Getting In: A College Coach Conversation Building a Smart College List; Summer Planning Starts Now; Financial Aid Basics for February
Feb 5, 2026
Nial Rele, a college-list strategist and former admissions officer, explains how to build a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools. Christine Kenyon, a college coach with admissions experience, outlines productive summer plans like job-shadowing, internships, and program timing. Zachary Gries, a former financial aid professional, covers financial aid basics, timelines, and how scholarships interact with need-based aid.
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Use Official College Data Sources
- Use official sources first: college admissions sites, College Navigator, College Scorecard, and Big Future.
- Supplement with curated guides and avoid unvetted Reddit, TikTok, and College Confidential claims.
Plan A Purposeful, Restful Summer
- Treat summer as open time to recharge, explore, or work depending on your goals.
- Prioritize rest and pick a few meaningful activities rather than packing every week solidly.
Apply Early For Summer Programs
- Start applying for programmatic summer experiences now because deadlines and teacher recommendations come early.
- Ask teachers for recs and begin outreach months before program deadlines in March or earlier.