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How odd is it that one of the most effective ways to learn about college applicants tends to be among the least frequent steps in the process. How valuable is direct conversation for evaluating prospective members of an educational community and what might the future hold? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explore the importance of college interviews. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is typically meant by a college interview? How common and impactful are interviews in the current admissions process? What are the best ways to prepare for college interviews? Why should interviews be used more often? What are some of the downsides of requiring more interviews? MEET OUR GUEST Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He's been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Parke previously appeared on this podcast in episode 81 to discuss You Can't Handle the Truth: Secrets of College Admissions and in episode 148 to discuss Stop Making $en$e: The International Student Problem and in episode 292 for an IEC Profile. Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. LINKS Glimpse by InitialView Can You Answer These 10 College Interview Questions? Askwith Education Forum Details Impact of Wealth on College Admissions RELATED EPISODES HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. 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, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Parke Muth, who has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of that time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admissions office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focuses on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He's been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Parke previously appeared on this podcast in episodes 81 (You Can't Handle The Truth: Secrets Of College Admissions) and 148 (Stop Making $En$E: The International Student Problem). Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. 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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
As we hit application season, hear Parke Muth, formerly Director of International Admission at the University of Virginia, give an insight into the inner workings of a US university admissions office.
The codependent relationship American higher education has cultivated with international students seems to be on the rocks due to COVID and other crises. What happens next? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explain the international student problem. Stop making $en$e! What are five things you will learn in this episode? How has college admissions in the U.S. changed over the last year? How has the global pandemic impacted the flow of international students? What other factors chilled overseas interest in American schools? In what ways does the growth of globalization explain current conditions in higher education? Where are international students going to college if not the United States? MEET OUR GUEST Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He’s been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. LINKS International Student Numbers Decline A Few Good Men "You Can't Handle the Truth" Parke’s Blog Confessions of an Admissions Officer RELATED EPISODES YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC ATTENDING UNIVERSITY IN EUROPE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
You may have heard the saying, "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made." Does that advice apply to admissions decisions as well? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to reveal the real secrets of college admissions. Can you handle the truth? What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the truth about diversity in college admissions? Why are many colleges concerned about their institutional viability? Do full pay candidates have an advantage in admissions? Should the application process elicit as much stress as it does? Are the SAT & ACT relevant in admissions anymore? MEET OUR GUEST Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He’s been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. LINKS A Few Good Men "You Can't Handle the Truth" Parke’s Blog Confessions of an Admissions Officer Regrets of an Admissions Officer RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions
I chat with Parke Muth, former Associate Dean of Admissions at UVA. We cover, among other things: What Parke has learned reading over 10,000 college essays We'll go behind-the-scenes to look at how close decisions are sometimes made by committees at highly-selective universities (and why essays matter even more as a result) What Parke wrote his college essay about Parke's 10% rule for when students should/shouldn't write about their activities or achievements What an “authentic voice” is and why, contrary to popular wisdom, we maybe shouldn't be encouraging students to write in it Some dos and don'ts for the “Why us” essay, including one thing students should definitely do but most don't, and Why Parke believes his job is better than being a king
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Parke Muth, formerly a dean and an admission officer at the University of Virginia, answer listener questions. How important are SAT II scores to admissions officers? Which is more valuable a good grade in an AP class or the score on the exam? What's your advice to students applying from abroad? Does volunteering matter? Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com Call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Find us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Parke Muth, formerly a dean and an admission officer at the University of Virginia, answer listener questions. How important are SAT II scores to admissions officers? Which is more valuable a good grade in an AP class or the score on the exam? What's your advice to students applying from abroad? Does volunteering matter? Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com Call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Find us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Parke Muth, formerly a dean and an admission officer at the University of Virginia, answer listener questions. When you're a student athlete, what are the pros and cons of attending Division 1 and Division 3 schools? Is summer really the best time to start working on common application essays? Test prep is elitist, expensive, and a massive investment of time-- is there any reason our family should opt-in? Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com Call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Find us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Parke Muth, formerly a dean and an admission officer at the University of Virginia, answer listener questions. When you're a student athlete, what are the pros and cons of attending Division 1 and Division 3 schools? Is summer really the best time to start working on common application essays? Test prep is elitist, expensive, and a massive investment of time-- is there any reason our family should opt-in? Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com Call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Find us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Getting In expert Parke Muth answer more listener questions. Parke is a private college counselor and a former admission officer at the University of Virginia. This week's questions include one from a dad who wonders how attending a vocational high school might affect college admission. A mom whose daughter is interested in the New College of Florida-- a school that does not give grades-- wonders how the post-college working world views graduates who don't have traditional GPAs. And a community college professor in Idaho asks for strategies to help her non-traditional students transfer to four-year schools. There are lots of ways to send us questions and comments: Follow us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353 Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Getting In expert Parke Muth answer more listener questions. Parke is a private college counselor and a former admission officer at the University of Virginia. Julie and Parke talk about some interesting admission trends he's seen this spring --including the prevalence of "likely letters" and tuition discounts being offered his students. And they answer listener questions: Two different mothers contacted the podcast describing the intense pressures high schoolers face that come with living in Fairfax County, Virginia. A father wants to know which small liberal arts schools have rigorous STEM programs. And a high school junior wonders what's the right number of schools one should apply to-- given that she's seen peers apply anywhere in the range of 2 to 26. There are lots of ways to send us questions and comments: Follow us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353 Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Getting In expert Parke Muth answer more listener questions. Parke is a private college counselor and a former admission officer at the University of Virginia. Julie and Parke talk about some interesting admission trends he's seen this spring --including the prevalence of "likely letters" and tuition discounts being offered his students. And they answer listener questions: Two different mothers contacted the podcast describing the intense pressures high schoolers face that come with living in Fairfax County, Virginia. A father wants to know which small liberal arts schools have rigorous STEM programs. And a high school junior wonders what's the right number of schools one should apply to-- given that she's seen peers apply anywhere in the range of 2 to 26. There are lots of ways to send us questions and comments: Find us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims welcomes back Getting In experts Steve LeMenager and Parke Muth to answer more listener questions. A college counselor in Boston asks what online resources he should include in a presentation to 11th-graders. A mom in Switzerland wonders how US Colleges will convert her son's International Baccalaureate scores to an American-style GPA. A college counselor in Pittsburgh is wary of parents who insist their social and political connections could help their children gain admission. And a mom in California is curious how students can self-advocate when their high school college counselors cannot pick up the phone and call an admissions office. Steve LeMenager mentioned several helpful online resources for students starting their search: Khan Academy Naviance Big Future Cappex College Navigator College Insight There are lots of ways to send us questions and comments: Follow us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353 Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims welcomes back Getting In experts Steve LeMenager and Parke Muth to answer more listener questions. A college counselor in Boston asks what online resources he should include in a presentation to 11th-graders. A mom in Switzerland wonders how US Colleges will convert her son's International Baccalaureate scores to an American-style GPA. A college counselor in Pittsburgh is wary of parents who insist their social and political connections could help their children gain admission. And a mom in California is curious how students can self-advocate when their high school college counselors cannot pick up the phone and call an admissions office. Steve LeMenager mentioned several helpful online resources for students starting their search: Khan AcademyNavianceBig FutureCappexCollege NavigatorCollege Insight There are lots of ways to send us questions and comments: Follow us on Twitter: @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353 Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For high school seniors who completed early decision and early action applications this fall, this past week was prime-time for getting notified about those applications. Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and expert Parke Muth get updates from three of Getting In's seniors. Muth worked for nearly thirty years at the University of Virginia as an admissions officer and dean, he's now an independent college admissions counselor. Getting In seniors Jordana Meyer, August Graves, and Ellis Wells all received early decision notifications this week. They share their news and begin to plot their next steps. Plus, Julie and Parke answer a listener question from a dad who wonders whether Emory -- his son's first choice school with a $60,000/year price tag-- is worth it, given that his son's second choice school is Florida State with a $17,000 yearly fee. Send questions, comments, and follow us on Twitter @GettingInPod Send us an email or voice memo to gettingin@slate.com Or, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353 Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guest host Amy Young, director of college counseling at Avenues New York, and expert Parke Muth answer listener questions. For nearly 30 years Muth worked in the admissions office and as a dean at UVA. He's now a private consultant on the college admission process. A mother in Portland wonders why some students get interviews and others don't. A sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, his back-up college, wonders if it's worthwhile to transfer to a more selective school. And a father in Virginia, exploring options for his daughter, is curious about "guaranteed admission" programs to top state universities after attending community college for two years. Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.comOr, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guest host Amy Young, director of college counseling at Avenues New York, helps Getting In senior August Graves refine her list of schools and makes some practical suggestions about what needs to be listed in the Common Application. And expert Parke Muth joins Amy to answer a listener question from a homeschooled teenager in Texas. The teen wonders how to describe his unique high school coursework -- designed and taught by his father--on a college application. Plus an update from Getting In senior Alessandra LePera. She's scrambling to make her December 1st deadlines after a health setback this past week. Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.comOr, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Julie Lythcott-Haims, and college counselors Parke Muth, and Steve LeMenager answer listener questions. A parent asks what "demonstrating interest" really means beyond visiting campuses and opening emails from colleges of interest. And a mom wonders if a high school's low average SAT score could affect her child's admission chances. Plus one of our Getting In seniors tells us what it's like to totally complete an application and "click submit." Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.comOr, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and Parke Muth, formerly a dean and an admission officer at the University of Virginia, answer two listener questions. A mother of a high achieving student wonders which colleges offer full-ride merit scholarships. And a teacher asks if students at elite high schools really do end up competing more with each other versus the total applicant pool, when applying to select colleges. Plus we get updates from some of our seniors about their Halloween plans and what they're doing that has nothing to do with the grind of applications and schoolwork. Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.comOr, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims checks in with our group of seniors about how their college essays are coming along. The personal statement might be only 650 words, but these paragraphs have the power to make a student stand out to the admissions office, or get lost in the pack. New Jersey twelfth-grader Alessandra LePera gets essay feedback from our expert Steve LeManager, a former director of admission at Princeton and the president of the private college counseling firm, Edvice. And we hear more essay-writing do's and don'ts from our panel of experts: private college counselor Parke Muth, Amy Young, director of college counseling at Avenues New York, and Josh Steckel, college counselor at the Brooklyn School for Collaborative and the author of Hold Fast to Dreams. Send us an email or voice memo--to gettingin@slate.comOr, call our hotline and leave a message at (929) 999-4353. Getting In is supported by Squarespace, helping students create online portfolios and personal websites that show colleges who they are and what they can do. Learn more at Squarespace.com/gettingin Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com.Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/college and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Julie Lythcott-Haims and expert Parke Muth answer listener questions. Plus, we hear how some of the parents of our twelfth graders are feeling as the school year begins. Send us an email--or better yet, a voice memo--to gettingin@slate.com. Or, you can call our hotline and leave a message at 929-999-4353. Getting In is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/COLLEGE and use the promo code COLLEGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices