College Matters. Alma Matters.

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Acceptance Rates 2022 [] MIT Reinstates SAT/ACT  [] Int’l Students want to Stay in the US After Graduation [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor...

When MaryLynne was in High School, she noticed that the amount of attention students received from counselors depended on their grades. MaryLynne Rodriguez is the Guidance and College Counseling Chair at St. Francis High School in California. On our podcast, MaryLynne shares her background, experience & insights, her approach to counseling, the COVID impact, her advice to high school students....

Sachin was a typical high school kid. He was a good student. Got good grades. Liked Math and Science. Played tennis for his High School. Played basketball. Loved video games. But , he didn’t have an outsized interest or passion for any of the subjects. Sachin Ravi is a graduate of University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. As a member of the University of Wiscons...

3 different High Schools. 3 very different types with College Counseling. This experience as a high schooler, has inspired Katy Murphy’s 4 decade career in College Admissions Counseling. In this podcast, Katy combines straight talking with wit to share her experiences & insights on college counseling, how to deal with COVID-impacted changes, and her advice for high school students. Katy Murphy...

Thomas found entrepreneurship at a young age. He taught himself investing and then along with his best friend started a summer camp for 7, 8th graders to teach them finance and investing. At the end of high school he started Portfolio Kings. Thomas Athey is a sophomore at Davidson College and plans to double major in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), and History. Thomas is continuing to bu...

In this Podcast for High Schoolers, Dr. Raines shares how UG Research changed his career trajectory. He discusses Emory’s UG Research Program, How CUR helps Emory, the Resources they offer the Students & Faculty, Student Successes, and his Advice for High Schoolers. Dr. Tim Raines is the Senior Associate Director, Undergraduate Research Programs at Emory University. In particular, we discuss t...

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a liberal arts institution established in 1855 as a Public University in New Jersey. Amanda Simpson gives us an overview of TCNJ, their Flagship Programs, Undergraduate Research, How COVID has changed what they look for in their students, Financial Aid and advice for High School Students. In particular, we discuss the following with her: About TCNJ Flagship Prog...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: GPAs are Up, Test Scores are Not [] California Law to Berkeley’s Rescue  [] List of “Dream” Colleges [] MIT to increase Financial Aid [] Our Guest: Shveta...

While growing up, music was a big part of Aya’s life. She played the piano and violin. She loved foreign languages. French in particular. Aya recalls her transition from her public school in Oakland, California to Stanford as being rough. Aya Yagi is a graduate of Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Music. Now, as a member of the Stanford University Alumni, Aya shares her Un...

A Physics Professor hustling to move Labs online, a college senior finally learning to play chess, a high school senior who discovers her public speaking skills, student entrepreneurs and more.  10 Vignettes showcasing those, who in spite of being forced to be Online during the Pandemic, had something to offer that was positive, inspiring, noteworthy or worthy of celebrating. The 10 Positive...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: UC Davis Receives Record Applications for Fall 2022 [] Berkeley Enrollment Situation Less Dire  [] Princeton to accept more Transfer Students [] Solution t...

Bill Hancock is the Senior Associate Dean of College Counseling at Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Bill gives us an overview of his Experiences in College Counseling, his “How? What? Why? Where?” approach to College Counseling, today’s opportunities and challenges for students & colleges, and finally, his advice for high schoolers as they navigate the college pro...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Berkeley may have to cut 3000 Students this Fall [] Bill to Retain Int’l STEM talent [] Choosing between Public and Private College is about more than Tuition [...

Alexa Sand is a Professor of Arts History and the Associate VP of Research at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Prof. Alexa Sand joins us on our podcast to talk about Undergraduate Research at Utah State, the role Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) plays, the services her group provides Students & Faculty, their successes, and finally the skills and characteristics needed to do resear...

Dominic grew up playing Football. He was in the National Honor Society. He was involved in community service in school. When time came for college, He was recruited to play football. Dominic Perkaj is a graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government. In particular, we discuss the following with him: Choosing Columbia Majoring in Political Science &...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: COVID Drives Students Away from College [] Colleges Start to Centralize Operations  [] 10 Tips on Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay [] Our Guest: Shveta...

Episode summary introduction: The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a College Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Environmental Studies, with Josh Schimel, Professor of Environmental Studies at University of California Santa Barbara. In particular, we discuss the following...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Teachers leaving the field [] Law to Ban Legacy Admissions? [] Int’l Students Risk Going Home [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon V...

Episode summary introduction: Tyler grew up around engineers. Tyler liked Math and even participated in the “Project Lead the Way” program for Engineering in Minnesota. He was a Boy Scout and  played varsity baseball. Tyler Gathman is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. In particular, we discuss the following with him: Choosing ISU Majoring in...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: SAT to go Online [] CSU to drop SAT/ACT [] 5 Reasons for European Students to Study in the US [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon V...

Episode summary introduction: The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with the Study of Medicine, with Dr. Sanjeet Rangarajan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Tennessee Heal...

Episode summary introduction: Prof. James Hewlett first tells How UG Research started at Finger Lakes Community College, the origins and structure of CCURI, How they help other Community Colleges start UG Research and finally, advice to students & faculty. Professor Hewlett is the Executive Director of Community College UG Research Initiative (CCURI) and Director of BioTechnology and BioManufa...

Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: International STEM Visas [] California offers $10K to College Students for Public Service [] Dartmouth goes Need Blind for Int’l Students [] 1M Fewer Students E...

Episode summary introduction: The goal of this series is to serve as a primer for High Schoolers about a Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities. We continue this series with Engineering, with UC Santa Barbara Professors - Glenn Beltz, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Associate Dean in the  College of Engineering, and Kevin...

Episode summary introduction: Kaivallya grew up in the US and India. From an early age she had a passion for writing. She even published a book when she was in High School. While in high school, she also developed a strong interest in Chemistry, Biology, especially genetics. Kaivallya Dasu is a senior at the University of California Berkeley and plans to major in Molecular Biology and minor in Cre...