The Admissions Directors Lunchcast

A few months ago, we recorded a special Lunchcast Live with Nick Spaeth, Dean of College & Academic Advising at Brookfield Academy in Brookfield, Wisconsin.Nick joined us to discuss the importance of building and maintaining relationships across the desk in our work.

Our very first guest on the podcast, Adrian Flores, came back for a Lunchcast Live discussion on what colleges are missing when it comes to recruiting first generation college students.Adrian Flores is a College Transition Coordinator at The Carmen Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his career, he has worked at two small private institutions that were incredibly tuition dependent and is able to dive deep into the competing demands facing colleges and universities.

Information about Lunchcast Lectures is available here.Use promocode: COLDOPEN for a friend of he pod discount!This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠College admissions has always been stressful—but today's students are facing a level of anxiety and pressure unlike anything we've seen before.From social media-fueled perfectionism to overwhelming college messaging, mental health is now a major factor in the admissions process.Joining the conversation: Mary O'Malley, Co-Head of Advising at Union Hall Admissions Counseling, shares what she's seeing firsthand—why students struggle to define what they actually want and how parents, counselors, and colleges can help. Alicia Bourque, Vice President for Student Affairs at Loyola University New Orleans, gives insight into how colleges should proactively support students' mental health, from admissions through graduation.We discuss: The biggest mental health struggles students face in the college process How colleges' deadlines and messaging can either help or hurt Why peer support networks matter more than ever What admissions professionals can actually do to support student mental health

Information about Lunchcast Lectures is here.Use promocode: COLDOPEN for a friend of the pod discount!This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠The last few years have been rough for admissions professionals, and the conversation about staff morale isn't going away anytime soon. How do leaders keep their teams motivated? What actually improves morale (beyond pizza Fridays)? And what role do admissions counselors themselves play in shaping workplace culture?Joining the conversation: Dana Lambert, School Counselor at West Milford Township Public Schools, shares insights from the high school side—why school counselors often feel stuck in “middle management,” how burnout impacts students, and what admissions reps can do to strengthen relationships. Angie Cooksy, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bradley University, brings the VP perspective on building a culture of support, resilience, and positivity while acknowledging the very real pressures of enrollment work.From avoiding toxic positivity to managing remote staff, this episode digs into the realities of keeping morale high in a high-pressure profession.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Vendors are a critical part of the admissions and enrollment world—but are you getting the most out of them? This week, Nathan and Teege explore the best strategies for building, managing, and maximizing vendor partnerships to improve recruitment, retention, and efficiency.Joining the conversation: Jeff Fuller, College Counseling Director at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School, shares how vendors shape relationships between high schools and colleges—and where ethical considerations come into play. Tess Ferzoco, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Edgewood College, gives an inside look at how institutions can get real ROI from their vendor contracts and avoid common pitfalls.From data privacy concerns to underutilized tools, this episode is packed with insights on making vendors work for you—not the other way around.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Data drives everything in modern admissions—but are colleges using it the right way? This week, Nathan and Teege dive into how institutions can analyze student data more effectively to improve recruitment and yield.Joining the conversation: Brian Ford, Director of School and College Counseling at Boston College High School, who shares what high schools wish colleges paid more attention to in student data. David Dysart, Associate Director for Data Analytics at Stevens Institute of Technology, who breaks down how colleges can actually use data to target the right students and avoid common integration pitfalls.From tracking demonstrated interest to the ethical concerns of data-driven decision-making, this episode covers it all. Tune in to make sure you're using data the right way!

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠CRMs, texting platforms, predictive analytics, chatbots—oh my! The world of admissions technology keeps evolving, and if you're not careful, your tech stack can start running you instead of the other way around.This week, we're talking to two experts who have mastered the digital frontier: Abe Gruber, Vice President of Strategic Growth & Operations at Softdocs, shares the biggest mistakes colleges make with tech implementation and where AI is taking us next. Bridgett Thompson, Director of Admissions Operations at Knox College, discusses how to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and avoid tech burnout in admissions.We cover: How to get the most out of your CRM and recruitment tools The key to successful tech implementation (hint: it's NOT the go-live date) The role AI is already playing in admissions—and where it's headed Why student portals are becoming a critical recruitment tool The one thing most admissions offices would change about their techWhether you're wrangling a brand-new CRM or just trying to tame your current tech, this episode is packed with practical advice.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠Expanding into new recruitment territories is a common strategy—especially with the demographic cliff approaching—but how do you actually break into a market where your institution has little name recognition?This week, we talk to two experts with hands-on experience in new territory recruitment: Dean Jacoby, Director of College Guidance at Albuquerque Academy, shares the high school perspective on what works—and what doesn't—when colleges enter a new market. Keegan White, Associate Director of Admissions at Lawrence University, discusses how he's successfully built relationships in multiple recruitment territories and what strategies admissions professionals should use.We cover: The biggest mistakes colleges make when entering a new market How to build long-term relationships with school counselors Why parents play a crucial role in recruitment success How to balance an existing market with a new one The role of data and tech vs. human interactionWhether you're launching into your first new market or just looking for ways to strengthen your current outreach, this episode is packed with practical advice.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.⁠https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ ⁠College fairs: Are they still worth it?Have they evolved enough to keep up with the way students search for colleges today? And what's next for these staple recruitment events?In this episode, we tackle the changing role of college fairs, the impact of technology, and whether they still belong in the modern admissions strategy.Joining us are two experts:Zachary George, Senior Director of College & Fair Relations at StriveScan, who shares insights on how technology has transformed college fairs and what's coming next.Alison Crowley, Assistant Director of Admissions at Northern Michigan University, who brings 27 years of experience working college fairs and explains how states like Illinois have successfully restructured them.We discuss how student behavior has changed, the rise of parent involvement, the role of budget constraints, and whether in-person college fairs still have a place in the recruitment funnel.

This week's episode sponsored by Geneologie, where you'll get 10% off your first order if you mention The Admissions Directors Lunchcast.https://www.geneologie.com/promo-box/ Politics have always played a role in higher education, but in today's climate, are they actually influencing where students apply and enroll? In our Season Nine premiere, we tackle the complex relationship between politics and the college search—what the data tells us, how families are navigating these concerns, and what admissions offices can do about it.Joining us this week are two expert guests:Grant De Roo, Founder and Principal of ADV Market Research & Consulting in Iowa City, Iowa, who shares key insights from his recent nationwide study on how state politics affect student decision-making.Robert Nowak, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, who offers a campus-level perspective on how politically divided states impact recruitment and student perceptions.We discuss surprising findings from the research, strategies for communicating institutional values without getting caught in political crossfire, and how admissions professionals can help students focus on belonging and fit rather than just red vs. blue.

Ready or not, we're back for another season!Coming to your podcast feed every Tuesday between now and May 1, you can expect Nathan and Teege to deliver their signature banter on current topics in admissions. Each week, they'll be joined by two guests: one influencer and one practitioner, each discussing the same topic.We strive to be the most productive lunch meeting you'll take all week!

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we are sharing a conversation from December, 2024, with Emily Smith, VP of Partner Success at CollegeVine. We discussed all things related to AI in admissions, ugly sweaters, and a few other tangents before we moved to the exclusive interactive conversation.

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we were joined by Jennifer Lonchar, Co-Founder of AmbioEDU and a well-known veteran of the recruitment space to discuss the challenges experienced admissions professionals are having in today's job market.

Every season, we take a few interviews way too long to fit into a regular episode of the Lunchcast. Sometimes, the content is just too good to leave on the cutting room floor. When that happens, we bring these extended interviews as a J Term or Summer Session. That's what happened during our conversation with Paul McGinnis, Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment at Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Enjoy this extended interview, from season seven's episode, "Admissions as a Business."

Every season, we take a few interviews way too long to fit into a regular episode of the Lunchcast. Sometimes, the content is just too good to leave on the cutting room floor. When that happens, we bring these extended interviews as a J Term or Summer Session. That's what happened during our conversation with Thom Golden, Founder and CEO of Golden Educational Consulting in Hendersenville, Tennessee, discussing the program he has put together to help folks come over to the independent side. Enjoy this extended interview, from season seven's episode, "Going Independent."

We meant to publish this extended interview last July, but we just kept putting it off. Okay, enough procrastination jokes. Each season, we find a few conversations go way too long to fit into a regular episode of the Lunchcast, and we bring them here, to the J Term or Summer Session episodes. Given the format of the last season, we didn't have any - fortunately, this interview with Laurie Kopp Weingarten, President of One-Stop College Counseling in Marlboro, New Jersey was in the vault. During season seven, the Counselor's Choice season, she brought forward the topic and challenge of student procrastination. Enjoy this interview, currently aged about a year, about an enduring challenge for all of us.

Every season, we have a few interviews that run long - and we release the extended cuts later. Given the format change for the last season, we didn't have that - which means it's quite fortunate that we had this great conversation from season seven. Originally published in March, 2024, during our Counselor's Choice season, we had this great conversation with Kerri Caruso, College Scholarship Coordinator at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana to bring you. We intentionally held this extended cut back until January, because although the interview is almost a year old, this is the perfect time for the reminder to have onboarding development plans that can launch at any point in time.

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we were joined by Seinquis Leinen, Senior Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at North Dakota State University discussing staff morale.

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we were joined by Meghan Cooley, Writer, Speaker, and Consultant, from Meghan Cooley Consulting, to discuss the current trends and best practices with parent communications.

The Admissions Directors Lunchcast recently launched an exclusive video podcast series - Lunchcast Live. Twice a month, Teege and Nathan will welcome a guest to discuss a hot topic on their mind. The interview will often be shared here, but the full conversation with the audience is available only to members of the Lunchcast community. If you would like to be added to the invitation list, email adlunchcast@gmail.com. For this Lunchcast Live, we were joined by Seth Harris, Senior Principal, Financial Aid Optimization at EAB to update us all on FAFSA 2025.

Okay, let's get into it. What's happening on TikTok as it relates to the college search process, and what should colleges do to manage it? Jenna Shulman, founder and owner of Get Me Into College helps us see how students are leveraging TikTok as a tool in the college search process. Natasha Caudill, Digital Communications Specialist at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois steps in as the practitioner with tangible examples of how she manages the Knox College TikTok account.

You've heard them - now let's talk about them. In this episode, we want to address what some of the most common student misconceptions are, and focus on what we should do about them. Butch Hamilton, Director of College Advising at Saint Mary's Raiken High School in Lennertown, Maryland and a Certified Educational Planner and Educational Consultant at Golden Educational Consulting begins the conversation as our influencer guest. John Pyle, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Enrollment, and Growth at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, Minnesota carries the conversation forward with some specific examples he runs into as our practitioner guest.

Is this a podcast about ocean life, or college admissions? It might take you a few minutes into the episode to be sure. But, to end the suspense, this episode is about learning loss, and the impact to colleges hovering just below the surface of the demographic cliff. Ed Venit, Managing Director of Strategic Research at EAB shares with us the results of research and futuring work they've done to understand what's to come. Kate Massey, Academic and College Counselor at Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana then comes in as our influencer guest, helping us put the math shark fears into context of what she's seeing on the ground.

If you follow higher ed news, you'd think small colleges everywhere are falling faster than when a quarter push machine is shaken. Of course, for every story told about a small college that is struggling or worse - there are stories that aren't told. So how (and why) are some small colleges thriving in this environment? To answer that, we have two outstanding guests. Scott Novak, The Small College Guy from SmallCollegeMovement.com starts the conversation as an influencer, identifying what's going right at small colleges. Rachael Stock, Dean of Admissions & Recruiting at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois joins us as a practitioner, helping to dissect what it means when a college is intentionally small.

We've talked about all the different directions enrollment leaders go when they move on: the dark side - the high school side - the independent counseling side - this week we explore a whole new angle: K-12 Admissions. Kevin Napp, Director of Admissions at Gaston Day School in Gastonia, North Carolina, gets us started sharing his journey of just such a transition. Jade Dominique an Independent Education Consultant at JADE College Counseling helps us understand her story, making a similar transition.

For the second year in a row, The Admissions Directors Lunchcast has sponsored a survey on the state of morale in college admissions. You can view the full report here. Additionally, this research will be discussed at the first Lunchcast Live event in October and the Lunchcast Lectures event in Milwaukee in June, 2025. The first order of business, however, is bringing in a rockstar guest with a certain cross-over appeal. Ken Anselment, Vice President of Enrollment at RHB, Host of The Admissions Leadership Podcast, and Author of the forthcoming book: Climbing the Admissions Leadership Peak: Lessons from the ALP. Perhaps more significant than all that: Ken has always been a leader in staying attuned to the morale of his team and making adjustments when necessary. For this special episode, Ken shares his reactions to and insights from the 2024 Morale in Admissions Report.

We're as surprised as you are. The Admissions Directors Lunchcast has officially crossed over 15,000 unique listens since we launched a few years ago. For that reason, we're thrilled to announce a new initiative: Lunchcast Live. This talk show style series will be available only to members of the Lunchcast community for an intriguing conversation twice-monthly. If you're interested in an invitation, email adlunchcast@gmail.com ... or contact either Nathan or Teege some other way.

It is easily the hottest topic of the year in college admissions - the appropriate and reasonable use of artificial intelligence in the world of college admissions. How and where can this new technology by used to help, create efficiencies, and improve the process? Emily Smith, Vice President of Partner Success at CollegeVine kicks the conversation off with a top-of-the-funnel discussion, including a delightful conversation with Sara, the AI Recruiter. Elizabeth Kirby, Director of Partnerships at PeopleGrove comes in to share her experience applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to the middle of the funnel.

Do virtual tours still work after the pandemic? It's a resounding yes from us, and our guest, Andrew Klotz, Co-Founder and CEO of Circuit Virtual Tours, based in Toronto, Ontario.

Let's take a different look at international students - specifically, Americans going to study in Europe. This week focuses on the reasons some families are looking to study overseas, and how European colleges are trying to crack open the North American market. There are lessons in here for all of us. Sara Bitner, Co-Founder and Head Education Advisor at Launch Education Advisors, gets us started with the perspective of an influencer. Iain Harris, International Recruitment Manager of the Americas at Northumbria, in the United Kingdom continues the conversation, with the mindset of an admissions professional.

Ever the hot topic, we're tackling the best practices for communicating with parents through the college admissions process. After scouting them at the Illinois ACAC conference last spring, Nathan asked them to bring the insights from their presentation to our listeners. Christopher Chiakulas, Post-Secondary Counselor at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, gets us started with the perspective of an influencer. Erin Soroosh, Senior Regional Enrollment Manager at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio continues the conversation, with the mindset of an admissions professional.

At long last, The Admissions Directors Lunchcast comes back for an eighth season. We've got an intriguing slate of topics coming your way, every Tuesday from now until the end of October. If you just can't wait to see who's coming each week, this quick teaser episode will give you the inside scoop early.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation. Originally published as one of two interviews for our episode on "Supporting Black Students and Families", we now bring you the extended conversation with Dr. Paris Wicker, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Enjoy this extended conversation, where we dig much deeper with Dr. Wicker about the implications of her research for admissions directors.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation. Originally published as part of our episode, "Getting The Most Out Of Visits in March, our conversation with Kate Hooper, Senior Associate Director of Admissions for Prospective Student Visit Experiences at Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, Michigan, discusses how she makes the visit program work so well at her institution. Enjoy this extended conversation with Kate Hooper about how colleges can get the most out of a campus visit.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation. Originally published as one of two interviews for our episode on "Supporting Black Students and Families", we now bring you the extended conversation with Katie Mathews, Professional School Counselor at Northside College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation. Originally published as part of our episode, "Getting The Most Out Of Visits in March, our conversation with Jenna Shulman, Independent Educational Consultant with Jenna Shulman College Consulting, in Florham Park, New Jersey, was too long to fit into one episode. However, the conversation was too good to keep to ourselves. Enjoy this extended conversation with Jenna Shulman about how colleges can get the most out of a campus visit.

Wrapping up the Counselor's Choice season, we bring you the hot topic: is college admissions a business? Of course, the answer probably isn't plainly "yes" or "no" - but where on the spectrum between those two answers do we land? Where should we land? To guide us through this, we have Jennifer Jessie, also known as Jenn The Tutor, from Northern Virginia, thinking through the implications of this question as it relates to students and families. Then, Paul McGinnis, Vice President of Enrollment at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, helps us understand how the world of business does and does not, inform the business function of college admissions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

You've thought about it. Those of us who've been through a few Aprils in this job have considered it at least once - making the leap to independent educational consulting. This week, we're discussing just that - why are admissions leaders considering moving over, what's changed in the last few years, and what's the difference between those who decide to do it and those who don't. We are thrilled to bring you two great guests to speak on this topic. Kristina Dooley, Founder and President at Estrela Consulting in Hudson, Ohio, and the Immediate Past President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association starts the conversation with her story, and what she's seen from people considering the move. Dr. Thom Golden, Founder and CEO of Golden Educational Consulting in Hendersenville, Tennesse, describes the program he's built to help professionals make the move. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

Like a time capsule to our future selves, from time to time, we check in on the enduring hot topics in our profession. This week, at the suggestion of our influencer guest, we're discussing the state of test-optional admissions in 2024. Moira McKinnon, Director of College Counseling at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, helps us understand how students today are interpreting the myriad of test-optional admissions policies they have to navigate. Jim Gibbons, Director of Admissions at Wagner College, in Staten Island, New York, brings the college perspective to help current admissions directors navigate and clarify their policies for students. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

We are fortunate to offer this special episode of the Partner Series, sponsored by CampusESP. We are joined by Leslie Gale, Vice President of Customer Success at CampusESP, sharing results from ongoing research projects that will help all of us better serve black students and families. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

We all do this work to best serve students - and this week we're holding a focused conversation on how we can best support Black students and families through the college admissions process. The conversation starts with Katie Mathews, Professional School Counselor at Northside College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois. Katie suggested this topic, and leads the conversation with insights and observations from working with students through the process. Then, we have an absolute powerhouse in Dr. Paris Wiscker, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Paris recently published new research on well-being among students of color in the college admissions process. The article is available for download here: "Well-being Consciousness and College Access Borderlands" by Paris D. Wicker (wmich.edu). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

Campus visits are important components of every college's recruitment and yield program. Having an opportunity to help students learn about campus life is critical. But what's the other side of that equation? What should colleges be learning about students during a campus visit to assist in finding a match? This topic was recommended by our influencer guest, Jenna Shulman, Independent Educational Consultant with Jenna Shulman College Consulting in Florham Park, New Jersey. Bringing the practitioner perspective is an expert in the campus visit experience, Kate Hooper, Senior Associate Director of Admissions for Prospective Student Visit Experiences at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

It's another week of Counselor's Choice Topics! This week, we're discussing college application essays - but in a different twist. Instead of thinking about this from the student perspective, we're thinking about it from the other side of the desk. What is the fair and appropriate use of the application essay in an admissions process? Should we ever use the content to determine there's not a good fit? How has the current state of college admissions impacted this component of the applciation package? Kim Lifton, President and Co-Founder of Wow Writing Workshop in Detroit, Michigan opens the discussion with her perspectives on how these essays are being written and should be reviewed. Jacob Browne, Dean of Admission at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida to talk about how college admissions counselors and Deans should review the essays. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

We intended to talk about this a few seasons ago, but kept putting it off. Just kidding. This season, the theme is Counselor's Choice - each week, we bring on an influencer who has identified a topic that needs to be discussed with Admissions Directors in 2024. This week, it's the challenge of procrastination among students. We begin with Laurie Kopp Weingarten, President of One-Stop College Counseling in Marlboro, New Jersey, who shares her observations and insights from working with students. Then, Falone Serna, Dean of Undergraduate Admission & Outreach at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, tackles the problem from the college perspective. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

It's a fact of life in our profession: we can no longer plan for a thorough, comprehensive training program in August to onboard new counselors. Today's admissions counselors are starting year-round, they're leaving year-round, and there's no reason to believe things are changing any time soon. With this new staffing model, what is the best approach for training, development, and retention of staff? How does it impact the school counselor/college admissions relationship? What do we need to change moving forward? This week's School Counselor's Choice topic was selected by Kerri Carusso, College Scholarship Coordinator at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, who shares what she's been seeing on the ground to compel this conversation. We are then joined by our practitioner guest, Brian Hodges, Senior Associate Director of Recruitment and Outreach at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

We are fired up for the next season of The Admissions Directors Lunchcast! This time, we took a different approach to developing the content: we asked influencers (school counselors, independent educational consultants, and community-based organization professionals) to tell us what topics they think admissions directors should be thinking about this year. This season, we have sixteen outstanding guests taking on eight pressing topics in our profession. Beginning March 12, you can expect another episode every week, all the way up to May 1! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

While we were all taken aback by the news of the FAFSA delay, we do not need to just wait for the ISIRs to finally arrive. We tracked Nathan down in the South of France to record our initial reactions, with tangible, immediate tips and strategies that Admissions Directors can deploy today to minimize the negative impact, or even find benefit from this delay. As a rare treat, the video version of this podcast is available at crowdcast.io/c/fafsadelay --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

It was a great week for us when we were able to release an interview with one of the leading voices in the intersection between admissions and financial aid: Ellen Johnson, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Enjoy this extended conversation, where we were able to dive in even deeper with Ellen about how counselors can better serve students, and what holds them back. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

Everyone loves a good set of travel tips. This week, you can listen in on the extended conversation we had with Melissa Lustic, Director of College Counseling at The Meadows School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, like always, we did get around to "life before GPS." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

Financial aid is always a hot topic - especially the year we are recording in August for an episode in October about financial aid when the FAFSA is scheduled to be released in December with an extended interview dropping in January. This extended cut comes from everything we discussed after the interview with Sara English, Post-Secondary Counselor at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

What do you get when you get three former CTCL admissions counselors together discussing a magical candy committee? An extended J Term episode, that's what. We are thrilled to bring you the extended cut of our interview from last summer with Sawyer Earwood, Independent Educational Consultant and owner of Virtual College Consulting in Every Town, USA. More important topics than the candy committee: the value of phone calls, the impact of a counselor, and the power of relational recruiting. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message