Podcasts about college admissions

In this episode you will hear:   Susan Tree joins Mark to interview Bob Massa; Bob has 50 years' experience in admissions and enrollment management, and he shares his insights with us  5 Students ask two partners questions about being an attorney-Part 5 of 5 We end this episode with Jon Wishnia's wife, Sophie Wests new solo that was just released on Spotify, “Note To Self”   Here is a link for our new YCBK listener survey so you can take the survey:     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please follow our podcast. It really helps us move up in Spotify and Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at . All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

In this episode you will hear:   (02:00) In the News   Vince joins Mark to discuss a NYT Article entitled, “Columbia and Brown Share Race and Admissions Data in Trump Deal”   Mark continues to share insights from an article that the Chronicle of Higher Education Ran Entitled, “The Money Problem No College Can Escape”   (38:18) Peg Keogh Interview-Missed Opportunities for the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE Part 5 of 5   §  More conversation about the CSS PROFILE     (58:26) College Spotlight Interview Part 3 of 4-Preview Dr. Ramon Blakley is the Asst Vice Provost of Enrollment at UT-Austin and Ramon and Mark have a robust discussion about Apply Texas, about whether Texas is considering Early Decision and about how Senate Bill 175 which is the bill that created UT's auto admission plan, how does it actually work, and how can out of state students stand out in a competitive applicant pool, and we talk about the type of student that excels at UT-   Recommended Resource-Guide to help first year students complete the Common Application-     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

There are some tough, tough colleges to get into these days. Why is that the case? And how can your student crack the code? Dr. Andrew Hoffman is a College Admissions Strategist who's worked in college admissions since college, including being the Director of Admissions for Swarthmore College and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University. He leads his consulting firm with parents in mind - getting you ready for college admissions. Hear what students should know when approaching the college application process, how students can excel at college fairs, how the college admissions process works from the school's side of things, how important college essays are, and what makes a student stand out with their application. Connect with Andrew at AskDrHoffman.com and use code: COLLEGEBOUNDMENTOR for 50% off the Parent's Ultimate College Admissions Course, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com

Seniors, it's crunch time! Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselors Kayon (formerly at MIT and University of Rochester) and Scott (formerly at Yale) as they break down everything 12th graders need to do for college admissions. From perfecting applications to navigating deadlines, get expert advice to maximize your senior year success.

It's been said that when we set an intention, somehow the world seems to magically come to meet us. Does that apply in college admissions? You'll never find out if you don't try. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Ann Cadwallader to outline the impact of intentionality on the road to college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does intentionality mean in the context of the high school experience? How does course selection tell a story? What really matters when choosing extracurricular activities? What does the choice to work or volunteer during high school signify? What are other facets of intentionality on the road to college? MEET OUR GUEST Ann Cadwallader, founder of My University Coach, has worked in education for 35 years and has guided students through the college admissions process as an Independent Educational Consultant for nearly two decades. She holds a BS from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and in 2020 earned the Certified Educational Planner designation — an achievement that reflects her deep expertise in college advising.  Ann has personally visited 193 college campuses across the country, giving her firsthand insight into a wide range of schools and student experiences. Known for her calm, strategic approach, she is dedicated to reducing stress for both students and parents and helping families make smart, intentional choices—so students can tell their story with confidence and clarity.  Ann can be reached at ann@myuniversitycoach.com. LINKS Making Intentional Decisions: Questions to Ask Yourself. RELATED EPISODES FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE  THE COLLEGE PLEASING EPIDEMIC HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode you will hear:   Susan Tree joins Mark to interview Bob Massa; Bob has 50 years' experience in admissions and enrollment management, and he shares his insights with us 5 Students ask two partners questions about being an attorney-Part 4 of 5   Here is a link for our new YCBK listener survey so you can take the survey:   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please follow our podcast. It really helps us move up in Spotify and Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at . All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

In this episode you will hear:   (01:55) In the News   Mark continues to share insights from an article that the Chronicle of Higher Education Ran Entitled, “The Money Problem No College Can Escape”   (14:22) Question from a listener Lisa and Lynda answer a question from an applicant who wants to know what a stealth applicant is?   (22:23) Peg Keogh Interview-Missed Opportunities for the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE Part 4 of 5   §  More conversation about the CSS PROFILE   (45:34) College Spotlight Interview Dr. Ramon Blakley is the Asst Vice Provost of Enrollment at UT-Austin and he will be helping us understand UT over the next four weeks Part 2 of 4-Preview   ²  More talk about internally transferring at UT ²  UT's expanded resume ²  Why UT releases its decisions in waves   Recommended Resource-Guide to help first year students complete the Common Application-     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

Hi friends, and welcome back to the podcast. This one's going to be short—and honestly, it's an episode I didn't think I was going to record. Why? Well, if you've been following along with Cassidy's journey over the past year, you know we've covered a lot: from brainstorming her personal statement, to revising her supplements, to weighing her college acceptances. And when we wrapped Part 5, I figured we could leave it there. I thought it might be enough to know she had some great options. Silly me. You wrote in. You wanted to know: Where did she end up? So here we are: the final chapter (well, really the beginning) of Cassidy's college journey. In this quick update, Cassidy shares where she's heading this fall, why she chose it, and how she's getting ready for this next step. Huge thanks to Cassidy for letting us in on the process.  I hope you enjoy.   Play-by-Play 1:45 – How has Cassidy been spending the summer and preparing for college?  2:36 – Cassidy shares which school she will be attending this Fall 4:03 – What factors influenced Cassidy's final decision? 7:37 – What advice would Cassidy share with students and families going through this process? 8:43 – Closing thoughts    Resources: How to choose which college to attend: Key factors to consider College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

Few writing assignments loom as large or feel as significant as the application essay does to a college-bound teen. But what if the keys to a statement that makes a difference were both simple to understand and easy to implement? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Susan Knoppow to reveal valuable college essay secrets. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the real essay prompt every applicant needs to respond to? How are college essays used in the admissions process? Do they really matter? What are the biggest mistakes students make when writing college essays? How many editors are too many? How much guidance should counselors provide students on what to write? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Knoppow is CEO of Wow Writing Workshop, a college essay coaching company that teaches students and professionals a streamlined, ethical essay coaching process. The ten-step Wow Method has been used by thousands of students to get into their top choice colleges, and is the go-to system for independent educational consultants, school counselors, and other admissions professionals. A former corporate trainer and executive speechwriter, Susan can turn any task into a series of simple steps. She is a published poet and essayist with a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. When she's not running Wow, Susan likes to garden, cook, and go on adventures with her husband and their dog, Luna.  Susan can be reached at wowwritingworkshop.com or  susan@wowwritingworkshop.com. LINKS 10 Step Wow Method RELATED EPISODES MAKING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS COUNT COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HOW MUCH AI IS JUST RIGHT IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY? TABOO ESSAY TOPICS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.

In this episode, Lisa and Jaime discuss:Understanding the role of impacted majors and prerequisitesThe critical importance of aligning majors with career goals earlyNavigating the complexities of college transfersFinancial planning and its impact on educational choicesKey Takeaways: Over one-third of undergraduates transfer colleges, and without early planning around majors, prerequisites, and credit alignment, they risk losing time, money, and progress.Students in impacted majors like Computer Science, Business, Nursing, and Engineering must complete strict, school-specific prerequisites, so they should map overlapping requirements across multiple target schools.While some parents fear transferring will hurt their job or graduate school prospects, employers usually see only the final degree, and graduate programs value applicants who can explain a well-reasoned shift.Before committing to a college—whether first-time or transfer—use FAFSA estimators to gauge real costs, research transfer scholarships, and compare prerequisite overlaps to avoid financial strain and lost credits.“Most employers aren't looking for whole transcripts to see your collection of credits. They're just looking for the final outcome.” – Jaime SmithAbout Jaime Smith: Jaime Smith is a Certified Educational Planner specializing in college transfer, online learning, homeschooling, and supporting neurodiverse learners. A longtime transfer student advocate, she earned a Post-Master's Certificate in Transfer Leadership and Practice from the University of North Georgia with the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students in 2023. She holds a BA in Linguistics from UC Berkeley, an MA in TESOL, an MSEd in eLearning, and a certificate in College Counseling.Founder and CEO of Online G3—an independent online program for gifted and twice-exceptional K–12 students—Jaime continues to teach English. A California native now in Oregon, she lives with her husband and pet bunny. Her daughter, a former homeschooler turned transfer student, is now in grad school.Episode References:#140 Avoiding the Pitfalls of College Transfers with Jaime SmithThe Truth about College Admission by Brennan Barnard and Rick ClarkEnter to win a free copy of The Complete Guide to College Transfer at flourishcoachingco.com/transfer through August 31.Order The Complete Guide to College Transfer on Amazon starting August 26 to get the full roadmap for navigating college transfersExplore school-by-school data on competitive and impacted majors at flourishcoachingco.com/majors to make smarter application choices.Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corneConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode you will hear:   Susan Tree joins Mark to interview Bob Massa; Bob has 50 years' experience in admissions and enrollment management, and he shares his insights with us Mark makes some comments about the new LinkedIn College rankings 5 Students ask two partners questions about being an attorney-Part 3 of 5 Here is a link for our new YCBK listener survey so you can take the survey:   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please follow our podcast. It really helps us move up in Spotify and Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at . All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

Dickinson College professor Elizabeth Lee joins us to discuss how the aligning your choices around your core values helps you prepare for college and for long-term success. We discuss why her daughter, a high school freshman, signed up for the Ivy League Challenge, and how Professor Lee's experience teaching in college for over two decades made her clear that she wanted this. After we stopped the recording, Professor Lee said "I wish every student I teach could go through your program before they get to my classroom." Listen in to find out why.-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our websiteTo follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents

I recently spoke with Dr. Kellie Coppi of Say Yes to the Ess-ay. With nearly two decades of experience in college application coaching, Dr. Coppi provides expert guidance tailored to each student's unique needs. Dr. Coppi's background in higher education ensures that she understands the nuances of crafting compelling admissions essays. In our conversation, Dr. Coppi and I discussed: Why high-stats students get rejected from colleges Where Class of 2026 students need to be RIGHT NOW in their college admissions process Why “good writers” often struggle with college admissions essays The importance of a college's culture when deciding where to apply The importance of admissions essays for students with modest academic records To connect with Dr. Coppi, go to https://sayyestotheessaywithdrcoppi.com or connect with her on Facebook. ---------- Scholarship GPS is on Facebook! Join the group that matches your student's year in school: Class of 2025 Class of 2026 Class of 2027 Class of 2028 Class of 2029 ---------- To find out more about how Lisa and Flourish Coaching work with students like yours to help them gain clarity on their future college major and career, click here: https://courses.flourishcoachingco.com/a/2148004629/PLHdxFCx ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: Gates Scholarship QuestBridge Full-Ride Scholarship Be a Friend Project Scholarship Make Me Laugh Scholarship $1000 Appily Easy Money No-Essay Scholarship $35,000 VFW Voice of Democracy Contest ---------- Get one-on-one support for your scholarship applications with the Navigator Program! The Scholarship Navigator Program includes: Review, feedback, and editing of your scholarships essay. Access to the Scholarship GPS video course, which includes a lesson on the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship. A custom list of scholarships for your student to apply for, based on their unique profile. Online support for your scholarship questions. Click here to learn more and sign up today: Class of 2026 Scholarship Navigator Class of 2027 Scholarship Navigator ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/

In this episode of College Coffee Talk, Andy Lockwood shares a raw, unfiltered account of a real conversation with a Class of 2026 student. Everything was going smoothly—until a single comment changed the tone of the meeting. What happened next says a lot about how students approach the admissions process. Topics include: ✔ The moment students lose admissions officers ✔ What “polish” sounds like vs. what's authentic ✔ Mistakes families don't realize they're making ✔ How advisors handle students who push back ✔ Why even strong students can self-sabotage

In this episode you will hear:   (04:08) In the News   Vince and Mark discuss a August 6th article that ran in the Stanford Daily, Stanford's newspaper about how Stanford will continue supporting legacy admissions, despite the California law that passed to outlaw it.   (33:00) Peg Keogh Interview-Missed Opportunities for the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE Part 3 of 5 o     Peg talks about the changes from the old FAFSA to the new FAFSA o     We transition to talk about some CSS PROFILE specific missed opportunities o     Peg talks about questions that you do not have to answer on the Profile o     Peg talks about the special circumstances' situation o     Peg shares her three commandments when filling out these forms o     I share a few stories from my life experience that relate to the point Peg is making o     Peg explains how much flexibility colleges have when interpreting and applying the data from the Profile compared to the FAFSA o     Peg talks about why there are more Pell grant recipients now o     Peg talks about some Profile specific mistakes students make; we start with a conversation on home equity o     Peg talks about not oversharing when you complete the Profile o     Peg gives an example of a question that you don't need to answer o     Peg talks about the flexibility and subjectivity colleges look at when they interpret a Profile o     Peg talks about how she advises colleges students to handle the special circumstances section o     Peg talks about the projected income question and she shares how she advises families to handle this question       (01:04:35) College Spotlight Interview Dr. Ramon Blakley is the Asst Vice Provost of Enrollment at UT-Austin and he will be helping us understand UT over the next four weeks Part 1-Preview v  In this segment we talk about which colleges UT competes with for students v  We talk about how UT admits by major v  We talk about the process of how trying to do an internal transfer from one major to another works at UT   (02:50) Recommended Resource   Guide to help first year students complete the Common Application-     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

Starting in September 2025, the ACT will be administered nationally both on paper and on digital devices. Should you take the ACT on a computer? If so, what do you need to know in advance? Amy and Mike invited educator Adam Snoza to review Strategies For The Computer-Based ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What should test takers know about the digital interfaces? What are the differences in platforms between the in-school and national digital ACT? Even with the majority of test prep providers recommending the paper test, what are unique benefits to the digital test? What strategies can test takers employ to make digital testing easier? Can a student prepare a digital test if they are using paper tests in school or at home? MEET OUR GUEST Adam Snoza graduated from Creighton University and was a high school English teacher for 9 years in both public and private schools. He has spent 16 years in ACT test prep with Aim High Test Prep in Omaha, NE, where he is the president, lead instructor, and curriculum developer, authoring his own 350-page instructional manual. Adam is also an ACT Instructional Mastery trainer (AIM) in all 6 certification areas: Basics, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. Now, he is a trainer of the AIM program and works with teachers and tutors across the country on how to effectively teach the ACT test. In addition, Adam co-authored the 2021 update to The Official ACT Mathematics Guide. Though every student he helps gain a life-changing scholarship or entry into an elite college gives him great satisfaction, his greatest pride comes from working with multiple local charities to bring test prep to underserved populations in an effort to bridge the education gap. Adam previously appeared on this podcast in episode 159 to discuss ACT Math Reporting Categories and episode 249 for a Test Prep Profile and in episode 298 to discuss Why Remote Tutoring Is Here To Stay. Find Adam at aimhightestprep.com. LINKS Sample Questions - ACT Online Testing | The ACT Test ACT Test Enhancements The Upcoming Changes to the Enhanced ACT RELATED EPISODES RELATED EPISODES A TEST TAKER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT SUCCESS IN COMPUTER-BASED TESTING COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode you will hear:   5 Students ask two partners questions about being an attorney A blurb about our new YCBK listener survey Here is a link so you can take the survey: Susan Tree joins Mark to interview Bob Massa, Bob has 50 years' experience in admissions and enrollment management and he shares his insights with us     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please follow our podcast. It really helps us move up in Spotify and Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at . All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

Send us a textIn this episode of College Knowledge, Dave and Joe sit down with Jeff Selingo, a leading voice in higher education and author of the new book Dream School. Drawing from his decades of experience—from his early days as an intern at U.S. News & World Report in 1994 to his tenure at The Chronicle of Higher Education—Jeff unpacks the complexities of today's college admissions process.The conversation explores the emotional pull parents feel toward certain schools, the financial realities of making the right choice, and the vital role mentorship plays in student success. Jeff also sheds light on the concept of “merit aid” and offers practical strategies for navigating the financial side of applications.This episode is packed with actionable advice for students and families preparing for the admissions journey, from understanding what truly defines a “dream school” to prioritizing fit over prestige. Video Version of Podcast YouTube:The College Knowledge PodcastFollow us on social media:InstagramFacebookLinkedInVisit us online:The College Knowledge Podcast WebsiteElite Collegiate Planning

FREE RESOURCE: Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE. RISING SENIORS: This is your last shot to get everything in place for college apps. Our Application Counseling Program helps you stay on track, craft a standout application, and improve your chances of getting into a Top 10 school, by up to 7x: https://hubs.la/Q03BtBZ50 From ultra-competitive majors like Computer Science to the explosion of AI-generated essays, the game is changing fast, and top colleges are responding. Should you rethink your major? How are elite schools adapting to the rise of AI? And most importantly: how can you stand out in the most competitive applicant pool yet? We're breaking it all down with real data, insider insights, and a proven strategy that has helped thousands of students get into top schools. Watch until the end. This could change the way you approach your college apps. --- Register for our upcoming webinars. We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog.  Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com. To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

In this episode you will hear:   (01:47) In the News  Hillary and Mark discuss how being likeable impacts whether a student is admitted or not when their admission file is read  Link to the YCBK listener survey:   (16:17) Peg Keogh Interview-Missed Opportunities for the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE Part 2 of 5 o     Mark and Peg continue to discuss about six more missed opportunities that are common on both FAFSA and the PROFILE, missing out here can cost you thousands or even tens of thousands a year o     Peg lets us know how common it is for the family to erroneously list a grandparent on the Profile or FAFSA o     Peg explains the difference between FAFSA and the PROFILE o     Peg discusses properly representing your secondary properties o     Peg discusses representing the value of your business o     Peg gives her advice about when to submit these forms o     Peg discusses what she means by “a first come first come school” o     Peg discusses the confusion over school year o     Peg discusses the confusion over the student and the parent in terms of whose FAFSA or Profile is it o     Peg discusses demographic details o     Peg discusses FAFSA-specific missed opportunities, including some new ones now that the FAFSA has been revamped o     Peg discussed the confusion over primary home equity o     Peg discussed divorced, separated and never marrieds and how the FAFSA policy has changed with the New FAFSA o     I share a very real scenario I encountered last year to show just how complicated things can get with divorced, separated and never married families     (39:26) College Spotlight Interview Greg Zaiser-VP of Enrollment at Elon University-Understanding Elon University 2 of 2 Part 2-Preview v  Greg talks about the Elon endowment v  Greg talks about the performing arts program at Elon v  Great talks about some exceptional Elon programs that fly under the radar, but the faculty and the results are outstanding for these majors v  Greg talks about the 3 programs that Elon is best known nationally for v  Greg talks about how all of Elon's programs are open to all students v  Greg talks about the accelerated pathways programs Elon offers and he talks about how they are growing at Elon v  Greg shares what Elon needs to work on being an even better school v  Greg talks about Elon's low tuition, low tuition discount model v  Greg talks about Elon's strategic plan v  Greg talks about the five areas in the country where Elon has a regional staff member v  Greg goes on the hotseat in the lightning round v  Greg shares what he learned from visiting colleges with his two sons v  Greg shares a hilarious story about his son Luke    (26:54) Recommended Resource-College UnMazed, is offering free 90-day digital access to their entire bookshelf to institutions. and CBO's, to get your free access, contact Dr. Amanda Sterk at info@collegeunmazed.com     Guide to help first year students complete the Common Application-     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

As a physician parent, you went through more school than the average Joe. You may think you know the system but college admissions is constantly evolving. Listen in as Nate Reineke and Ben Utley are joined by Lorry Krone, M.A., C.A.C, a certified college admissions counselor. From the San Francisco Bay Area, Lorry helps students from across the country get into the school that is the right fit for them. We discuss some of the best practices that you can start with a young child, what helps kids stand out, some common myths and misconceptions that parents have, and why it is important to have a list of college options. If you want to work with Lorry, you can reach her at lorrykrone@gmail.com or visit their website, andersonandkrone.com. Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It's time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we're a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Welcome back to the podcast! This is our sixth and final chapter of our series on admission nutrients — qualities that can make for a healthier, more meaningful college admission process… and life. In case you missed it, we started with collaboration, with Raissa Diamante (Director of admission from Harvey-Mudd College), then I sat down with Deanna Dixon, (Dean of Admission at Smith College) to talk about leadership, then Tom met with Dysean Alexander (Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College) to talk about consistent engagement and Nathan Faust (Loyola Marymount University) to talk about service to others. Today we conclude the series by talking about intellectual curiosity with Hillary Dickman from Colorado College. In our conversation, Hillary and I cover a lot of ground, including:  What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student's application? Why is it important in the admissions process at Colorado College and how does their approach to identifying intellectual curiosity differs from other liberal arts colleges? What is Colorado College's latest supplemental essay prompt? Advice for both students and parents as they navigate this process And more!  Hillary Dickman is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Speech Communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She began her career in higher education teaching public speaking, interpersonal communication, and intercultural communication at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Since 2021, she's been part of the admission team at Colorado College, where she's worked on scholarship programs, the counselor advisory board, and now focuses on print and email marketing. She's also navigated the college admission process as a parent — her older child is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, and her younger one is a student at Colorado College. I hope you enjoy this conversation. I certainly did.     Play-by-Play: 3:09 – What do college admission counselors do during the summer?  4:55 – What are some of the roles that Hillary plays at Colorado College?  8:56 – What makes Colorado College a unique school? 10:39 – What is intellectual curiosity in the context of the college admission process? 17:43 – Where does intellectual curiosity show up in a student's application? 22:29 – What are some examples of intellectual curiosity from over the years?  32:29 – What do students or parents misunderstand about intellectual curiosity? 40:01 – Why is intellectual curiosity important at Colorado College?  48:22 – What is Colorado College's latest supplemental essay prompt? 57:10 – What if the thing I'm curious about has nothing to do with my major? 1:00:18 – What advice does Hillary give to students for writing their personal statement? 1:04:03 – How long does Hillary spend reading an essay and the application as a whole? 1:09:54 – How does Hillary recommend students get started with the writing process? 1:13:58 – What are Hillary's thoughts on using ChatGPT in the application process? 1:18:16 – What is demonstrated interest and why is it important to Colorado College?  1:24:00 – What does Hillary hope that students and parents will keep in mind throughout this process?    Resources: College Partnerships with CEG Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness (TED) CEG Podcast Episode 506: Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman What is Demonstrated Interest? A Practical How-To Guide College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

Imagine two models of education, one of which reserves opportunities for college credit for college students and another which allows high schoolers to also earn college credit. Which do you think most college-bound students would prefer? Amy and Mike invited admissions professional Audrey Moreno to explore the impact of dual enrollment programs. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is an early college high school? Are there different models of dual enrollment offerings? Why is access to dual enrollment programs so important? What makes dual enrollment such a powerful tool for increasing college access—especially for underserved students? What advice would you give to families or school counselors who are considering dual enrollment as an option? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Audrey Delfina Moreno is a first-generation college student and Mexican American. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and completed her Ed.D. at Arizona State University in 2013. For the past 19 years, Audrey has worked in secondary and postsecondary education, focusing on credit recovery and Early College student populations. She began her career as a counselor in Title 1 charter schools in downtown and central Phoenix before transitioning to Director of Early College at Paradise Valley Community College, where she expanded dual credit opportunities and supported college planning programs for high school students. Now serving as Senior Director of National Bridge Partnerships within ASU's Learning Enterprise, Audrey leads Accelerate ASU, overseeing partnerships with school districts, high schools, and community organizations to expand access to college credit through ASU's Universal Learner Courses. She also spearheads Accelerate ASU: College Now, an initiative aimed at strengthening dual enrollment pipelines in collaboration with community colleges nationwide. Additionally, Audrey serves on the board of Home Schooling for College Credit, where she helps shape policies and strategies to increase access to early college opportunities for homeschooling families. She specializes in designing college credit pathways and is deeply committed to fostering equitable opportunities for high school students who aspire to earn college credit. Audrey can be reached at moreno.audrey@asu.edu or on LinkedIn. LINKS Dual Enrollment Meaning & Benefits Accelerate ASU Fast-tracking futures with ASU's dual enrollment program RELATED EPISODES WHEN IS DUAL ENROLLMENT A GOOD OPTION? ADVANTAGES OF DUAL ENROLLMENT EARNING ADVANCE COLLEGE CREDIT HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION AND ACADEMIC RIGOR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode you will hear:   5 Students ask two partners questions about being an attorney Dr. Sarah Sled shares her journey from MIT to 4 Tech powers to being a college counselor; we then discuss our brand new YCBK Survey and we let you know how you can take it. Here is a link so you can take the survey: We close with our third interview, Susan Tree joins Mark to interview Bob Massa, Bob has 50 years' experience in admissions and enrollment management and he shares his insights with us     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

Is summer winding down and you're feeling the back-to-school jitters? Wondering how to navigate college admissions, whether you're a freshman just starting out or a senior facing big deadlines? We've got you covered! Today, we're diving into essential August checklists for every high schooler. Since it's already August, this episode is perfectly timed to give you a clear roadmap of what you should be working on as you prepare for the new academic year. We've divided the content into two key categories: a tailored checklist for 9th through 11th graders and a completely different game plan for seniors. If you enjoy this format, keep tuning in! We just might be releasing monthly checklist episodes to keep you on track throughout the year. And of course, if you need more individualized guidance with your college admissions journey, we're always here to help you find the right program within Passion Prep. Ready for close, personalized support? That option is available for August, and you can reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com, and we'll be back with a brand-new podcast episode next week, so don't miss it.  Before we dive into this checklist episode, I wanted to let you know that we are hosting a Free Live Training this Wednesday (August 6th). You can register now at www.passionprep.com/live and I'll walk you through 5 major mistakes that students are making that could decrease their chances of getting accepted, what's changing with the Ivy League and Top-tier college admissions landscape, and the exact 3-step framework my students used to get into Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, UCLA, NYU, and many more. Get ready to open your “Congratulations, You're Accepted!” letter from your dream college! You can reserve your spot for Passion Project Bootcamp, our 1-year group college consulting program to get you ACCEPTED into your dream college using your passion, strength and potential. Start your journey to your dream college https://passionprep.com/bootcamp! If you are looking for a more affordable way to level-up your college admissions strategies, we've officially launched our PPBC: A Self-Paced Online Course. This digital, step-by-step course will help you build a strong college admissions gameplan, select the right extracurriculars, brainstorm & execute your unique Passion Project, create your resume, and much more: https://passionprep.teachable.com/p/ppbc-self-paced-online-course. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I'd love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

Lisa Keegan returns to the mic just as she prepares to step into her new role as the inaugural Vice Provost for Enrollment Strategy at William & Mary. With signature candor, humor, and heart, Lisa reflects on her five-year tenure at Bucknell University, where she helped build and elevate a leadership bench that is now stepping into her shoes. We explore the “liminal moment” of transition, how to onboard with humility, and what it means to lead with both confidence and care in a sector under pressure. From building trust and amplifying student voices to using with the megaphone that comes with public roles, this conversation is packed with insight—and a great roast chicken recipe—for leaders at any stage of the climb.00:00 – Introduction: Moving from Bucknell to William & Mary and living in a “liminal space.”02:50 – The succession mindset: Preparing and elevating her team for leadership long before leaving.07:10 – “Gunning for my job”: Why great leaders want their people to outgrow their roles.12:40 – The first 60 days: How Lisa mapped her onboarding plan and built trust from day one.18:30 – Finding the truth: Navigating competing narratives in a new leadership role.21:40 – Entrepreneurial leadership: Balancing trustees, presidents, and long-term impact.25:45 – The pendulum will swing back: Holding onto purpose and hope in a turbulent time for higher ed.30:40 – The bigger megaphone: Using leadership positions to amplify student voices.34:10 – Grounding in students: The reminder that keeps Lisa motivated every day.35:20 – The Rapid Descent: Walkout song, favorite reads, comfort food, tough-love advice, and a bucket-list dream.42:54 – Outtakes: You'll just have to listenThe ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

In this episode you will hear:   (02:29) In the News  Hillary and Mark give some tips to help students with the writing in their applications-Part 2 of 3   (18:40) Peg Keogh Interview-Missed Opportunities for the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE Part 1 of 5 o     Peg gives her backstory o     Peg answers the question, should you fill out the financial aid forms if you are confident that you will not qualify for need-based aid o     Mark introduces the topic, o     Peg and Mark have a robust discussion of, what does it mean to be “need-blind” o     Peg explains the difference between FAFSA and the PROFILE o     Peg and Mark begin the discussion, What are some missed opportunities that are common on both to FAFSA and the CSS Profile     (53:05) College Spotlight Interview Greg Zaiser-VP of Enrollment at Elon University-Understanding Elon University 1 of 2 Part 1-Preview v  Greg talks about what makes Elon distinctively special v  Greg talks about how Elon almost pioneered engaged learning v  Greg talks about the 5 Elon experiences v  Greg talks about the small class sizes v  Greg talks about the awards Elon Faculty have received v  Greg talks about the engineering and nursing programs v  Greg talks about athletics at Elon v  Greg talks about Elon's campus v  Greg talks about an exciting new major that Elon has in the School of Communications v  Greg talks about some exciting changes Elon is making to their physician assistant program v  Greg talks about Elon in NY, Elon in DC, Elon in Charlotte and Elon in Charlotte v  Greg talks about whether the word on the street, that Elon wants you to let them know if you are in their top three is accurate or not v  Mark asks Greg if Elon is a school that is great for a family that can pay at least $40,000-the mid-60's but not a financial match for a family that can't pay 40K v  Mark asks Greg about two reasons he hears students do not select Elon and Greg gives honest answers to Mark's questions       Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

Procrastination does not necessarily stem from laziness or disorganization. Sometimes, we put off important tasks to cope with negative emotions associated with their outcomes–perfectly understandable but highly undesirable when it comes to complex college applications and strict deadlines. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Michelle McAnaney to understand how to manage procrastination in the admissions process. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do students procrastinate? Are there any benefits to procrastination? How does procrastination affect the college admissions process? What are the three types of college procrastinators? What can parents do to help their procrastination-prone student manage the task of applying to college? MEET OUR GUEST Michelle McAnaney is the founder of The College Spy, a full service independent educational consulting firm that assists students and families across the US and internationally with the college selection and application process.  Prior to founding The College Spy, Michelle was a school counselor and educator for more than 15 years, including serving as the Director of Guidance at two high schools, an adjunct college professor and a GED tutor. Michelle holds a master's degree in school counseling and a bachelor's degree in human development. She completed UC Irvine's certificate program in educational consulting and is a MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Certified Practitioner and a NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner. Michelle visits many colleges each year so that she has first-hand knowledge of the colleges and universities her clients will be considering.  Find Michelle at https://thecollegespy.com/ LINKS 8 Tips to Avoid Procrastination Could Procrastination Actually Be Beneficial? Some Experts Say Yes. Podcast - The College Spy RELATED EPISODES HELPING TEENS FIGHT PROCRASTINATION EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TEENS THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP  MAKING TIME VISIBLE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode you will hear:   Mark discusses a few more aspects of the new tax bill and how it will impact students and colleges and universities-Part 2 of 2;  Chris Teare is interviewed on a range of topics related to college admissions.   Preview of part 4 of 4 v I ask Chris when he tells people to submit and not submit their test scores v Chris talks about mental health and loving your child v Chris and I talk about how college visits to high schools we talk and about how counselor calls have changed and we talk about the reasons why colleges aren't making college counselor calls like they used to v Chris goes on the hot seat in our lightning round   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

Kevin Boston-Hill speaks with college admissions expert and Founder and CEO of Cardinal Education, Allen Koh, about how the use of AI has greatly influenced how college applications are being scored. It seems many schools are not giving as much attention to the essay, while others are not reading them at all. Even more alarming, some admissions officers spend less than 10 minutes reviewing each application.

When tests change, so should the conventional wisdom about timelines and options. How will the Enhanced ACT factor into your admissions exam plans? Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to review a testing gameplan for the HS class of 2027. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main issues for students in the high school class of 2027? What are the timelines students should keep in mind? Have test score policies changed over the last year? Should ACT test takers sit for the optional Science section? Should students focus on only one test? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), and SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271) TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (#432) and STATE OF TEST OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS IN 2024 (#550) and THE ROLE OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE MERIT AID (#593). He hosted the show CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE and facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). He was featured in a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: EDISON PREP AP HISTORY BOOT CAMPS (#635). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS ACT Test Enhancements The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board ACT Enhancement Content Rebalancing Is the ACT Science section really optional at your college of interest? Merit Aid Grids RELATED EPISODES A TEST TAKER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT'S GOING ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS CHOOSING BETWEEN THE DIGITAL SAT AND THE ACT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

Trump-era executive orders, police hiring standards, and college admissions all converge in a decades-long debate over disparate impact, one of the most misunderstood yet consequential doctrines in civil rights law. In this episode of Stanford Legal, Professor Ralph Richard Banks, faculty director of the Stanford Center for Racial Justice, joins host Professor Pamela Karlan for a deep dive into how the disparate impact doctrine really works, why it matters, and what's at stake when it's attacked in the name of “meritocracy.” From the landmark Griggs case to modern college admissions, Banks dissects the arguments on all sides—showing how this sometimes-vilified legal doctrine not only helps root out discrimination, but can also strengthen, rather than undermine, meritocracy. Links:Rick Banks >>> Stanford Law pageConnect:Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast WebsiteStanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn PageRich Ford >>>  Twitter/XPam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School PageStanford Law School >>> Twitter/XStanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X(00:00:00) Introduction to Executive Orders and Disparate Impact (00:03:30) The Function and Impact of Universities in Society (00:09:46) Understanding Different Measures of Merit (00:13:20) Legacy Preferences and Nepotistic Systems (00:18:16) Disparate Impact in Standardized Testing (00:23:38) The Future of College Admissions and Rick Banks' Upcoming Book 

In this episode you will hear:   (01:52) In the News Hillary and Mark gives some tips to help students with the writing in their applications-Part 1 of 3.   (18:43) Interview Greg Zaiser-VP of Enrollment at Elon University-Understanding Demonstrated Interest-2 of 2 Part 2-Preview v  Greg answers the question, does a school have the ability to track one student across different devices v  Greg answers the question, do you have any way of knowing if it is a mom or dad surfing the web versus the student v  Greg explains what he thinks about a parent surfing the web a lot, potentially masquerading as the student v  Greg explains what he thinks when all of the calls and emails are coming from a parent and not from the student v  Greg talks about the role the custom prompts play in assessing demonstrated interest v  Greg talks about how students attending fairs, school visits and coffee chat attendance counts as interest and correlates with yield v  Greg talks about whether email opening of links correlates with yield v  Greg talks about how Elon is buying more names than they used to and we discuss what sources other than the College Board and the ACT and he shares which of these sources are producing great resources v  Greg and I talk about the value of using print mail vs electronic mail v  Greg talks about whether it impacts the perception of the student and DI if a student asks great questions at the Elon coffee chats v  Greg talks about the admit rate at Elon and he talks about how the admit rate is an institutional priority for Elon v  I ask Greg a tough question, are you flipping kids from EA to ED2 as a strategy   (45:39) Question from a listener and College Spotlight-Dr. John Pollard joins Mark to discuss a question about why The University of Arizona is going to Early Action       Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

On today's episode Big T and PFT are back in the studio to get into all the news from the weekend. We get to Donald Trump threatening the Washington Commanders stadium deal, Stephen Colbert's Late Night cancelation, a new college admissions application, Tulsi Gabbard and much more. Enjoy! (00:02:27) Washington Commanders (00:12:54) Stephen Colbert (00:20:51) Teed off (00:32:55) College Admissions (00:59:29) Tulsi Gabbard (01:06:27) VoicemailsYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/macrodosing

In Episode 5 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Tom Campbell is joined by Nathan Faust, Admission Counselor at Loyola Marymount University, to talk about Service to Others / Community Impact. In their conversation, they get into:  Why service to others and community impact is a valuable nutrient to fold into your high school experience—and life Tips on communicating your service and community-impact initiatives to admissions officers Examples of how this nutrient may overlap with the others Advice for counselors on how to explain the value of this nutrient to students and families And more! Nathan Faust is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University where he earned both his B.A. (2019) and M.A. (2023) in English. After brief stints in finance and sports management, he joined the admission team in 2021 as a regional recruiter in the Pacific Northwest, where he works with students from Oregon and Washington. Nathan is passionate about educational opportunity, enjoys connecting with students, and values demystifying the admission process.  In his free time, Nathan enjoys creative writing, the highs and lows of cheering for the Portland Trail Blazers, camping in mosquito-less places, and spending time with friends also in mosquito-less places. We hope you enjoy.   Play-by-Play: 4:40 – Why is service to others important at Loyola Marymount University (LMU)?  6:36 – How does LMU view service hours differently and why?   16:55 – How does service to others impact wellbeing?  23:56 – How can students best communicate their service work on their application?  29:40 – How can students weave in service to others in the personal statement?  33:45 – Where else does service to others show up in the application? 41:03 –  FAQs about service to others 41:43 – What if I want to talk about my mission trip? 43:30 – What if I quit my service endeavor? 43:47 – What if my service program was discontinued? 44:42 – How do I know what really counts as service? 45:34 – What if I didn't really take anything away from this service opportunity? 47:10 – Closing thoughts and advice for students   Resources: Why Giving Is Good for Your Health (Resident Psychologist Susan Albers, Cleveland Clinic, 2022, ) Why I changed my mind about volunteering (Rachel Cohen, Vox, 2024, ) Workplace Wellness Programs Why Meaningful, Long-Term Volunteer Opportunities Are The Key To Engaging Your Top Talent (William Aruda, Forbes, 2022) How to Use the Common App Additional Information section and Challenges and Circumstances section: Guide + Examples College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub

Every year, new calculations and complications impact the college application process. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski to return to the show with admissions notes for the HS graduating class of 2026. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is the enrollment cliff real, and what does it mean for the Class of 2026? Which colleges and universities are becoming more popular? With the science section in the ACT becoming optional, should students still take it? Is building a balanced college list enough?  With changing math standards and the introduction of data science in many high schools, should students still take calculus in high school? MEET OUR GUEST Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, founder of Orlowski College Consulting, has worked in education for 35 years and has worked as an Independent Educational Consultant for 10+ years. She has a specialized Certificate in College Counseling from UCSD, a BA in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State, and two active teaching credentials. She taught deaf, LD, and 2E students for four years and was a college counselor at a small private school for 3 years. Rebecca specializes in gifted/2E, STEM, creative, homeschooled, and transfer students. Rebecca first appeared on the podcast in episode 369 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE CLASS OF 2023, in episode 526 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024, and in episode 591 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025. Rebecca can be reached at r.orlowski.consulting@gmail.com. LINKS ‘You can't create 18-year-olds': What can colleges do amid demographic upheaval? Northeast students are heading south for college  24 years of UMich admissions: An inside look at acceptance rates and freshman profiles  Will They or Won't They? Tracking Colleges' New ACT Requirements  Admission 101: Why It's Important to Let Us Know You're Interested in Davidson Calculus or Statistics: Does it Matter?  Is calculus an addiction that college admissions officers can't shake?  RELATED EPISODES THE DEMOGRAPHIC CLIFF IS HERE A TEST TAKER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT USING THE COMMON DATA SET ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode, Lisa and Kolby discuss:Challenges young adults face when transitioning from school to meaningful workHow parental involvement influences early career outcomesShifts in modern job search strategies and market expectationsRole of communication, curiosity, and empathy in career conversationsKey Takeaways: Parents often misinterpret their child's job search struggles as laziness when, in reality, outdated strategies and a broken formula of “work harder = success” demand a shift toward empathy, curiosity, and tactical guidance.With student-to-career counselor ratios at colleges averaging 1,900:1 and most of those professionals rooted in academia, colleges are structurally unequipped to offer relevant, personalized career direction, making parental support and external coaching essential.Asking young adults what problems they want to solve, rather than what job they want to do, reframes career planning around motivation and impact, leading to more aligned and fulfilling professional choices.Employers prioritize real-world experience—such as internships, leadership roles, volunteering, and personal storytelling—far above GPA, meaning students who diversify their experiences outside the classroom stand out more than those who focus solely on academics. “Effort does not equal success. So give your kid a little bit of credit... it's rarely more of anything that makes the change for a young professional, it is the how.” – Kolby GoodmanAbout Kolby Goodman: Kolby Goodman is a nationally recognized career expert, keynote speaker, and founder of The Job Huntr, a coaching and consulting firm that has helped over 4,000 clients get hired, paid, and promoted. With more than a decade of experience in talent acquisition and employee development, Kolby delivers powerful training on hiring strategy, onboarding, and career growth. He is the author of Employed by Graduation and a trusted voice featured on ABC, CBS, NPR, HuffPost, and LinkedIn Learning. Episode References:#179 Music Career Myths: What Parents Need to Know with Melissa MulliganThe Truth about College Admission by Brennan Barnard & Rick ClarkConversation prompts for parents to guide career clarityGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Kolby:Website: https://www.kolbygoodman.com/ & https://www.employedbygraduation.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kolbygoodman/Book: Start Now: And 49 Other Things You Can Do To Be Employed By GraduationConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode you will hear:   Mark discusses three aspects of the new tax bill and how it will impact students and colleges and universities-Part 1 of 2;  Chris Teare is interviewed on a range of topics related to college admissions.   Preview of part 3 of 4 v Chris talks about how he counsels students when it comes to deciding whether to applying Early Decision v Chris answers the question, how do you advise a family when they ask if you can trust a college's finances v Chris talks about the International nature of the school he worked on when he left Drew v Chris talks about the lessons he learned from doing admissions at Drew that he now applies to helping and counseling students v Chris gives a great tip for students working on their personal statements v Chris talks about some essays that he read too many times while at Drew v Chris gives advice how parents can find the right balance between supporting their student but not crippling their independence     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/  

What are colleges looking for when admitting students? How should you view college rankings? Need advice on how to get into your dream school? Welcome to part 2 of my interview with Mark Stucker, a college admissions counselor! He dishes on ways to make your college search, applications, and acceptances easier, plus goes into more detail on his own podcast Your College Bound Kid. Check out part 1 of this interview about his formula for matching students to colleges using 5 key areas – academic match, social match, emotional match, career match, and financial match. Then in part 3 of the series he goes deeper into how the net price calculator can be used to anticipate the overall cost of 4 years of undergrad, and many other nuggets of advice to help you graduate debt-free! Also, let me find some scholarships for you! Schedule a FREE Scholarship Strategy Session with me to discuss how I can find you between $10,000-30,000 in scholarship opportunities! Plan a time on my calendar here –> https://calendly.com/moneyandmentalpeace     Can't wait to dive in, LET'S GO!!!!! Mark's Podcast: Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews - Apple Podcasts   Related Episodes: 324 - Dual Enrollment 101: Save $7000+ for College! High School Counselors Tell All 317 - "How Can My High GPA Daughter & Middle Income Family Pay For College WITHOUT STUDENT LOANS?" Your Scholarship Questions Answered! 260 - The Best Way to Find Scholarships You Don't Even Know About (That Are Specific To You!) Come join our Facebook Group for more discussions, advice, and memes ☺️ Christian College Girl Community → tinyurl.com/karacommunity  Instagram → @moneyandmentalpeace Email → info@moneyandmentalpeace.com   **Get scholarships and pay for college without student loans!** Are you worried about how to pay for college? Stressed because it's so expensive? Are you having trouble finding scholarships, or all you find don't apply to you? Overwhelmed with all things school and money? Welcome fam! This podcast will help you find and get scholarships, avoid student loans and maybe even graduate college debt-free! Hey! I'm Kara, a Christian entrepreneur, amateur snowboarder, and scholarship BEAST! I figured out how to not only finish college debt-free, but I even had $10k left over in the bank after graduation. (& btw, my parents weren't able to help me financially either!) During school, I was worried about paying for next semester. I couldn't find scholarships that worked specifically for me, and didn't know how to get started while juggling homework and keeping up with ALL.THE.THINGS. But dude, I learned there was a better way! With God's direction, I tested out of classes, and found the perfect scholarships, grants, internships, and weird budget hacks that helped me go from overwhelmed to debt-free with $10k in the bank–all with God on my side. ... and I'm here to walk you through this, too. If you are ready to find scholarships specific to you, learn to manage your money well, and have enough money to kill it at college, this pod is for you! So grab your cold brew and TI-89, and listen in on the most stress-free and debt-free class you've ever attended: this is Money and Mental Peace.   Topics related to this episode: 529, 529 plan, section 529 plan, 529 account, 529 plan accounts, 529 calculator, 529 tax benefits, 529 college fund, 529 qualified expenses, parent plus loan, cosign student loans, parent plus loan interest rate, parent plus loan federal, parent plus loan payments, college fit, college match, your college bound kid, mark stucker, admissions, admissions office, college admissions, college ranking, admissions visitor center, admissions essay format, universities ranking global, admissions testing, admissions welcome center, college decisions, college decision, pay for college, send your kid to college, college admissions counselor, net price calculator, College Board net price calculator

Today we're sharing an episode from American Optimist featuring Marc Andreessen in conversation with Joe Lonsdale, recorded live at the inaugural Ronald Reagan Economic Forum.They explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI and robotics catalyze a new era of American industrial strength—and how do we ensure the entire country, including rural communities, shares in the upside?Marc walks through the history of U.S. industrialization, the lessons of tariffs and trade from leaders like McKinley, and how America's shift to a services-based economy helped fuel our current urban-rural divide. The conversation spans immigration policy, housing, education, energy, and the path to a true AI-powered manufacturing revival—touching on what needs to change and how.This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American productivity, growth, and leadership in the age of AI. Resources:  Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarcaFollow Joe on X: https://x.com/jtlonsdaleYou can find his writings here: https://blog.joelonsdale.com/ Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

In this episode you will hear:   (01:56) Question from a listener:  Number 1 Julia and Mark answer a question from a mom who has a son at an independent school and she wants to know whether to hire an outside college counselor when the school her son attends is discouraging, making a hire-2 of 2     (01:15:40) Interview Greg Zaiser-VP of Enrollment at Elon University-Understanding Demonstrated Interest-1 of 2 Part 1-Preview v  Greg shares his backstory and you will see, he really knows Elon well v  Greg shares with us why Demonstrated interest is of such great value to Elon v  Greg talks about the value of Early Decision to Elon v  Greg shares whether he thinks Early Decision will continue to spread among public schools v  Greg shares how joining the Common App has impacted Elon v  Greg answers the question, would he like to see more students apply Early Decision v  Greg talks about Early Action and Elon's Yield in Early Action v  Greg gives Elon's stats for Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision v  Greg talks about whether students that do virtual visits and in person visits are more likely to enroll at Elon, and is that factored into their DI projections v  Greg explains how AI is used or not used when it comes to tracking demonstrated interest v  Greg talks about whether a student's web traffic on the website is factor Into looking at demonstrated interest         Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

College admissions are more competitive and confusing than ever—but with the right guidance, you can navigate the process with confidence. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Liu sits down with Thomas Caleel, former Wharton admissions director, to deliver a roadmap for success, no matter where you are in your admissions journey.If you're applying to elite universities, wondering whether test-optional policies apply to you, or trying to understand how to stand out in holistic admissions, this conversation delivers real-world answers. Thomas brings years of expertise from reviewing thousands of applications at the MBA and undergraduate levels. He reveals how schools are evaluating candidates today and what truly separates an accepted student from a rejected one.You'll get clear insight into how to craft strong college application strategies, when it makes sense to apply to an Ivy League or top-tier school, and how to weigh college ROI in today's economy. Thomas also breaks down myths around legacy admissions and gives powerful advice for students from all backgrounds—including first-gen and underrepresented applicants.If you're a parent trying to support your child, a student unsure about the process, or even a professional evaluating MBA programs, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a strategic advantage.⏱️ Timestamps (23:17 total)00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 01:30 – From Entrepreneurship to Wharton Admissions 03:00 – Understanding the College Admissions Process 05:00 – What Is Holistic Admissions and Why It Matters 07:15 – Should You Submit SAT/ACT Scores? 10:00 – Choosing the Right College Beyond Ivy League Rankings 13:00 – Parents vs. Students: Bridging the College Choice Gap 15:30 – MBA Programs: When They Make Sense (and When They Don't) 18:00 – The Future of Legacy Admissions & Diversity Policies 21:00 – Final Takeaways and Where to Learn More from Thomas To connect with Thomas, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomascaleel/#CollegeAdmissions #WhartonAdmissions #ThomasCaleel #HolisticAdmissions #TestOptional #LegacyAdmissions #CollegeApplicationTips #IvyLeague #CollegeROI #MBAGuide #AdmittedlyPodcast #FinancialFreedomPodcastTo check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphdDisclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show.  Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphdWe couldn't do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show:CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphdVenmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4Spotify- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-loo/supportBuy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJxClick here to schedule a 1-on-1 private coaching call: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/book-onlineClick here to check out our bookstore, e-courses, and workshops: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/shopClick here to purchase my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PaQn4pFor audiobooks, visit: https://www.audible.com/author/Christopher-H-Loo-MD-PhD/B07WFKBG1FFollow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chL1357Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drchrisloomdphdFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrislooFollow the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NkM6US7cjsiAYTBjWGdx6?si=1da9d0a17be14d18Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@drchrisloomdphd1Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6992935013231071233Subscribe to our email list: https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/Thank you to all of our sponsors and advertisers that help support the show!Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2025

The path for high school athletes seeking to play at the next level becomes more uncertain every year. The increasing complexity of college sports recruitment is matched only by the uncertainty of every other part of the application process. Amy and Mike invited college advisor Barb Smith to share answers about college admissions for the student athlete. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the primary mistake that student-athletes make when they go through the college selection process?   What are common myths about the college selection process that trap student-athletes and their families?  What changes in college sports have affected the college selection process for student-athletes in high school? How should these be navigated?  How can families support their student-athletes in the college admissions process without adding too much pressure?   What advice do you have for student-athletes and their families just starting the admissions process?  MEET OUR GUEST Barb Smith is a former Division I college athlete, a 30-year former Division I college basketball coach, motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, and advocate for all levels of leadership and teamwork. Having both played and coached at the college level, Barb knows that sports go beyond winning and losing.  Having experienced the highs and lows and twists and turns both in sport and in life, Barb has learned the meaning of resilience. Her story is one of extreme highs, like winning conference championships and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, but also extreme lows, like not winning games or losing a player to spinal meningitis. Barb has shared these stories and others as she speaks on organizational principles, leadership, inclusivity, and team-building. Barb is the founder of Courtside Leadership, an organization that promotes leadership, teamwork, and team dynamics. She has authored Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team, which details some of her research in building successful teams.  Most recently, Barb founded Find My Team, a startup company that partners with aspiring high school student-athletes, parents, and coaches and empowers them with the knowledge necessary to make the college athletic recruiting process a positive, proactive, and successful experience.  Barb majored in Health Education at The Ohio State University and earned her MBA in Organizational Behavior at Iona College in New York. She coached women's basketball at Iona, Univ. of Colorado-Boulder, San Diego State, Univ of California-Berkeley, Univ. of Minnesota, Saint Louis University, and Illinois State. When not working, Barb enjoys family, nature, birding, cycling, traveling, attending sporting events, meeting new people, and playing with her two rescued greyhounds. Find Barb at barb@findmyteam.com or findmyteam.com. LINKS courtsideleadership.com  Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team RELATED EPISODES DIVISION III AND IVY LEAGUE ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT MYTHS ABOUT TESTING AND COLLEGE SPORTS TEST SCORES AND THE NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.

In this episode you will hear:   Mark describes why he thinks the decision for the University of Michigan toad a binding Early Decision option for the class of 2026 is such a significant decision that will inevitably impact other universities.  Chris Teare is interviewed on a range of topics related to college admissions.   Preview of part 2 of 4 o        International Baccalaureate program o        His admission experience at Drew and what he learned o        Demonstrated Interest o        Merit Money o        Net Price Calculators and having the money talk     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   (05:04) Question from a listener:  Number 1 Julia and Mark answer a question from a mom who has a son at an independent school and she wants to know whether to hire an outside college counselor when the school her son attends is discouraging making a hire   (30:31) Question from a listener Number 2 Lisa and Lynda answer a question about which online tools to use for college research.   (37:14) Interview Lisa interviews Adrienne Amador-Oddi-The VP of Queens University-Charlotte-Part 2 of 2 Part 2-Preview v  We start out by playing a very concrete example of how a conversation for a school to re-consider their original financial offer that is productive looks like. I played this last week but it is so important I am playing this example again to reinforce it if you heard that segment, and for those who missed last week, I didn't want you to miss this important example v  Lisa asks Adrienne how should a family initiate an appeal for reconsideration for more money and Adrienne shares some of the different approaches that different schools use v  Adrienne talks about how a family can know how much merit aid they can expect to get from a school v  Adrienne talks about how more and more colleges are doing an early         Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In Episode 4 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Tom Campbell is joined by Dysean Alexander, Assistant Director for West Coast Admission at Lafayette College, to discuss Consistent Engagement. In their conversation, they get into:  Why consistent engagement is a valuable nutrient to fold into your high school experience How it's talked about in an admissions office, and how admission readers like Dysean (and his team at Lafayette) measure it Tips on “translating” your own examples of consistent engagement to an admission officer audience Advice for counselors on how to explain the value of this nutrient to students and families And more! Counselor by day and stand-up comedian by night, Dysean Alexander is a first-generation college graduate of Ursinus College (PA) where he earned a BA in Media & Communications while being an all-conference football player. After his first year as a college admission counselor (Albright College), he served as the Assistant Director For Middle School Enrollment at Moravian Academy (PA), allowing him to gain additional knowledge on high-level high school curriculum and communities. After 6 years working at Lafayette College, he has been able to work with Army ROTC recruitment and POSSE selection, and has covered territories all over the globe, domestically spanning from Long Island, NY to Southern California, where he now serves as Assistant Director Of West Coast Admissions.   Play-by-Play:  2:39 – Welcome and introductions  7:12 – Where does consistent engagement show up in an application?  10:09 – How do institutional priorities impact admission?   19:19 – What does consistent engagement say about the student to an admission reader? 25:50 – How can students brainstorm and prioritize which activities to show on the application? 36:30 – What is the balance of quality over quantity when it comes to activities? 45:05 – FAQs about consistent engagement 45:28 – What if I decide to change activities midway through high school?  52:23 – What if I had to stop my activity? 53:49 – What if I transferred schools and didn't have time to engage consistently? 57:49 – What are some tips for counselors and educators in this process? 1:07:06 – Closing thoughts   Resources: College Essay Guy's BEABIES Exercise (Public) College Essay Guy's Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy's College Application Hub  

In this episode you will hear:   Mark shares a big fear that many teens have when it comes to the college admissions process. Mark shares the bombshell announcement from Indiana University. Mark shares the final segment of his breakdown of holistic admissions. Chris Tear is interviewed on a range of topics related to college admissions.   Preview of part 1 of 4 v Chris Teare gives his backstory v Chris tells a great story about Ted Fiske that really emphasizes the importance of fit v Chris talks about the importance of fit v Chris talks about how college counseling has changed so much from the 1980's v Chris talks about the increase pressure students and parents were facing in regard to college v Chris talks about when US News first launched its rankings in 1983   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   (02:07) Question from a listener:  Number 1 Julia and Mark answer a question from Emily from Seattle about ACT/SAT scores.   (39:08) Question from a listener Number 2 Kevin and Mark discuss a question from Kevin from Arizona about getting an undergraduate degree in China   (59:06) Interview Jennifer Mandel from Milwaukee shares her experience of having a student attending a large business school is different from having a student attend a medium size business school   College Spotlight-Interview #1: Mark Stucker and Jennifer Mandel discuss students coming from under-resourced schools.   ²  I mentioned that in this interview with Jen bounces around and covers a range of topics, I asked her if she could help us to realize some of the challenges under-resourced students face, so this is a different kind of interview but one I hope you find enlightening as Jen helps us to understand some of the challenges under-resourced schools and under-resourced student face ²  Jen and I transition to our last topic and Jen talks about how her view of student loans changed ²  Jen goes on the hotseat     (01:32:00) Lisa interviews Adrienne Amador-Oddi-The VP of Queens University-Charlotte-Part 1 of 2 Part 1-Preview §  Adrienne gives an overview of Queens, aka, the elevator pitch §  Adrienne talks about the study abroad program that really impressed Lisa on her visit to Queens §  Adrienne shares the two most popular majors at Queens with some depth, and then she shares the five most popular majors at Queens §  Adrienne shares some good news for business majors at Queens §  Adrienne shares the two paths for nursing admits and great news, Queens has a direct admit option §  Adrienne talks about their very unique music therapy program       Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   Mark gives a tip about interviews and a tip about the Personal Statement   Lynda interviews J Hall, a college Dean in Oklahoma City and the author of the book, “College Unpacked” Preview of part 4 of 4 v  J gives his advice for students, parents and college counselors v  J goes on the hot seat and J and Lynda end up discussing a lot of books and movies   Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   On X for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   Question from a listener: Number 1 Julia and Mark answer a question from Sapna and Sivan, two high school students about what is the proper way to use the Additional Information Section of the Common App   Question from a listener Number 2 Jennifer Mandel joins Mark to answer a question from Diana from Idaho, and she wants to know if a student has to attend a T-20 college to get a job on Wall Street.   Interview Jennifer Mandel from Milwaukee shares her experience of having a student attending a large business school is different from having a student attend a medium size business school   College Spotlight-Interview #2: Mark Stucker and Bob McMahan, President of Kettering University Preview of Part 5 of 5 ²  Bob tells us what Kettering University needs to do to be an even better school ²  Bob tells us what is keeping Presidents up at night these days] ²  Bob tells us what public school Presidents worry about and how the private school President has a different set of challenges that keep him or her up at night ²  Bob goes on the hotseat in our lightning round   Recommended Resource-Guide to help first year students complete the Common Application-     Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/