Megan and Erin chat about the verbiage of college (again) but with a suggestion from a parent on terminology. There is a powerful discussion about how to choose which of the colleges you are accepted into and Erin shares an article from Malcolm Gladwell about choosing the right college. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/10/10/getting-in

A parent Erin works with was asking for clarity about the alphabet soup of acronyms for the various types of college applications. Megan breaks down her strategy for when to apply to schools and how to build momentum as the college apps threaten to consume students’ lives over break. Do YOU know the difference between ED and EA? Now is your chance to find out!

A parent, Elisa, wonders about GPAs–what is weighted versus unweighted? How much do they matter in the college admissions process? Megan shares her best advice for choosing a course of study to make you attractive to colleges while Erin encourages those who might have made a few mistakes already to salvage their GPAs.

We hear from Susan, a parent who, after the rigamarole of homeschool college applications, had a few questions and some tips for other parents. When should students enroll in a program outside of homeschooling? How do colleges look at GPAs and transcripts? Should homeschoolers take the SAT/ACT even for test optional schools? Megan and Erin tackle all things homeschooling! A website/blog Susan used heavily in learning as homeschool parent throughout the college application process: https://fearlesshomeschoolers.com/blog/

A parent wonders, “how to pick a major for students who desire professional certifications.” Megan shares that not all colleges handle majors the same and provides a few tips on choosing a major. Want to be pre-law, pre-med, engineering, or other specific major? Then this is the episode for you!

Erin shares how her student, Victoria, is whittling down her college list and how some of the terminology can really change our feelings about the various schools. Words like “safety,” “target,” “reach,” and other words that Megan would like to kick out of the college dictionary. Along with healthier ways to talk about college, Megan and Erin cover how many schools to apply to, whether you should go to the highest-ranked school you get into, and a few other “choosing the right college” tips.

Guest expert Jane Gabin joins Megan to discuss the issue of part time versus tenured faculty. This issue goes beyond the staffing policies of universities and can affect your experience as a student. Jane explains * the problem, * how it can impact students, and * how families can research this issue while searching for the perfect college.  You can search for the schools on your list using “Common Data Set + school name”. You can contact Jane directly: janesgabin [at] yahoo [dot] com

A listener writes in with some financial advice and Megan and Erin talk all things money! * How do you get scholarships? * What does Megan tell families about choosing schools? * What general money advice have you been given before? * What would Erin do differently if she had a time machine? This episode wants everyone to think about their future selves and how to set yourself (and your family) up for financial success. Links to info mentioned: Are Personal Finance Gurus Giving You Bad Advice? (Freakonomics #518): https://freakonomics.com/podcast/are-personal-finance-gurus-giving-you-bad-advice/ You Need a Budget (and you do!): https://www.youneedabudget.com/share-ynab/

The listeners ask whether college is about getting a job or being a well-rounded human (Liberal Arts education). Megan and Erin debate the topic with a little help from a listener that wrote in about her experience. So, what is the point of college anyway? You might want to check out these resources: * What Will They Learn college-ranking website: whatwilltheylearn.com * What’s the Purpose of College (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2019/04/10/whats-the-purpose-of-college/?sh=7498bf8a354e * What’s the Point of College (The Atlantic): https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/05/whats-the-point-of-college/624011/

Megan and Erin answer a parent question today about service opportunities and where to find them (even with a busy schedule). Erin gives her top three places to look for meaningful experiences and Megan shares a few opportunities that have been great for her kids. Let us know where you chose to volunteer!