Podcast Episodes

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (3:30): Mark and Vince discuss an article on how students are being coached to brand themselves in their applications. This is an article that appeared in the NY Times by a Guest Essayist, entitled, “Elite college admissions have turned students into brands” (Length 3 minutes) [...]

Introduction : Mark gives a preview of some up and coming episodes Lisa gives advice about selecting a college from a psychological and practical standpoint. Lynda interviews Marjorie Betley, the Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University of Chicago, and the Executive Director of Admissions at the STARS College Network, and they discuss the [...]

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (1:50): Mark and Vince will eventually discuss an article on how students are being coached to brand themselves in their applications. This is an article that appeared in the NY Times by a Guest Essayist, entitled, “Elite college admissions have turned students into brands” but [...]

Introduction : Mark gives a recap of some of his key takeaways from the SACAC conference Mark shares some key takeaways from college visits and from conversation with reps Mark looks at what may look like perplexing admissions decisions for about a dozen students School Match 4U counselors worked with and he discusses the reasons [...]

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (6:30): Julia and Mark discuss an article by “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but Julia and Mark know this is a national crisis, so they discuss the article in the context of the national challenge. Part 3 [...]

Introduction: Mark gives a recap of the first ever YCBK Meet & Greet that occurred in Durham, NC on 3/23 Julia has returned to admission file reading after 8 years and she shares how things have changed and what she has learned Lynda interviews Marjorie Betley, the Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University [...]

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (2:15): Julia and Mark planned to talk about an article that ran in Bowdoin Orient, their student newspaper entitled: “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but they don’t get to the article until next week but they do [...]

In this week's episode you will hear Introduction: Mark discusses three upcoming events: The YCBK gathering in Raleigh, Andy Strickler’s Q & A with our listeners and the final info session for ScholarMatch Mark shares a powerful quote from Nvidia founder Jenson Huang that he can’t stop thinking about Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the [...]

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (2:10): Julia and Mark planned to talk about an article that ran in Bowdoin Orient, their student newspaper entitled: “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but they don’t get to the article until next week but they do [...]

Introduction: Mark takes a look at the growing trend to guarantee admission to students based on class ranking. Mark shares six reasons opponents don’t like these plans and six reasons why proponents love these direct admit plans based on class rank Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the topic of, Understanding Connecticut College, Part 2 of [...]

In this week's episode you will hear In the News (4:52): Matt Bonser, the Director of Admissions at Colorado College and a Gap year expert answers 20 questions about Gap Years in this 75-minute discussion. (Part 3 of 3) Should a student reapply to the selective school they didn’t get in the next year, after [...]

In this week's episode you will hear Introduction: Susan and Mark answer a Speakpipe question that asks for advice when your student is selecting a college and he/she has two or more quality options, and they are really torn Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the topic of, Understanding Connecticut College, Part 1 of 3 Q&A [...]