you have to choose all your activities now? Colleague Tova Javetz is happy to let Host Ian Fisher know that the early years of high school is the perfect time to experiment with a variety of pursuits in order to find out which you find most fulfilling. Once you've established your preferences, it's okay to drop some of them! Ian will also be chatting with colleague Serena

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57:29

Rethinking Popular Majors; Funding Career & Trade...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/09/18

We're very excited for the return of Taryn Andrea, College Coach's career expert. She'll be talking with host Ian Fisher about alternatives to saturated and very popular majors in fields like healthcare, engineering, law, and computer science, some of which will not require a full four year or Bachelor's degree. In addition, College Coach finance expert Michelle Smoley will join Ian to talk about financial resources for career, trade, and apprenticeship programs. Learn More About Bright Horizons

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52:14

Demonstrated Interest: What Colleges Really Want;...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/09/11

Today we go over some frequently asked questions about admissions. Ever wonder what colleges mean when they say they track demonstrated interest? Think that maybe sending weekly emails to the college admissions representative at your favorite college is a good idea? Host Sally Ganga is welcoming colleague Gabbi Tobias, who will not only define "demonstrated Interest," she'll tell you how much "interest" is too much and how much is just right. In addition, she'll cover colleges that do not track

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56:14

Part-Time Jobs, Lifelong Impact; Admission Interview...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/09/04

Do you know that college admission officers value part-time jobs on a students resume? Host Shannon Vasconcelos will be joined by new College Coach colleague Shayla Bezjak-Martinez to talk about how part-time jobs can set you up for success in many ways, not just for college. In addition, Shannon will be talking with colleague Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn about admission interviews. Are they required? How do you prepare? Last, finance colleague Laurie Peltier will be there to discuss finance updates

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51:52

Jenny West Anderson, Author of The Disengaged Teen

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/08/28

Host Ian Fisher has the remarkable good fortune to welcome guest Jenny West Anderson, author of The Disengaged Teen. If you're a parent, this episode is a must-listen, especially if you've seen any indication that your student is losing their excitement for learning or is in danger of academic burnout. Our guest will help you identify your student's attitudes towards learning and give strategies to help them find their spark. In addition, College Coach Finance Consultant Chrissy Foran will join Ian

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54:46

President of Kettering University; Getting Organized...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/08/21

For this episode, Host Sally Ganga is so honored to have guest Dr. Robert K. McMahan, here to tell us about the institute where he is president, Kettering University in Michigan. Formerly General Motors Institute, Kettering continues to focus on engineering, computer science, and business and is known for it's coop program in which students get two and a half years of paid work experience before graduating. Perhaps there's no surprise, then, that it's also recognized for student innovation.

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56:03

Debating a Liberal Arts Education: Relevance, Demise,...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/08/14

What even is a liberal arts education? Hasn't it gone the way of the dodo bird? Colleagues Zaragoza Guerra and Carrie Lewis will be joining host Sally Ganga to discuss both the demise of the liberal arts and, counterpoint, why they are as relevant as ever. College Finance colleague Beth Feinberg-Keenan will also be there to talk about the financial benefits of liberal arts colleges. Listen in to enjoy the debate! Learn More About Bright Horizons College Coach

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54:21

What's Happening in Higher Ed; Exploring AI Through...

Getting In: A College Coach Conversation ·

2025/08/07

Keeping up with the evolving world of higher education can be overwhelming, but host Ian Fisher is here to help. In this episode, Ian is joined by College Finance Consultant Jess Mosley to break down the latest headlines and trends in the college landscape. He also introduces Major Interest, a new segment exploring how different academic disciplines—like neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and political science—can offer unique insights into current events, including a story about AI chatbots

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