Shift - College admissions in a changing world

How do you make the most of every opportunity while you’re in college beyond classes? Louis Newman is a scholar, educator, and college success coach with more than 40 years of experience in teaching, advising, and faculty development. He is the author of several books, including Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success . In this episode, Louis discusses the variou...

What really matters beyond the college brochure? Howard Freedman, founder of Financial Aid Consulting, has been helping applicants get financial aid for over 20 years. In this episode, Howard shares his insights on what to look for during campus tours, how to approach the right people, and how to make an informed decision when choosing a college.   https://www.financialaidconsulting.com/     https...

Test-optional doesn’t mean test-irrelevant. Eric Rath is the founder of Rath Tutoring and an experienced educator and test preparation expert. For over two decades, Eric has helped students strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and develop effective strategies for standardized tests and college admissions. In this episode, Eric discusses the relevance of college admissions tests in t...

Do you know your teenager as well as you think? Danny Ruderman has been a college counselor for over 25 years, helping thousands of students around the world get into top colleges. He is the author of The Ultimate College Acceptance System and his new book, Harvard Doesn't Care About You, Mom. In this episode, Danny talks about what teens tell him that they aren't telling their parents, including...

What should you actually be thinking about when choosing colleges? Steph Shyu is the founder of Admitsee, a crowdsourced database of college applications, including college applications, essays, and reviews from thousands of students. In this episode, Steph walks us through the hidden factors that students and parents should be aware of when thinking of colleges, including campus culture, counseli...

What if the financial decisions you make to pay for college are actually making college more expensive? Lance Morgan is the founder of Scholarship House, a best-selling author, and a Certified Financial Educator with more than 20 years of experience helping families navigate the rising cost of college. In this episode, Lance walks through how families should save for college, avoid expensive mista...

How important is your college admissions essay in the age of AI? Nat Crawford is a Stanford PhD, founder of Improve Your English, and college admissions counselor with years of experience helping students improve their writing. In this episode, Nat discusses the importance of writing standout admissions essays in the age of AI.   https://www.improveyourenglish.com/about/   Achievable has ACT, SAT...

Why do some students struggle with test-taking when they excel in school? Kathy Hart is an educational consultant at Score At The Top Learning Center and School who has been helping students navigate the college admissions process since 2013. In this episode, Kathy walks through the reasons why some students do well in school but then struggle with high-stakes exams, how to build confidence in tes...

Is your student truly prepared for college-level math? David Blobaum is the Co-Founder of Summit Prep and a nationally recognized expert on standardized testing and college admissions. In this episode, David explores the growing college math readiness gap, the impact of grade inflation, and the lasting effects of pandemic learning loss.   Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advan...

What if the most important factors in college success have nothing to do with where you get accepted? Louis Newman is a scholar, educator, and college success coach with more than 40 years of experience in teaching, advising, and faculty development. He is the author of several books, including Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success . In this episode, we discuss...

What if the college admissions process didn't have to be so stressful? Jill Shulman is the author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness, College Essay Confidence: Conquer Blocks, Free Your Voice, and Write a Knockout Application Essay, and she is the founder of In Other Words, a college essay coaching service. She has spent decades shepherding families thro...

Do you require testing accommodations for college entrance exams? Wendy Raynor is the founder of WRH College Prep, a SAT and ACT prep program specializing in neurodiverse teens. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the International Dyslexia Association of Georgia. In this episode, Wendy walks us through how to secure testing accommodations for the SAT/ACT, what qualifies for accommodations...

Understanding financial aid can be tricky, but we're here to help. Howard Freedman, founder of Financial Aid Consulting, has been helping applicants get financial aid for over 20 years. In this episode, Howard shares how to understand financial aid packages, common mistakes to avoid, and what to include in applications.   Connect with Howard Freedman: https://www.facebook.com/makingcollegehappen  ...

Writing your college essay requires a lot of strategy and confidence plays the biggest role. Jill Shulman is the author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness, College Essay Confidence: Conquer Blocks, Free Your Voice, and Write a Knockout Application Essay, and she is the founder of In Other Words, a college essay coaching service. She has spent decades she...

Finding the best college for you will set you up for success in your life and career. Kevin Krebs founded HelloCollege and has spent the last 30 years helping students successfully navigate college admissions. In this episode, Kevin discusses how to vet colleges, test-optional policies, early decisions, and why deadlines are make-or-break.    Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use a...

Applying to college as a classically educated student and unsure where to start? Becky Priest is the Director of Counseling at The Cambridge School. In this episode, Becky shares her insights on building college applications for homeschoolers, classically educated students, and Christian high schoolers.  Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target wea...

Do you struggle with the grammar questions on the SAT and ACT? Christina Chestnut is the owner of Chestnut Consulting and has been a tutor for the SAT, ACT, and AP topics for almost 20 years. In this episode, Christina guides you through the rules you need to know, how to diagnose questions, and strategies to help you succeed on these exams. Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use ad...

Studying for a standardized test can be daunting for neurodiverse students. Wendy Raynor is the founder of WRH College Prep, a SAT and ACT prep program specializing in neurodiverse teens. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the International Dyslexia Association of Georgia. In this episode, Wendy helps you build a study plan for your neurodiverse student, including why traditional study pl...

Executive function coaching is all the rage right now, but is it the right solution for your child? Ed Antoine is the founder of Antoine Education and has been tutoring the SAT and ACT exams for over 20 years. In this episode, Ed walks you through whether your child actually needs executive function coaching or just study skills, including the four crucial study skills every student should know, w...

Applying to college as a homeschool student has some unique challenges and considerations. Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski is the founder of Orlowski College Consulting, specializing in supporting homeschool families through the college admissions process. In this episode, Rebecca walks you through the process of applying to college as a homeschooler, including transcripts and curricula, earning college c...

Getting ready to study for a standardized test like the SAT, ACT, or CLT? Christina Chestnut is the owner of Chestnut Consulting and has been a tutor for the SAT, ACT, and AP topics for almost 20 years. In this episode, Christina guides you through the standardized test prep process, covering what to expect, how your scores can impact your application, building a structured study plan, and how to...

If you approach the process with a plan, you can save tens of thousands of dollars on your college education. Becky Priest is the Director of Counseling at The Cambridge School. In this episode, Becky shares her strategic advice for securing college scholarships and financial aid, including the types of financial aid available, eligibility, the student aid index, and more. Achievable has ACT and C...

Getting into Harvard is tough for anyone, but with a full ride scholarship too? How? Shellee Howard is the founder of College Ready, where she has helped over 15,000 students get into their dream school, and is the author of both The College Admissions PLAN Simplified: A Busy Parent's P.L.A.N. to a Debt-Free Degree and the Amazon best seller "How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your...

Applying to an art program for college? Hyuk Chang is an Admissions Officer at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE). In this episode, Hyuk shares an admissions officer's perspective on what they look for in an art portfolio, including actionable advice that can improve your chances of admittance. Achievable has ACT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak a...

The top college ranking sites dictate so much of how people evaluate colleges, but should they? Paul Glastris is the Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Monthly and previously worked for U.S. News and World Report on their college rankings. In this episode, Paul explains what the current top-ranking websites get wrong about college rankings and what 95% of students should be looking at instead. Achi...