How I Got Into College

Test prep expert Akil Bello quickly realized he was good at taking tests. But when it came to college, he says he did everything the wrong way. What's his advice when it comes to admissions testing? And what one thing is more important than two extra hours of test prep for your child? Akil's perspective and advice is why this is one of our favorite episodes from Season 1.   Guest: @akilbello   If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests.   Music: Lonely in Café by Dmitriy Diomores, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Crown by Kuzzo, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov. All music aside from Jahzzar from Icons8.com

Before he was on The Daily Show, Bob Wiltfong was growing up in Nebraska with no idea how to follow his dream. How do you make a path when you don't see one? And what do you do when the advice you get changes everything, for better and for worse?  That is why this episode is one of our favorites. Plus, a listener asks how much does your high school's name and reputation matter in the admissions process? Guests: Bob Wiltfong Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX Music: Surrender by Uncleboris (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), E Tude in E Major by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Waterfalls by Samsara (Icons8.com), Rainy Sun by The Owl (Icons8.com), V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

Princeton rower turned Princeton admissions officer Kim Digilio talks about self-loathing in high school, getting into the only school she applied to, and how a wart made her change her major. Her openness and honesty make this a must-listen and one of our favorite episodes. Guest: Kim Digilio www.sentfromthefuture.com Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

Who gets in and why? Those are the crucial questions when it comes to college admissions and it's the title of Jeff Selingo's new book.  What are the most important parts of your application? What are schools looking for? How does COVID impact everything? And does your application really only get reviewed for eight minutes? This is a must-listen for parents and students in the college admissions process.  Guest: Jeff Selingo (@JeffSelingo) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Sleepless Night by Bimbotronic, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Back You by Bimbotronic, Andromeda's Nebulla by Backspace, Soliloquy by Dream Machine, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Oceanarium by Dream Machine, Epicly by Nordgroove All music, aside from Jahzzar, available on Icons.com  

Isa Watson is an award-winning chemist, an accomplished pianist, and the founder of Squad. She skipped two grades and holds three degrees, so why was she told she wasn't college material? And how did she respond when she was? Plus, info on Squad's 2020 Orientation for college students.  Guest: Isa Watson (@isadwatson), Founder of @withyoursquad If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Sunrise by Ilya Marfin, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Epicly by Nordgroove, Surrender by Uncleboris, Good Tone by Nordgroove. All music, aside from Jahzzar, available on Icons.com

When J.A. Adande left ESPN to go back to his alma mater, it spoke to what Northwestern means to him. How he got to Northwestern, and the impact it had on his career and life, is a fascinating story that he's about to tell, particularly why "college is a time to fail." Guest: J.A. Adande @jadande If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Surrender by Uncleboris, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Sunrise by Ilya Marfin, Lifestream by Dream Machine, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov. All music, aside from Jahzzar, available at Icons8.com

Fear/anxiety expert Kristen Ulmer started college at 15 and was the best female big mountain extreme skier in the world for 12 years. So what can jumping off a cliff on skis teach you about your relationship with fear? You're about to find out in one of our favorite episodes from Season One. Guest: Kristen Ulmer For more info on her work, and a free fear assessment, go to kristenulmer.com If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Waterfalls by Samsara, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Voiceless by Stage Engine, Everything by Max Sergeev, Air by Ilya Truhanov, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music, aside from Jahzzar, is from Icons8.com

When NC State Associate Vice Provost Dr. Stephanie Helms Pickett went to college, she planned to study radio and tv broadcasting and become the next Oprah. Instead, she fell in love with the college environment and never left. But that doesn't mean it was easy. This is one of the most emotional episodes from the first season and one of the best. Guest: @drhelmspickett If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Music: Andromeda's Nebula by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Everything by Max Sergeev, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov. All music from Icons8.com, aside from Jahzzar

"I went to something like 10 or 11 schools before I got to grad school." That's just the start of producer Rand Getlin's journey to Oregon. The rest of it is even better, which is why it's one of our favorites from Season 1. Plus, how do you make sure that college essay doesn't sound like a teenager trying to be a 40-year-old? Guests: Rand Getlin @randgetlin Liz Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes, Lifestream by Dream Machine, Step One by El Kirpitch. All music, aside from Jahzzar, available on Icons8.com

Next in our rundown of favorite epsiodes from Season 1: What do you do when you have a dream school, or a dream of what college should look like, but you go somewhere else? How do you make a new dream? Ashley Spencer is living proof. Plus, when is the right time for parents to talk to their kids about the role of finances in the college decision? Guests:  Ashley Spencer @ashleyyspencer Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Waterfalls by Samsara (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

"It's like a Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills story." Everything changed for Nate Jones one afternoon in sixth grade. This is the story of how he responded, his plan to get into USC, and how he became the first in his family to attend college.   Plus, why choosing a college is like shopping for toothpaste and jeans. Guests:  Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) Ann Marie Strauss, Director of College Counseling, Garrison Forest School, Owings Mills, MD If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

"A high school counselor and an admissions officer changed my life." Those are the words of Angel Perez, CEO of NACAC, and they're from one of our most loved episodes. A pivotal moment with a high school counselor was the first step on an incredible journey that you'll definitely want to hear. Guest: @AngelBPerez CEO of @NACAC If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Good Tone by Nordgroove, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Horizons by Nordgroove, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Epicly by Nordgroove (All music aside from Jahzzar available on Icons8.com)

Do you believe you're lucky? Bari Harlam does. She's a business leader, educator, and author, and she'll not only tell about her journey to the University of Pennsylvania, but why it's important to believe you're lucky. Guest: Bari Harlam If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Crown by Kuzzzo, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov, Two Years Later by Beltone. All music, aside from Jahzzar, available on Icons8.com

What does it mean to be your ancestors' wildest dreams? Henry Chavez is an immigrant, a DREAMer, and a first-gen college student. But as big as that description is, there's so much more to Henry and his journey to college. Guest: Henry Chavez @HenryChavezz If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Andromeda's Nebula by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Waterfalls by Samsara, Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Good Tone by Nordgroove

Asparagus can be hard to love. So why should you try it? And what does it have to do with crocheting and getting into college? Ask Alvin Irby, a former kindergarten teacher turned award-winning social entrepreneur, comedian, and author whose TED Talk has been view more than one million times.  Guest: Alvin Irby @AlvinIrby If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Epicly by Nordgroove, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Horizons by Nordgroove, Bisquit Soul by Nordgroove, Lifestream by Dream Machine, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Good Tone by Nordgroove. All music, aside from Jahzzar, available on Icons8.com

What is a six word essay? Why is it important? Sydney Jensen is the 2019 Nebraska Teacher of the Year and her TED Talk went viral. In this episode, she's talks about her struggles in math class, finding her purpose, and why a six word essay is important. Guest: Sydney Jensen (@sydneycjensen) If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Everything by Max Sergeev, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Air by Ilya Truhanov, Insight by Dream Machine, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Bisquit Soul by Nordgroove. All music aside from Jahzzar available on Icons8.com  

We're told failure isn't just a bad thing, it's the worst thing. Jake Barton, the award-winning designer behind the 9/11 Memorial Museum and Storycorps, learned that failure is critical to success. Find out how failure set him up for future success. Plus, what is the one thing that's worth 50 IQ points? Guest: Jake Barton (@Jake_Barton of @localprojects) If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Back to Earth by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Crown by Kuzzzo, Back You by Bimbotronic, Winter Smoke by The Owl, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Horizons by Nordgroove, Good Tone by Nordgroove. All music aside from Jahzzar available on Icons8.com  

Senator Jeff Merkley's the first in his family to attend college. The process of figuring out where to go & what to do after wasn't straight forward. So what's his advice? "Explore the world. Go on adventures." Guest: Senator Jeff Merkley (@JeffMerkley) If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Feeling Fine by Uncleboris, Trees Die Standing by Trees Die Standing, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Rainy Sun by The Owl. All music aside from Jazzar available on Icons8.com

The NY Times referred to Chris Bangle as "arguably the most influential auto designer of his generation." His designs are about endeavor - don't just go two steps further than the last person, go all the way. So how do you go from considering a future as a minister to being the first American named Chief of Design at BMW? Seeing a note on a box. Guest: Chris Bangle (chrisbangleassociates.com) If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Waterfalls by Samsara, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Sunny by Ilya Truhanov, Digression by Dream Machine, Bird Flying In The Storm by Nordgroove. All music aside from Jazzar available on Icons8.com

Author Phuc Tran’s journey to college cannot be summed up in a sentence or two. It includes punk rock, skateboarding, and a conversation at a bookstore. It also raises the question: what’s it like when college doesn’t initially live up to the hype? Guest: Phuc Tran (@phucskywalker on Instagram) If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Surrender by Uncleboris, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Crown by Kuzzzo, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music aside from Jahzzar is available at Icons8.com

"A high school counselor and an admissions officer changed my life." Those are the words of Angel Perez, CEO-Elect of NACAC. A pivotal moment with a high school counselor was the first step on an incredible journey that you'll definitely want to hear. Guest: @AngelBPerez CEO-Elect of @NACAC If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Good Tone by Nordgroove, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Horizons by Nordgroove, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Epicly by Nordgroove (All music aside from Jahzzar available on Icons8.com)

Iowa State Auditor and breakfast pizza enthusiast Rob Sand had not even heard of Brown University until the summer before his senior year. But from the very first moment he saw campus, he knew it was the place for him. So how do you go from not hearing about Brown to finding a home there? You're about to find out.  Guest: @RobSandIA If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Lonely in Cafe by Dmitriy Dimores, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Other Rivers I by Max Sergeev, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music aside from Jahzzar available on Icons8.com  

Part II of Billy Corben's story - going to Miami and figuring out the "game" of college. Plus, he tells the story of taking time off from school to make Raw Deal, his documentary that premiered at Sundance. Guest: @BillyCorben If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Crown by Kuzzzo, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Into the Stratosphere by BackSpace  

Filmmaker Billy Corben grew up in Miami. He's made documentaries about Miami. He's even made two documentaries involving the University of Miami. So how did he almost end up at a school that wasn't The U? That's a story. And he's got stories for days.  Guest: @BillyCorben If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Andromeda's Nebula by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Sleepless Nights by Bimbotronic, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music, aside from Jahzzar, from Icons8.com

Senior advisor to Senator Amy Klobuchar, Brigit Helgen, found her passion early in life, but her approach to thinking about college wasn't an "educated discussion." Once she got to college, she picked a concentration that, on the surface, had nothing to do with that passion, and yet it helped her get her first job on Capitol Hill. Guest: Brigit Helgen If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Surrender by Uncleboris, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Horizons by Nordgroove, Feeling Fine by Uncleboris, Lifestream by Dream Machine. All music, aside from Jahzzar, from Icons8.com

Olympian Kyle Tress attended three different schools and the 2014 Olympics before getting into Yale. Coming out of high school, he admits he wasn't a serious student. But then everything changed. And then changed again.  Guest: Kyle Tress @kyletress If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Good Tone by Nordgroove, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Autumn Nights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone, In A Dream by Powerrun. All music, aside from Jahzzar, from Icons8.com

Author Jamie Reidy is the answer to the question: what happens if you don't get into your first choice? Or your second? Or your third? You end up going to a school you love and Jake Gyllenhaal plays you in a movie. Guests: Jamie Reidy @jamiereidy If you liked this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us spread the word and continue to get great guests. Music: Crown by Kuzzo, Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music other than Jahzzar is from Icons8.com

Fear/anxiety expert Kristen Ulmer started college at 15 and was the best female big mountain extreme skier in the world for 12 years. So what can jumping off a cliff on skis teach you about your relationship with fear? You're about to find out.  Guest: Kristen Ulmer For more info on her work, and a free fear assessment, go to kristenulmer.com If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review. It takes about 60 seconds and helps us book great guests! Music: Waterfalls by Samsara, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Voiceless by Stage Engine, Everything by Max Sergeev, Air by Ilya Truhanov, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All aside from Jazzar from Icons8.com

Test prep expert Akil Bello quickly realized he was good at taking tests. But when it came to college, he says he did everything the wrong way. What's his advice when it comes to admissions testing? And what one thing is more important than two extra hours of test prep for your child? Guest: @akilbello Music: Lonely in Café by Dmitriy Diomores, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Crown by Kuzzo, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov. All music aside from Jahzzar from Icons8.com

When NC State Associate Vice Provost Dr. Stephanie Helms Pickett went to college, she planned to study radio and tv broadcasting and become the next Oprah. Instead, she fell in love with the college environment and never left. But that doesn't mean it was easy.  Guest: @drhelmspickett Music: Music: Andromeda's Nebula by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Everything by Max Sergeev, Maipen Lei by Beltone, Air by Ilya Truhanov. All music from Icons8.com, aside from Jahzzar

Author Mira Ptacin shares her incredible journey to, and through, college. It includes a semester at sea, an archaeological dig in Mongolia, and so much more. It's a powerful story that has almost nothing to do with getting into college.  Guest: Mira Ptacin (@MiraPtacin) Music: Back to Earth by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Everything by Max Sergeev, Andromeda’s Nebula by BackSpace, Rainy Sun by The Owl, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music aside from Jahzzar on Icons8.com

When J.A. Adande left ESPN to go back to his alma mater, it spoke to what Northwestern means to him. How he got to Northwestern, and the impact it had on his career and life, is a fascinating story that he's about to tell, particularly why "college is a time to fail." Guest: J.A. Adande @jadande Music: Surrender by Uncleboris (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Sunrise by Ilya Marfin (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com), Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icon8.com)

What happens when you've known your dream school since 7th grade, but when you get accepted, it might be too expensive? How much does that impact your time in college? Does your dream job get put aside for something more practical? Writer-director Robyn Paris is about to tell you.  Guest: Robyn Paris (@robynoparis) Music: Crown by Kuzzo (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Sunny by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

There was an "oh bleep" moment for Rebekka Johnson (GLOW) at the end of her time in college. She was thinking she'd missed out by not going to a fancier school. But now that's changed and she's about to tell you why.  Guest: Rebekka Johnson (@hellorebekka) Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com)

How does someone from New Jersey end up at Purdue without ever visiting? Given Purdue's reputation, it has to involve the sciences, right? Nope. It involves something else. Plus, is the college admissions system broken? Guests: Dan Ward, Pfizer Emmi Harward, Executive Director of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (@liketheawards) Music: Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

Rhodes Scholar Shad White was going to Georgetown, until something changed. It's just one part of his incredible journey from being overlooked coming out of Sandersville, MS (pop 731) to Ole Miss, followed by the University of Oxford, and Harvard Law. Plus, what can you find at a large state school that you might not find at a smaller school and advice for anyone thinking of a Rhodes. Guest: State Auditor of Mississippi Shad White (@shadwhite) Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Start of a New Day by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

What happens if you end up at a school that isn't the perfect fit? Dean of The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at CCNY Andy Rich talks about his journey to college, finding his voice in a political campaign, and how that informed his college experience. Plus, advice for parents and students from his current work and time with the Truman Scholarship Foundation.  Guest:  Andy Rich, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at CCNY @andrewowenrich Music: V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

What do you do when you have a dream school, or a dream of what college should look like, but you go somewhere else? How do you make a new dream? Ashley Spencer is living proof. Plus, when is the right time for parents to talk to their kids about the role of finances in the college decision? Guests:  Ashley Spencer @ashleyyspencer Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX Music: Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Waterfalls by Samsara (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

Missouri's a dream school for future journalists. For Bill Reiter, it wasn't even on his map, literally, and he only ended up there after a series of fluky events. But it transformed his life. Plus, what parents and students lose sight of in the college search. Guests: Bill Reiter @sportsreiter Elizabeth Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov

As 2019 comes to a close, here is the best advice from our "Ask The Expert" segment, compiled all in one place.  Experts: Emmi Harward, Executive Director of ACCIS Kim Digilio, former Princeton Admissions officer Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX Liz Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago Ann Marie Strauss, Director of College Counseling, Garrison Forest, Owings Mills, MD Music: Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar 

As we prepare to wrap up the year, here's a look back at the episode that started it all. The Sklars tell how they turned down an Ivy League school to go to Michigan and turned down law school to become comedians. Plus, the one thing parents should never do. Guests: Randy and Jason Sklar @SklarBrothers www.supersklars.com Emmi Harward Executive Director, ACCIS @liketheawards Music: Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

Before he was on The Daily Show, Bob Wiltfong was growing up in Nebraska with no idea how to follow his dream. How do you make a path when you don't see one? And what do you do when the advice you get changes everything, for better and for worse? Plus, a listener asks how much does your high school's name and reputation matter in the admissions process? Guests: Bob Wiltfong Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX Music: Surrender by Uncleboris (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), E Tude in E Major by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Waterfalls by Samsara (Icons8.com), Rainy Sun by The Owl (Icons8.com), V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

"I went to something like 10 or 11 schools before I got to grad school." That's just the start of Rand Getlin's journey to Oregon. The rest of it is even better. Plus, how do you make sure that college essay doesn't sound like a teenager trying to be a 40-year-old? Guests: Rand Getlin @randgetlin Liz Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine(Icons8.com), Step One by El Kirpitch (Icons8.com)

How do you get into Cal without really applying? If it wasn’t for a broken down car, best-selling author Lawrence Ross might not have gotten into Cal. As he found out, getting in was one thing, being able to afford to stay was another. Plus, an expert’s advice on making sure your college search is wide enough. Guests: Lawrence Ross (@alpha1906) Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Austin, TX Music: Lonely in Cafe by Dmitriy Dimores (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Maipen Lei by Belton (Icons8.com), Warm Sea by Savvier (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com)

How did a future admissions officer and college counselor figure out where she wanted to go to college? The answer involves The Black Crowes and the Summer Olympics. Plus, two words you're not allowed to use in the college process. Guest: Emmi Harward, Executive Director, Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools @liketheawards Music: Surrender by Uncleboris (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com)

"It's like a Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills story." Everything changed for Nate Jones one afternoon in sixth grade. This is the story of how he responded, his plan to get into USC, and how he became the first in his family to attend college.   Plus, why choosing a college is like shopping for toothpaste and jeans. Guests:  Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) Ann Marie Strauss,  Director of College Counseling, Garrison Forest School, Owings Mills, MD Music: Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

Princeton rower turned Princeton admissions officer Kim Digilio talks about self-loathing in high school, getting into the only school she applied to, and how a wart made her change her major. Plus, advice for parents and students on dealing with the pressure and gossip of the college search. Guests: Kim Digilio www.sentfromthefuture.com Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

The Sklars tell how they turned down an Ivy League school to go to Michigan and turned down law school to become comedians. Plus, the one thing parents should never do. Guests: Randy and Jason Sklar @SklarBrothers www.supersklars.com Emmi Harward Executive Director, ACCIS @liketheawards Music: Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com)

A show about the most important decision of your life, or so you're told. Each week, a guest talks about their journey to college, acceptance, rejection, the big moments, and little bits of luck that shaped them. Plus, advice from experts on how to navigate the college process. Subscribe now!