Campus Pride is THE go-to resource for LGBTQ students and their families and my guest on this episode, civil rights champion Shane Windmeyer, is the one to thank for its very existence. On this episode we discuss:  How Shane get involved in this work in the first place How is the college search process for LGBTQ+ students? What are some great questions to ask when visiting campuses? Common mistakes students make in the process How can LGBTQ students find scholarships? Should students come out in their essays? If so, how? Resources: The Campus Pride Index The Advocate College Guide for Lgbt Students Brotherhood: Gay Life for College Fraternities Inspiration for LGBT students and allies Out on Fraternity Row Secret Sisters The Campus Visit Scorecard The Campus Pride LGBTQ College Fair Program The P’s and Q’s to choosing the perfect campus  Campus Pride Trans Policy Clearinghouse FASFA CSS Profile Gamma Mu Foundation

This is the second of two episodes on homeschooling and self-directed learning. My guest is writer, speaker, and fellow podcaster Blake Boles, whose work invites students and families to re-evaluate the traditional schooling model--are the typical high school and college experiences really the best ways to spend your time? On this episode we discuss:  Can you (really) quit high school and not totally ruin your life? Why is this the best time ever for self-directed learning? How can we all be more self directed learners?  Why you should: Google everything, Email strangers, and Find your nerd clan The benefits of skipping college (or at least taking a gap year) How to know if you’re making a decision for you (and not your parents)? A warning: Listen too closely to this episode and it could mean that this is the very last College Essay Guy podcast episode you listen to… and that could be a very cool thing. Resources: Average is Over A Case Against Education Off Trail Learning Podcast The Self Driven Child Dumbing us Down The Teenage Liberation Handbook Unschooled Penelope Trunk Excellent Sheep The Nurture Assumption The Alliance of Self-Directed Education Not Back to School Camp Camp Stomping Ground Unschooled Adventures

This is the first of two episodes on homeschooling and self-directed learning, something that as the father of a four year-old I am way into. My guest is Becca Orlowski, a teacher and consultant with more than two decades of experience in the independent homeschooling world. On this episode we talk about:  What are some common homeschooling myths?  Is it true, for example, that homeschooling is “too much work” for any parent in their right minds? Are colleges biased towards homeschoolers… against… neither or both? What kinds of folks choose to homeschool and can parents homeschool and work?  Different homeschooling styles, how homeschooling academics differ from public schools, and even nitty gritty tips like the practical differences for homeschoolers applying to college and the amount of detail homeschoolers need in their transcripts As always, lots of resources and recommendations... Links mentioned in this episode: Brave Writer Outschool Pennsylvania homeschoolers Bluetent Thinkwell CTY  Online G3 Michael Clay Thompson OpenCourseware Coursera Classical Homeschooling The Well Trained Mind HSLDA sample docs HS2COLL homeschool to college yahoo group S.E.A secular homeschooling CA College Homeschool Seekers - Facebook group in CA The Davidson Young Scholars Teach Your Own - book Creative Homeschooling - a resource guide for smart families Dumbing Us Down  The Brave Learner

This is the last episode in a three-part series on paying for college. My guest is Joan Liu, a college counselor who has a giant heart to go with her giant brain. In this episode she draws on her years of experience helping international students who need financial aid in order to attend college in the US. We cover a range of topics that will apply to both students and counselors, including:  How is the application process different for students who need full financial aid? For counselors, how is working with a full-financial aid students different than other students? What are common mistakes students (and counselors) make in applying for financial aid? What do students need to know about getting full financial aid in the US? How do students figure out which schools meet full need? What can students and counselors do if a student doesn’t get their need met? Where do students begin? Relevant Links: Find your local Education USA office Big J Educational Consulting List of ED and RD Acceptance Rates - Jenny Kent

This is episode two in a three-part series on paying for college. My guest for this episode is Lauren Schandevel, a 4th year Public Policy student at the University of Michigan and creator of the “Being Not-Rich” Guide--more on that shortly. On this episode we discuss: Where did the inspiration for the “Being Not-Rich” Guide come from? In what ways are higher ed institutions unsympathetic to the needs of low-income students, and how can this widen the gap between them and their wealthier peers? What’s in the guide? What’s been the impact? How you can access Lauren’s guide and even Tips for creating your own “Not-Rich” Guide and spread the word Links from this episode: Being Not-Rich at UM The DIY Not-Rich Guide for other schools Affordability Michigan Facebook Group

On this episode, which is part 3 of 3 in my series on access and equity in the college admissions process, I sit down with their Chief Strategy Officer of Strive for College, Matt Rubinoff, who for years has been advocating for first-generation and low-income students. We discuss, among other things: What’s so special about being first anyway? Why first-generation students should take a “What’s in it for me?” approach Resources for first-generation students and their counselors, including (one of my all-time favorites) the “I’m First! Guide to College,” which highlights resources and opportunities available to first-gen students at hundreds of colleges and universities Questions first-gen students and parents should ask when researching colleges The importance of not just getting to college, but getting through it How first-generation and low-income students can receive not only free mentoring but also free test prep! Links Mentioned in this episode: I’mFirst.org Strive for College  Remember to use the code COLLEGEESSAYGUY when purchasing the "I'm First" Guide for 30% off!  

Hi friends! This is the first time on the podcast that I discuss the “what comes next” of the college admissions process--and who better to do it than Harlan Cohen, author of the NY Times bestseller, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College--a book I’ve had on my bookshelf for many years. On this podcast Harlan offers so much great advice from: A simple exercise to help set you up for a great freshman year How to find your people on campus Whether or not you should break up with your high school sweetheart (what Harlan says might surprise you) Three great questions to put on your contract with your roommate On-campus resources that he (and I!) wish we’d known more about when we were in college Harlan’s “three-box” strategy for packing Harlan Cohen is a New York Times bestselling author, nationally syndicated advice columnist, and speaker who has visited over 500 high school and college campuses.  He is the author of six books including, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College, The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only, and Dad’s Expecting Too!  Harlan is a frequent guest on television and radio programs.   He is the founder of Best First Year, an online college readiness and success program for high school and college students. You can find him on social media @HarlanCohen and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HelpMeHarlan and you can watch his TEDx talk at www.HarlanCohen.com/TEDx

  For this episode, which is Part 2 of 3 on my series on access and equity, I interview Marie Bigham of ACCEPT. Marie and I jam on 30 practical ways that you can increase your participation in equity and justice in the world of college admissions and beyond. Whether you’re a parent, student, counselor, or admissions rep, you’ll find something for you.   Marie Bigham is the founder of ACCEPT: Admissions Community Cultivating Equity and Peace Today, a social media-based action group for the admissions profession, which received the Excellence in Education Award from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling AND was honored by Facebook at the 2017 Facebook Community Summit With over 20 years in the profession, Marie has served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC); as Vice Chair of the Board for Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS); and on the Board of Directors of Texas Association of College Admissions Counseling (TACAC). Marie is also the Director of College Counseling at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.   On this episode we discuss: Why you should maybe consider not using the word “ally” How to stand up for others, even when -- or especially when -- it’s most uncomfortable 10 specific ways counselors and colleges can help build a more inclusive environment on their campuses Where anyone can find a treasure trove of resources on racial equity   Hope this inspires! For more information, and to download a PDF of these resources, head over to https://collegeessayguy.squarespace.com/blog/30-ways-center-justice-equity  

This episode is part one of three on access and equity in the college counseling community. Today we meet Joan Liu, a counselor at a high school in Southeast Asia, who has been working on the front lines of access and equity issues during her career. When over 60 Nepali students suddenly lost their full-tuition scholarships in April of last year, Joan decided to do something about it. That story--and what happened next--is what we discuss on this podcast. This story was picked up by the Washington Post and the Chronicle of Higher Ed. They are seeking help for these students--we’ll let you know at the end how you can get involved. Enjoy.

In this episode you’ll hear Adam’s take on: What’s a “good” score? How much do SAT scores matter? Do students even need standardized tests? When should students take the test? What’s the difference between the SAT and the ACT? Do students need the optional essay? The most important things to know about subject tests A few words about the PSAT Important notes for students with learning differences How students should define success in college admissions testing

On this podcast we discuss: Why parents should stop telling their students that there are tons of school and to not worry about where they will go Why (and how) to limit the amount of time you spend talking about college When the best time to start talking about college is  The three most stressful parts of college admissions for students--and how to mitigate that stress What Lisa is most and least proud of as a parent when it came to helping her own kids through the college application process

On this episode we discuss, among other things: How common testing anxiety is (you may be surprised) How anxiety functions in the body Strategies for changing how you think about anxiety #reframing Some ways you can understand and adjust self-talk What cognitive rehearsal is and how it can help A brief intro to the emotional freedom technique How regulating your breathing can help

On this episode we discuss: Are standardized tests evil? What are some other standardized test myths that people tend to believe? To what extent does the SAT or ACT measure what students need to know in college? Important statistics from “Crossing the Finish Line,” a book that outlines the research around how well standardized test scores predict actual student performance in life and in college. What is the difference between “test optional” and “test flexible”? If students don’t submit standardized test scores, does this have an impact on scholarships and financial aid? Does applying to a college without a test score hurt a student’s chances? Advice for students with test scores that are “just okay”

This episode is an interview… on interviews! Monica James--whom you may’ve heard previously on the podcast in the episode on Demonstrated Interest--absolutely crushes it in this interview, offering more practical advice than you’ll find in most weekend workshops on this topic. And it’s no wonder: for years she’s been teaching people (and in particular high school students) how to give great interviews. We cover, among other things: Why do colleges give interviews? Can a bad interview actually hurt your application chances? How do you prepare for the interview? What’s the one thing that colleges are looking for above all else? How do you answer the “Why this college” interview question? How do you answer the Strengths and Weaknesses interview Question? How do you answer the Tell Me About Your Reading Life or “What books have you read recently” question? What is the hardest interview question and how do you handle it? What if you get a “bad” interviewer? What if you’re asked a question in an interview that you truly don’t know the answer to? How much does body language matter in an interview? What should you wear to an interview? How do I handle a Skype or Phone Interview? How do I set up an interview? How should I practice? What about Scholarship Interviews—are they different?

Should you apply Early Decision or not? Is there a statistical advantage to applying early or not? When making this decision, it might help to know what the regular decision acceptance rate is for a school and what the Early Decision acceptance rate for a school is and then compare those numbers. That’s the first thing we cover on this episode. After that we discuss: Why did they choose the metrics they chose (i.e. why do these numbers matter)? What are some of the dangers of interpreting this data Who is early decision right for and who is it not right for? And, of course: How can you use this chart practically in when applying to college?  

  On this episode I talk with Jennie about: Why she created the chart in the first place She explains why your student doesn’t have to be incredible in order to get merit aid How much students’ ability to pay matters in admissions How to use the chart, including how Jennie walks students through a consultation Why students might decline to ask for merit-based aid Links: The excel sheet of universities sorted by financial aid generosity (international students) How to sort an excel sheet by column FAFSA Forecaster Jennie Kent’s website A PDF version of the chart with financial aid generosity for international students Duolingo Moment: an app for tracking your screen time

On this episode Jeff and I discuss this rad resource on which schools are most generous with financial aid and after he shares with us his story, we discuss: Three huge myths that students and parents have about financially planning for college Why parents should ignore the school’s sticker price Which schools meet 100% of demonstrated need (and what that means) A tool for figuring out how much money schools offer What Jeff believes is the biggest problem with the financial aid process Why Jeff created this resource in the first place and, most importantly… How to use this tool (along with a few other resources) to decide where to attend Links: Jeffy Levy’s website The excel sheet of universities sorted by financial aid generosity (domestic students) How to sort an excel sheet by column Common Data Set Podcast Episode 108: Demonstrated Interest: How to Build Authentic Relationships with Colleges (and Why It's a Good Idea) FAFSA Forecaster College Board Net Price Calculator CollegeData.org We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates

On this episode I interview Anne Wager, who used to work for many years in data and technology but made the transition to counseling and, as she puts it, “out of desperation”, developed a set of cards that she uses with students to help them identify, not just their preferences for what they’re looking for in a college, but what she called “deeper preferences”. We’ll explore what she means by deeper preferences, explain why they’re important, talk about common mistakes that students make when picking colleges, and how parents can best support their students. All this and more. Enjoy!

This episode represents part four of four in my epic mini-series with Tutor Ted and in this one I share what steps to take to turn your essay from “just okay” to “great.” Specifically, though, I share: What I believe the qualities of a great college essay are An example essay that demonstrates those four qualities A step-by-step process for bringing more of each of those qualities into your essay Lots of examples for all the qualities I discuss Even (get this) a step-by-step process for how to make your reader cry Finally, some advice to parents and teachers offering essay feedback FYI: You’ll hear Ted’s voice at the start, not mine, since he was interviewing me for this one. Enjoy.

This is part three of my four-part series with Ted Dorsey (aka Tutor Ted). On the last two episodes I interviewed Ted, while on this episode (and on the next one), Ted turns the tables on and interviews me. On this episode Ted just wanted to give folks a chance to get to know me better, so we discussed: How I ended up as the College Essay Guy (Spoiler: that wasn’t the plan) What applying to college was like for me How I learned the importance of asking good questions Why I never tell students to “write in their voice” How I believe writing your essay can actually change your self-image What it’s like working with me one-on-one

I’ve handed the reins over to my guest Ted Dorsey (AKA Tutor Ted), who has scored perfectly on the SAT, ACT, and PSAT, and let him do the podcast, where he’s going to offer up clear steps to improving your ACT score--in less time than it takes to bake a potato. He’ll dish up tips on how to use your calculator during the ACT, the importance of math vocabulary, why you need to be selective in your focus in the science section, and why writing a lot for the writing test can help. Even more tips to come! Stay tuned.

Ted Dorsey, aka Tutor Ted, scored perfectly on the ACT, SAT, and PSAT. Oh, and on the SAT Subject Tests in Literature and Math Level 2. A graduate of Princeton and UCLA, Ted founded the test prep company Tutor Ted to help students around the world prepare for their college entrance tests. He and his team have authored five test prep books, including "Tutor Ted’s Guide to the ACT" and "Tutor Ted’s ACT Practice Tests." In 2017, Tutor Ted launched an online ACT prep course at learn.tutortedcom. Tutor Ted’s mission is to provide high quality, non-boring ACT and SAT prep to every student.

This is part 2 of 2 of podcast episodes recorded last month in Eastern China. I met with Mark Moody, a friend of mine and a fantastic counselor with a ton of experience and some cool opinions you may not have heard before. During our chat we cover: His “Quick and Dirty List Builder,” a document he put together to help students and counselors find their best-fit schools in much less time We talk about Early Decision (also known as ED) and yield and why many schools like it when students apply early… but we also discuss why you might not want to apply early Why it’s important for students and parents to have a good understanding of what an admissions rate really means We also talk about this notion of “fit” -- something you’ll hear counselors talk about a lot -- but Mark has a different perspective on it and he believes “fit” may in fact be a myth We’ll talk about what fit really means (according to Mark’s perspective), how you can use that knowledge when you’re searching for college--and even a gem that can help you settle in once you’re already on campus.

If you know me, or if you’ve listened to the podcast before you know what a resource junkie I am… the same can be said, I think, for my guest on this episode, Shaun McElroy. Shaun is the publisher of two blogs: www.internationalcounselor.org which focuses on all things college admissions and which, I do believe, is one of the oldest continuously running blog on college admission (started in 2003) and www.strengthsmining.com focuses on applying research and principles of positive psychology into practice. And if you, dear listener, are a resource junkie like Shaun and I are, then this podcast will be like food to your soul -- -as Boyz 2 Men so beautifully put it in their 1997 hit “A Song for Mama” hashtag I love 90s R&B hashtag Nate Mike Shawn and Wan.   You’ll hear me say at the start of our conversation that Shaun is going to share “eight” free college application tools… but once we finished I went back and counted and there were more like 25.

In this episode we'll discuss: Data that proves art degrees are important The freedom that working a side job gives to self-employed artists The truth about the myth of the starving artist  How to know if art school is for you What your ability to take feedback says about you The difference between visual and performing arts schools, conservatories, and trade schools What cliches to avoid using in your art school application, and How parents can best support their child wanting to go to art school

On this episode we discuss how Urban Confessional started, what Ben has learned about listening over the years, how these lessons have impacted his relationships and even what it was like doing free listening at last year’s Republican and Democratic National Conventions. At the end he offers a great resource called the “Practice Partner Guide,” with some great practical tips for how to listen. It’s wonderful stuff from a wonderful human, as you’ll soon see, and the applications include, then go much beyond the college application process.

In this podcast, I’ll dive into: The story behind how I started connecting screenwriting and the college essay in the first place. Two exercises that I love to use to generate some great content for the essay. Two structures that I think can work for just about any essay. Four types of college essays What I believe the end of an essay should do. And so much more! Enjoy.

Ted’s book has been a go-to reference for me (and many other counselors) in our work with students and I loved getting a chance to go behind the scenes and hearing how the sausage is made. We discuss, among other things: Why did the Fiske Guide happen in the first place? How does Ted avoid sounding generally positive about all schools? How the Fiske Guide ratings systems differs from that of US News and World Report Who actually writes all 882 pages of the Fiske Guide The best approach for students who have no idea what they want Some of the biggest mistakes students and parents make when searching for a school The dangers of narrowing your college choices too early on. One quality Ted finds essential to having an amazing college experience

On this episode: How many schools students should apply to and when is best to start the process An amazing list of resources for helping students get to know themselves better Answers: What is the highest-impact hour that someone should spend developing their college list? (answer may surprise you) What do parents and students miss out on if they only used US News and World Report? What Steven listens for specifically when helping a student develop a list What terms Steven uses instead of “reach,” “match” and “back-up” for schools on a list We play a game where Steven helps me develop a college list on the fly based on a few preferences (something, he points out, he would never do without more information, by the way)… but he plays along and it’s neat to hear the master at work.

On this episode, my guest Monica James and I discuss, among other things: What the heck is demonstrated interest in the first place and why is it important to colleges? What “yield” is and why there’s a multi-million dollar industry of people called “enrollment consultants” who use sophisticated predictive analytics to foresee which students will actually attend a particular school… and why that’s important How to find out which colleges track demonstrated interest If you discover that there’s a school you are very interested in… how do you go about demonstrating interest--some practical tips for that Is it possible to go overboard and demonstrate too much interest? And we even get into: should you or shouldn’t you like a college’s Facebook page?

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      

  In this paradigm-shifting interview with Maria Furtado, the Executive Director of Colleges That Change Lives (aka CTCL), we discuss, among other things: What is a liberal arts education and why is it important? Three questions every student should ask when it comes to picking a college Three ways to reduce anxiety during the college application process: the Car Idea, how to avoid “college creep,” and how the Ice Cream Prize can make a tour better One great way to increase (not decrease) stress during the college selection process How to make the most of a college fair experience Perhaps the single most important thing for parents to consider when it comes to the college application process    

This week, I cover: 6 Ways That Most Workshops Fail in the First Five Minutes (aka 6 Terrible Ways to Start a Workshop) 9 Tips for Leading a Workshop of Any Size 5 Potentially Life-Changing Workshop Moments Bee tea dubs: These are essentially three of the modules from the Essay Workshop in a Box--there are 29 total, btw, and you can find out more about that in the show notes. At the end I also say a few words about my Counselor Training Program, which I’m super duper excited about.

Curious how to make the most of your upcoming summer? There's a lot you can do (and they don't all cost money.) This episode, we cover: Great questions to ask when it comes to planning a summer The 2014 National Pre-College Summer Survey, which Jill and her co-author put together based on asking 50 colleges: What summer opportunities matter most on a college application? She addresses whether or not expensive summer programs are “worth it”? What students and parents should do but often don’t do when it comes to planning their summer This really cool Teen Program Evaluator that you can check out that’s basically a scorecard that students and parents can use to determine whether or not a summer program is a good fit I even ask Jill what I’m really dying to know: Which program is definitely going to get my daughter into Harvard? And she definitely gave me an answer.

Ever wonder what you should include in an appeal letter? This week, Jodi and I cover: Who should make the call to a financial aid office: the student or parent? What to literally say to a financial aid officer when you call them to appeal Why you maybe shouldn’t start off the conversation by mentioning a financial aid offer from another school Jodi’s five points to cover in an appeal letter What tone to take and how long the letter should be The one thing students and parents should do but don’t

I chat with Dr. Aliza Gilbert about how to support undocumented students. We chat about: What terms to use (and not use) when working with undocumented students What the Dream Act is and why not all students love the term “Dreamers” What percent of kids born right now are born to undocumented parents Whether or not students should reveal their undocumented status in their personal statement How incorrect assumptions can sometimes make a student feel horrible How to know if a school (or a state, for that matter) is/isn’t supportive of undocumented students What teachers/mentors/counselors can do to help undocumented youth

I chat with current Harvard student Daishi Tanaka. We chat about: What a typical day is like for a Harvard student What it might mean for him and 700,000+ other undocumented students if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is repealed What Daishi wrote his college essay about and why What he felt like he really nailed in the college application process How he stays calm/centered