The College Prep Podcast

Finding the right scholarships takes planning! Megan breaks down how sophomores and juniors in high school can consider scholarship potential as they are narrowing down their list. Specifically she shares: How to have realistic expectations for how much money is and isn’t available How to identify your educational goals, so you can find complementary scholarships How to apply to the right schools...

Students are hesitant to turn their videos on in zoom classes. What other ways are there to participate effectively in virtual (and in person) classes? Gretchen shares some wisdom from a recent teacher PD she taught. Specifically, she and Megan discuss: the relationship between participation and engagement and motivation, why turning the camera on in a virtual class is not the best sign of engagem...

Student mental health troubles is at an all time high! How can families and educators pay attention to the signs, and what can we do to better prioritize our student’s health and happiness first and foremost? Gretchen and Megan discuss this all important issue. Specifically they discuss how to: Normalize talking about and seeking mental health treatment Re-prioritize college prep (grades, te...

This fall we’ve seen some students rejected from schools where they expected offers of admission. In some cases these rejections seemed surprising. However, Megan lays out why the rejections made so much sense, and what famillies can do to avoid the potential pitfalls. Specifically she discusses: Faulty assumptions that all schools are equally test optional Lack of interest on the students&#...

Did you know that better sleep actually helps us learn? But so many students choose to get less sleep because they are cramming or trying to learn! Megan shares what she learned from the book Why Sleep Matters , and provides some all important tips. Specifically she and Gretchen discuss: Stories from their own lives about fitbits, sleep data, what gets in the way of sleep, and more Stories about s...

[This episode originally aired Novemb er 23, 2015.] There are six common myths and misunderstandings that many students and parents believe that cause extra stress senior year. They may also hurt your prospects for getting in to college. Megan breaks them down for you (see the list below), and tells you what the truth is instead (tune into the episode): It’s too late to apply to college. My weight...

What’s the best way to motivate students (and ourselves) to change behaviors? One way is to teach them how to run self experiments. Through stories and examples, Megan and Gretchen discuss what it means to self-experiment, why it works, and how adults can model this skill better in our own lives so that we better support kids. Gretchen also invites you to download the following related resou...

It’s final exam time! What can teachers do to better set students up for their exams? What can students do to better prepare? Gretchen lays down the anti-cram law with some study tips for everyone. Specifically she and Megan discuss: Why “dead week” is such a valuable process for schools to institute The difference between homework and studying How to organize for final exams The...

Many parents and students are terrified that low grades will keep them from getting into college. But that’s not the case at all! Megan reassures us that there are many options, and provides some tips for how to sift the good ones from the bad. She covers: The ways that community college might (or might not) be a good option, depending on the student, How to avoid scams– the for-profit...

Many students and educators go into a week long vacation like Thanksgiving with high hopes for how to be productive while away from school. Maybe you have a lot of late work to make up? Maybe you want to study for finals? Or perhaps teachers assigned too many projects? Megan and Gretchen provide some pointers, including: How to plan ahead at the start of vacation, to set yourself up for success Ho...

Parents: What if you know your teen needs coaching, but they simply aren’t interested? Gretchen gives you some pointers for how to get them ready to accept the idea of getting academic support. This podcast episode is from the archives. It originally ran on September 2, 2019. If parents have follow up questions about how to convince THEIR resistant teen, please come talk to Gretchen about it...

How good are your notes? Have you gotten “lazy” as Gretchen has? Note-taking is arguably the most important skill academic coaches teach students, and we could ALL benefit from an audit of how well we do, students and educators alike. Here are some questions Gretchen recommends you ask yourself: Do you have a dedicated & organized PLACE to take notes? Do you write too much or too l...

Should you be nervous when you go to your first college night, info session or tour? What should you expect, and how can you make the best use of your time when you talk to a college representative. Megan walks you through three tips for an awesome visit, including: The 3 different types of college events, and what to expect from each How to prepare beforehand, How to follow up afterwards, Whether...

Find out what colleges are looking for in a good recommendation letter, what teachers should and shouldn’t say, and what families can do to help ensure that your letters knock it out of the park. In this episode that originally aired October 6, 2014, Megan and Gretchen discuss all things related to letters of rec. Students and parents will want to make sure they understand: the true purpose...

Have you ever had a teacher who called you out in class? Did you feel humiliated? Gretchen and Megan talk out a recent situation Gretchen encountered with a college student, including how to assess what your next actions should be when a classroom environment feels toxic to you. Together, they brainstorm: How to get a reality check about whether other students also experience the environment as to...

Accountability is a word that sounds dry and tedious. But what if it were inspiring and fun? Gretchen reimagines accountability by telling a story of a sneaky way she supports her clients (adults and kids) to take action, and asks a deep question for all of us to reflect on. Tune into this episode to hear about: the difference between accountability and inspiration, the importance of mentorship an...

It’s not as complicated as you think to identify your college admissions weaknesses. But it CAN be confusing to figure out how to fix them! Megan breaks down a simple process for figuring out how to look your best for your college apps. Specifically she discusses: How to find out how college admissions functions for each of the schools on your list (you might like to reference this article )...

Some high schools are respond to the COVID crisis by allowing students to take some classes pass/fail. When does it make sense to do this, and when are you hurting your college admissions if you do? Megan breaks down the differences between choosing pass/fail in high school versus college. Specifically she discusses: Background info about why high schools are starting to make this choice How colle...

The first tests of the school year are happening now for many students! Check out these 7 tips for how to get prepped to take your first assessments, including: Understand the study cycle. For more info about this, see www.gretchenwegner.com/actionguide Find small ways to test your retrieval on a regular basis (homework? honing notes?) Make sure you have the right supplies to help yourself encode...

Have you heard of the new AP Capstone experience? Megan shares about what it is, whether it’s worth all the work for students and schools, and what’s truly impressive for colleges (and what isn’t). This podcast episode was inspired by the following email we received last Spring: I am a high school counselor. I listen to your podcast to and from work and you’ve become like friends...

What’s the one question we should be asking students, and ourselves, this school year? Gretchen shares what a simple question that is becoming more and more central in her work with students, educators, and coaches starting their own businesses. The conversation includes: Why there’s no such thing as “busy work” Why it’s important to understand the purpose behind ever...

Megan and Gretchen catch up, sharing stories about their epic adventures this summer. They also look ahead to what exciting things are coming for the fall. In this episode find out about: Gretchen’s big road trip in her camper van, including a few mishaps A big change in the way Megan’s family will travel in the future, as the kiddo’s age An update about Gretchen’s orthodon...

How does a student recover from “hitting bottom”, and failing a class and tests multiple times? In this final Summer Case Study, Gretchen shares a success story from a college student she worked with last semester. Tune to in to hear about her exciting about face! The post 383: Case Study – How One College Student Goes From F’s to A’s in Physics appeared first on The...

Many students believe that they’re supposed to “check off” as many impressive extracurriculars as possible, if they want to get into a good college. But actually, there are some smarter (and more fun) ways to think about your extracurriculars. Megan walks you through two student case studies. The post 382: Case Study – How Two Students Got Smart About Extracurriculars appea...

Many students come into Advanced Placement classes with skill deficits when it comes to learning. How can schools help bridge this “preparation gap”? Gretchen shares a real-life story about an AP teacher who did just that for her 97% economically disadvantaged students. Learn how in this episode. The post 381: Case Study – AP Study Skills Class a Game Changer for Underprepared St...