Episodes

#079 – As we kick off our episode line-up for 2022, we begin by recapping some of the most memorable guests we had during the past year. These are guests that shared very valuable information in matters related to college admissions and college life. The content we revisit today is broad and covers the college …

Essential Info from Guests During Our First Year. What to Communicate in Your College Essay, How to Get More Financial Aid, Ways to Stand Out to Highly Selective Schools, and More! Read More »

#078 – Today, we dissect a part of the college admission process that many applicants find very challenging, the college interview. Jankel and I dive into the details of the interview, which for some schools is a required portion of the application, while for others it is optional or not considered at all. We begin …

The Importance of College Interviews and How They Will Affect Your Chances for Admission. When Your College Interviews Will Happen, Who Will Interview You, What You Should Be Ready to Answer, and What You Should Ask. Read More »

#077 – On this episode, we begin by reading a very kind and warm review that was given to our podcast by a parent who is a listener. Towards the end of the review, she asked whether we could talk about college interviews. Jankel and I talked about our plans to talk about that subject …

The Colleges You Apply to May Be Test Optional, Test Flexible, or Test Blind. Here Is What These Terms Mean, and How They Have Changed What Is Expected From You on Your College Applications Read More »

#076 – Admission into selective colleges and universities requires more than a stellar academic record. Most selective schools follow a holistic admissions approach, in which they consider other aspects of their applicants, including character, talent, work history, community service, and other elements to get to know the applicants as individuals. To them, it is important …

How Selective Colleges and Universities Determine Which Students Get Admitted or Rejected Each Year. Analysis of the 13 Admission Criteria Used by UCLA. Understand Them to Increase Your Chances for Admission into Selective Schools Read More »

# 075 – Class rank is one of the factors considered for admission decisions by college admission officers in some colleges and universities. Because class rank is so important to those institutions, it is important that you understand everything about class rank. On this episode, I talk about what class rank is, how it is …

All About Class Rank. What It Is and How It Is Used in College Admissions. The Reason Why Some Schools Do Not Use It. How Important Class Rank Is for Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Stanford, and UCLA Read More »

# 074 – Your academic record will be the first part of your application to be checked by the college admission officers of the schools to which you will apply. The courses you take and the grades you receive make up a big part of your academic record. On this episode, we focus on the …

The Importance of Grades in Your College Application. Weighted and Unweighted GPA. How to Find GPA Requirements for Colleges and Universities. What to Do If Your Grades are Too Low for Admission Into Your Dream School. GPA Data for UCLA Read More »

# 073 – After listening to this episode, you will be able to analyze whether a college or university is a Reach, Target, or a Safety school for you. One of the most important things you will do as part of the college admission process is to create a list of schools that is balanced. …

How to Figure Out Whether a College or University is a Reach, Target, or Safety School for You. The Importance of Creating a Balanced List of Schools. Analyzing University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Riverside Read More »

# 072 – Today, on this episode, we conclude our series on the habits of successful and overachieving students. Jankel and I embark on a conversation about how important it is for students to have excellent organizational skills to do well in high school and carry out the college admission process successfully. Jankel tells a …

The Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 4). Organizational Skills, Keeping the Brain Engaged, Embracing Feedback, and Participating in School Activities Read More »

#071 – One of the most important things you will do in high school, is to make a list of colleges to which you will apply. Making that list will be a challenging exercise because there are a great many colleges and universities from which to choose. Although they all share some characteristics, they are …

The 5 Pages You Should Explore on a College Website to See If that School is a Good Fit for You. Today, We Explore Cornell University Read More »

# 070 – Today, on our next-to-last episode of in our Habits of Successful Overachieving Students, Jankel go over five habits and activities that historically have produced positive results in the lives of students in the past. As we begin our conversation highlighting the importance of intellectual curiosity, we transition into the ways in which …

The Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 3). How to Generate Self-Motivation and Intellectual Curiosity. The Importance of Your Inner Circle, Developing Endurance, and Keeping Your Emotions in Check Read More »