In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, host Cynthia Wagner sits down with college counselor Karrie Sullivan to break down the major updates affecting students applying to college for the 2027 admissions cycle. They cover the Common App and UC application opening dates, SAT and ACT requirements, superscoring, AP and dual enrollment credits, and changes colleges are making to supplemental essays as concerns about AI-generated writing continue to grow. They also discuss demonstrated interest, changing admissions policies, NCAA eligibility updates, and the possibility of standardized testing returning to the University of California system.
Cynthia and Karrie also take a deeper look at the financial side of college, including FAFSA, Parent PLUS loans, financial aid appeals, Early Decision, merit aid, private loans, and why families need to understand their college budget before building a school list. With admissions policies, testing requirements, essays, and financial aid all changing, this episode gives students and parents a detailed overview of what they should be paying attention to as they prepare for the next college application cycle.
Learn more about College Help Squad
https://collegehelpsquad.com/
Register for a free college planning webinar
https://collegehelpsquad.com/seminars/
If you have questions, feel free to email:
Cynthia@collegehelpsquad.com
Podcast produced by CoCreator X
https://www.cocreatorx.com/

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, Cynthia talks with Chase, a past College Help Squad student who just finished his first year at TCU, Texas Christian University. He shares what the college admissions process felt like from the student side, what it was like to face rejection from a top choice school, and how he ultimately found the right fit at TCU. He also talks about what surprised him most about college life, from building community and getting involved on campus to stepping outside his comfort zone and growing into a more confident version of himself.
They also get into practical first year college topics that families and students always ask about, including resident assistant roles, on campus jobs, clubs, fraternities, class schedules, advisors, and how to manage free time in a way that helps students succeed. This episode is a strong reminder that the college journey does not always go exactly as planned, and that the right school can open doors in ways students may not expect at the beginning of the process.
Learn more about College Help Squad
https://collegehelpsquad.com/
Register for a free college planning webinar
https://collegehelpsquad.com/seminars/
If you have questions, feel free to email:
Cynthia@collegehelpsquad.com
Podcast produced by CoCreator X
https://www.cocreatorx.com/

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, host Cynthia Wagner talks with Karrie Sullivan about what students and families need to do after committing to college. They walk through what happens once the deposit is submitted, including housing, roommates, orientation, placement exams, class registration, disability services, books, meal plans, and the many steps students need to complete before move-in day. This episode gives families a clearer picture of what the transition from acceptance to enrollment actually looks like.

They also talk about orientation leaders, resident assistants, academic advisors, changing majors, and why students should ask for help when the process starts to feel overwhelming. It is a practical conversation for families trying to stay organized and make sure nothing important gets missed as students prepare to start college.

Learn more about College Help Squad
https://collegehelpsquad.com/

Register for a free college planning webinar
https://collegehelpsquad.com/seminars/

If you have questions, feel free to email:
Cynthia@collegehelpsquad.com

Podcast produced by CoCreator X
https://www.cocreatorx.com/