Getting In: A College Coach Conversation Are Colleges Still Accepting Applications?; How Many APs Do I Need To Take?; Federal Student Loan Update
Mar 5, 2026
Jennifer Wilcox, education finance expert who explains federal loan rule changes. Kennon Dick, former admissions officer advising on AP vs IB and curriculum rigor. Carrie Lewis, college coach guiding late applications and rolling admissions. They discuss which colleges still accept apps, how many APs reflect rigor in context, and recent federal student loan updates.
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Create A Common App Account Even If You Haven't Applied
- If you haven't applied anywhere, create a Common App account — some schools offer direct or automatic admits via that platform.
- Carrie Lewis says adding schools to an existing Common App can reveal surprising admission opportunities.
AP Count Only Makes Sense In School Context
- 'How many APs' is completely contextual: admissions officers compare a student's transcript to the opportunities at their specific high school.
- Kennon Dick explains selective colleges expect different course loads depending on school context and selectivity.
Maximize Rigor Within A Sustained Grade Range
- Take the most challenging courses you can while maintaining A–B grades; consult school data (Naviance/SCORE) to match targets.
- Kennon Dick suggests top schools often draw from top 5–10% while others target mid-to-upper class ranks.