Application to Admission

Yes, Texas is “hot” in climate but TCU may be “hotter” in popularity. We can make the argument that ESPN is the best marketer of US colleges in the world. College Gameday and the scrolling ticker on our tv screens, introduce us to new colleges every college football and basketball season. Many of our kids want to be part of the college tailgate “ra ra” and that’s fine but what about the academics,...

Many parents, regardless of color, expect that by sending their child to an elite independent school that their child is almost guaranteed to go to an elite college. Not true. Selective college admission in 2023 is complicated and confusing, and going to one kind of school does not have the same kind of “weight” as it might have 10, 20 or 30 years ago.  Instead of sharing the case studies — catch...

In this ongoing debate about a parent’s role in college application assistance and the ultimate decision, we brought in someone with lived experiences and professional credentials that Black people need to support.  Laura Harding, Esq., is President of ERASE Racism, the regional civil rights organization based on Long Island, NY that exposes and addresses the devastating impact of historical and o...

We know you’ve heard us say it before, but Francisco Tezén, CEO and President of A Better Chance. also said it. Unprompted. We are aligned! Educational opportunity and legacy is what A Better Chance is all about. For 60 years, the non-profit has identified, recruited and developed remarkable students of color from around the country and introduced them to independent schools, assisted with college...

Want a college admissions hot topic? Let’s talk about the SAT and the ACT. The pandemic may have paused them as admissions requirements, but that was temporary, and many colleges are now evaluating whether or not to bring it back. Now you have to decide what your child should do. Enter our superstar guest for this episode. Akil Bello is THE preeminent testing expert in the country today, bar none....

Parents of 11th Graders, quick question: where are you in the college process? Do you have a college list? Have you discussed college costs and financial aid with your child? Do you know what to do and when to do it? With so many questions understandably circling through your minds, we’ve put together a series of webinars featuring a variety of experts in the college application, testing and finan...

Welcome to year 2 and season 3 of the Application to Admission podcast!! As a team, we’ve learned so much these past 12 months and have enjoyed sharing what we know about the college application and admissions process with you. If this is your first time listening, thank you for being here and get ready for a treat!! The college application process is cyclical and, right now, class of 2024 parents...

Information overload y’all!!! As we close out the calendar year, we leave you with our interview of two exceptional people in the college admissions profession. Brennan Barnard is the Director of College Counseling at Khan Lab School, CA. and the Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network. and his partner in writing and podcasting is Rick Clark, the Assistant Vice Provost and...

Everyone is asking us about the affirmative action case that was being argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Due to the conservative makeup of the Court, race-conscious admissions may be deemed illegal, which would eliminate colleges' ability to use race as a factor in the admissions process. If affirmative action is ruled unlawful, the Class of 2024, the current high school juniors...

30 years in the college admissions profession can make you an “old head” or a revered, uber-respected scholar-mentor-master. Rodney Morrison is the latter (or maybe both!) As the Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Delaware, Rodney sits in a powerful seat of a state flagship school. He’s also worked in admissions or recruitment at UPenn, Rutgers, Lehman Brothers, Wharton...

Want more truth-telling from acclaimed film director Malcolm D. Lee and his celebrity psychologist wife, Camille? Here it is!! Part 2 is just as much fun as Part 1! Enjoy!!

Join the authors of The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation about Education, Parenting, and Race, Timothy Fields and Shereem Herndon Brown, as well as financial aid expert, Jason Hamilton as they offer an overview of the college admissions process, financial aid and how to get scholarships.

Well, Tim went to Morehouse and Shereem worked at Georgetown, but this is not an episode about bragging rights. This is about parenting two boys who attend two great schools and the decisions and sacrifices that got them there. Seen Girls Trip? The new Space Jam movie? Or are you eagerly awaiting the final installment of the Best Man franchise? Wait no more as you hear from highly acclaimed film d...

We’re back! After a few summer weeks off, we’re bigger, blacker and better than ever! It’s August, and our book drops in less than a month. Are you ready? Have you pre-ordered it? One of the most controversial topics we write about in our book is how the decisions you make about your child’s education now matter later. RIISE is the preeminent leader of all things independent schools for Black and...

And we’re out!! For now… Thank you for ALL for joining us on this Application to Admission ride, Season 1! So far, so good as we’ve (hopefully) been informational and inspirational about the college admissions process. Our guests have shared their unique stories of challenge and triumph as they work with or parent Black children, and now you should have what you need to help your own child. And we...

Many HBCU grads expect that their children will follow their path. Whether it’s a family tradition or a desire for a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience, many HBCU alums encourage their kids to pour into the rich legacy. But what if it’s not what the child wants to do?  Even better, what if you’re a college advisor who knows more about colleges and college admissions than most and all y...

If college admissions experience was embodied in a person, that person would be Joe Montgomery. A 20-year veteran of the profession with varied experiences in higher education, makes Joe an expert in how parents (oh yeh, he's a father too), counselors and admissions folks need to think about the process. Starting with his work at University of Miami, North Carolina A&T, College Board and he no...

While no college experience is identical, some are simply better than others. Too many adults regret what they didn’t do during their four years, and whether it’s not taking full advantage of the academic opportunities or not doing enough outside of the classroom, most of us can agree that college is too short not to do it all. Currently residing in the United Kingdom, meet heroine Chelsea Jackson...

Mother's Day Edition!  There’s a secret to college admissions success and this week’s guest, Tracie Wilson Payne is going to tell you what it is. As a mother of three, she’s helped steer her kids to Morehouse, UNC Chapel Hill, Spelman and now Harvard Law. As a fourth-generation college grad, she has always stressed education to her kids and now they’re reaping the rewards of their hard work a...

Junior year is the most important year of high school. With harder classes, standardized tests, colleges to visit, and lots of (mis) information flying around, it’s time to get the truth about what 11th graders need to be doing now. Enter college admissions Swiss-army-knife Brandi Smith. Name anything in the college admissions profession and she’s done it. Worked in admissions? Vanderbilt. Check....

College is expensive and few things matter more in building a college list and deciding where to go more than cost. In this episode, seasoned higher education professional and the founder of the financial aid app, FinAide - https://finaideapp.com/ - , shares how this revolutionary tool helps students, parents, and schools learn the REAL cost of college. By breaking down financial aid award letters...

From their forthcoming book, the Black Family’s Guide to College Admission: A Conversation About Education, Parenting and Race , Tim and Shereem highlight a few of the book’s gems about "The Black Ivies" and "Sports Arts, and Special Talents." The book is set to spark conversations that all college-bound Black families need to discuss so buckle up and get a little taste of what’s to come!  Th...

Meet the Application to Admission hosts, Tim Fields, and Shereem Herndon-Brown, and listen to their unique style of explaining how college admissions really works as well as their take on all the current news in the college admissions landscape. As an extension of their Understanding the Choices brand, the hosts give you the real and raw options that students and families have as children approach...