The College Admissions Process Podcast

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Welcome to "The College Admissions Process Podcast." I am your host, John Durante, and I am here to introduce you to college admissions representatives, and other professionals in the field of college admissions. Our purpose is to serve you the students

John Durante


    • Mar 2, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 40m AVG DURATION
    • 363 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The College Admissions Process Podcast is a highly informative and useful resource for both parents and students navigating the daunting world of college admissions. Hosted by a wide range of undergraduate schools, this podcast provides valuable insight into the application process from diverse perspectives. Each episode offers practical advice and tips that can greatly benefit anyone going through the college admissions journey.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the broad range of undergraduate schools that are featured as hosts. This diversity allows for a variety of perspectives to be shared, giving listeners a well-rounded understanding of the college admissions process. Whether it's an Ivy League institution or a state university, each episode provides unique insights into what these schools are looking for in applicants and how to stand out among the competition. This breadth of knowledge is invaluable in helping listeners make informed decisions about their own college applications.

    Additionally, The College Admissions Process Podcast excels at providing helpful advice and guidance. The hosts offer practical tips on topics such as choosing the right school, writing compelling essays, preparing for interviews, and more. They draw from their own experiences in admissions offices and share stories and anecdotes that illuminate important aspects of the application process. The information provided is clear, concise, and actionable, making it much easier for parents and students to navigate this complex process.

    While this podcast has numerous strengths, one potential drawback is that it may not address every individual's specific situation or circumstances. The college admissions process can vary widely depending on factors such as academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, financial constraints, etc. Therefore, some listeners may find that certain episodes do not directly apply to their situation. However, despite this limitation, there is still plenty of general information provided throughout the podcast that can be beneficial to most individuals going through the college admissions process.

    In conclusion, The College Admissions Process Podcast is an excellent resource for anyone seeking guidance during the college application journey. With its diverse range of hosts and insightful episodes, this podcast offers valuable insight and practical advice. While it may not cover every individual circumstance, the information provided is still highly applicable to most listeners. Navigating the college admissions process can be confusing, but with the help of this podcast, parents and students can gain a better understanding and increase their chances of success.



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    Latest episodes from The College Admissions Process Podcast

    362. Inside Georgia Tech Admissions: A Conversation with Rick Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 49:21


    Navigating the Modern College Admissions Landscape with Rick ClarkIn this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, I welcome back Rick Clark, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Georgia Institute of Technology and co-author of The Truth About College Admissions. With decades of experience leading enrollment at one of the nation's premier STEM institutions, Rick offers thoughtful insight into the seismic shifts reshaping college admissions — and what families must understand to navigate this process wisely.We begin with the evolution of STEM and the changing landscape of Computer Science. Rick explains how artificial intelligence and prompting fluency are influencing disciplines far beyond a single major. Computing is no longer confined to one department; it is becoming embedded across the curriculum. For students, the message is clear: depth matters, but adaptability matters just as much.One of the most powerful moments in our conversation is Rick's “soup” analogy for admissions. Shaping a class is not about evaluating students in isolation. Institutions must balance residency goals, academic program needs, institutional priorities, and long-term enrollment strategy. Sometimes an admissions decision reflects the composition of the class more than the qualifications of the individual applicant. Understanding this distinction can bring clarity — and perspective — to families navigating outcomes.We also discuss the importance of storytelling within the application. The Common Application is not simply a form; it is a narrative. Letters of recommendation should function as a meaningful “forward,” adding new insight rather than repeating what is already visible. The Additional Information section should be used with intention, reserved for context that genuinely matters.Rick also addresses the ethical use of AI tools, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, as strategic resources for clarity and precision — particularly when refining activity descriptions within tight character limits. Used wisely, these tools can support organization and concision while preserving authenticity.We also highlight practical tools such as the Common Data Set and Net Price Calculators — resources every family should use early to ensure both academic and financial fit.This conversation is grounded, transparent, and empowering. If you are looking for clarity in a complex admissions landscape — and a way to move through it as a unified family — this episode delivers exactly that.Georgia Tech - Undergraduate AdmissionGeorgia Tech - Enrollment Management NewsLink to Rick's Book

    359. Financial Aid - Anne Rusk - Associate Director of Financial Aid - Colorado School of Mines

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 43:08


    358. Colorado School of Mines - Dr. Jen Gagne - Executive Director of Admissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 37:59


    357. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) - Meghan Werth - Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 31:34


    356. College Admissions Insights from NACAC CEO Dr. Angel Perez

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 26:24


    350. The University of the South - Sewanee - Sarah Butler - Assistant Dean of Admission, Office of Admission & Financial Aid

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 35:02


    349. College of Charleston - Ashley Holdridge - Regional Assistant Director of Admissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 16:29


    347. QuestBridge National College Match - Taylor Erickson - QuestBridge Scholar & Admissions Counselor at the University of Notre Dame

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 19:34


    QuestBridge Home PageQuestBridge National College MatchQuestBridge Resource LibraryFeel free to reach out to Taylor with any questions at: taylor.admissions@nd.eduNotre Dame Admissions Home Page

    342. Wayne State University — Dr. Charles Cotton, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2025 31:35


    337. College Student Mini-Series - Josh, UC Irvine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 23:02


    335. College Student Mini-Series - Emma, University of Pittsburgh

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 10:37


    334. Deep Springs College - Current Students Tosca & Walker

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 34:32


    333. College Student Mini-Series - Neal, Indiana University Kelley School to Babson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 11:28


    332. Wellesley College - Rebecca Simons - Director of Admission

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 41:16


    331. College Student Mini-Series - Tyler, Community College to UCLA

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 18:40


    330. Jeff Selingo - Author, Journalist & Higher Ed. Thought Leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 27:07


    329. College Student Mini-Series - Jake, Binghamton to UNC Chapel Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 24:58


    325. College Student Mini-Series - Ava, University of Georgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 30:50


    324. MIT - Playback Wednesdays

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 51:22


    Alphabetical List of All Episodes with Links

    321. Boston College - Playback Wednesdays

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 35:11


    Alphabetical List of All Episodes with Links

    320. University of Maine - Follow-Up Conversation - Chris Richards - Director of Admissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 55:50


    318. Cornell University - Playback Wednesdays

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 48:14


    Alphabetical List of All Episodes with LinksCornell University - Office of Undergraduate Admissions------------------------------

    315. UT Austin - Playback Wednesdays

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 49:29


    314. Big 10 Panel Discussion Live from NYSACAC - Exploring the Big Ten Academic Alliance

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 55:12


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