Mindful Admissions

Mindful Admissions

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The Strive to Learn team demystifies college admissions topics that can confound even the savviest of students: financial aid, SAT/ACT testing, educational planning, college admissions essay writing, scholarships, and much, much more. Press play to hear from our expert college counselors as well as frequent guest stars and guiding voices in the field of college admissions!

Strive to Learn


    • Feb 6, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 35 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Mindful Admissions

    Stepping Up Your Game: Benefits of Taking the SAT or ACT Even with Test-Optional

    Play Episode Play 127 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 6, 2023 28:13


    This podcast episode talks about the ramification of a majority of colleges going test-optional, which colleges have changed their minds and is requiring SAT or ACT scores for 2023 applications, as well as some of the benefits that students gain when submitting their scores and who should consider studying for these tests. We also talk about the unintended benefits that students can gain from preparing for the SAT or ACT test that impacts their lives far beyond just a score they can submit to college We interview our former student and podcast host, Lily, about her experience increasing her ACT test score from the low 20's to 32 and how that impacted her ability to be admitted into a prestigious college (and what kind of timeline did it really take to get that kind of score growth).

    benefits act test optional stepping up your game
    King of the Hill: How Empathy-Led Tutoring Wins Best in Orange County

    Play Episode Play 125 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 30:22


    In this interview with Strive to Learn's founder, Josefine Borrmann, we discuss the qualities that have helped her small business of 5-8 people win Best of Orange County in tutoring for seven years. In this interview, we talk about how mentorships and self-efficacy help high schoolers succeed. How empathy and holistic approaches help reduce employee turnover, and how the best tutors and college admissions consultants aren't necessarily the kids who got perfect SAT and ACT scores and graduated from elite colleges.

    Food for Thought: Picking the Right Personal Insight Question Prompt

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 26, 2022 22:36


    Which UC PIQ prompt should you pick? In this episode of Mindful Admissions, college consultant Amanda Merrifield helps students overcome the hurdle of procrasto-perfectionism (where you procrastinate because you are a perfectionist) by outlining the steps that she uses to help students break through writer's block and craft compelling and vulnerable Personal Insight Responses.

    Ounce of Prevention: Avoid these Common Mistakes on your UC Application

    Play Episode Play 600 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 4, 2022 38:36


    In this episode, college counselors Josefine Borrmann and William Giacchi from Strive to Learn discuss the latest changes made in the University of California's college application, and share best practices that students should follow so that they can present the best application that helps them stand out.This episode covers:UC application conditional logic in the About Me sectionHow to approach your application (what do you need to start)Fees and fee waiversTest scoresGetting UC scholarshipsWhat to put in the Activites sectionMissed oppertunites under the "Other Coursework" sectionThe importance of getting your academic history rightHow to avoid misclassifying DACA students as international students

    That Ship Has Sailed: The Value of Study Abroad

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 43:41


    In this episode, Amanda, Rachel, and Lily compare study abroad experiences, share advice and fun facts, and discuss the challenges of striking out on your own.

    Well Begun is Half Done: Colleges for Students with Learning Differences

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 37:49


    In this episode, William and Lily discuss how students with learning differences can navigate the college landscape successfully.

    Other Fish in the Sea: Unique Colleges You Should Know

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 47:56


    In this episode, William and Lily discuss five unique colleges that are worth looking into in your college search.

    Take it With a Grain of Salt: Community College Mythbusting

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 72:53


    In this episode, Lily and Josefine bust some community college myths, debunking some of the most common misconceptions about choosing to attend a community college.

    Good Things Come to Those Who Wait: The Gap Year Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 90:12


    In this episode, Josefine met with Alexia Bass and Julia Rogers to discuss their gap year experiences, and to share exactly what a gap year is all about.

    Bite the Bullet - How to Decide Which College to Attend

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 39:41


    In this episode, Lily interviews Josefine about how accepted college applicants can decide on which college to attend, after all the application drama is over.

    A Dime a Dozen: Reading Financial Aid Award Letters

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 54:54


    In this episode, Amanda talks financial aid award letters with expert Claire Law, founder of Educational Avenues, author, speaker, and seasoned college mom. Get the scoop on navigating financial aid and leveraging your financial position to your advantage.

    Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk: Why College Decisions Don't Determine your Worth

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 56:54


    In this episode, Lily and the college counseling team get personal, discussing their own less-than-traditional college journeys, and giving advice on how to avoid falling into a self-worth spiral during acceptance season.

    Timing is Everything: How and When You Should Take the SAT/ACT

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 47:44


    In this episode, Lily and Josefine talk about how and when to take the standardized tests (the SAT or ACT) required by some colleges in their application.

    I've Got the Blues: Unpacking The Varsity Blues Admissions Scandal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 67:51


    In the season three premiere, the college counseling team gathers to discuss the largest college admissions scandal in history.

    Hindsight is Clearest: A Look Back at the 2021 College Admissions Cycle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 24:20


    In this episode, Josefine looks back at how another year of COVID has affected the college admissions landscape. (Recorded live at College Info Night 2021)

    A Penny Saved: How to Decipher your Financial Aid Award Letters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 54:26


    In this episode, William teaches financial aid literacy, covering loans, merit aid, need-based aid, appeals, and more. (Recorded live at College Info Night 2021)

    Apples to Oranges: How and When to Visit Colleges

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 33:35


    In this episode, Josefine and Amanda discuss how and when to visit colleges during your application process. (Recorded live at College Info Night 2021)

    A Little Elbow Grease: How to Make Your Supplemental Essays Shine

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 40:17


    In this episode, Josefine explains how to make your supplemental essays shine through in your college application. (Recorded live at College Info Night 2021) Click here to view Josefine's slides and resources!

    One Piece at a Time: Picking Apart Your PIQs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 19:23


    In this episode, Rachel explains what the UC Personal Insight Questions are, and how to take advantage of them by writing excellent responses. (Recorded live at College Info Night 2021) Click here to view Rachel's slides and resources!

    Getting It Out of Your (UC) System: How to Craft a Successful UC Application

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 69:16


    In this episode, Josefine visits the Newport Beach Public Library to give a talk on the UC Application, and how to create an application that serves you best. Click here to view Josefine's slides from the presentation!

    craft josefine uc system uc application
    Pull Yourself Together: Building a Dynamic Activities List and Resume

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 54:36


    In this episode, Lily interviews Melinda with questions about building a dynamic and punchy activities list, as well as a high-quality student resume.

    Showing Your Hand: How to Write The Personal Statement Essay

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 63:10


    In this episode, Lily interviews Josefine about how to write the personal statement essay, and the pair demonstrate how to get started, as well as share some before-and-after essay drafts. Click here to read along as they analyze the sample essays!

    The Tip of the Iceberg: The Effects of COVID-19 on Education, Testing, and College Admissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 35:10


    In this episode, Josefine hosts a live Q&A, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the college admissions process, standardized testing, and educational in general. Visit our website to view the free resources she mentions, including our blog!

    Spilling the Beans: 2021 UC Counselor Conference Insights

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 58:16


    In the Season 2 premiere episode, the whole gang relates their key takeaways from the 2021 UC Counselor Conference, a counselors-only event that parents may be interested to sneak a peek into.

    An Arm and a Leg: Cutting College Costs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 61:14


    In this episode, William interviews financial aid expert Pamela Walker to talk about loans, scholarships, and cutting college costs overall. Part 2 of the Cutting College Costs series.

    A Pretty Penny: Building Affordability into your College List

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 60:58


    In this episode, William interviews College Options LLC Founder Katelyn Klapper about building affordability into your college list with FAFSA and financial aid. Part 1 of the Cutting College Costs series.

    Insult to Injury: Know Your Special Education Rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 56:35


    In this episode, William interviews special education law expert Janey Brunson to talk about how parents and students can learn their rights and advocate for themselves.

    injury insults special education rights
    A Long Story Short: Addressing the COVID-19 College Essay Prompt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 31:21


    In this episode, William and Lily tackle the COVID-19 Common App essay prompt, and talk about how students should (and shouldn't) answer it.

    A Stitch in Time: College Application Deadlines Explained

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 39:31


    In this episode, Josefine and Lily discuss college application deadlines and decode all the complex acronyms: EA, ED, RD, and more.

    It Takes a Village: Supporting Students in College Application Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2021 58:50


    In this episode, Josefine and Melinda answer Lily's questions about how parents can support their kids - emotionally, academically, and financially - during college applications season.

    Barking up the Wrong Tree: Why a "Good-fit" College List is so Important

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 62:31


    In this episode, we tackle the good-fit college list, and explain why fit is so important in selecting a college. This episode could also be called "I know you want me to go to Harvard, Mom, but that might *not* actually be the best fit for me". Check out the Good Fit College Criteria Spreadsheet!

    Peas in a Pod: Meet our Counseling Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 70:07


    In this episode, our college counseling team takes a break from work to reminisce about their own education, and to offer some helpful (and hard-won) advice to students.

    The Devil is in the Details: SAT/ACT Frequently Asked Questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 88:13


    In this episode, Josefine hosts a webinar at NBPL, debunking test myths, guiding participants in exercises, and discussing all the most recent changes in testing policy. Plus, she answers some of College Essay Guy's 100 Brave and Interesting Questions!

    Look Before You Leap: Mindfulness in College Decisions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 62:47


    In this episode, Strive to Learn Founder Josefine Borrmann is joined by Kristina Dooley, the founder of Estrela Consulting, to discuss mindfulness in college admissions (something we care about deeply, in case you hadn't noticed).

    Birds of a Feather: Introducing the Mindful Admissions Team!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 10:18


    An introduction to the Strive to Learn college counseling team, including sneak peeks into future topics.

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