About this episode

The episode discusses financial aid for California colleges, how to choose the best college from admissions offers, and the reasons behind the influx of communication from colleges.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Ian Fisher

Guests: Pati Pineiro‑Goodenberger, Maya Gee, Kristine Sawicki

Topics covered

• California colleges
• financial aid
• college selection
• residency questions
• communication from colleges

Keywords

• California residency
• financial aid
• college selection
• merit scholarships
• college communication

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cal State, UC, Western Undergraduate Exchange

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