College Help Squad Podcast

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, Cynthia talks with Chase, a past College Help Squad student who just finished his first year at TCU, Texas Christian University. He shares what the college admissions process felt like from the student side, what it was like to face rejection from a top choice school, and how he ultimately found the right fit at TCU. He also talks about what surpr...

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, host Cynthia Wagner talks with Karrie Sullivan about what students and families need to do after committing to college. They walk through what happens once the deposit is submitted, including housing, roommates, orientation, placement exams, class registration, disability services, books, meal plans, and the many steps students need to complete be...

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, host Cynthia Wagner talks with Danielle Lescure, one of College Help Squad’s essay coaches, about how students can approach college admissions essays with more confidence and clarity. They break down the Common App essay, UC personal insight questions, supplemental essays, and what admissions offices are really looking for when they read a student...

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, Cynthia and Karrie break down what families need to know after college decisions come out, from Accepted Students Day and the May 1 deposit deadline to waitlists, appeals, spring starts, and open enrollment options. They walk through what students should be doing right now, how to compare schools, when to deposit, and what families need to ask bef...

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, Cynthia talks with Becky about what the college process really looked like for her family, from missed portal updates and waitlist stress to Chapman, football, fraternity life, scholarships, and finding the right fit. It is an honest parent perspective on how quickly things move, how easy it is for students to miss important steps, and why staying...

In this episode of the College Help Squad Podcast, Cynthia Wagner and Carrie Sullivan break down what families need to know about FAFSA, CSS Profile, merit aid, loans, financial aid appeals, and the real cost of college. They talk through how financial aid forms work, why families need to stay on top of policy changes each year, and how important it is to understand which forms each college requir...

If your student wants to play sports in college, this episode breaks down what families need to know about the recruiting process. Cynthia sits down with Jim Wagner, owner of Throw Zone Academy and college athlete consultant for College Help Squad, to talk about how student athletes can get noticed, when to start preparing, how video helps with recruiting, what showcases are actually worth attendi...

College planning can feel overwhelming for many families. Between deadlines, testing, essays, school research, and financial aid, the process can quickly become confusing without the right guidance. This conversation explains how the college admissions process works and how students and parents can approach it with a clear plan. Topics include building a balanced college list, identifying potentia...