College Admissions Insider

We believe that there is no limit to what you can accomplish with an innovative outlook and a curious spirit. But you don't have to just take our word for it. On this podcast, we look for every opportunity to let real college students do the talking — which is why we're inviting students from all three of Bucknell's colleges to tell you about their experiences conducting research as...

The universe is full of mysteries. What worlds lie in galaxies beyond our own? Why was Stonehenge built? How do the connections in our brains really work. Every day, countless theorists, analysts, investigators and more chase down answers to fascinating questions like these. But they aren't the only ones. Students at colleges and universities across the globe are also hard at work researching...

Our world today is bursting with endless choices and possibilities. We like to believe that with a combination of drive, talent and optimism, there's so much that a person can do with their life. So in a world where you might do virtually anything, why go to college?  On this episode of College Admissions Insider , we're spending some time considering that essential question. After all,...

What do you want to be when you grow up? It's a question many of us are asked from the time we're little. For a college student, deciding what to study for four years might feel like finally choosing an answer. But with so many disciplines to choose from, it can feel stressful or even dissatisfying to toss all of your eggs into one academic basket. After all, no one is interested in just...

You don't have to look very far to find tons of guidance on just about every aspect of your life — from social media videos on what to wear and articles about keeping healthy to podcasts on how to maximize your chances on getting into the school of your dreams.  On College Admissions Insider , we focus on providing expert advice on what you can do to make the most of your college admissions j...

If there's anything we know about securing financial aid at college, it's that it can be a pretty complex process. That's why we've dedicated the past few episodes of College Admissions Insider to outlining each aspect of the financial aid process to help you and your family fund your dream education. Today, we're rounding out our discussion on financial aid by chatting ab...

The choice to attend college isn’t just one decision. It’s a whole matrix of considerations, each one a crucial part of the journey to pressing submit on an application form. Perhaps, none is more important than the ability to finance your education. Today, we’re diving into part two of our financial aid series on College Admissions Insider : how to apply for financial aid. In this episode, we&apo...

If you've begun your college search, then you know there are myriad types of schools. But what's the one thing all of these options have in common? They all cost money to attend. While higher education is one of the best investments you can make, figuring out how to fund that journey can also be one of the most daunting aspects of the college process. But it doesn't have to be! This...

What better way to get an idea of what studying abroad is like than talking to those who've taken the journey themselves? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're welcoming a few Bucknell students on the podcast to share their study abroad experiences with you — including how they chose their destinations, their preparation processes and the biggest lessons they learned while...

Imagine you're on an airplane — one of those big ones designed for international flights. You're moments away from jetting off on your biggest adventure to date. Where are you going? More importantly, what are you going there to learn? For many college students, traveling abroad is an enriching experience — academically, culturally, and personally. It's also a big decision that requ...

Standardized test scores are just one data point of many that college admissions committees consider. At some schools, like Bucknell, test-optional policies empower students to decide whether their SAT or ACT scores are included in their application at all. For other applicants, completing these tests is still essential step in the college admissions process. In this episode of College Admissions...

Whether we're hard at work, pursuing fun, or spending some much-needed downtime with friends, we all want to be surrounded by people who truly see us and all we have to bring to the table. At college, feeling seen, heard and supported by people who value your unique identity and perspectives is key to a fulfilling four-year experience. So how do you find a school where diversity, equity and i...

You might hit up the athletics center to exercise your body, the academic assistance office to sharpen your study skills or a weeknight social event to build strong bonds with friends and classmates. But where on a college campus do you go to care for your mind? The answer is the counseling center, a place dedicated to helping students support their mental and emotional health. In this episode, we...

You're probably familiar with the age-old proverb that "it takes a village to raise a child." Well, a similar sentiment is true of college, too. It takes a whole support system to help a student get the most out of their college education and experience. For many, that support comes in the form of accessibility resources that promote the wellbeing, productivity, and confidence of st...

College isn't a path that your student travels alone. Walking right beside them is a whole community of professors, classmates, alumni and, of course, you — the family members who have guided and nurtured your student their whole lives. Your support doesn't stop the moment you drop your student off on campus for the first semester. In fact, there are numerous ways that you can continue t...

What do you like to do in your free time? If you're the adventurous type, maybe it's exploring the outdoors or trying a new sport. Or catching a concert or theatre performance if you're into the arts. Or maybe you love working with others to better your community. Whatever your extracurricular interests and passions are, college is the ultimate time to dive even deeper into the thin...

College is much more than a place for academic advancement, or a pit stop on the fast track to a well-paying job. It's a four-year journey marked by mental, social and, sometimes, spiritual growth. This episode is all about the spiritual form of personal development and the role faith can play in a student's college experience. What does it mean if a college has a religious affiliation i...

You know the familiar movie scene: A family car pulls up to a cluster of old brick buildings and out jumps a bright eyed-student and their parents. After a drawn-out, emotional goodbye the family car drives off, leaving the student to start this exciting new chapter in their life called “college.” Plenty of first-year students will experience a move-in day like on the Silver Screen. But many other...

There are somewhere around 15 or 16 million high school students in the U.S. But not all of them walk through locker-lined hallways, sit in 20-person classrooms and count down the seconds until lunch period in the cafeteria. Instead, many students and their families opt for high school learning that happens at home. In this episode, we're offering helpful insights for home-schooled students w...

If you could run personality tests on the colleges of their choice, what would the results say? Like people, colleges and universities have their own sets of values, distinctive strengths and lenses through which they view the world. All of these characteristics indicate something about a college's culture and the day-to-day experiences students will have on campus. In this episode, we'r...

We're dropping in mid-week with a special mini-episode to share some recent changes at College Admissions Insider . Bryan Wendell, who cohosted the podcast, is now pursuing new and exciting career opportunities beyond Bucknell — and we wish him the best of luck! Joining Brooke Thames as the podcast's new cohost is Becca Haupt Aldredge, senior associate director of admissions at Bucknell....

Whether we met them in elementary, junior high or high school, we all have that one teacher who went above and beyond to mentor and encourage us. It's easy to think that those wonderful teachers were simply born for the job. But dedicated, compassionate and empowering educators aren't magic — they're made. This episode of College Admissions Insider is for future college students who...

Alongside stick-figure families and save-the-environment slogans, there’s another bumper sticker you're bound to see if you spend enough time on the road: "My kid and my money go to [insert university name here]." It's a sticker that's quite real and honest. And in the spirit of being real and honest, we wanted to share an episode of College Admissions Insider that’s all a...

Take a moment to consider what you’re good at — an achievement you're most proud of, a skill you’ve spent years perfecting, or an activity or cause you’ve passionately pursued. If you’re a high school student on the track to college, there may be numerous merit scholarships out there for you. Just like colleges and universities themselves, higher education scholarships are abundant and divers...

You researched every fact and figure about your choice institutions, wrote and rewrote the perfect admissions essay, and connected with everyone from current students to admissions counselors — all in hopes of receiving that life-changing notification that says, “Congratulations! You’ve been admitted.” Well done! You should be quite proud. But after the confetti settles to the floor, there's...