Getting In: A College Coach Conversation

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.

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.

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 right move, from realizing your current school doesn't offer the major you want to navigating family changes that make being closer to home a priority. He also cautions against chasing a "better" option without fully understanding what you might be giving up.
Finally, finance expert Dina Birmingham joins the show to break down the cost considerations of transferring colleges. Dina explains how financial aid forms are reviewed differently by each institution, what to know about merit awards for transfer students, and the limitations that sometimes come with them.

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.