The College Prep Podcast

A crucial life skill we need to teach our teens is how to ask for help and take better advantage of the resources right under their noses. Tune in as Megan and Gretchen brainstorm the resources they wish students would access more than they do, including: the campus counseling the academic center the career center your teachers friends, and online resources The post 354: 6 Academic Resources Stude...

(This episode originally aired in March 2018) The national average of number of AP classes taken by students admitted to top universities is five to eight total. That’s a lot! Deciding whether to take (or not take) Advanced Placement classes is more complicated that simply taking as many tests as possible. In this episode we discuss in detail the following considerations: The importance of s...

When students grades are lower than you’d like, how do you talk them through improving them? Too often parents tell students to “study,” but that’s not enough. Here’s how to get specific about what actions students can take. In today’s episode Megan interviews Gretchen about how to get specific about what actions students can take. They discuss: How to do an ana...

It’s the start to a new semester, which means a fresh start and one more opportunity to turn the school year around. Tune in as Gretchen and Megan discuss tips for how to set yourself up for success this spring. Specifically, they discuss: 1. How to do a review of the last semester and identify the key areas for improvement in the areas of time management, organization, study skills, and men...

Not every student is built for an immediate transition from high school into the college of their dreams. Megan lays out unconventional pathways that can help students who need more support transition into their ideal college. Specifically, she discusses: School specific “bridge” programs The military-to-college route Community College transfers Four year university transfers Academic...

Sometimes adults forget that being a student is an emotionally taxing job, and students need reassurance! On today’s New Year’s episode we discuss the 5 ways that feelings get in the way of student success if they’re not acknowledged. Each of today’s tips is inspired by a video from Gretchen’s YouTube channel. Tune in to get the low-down on each of these tips, or go directly to the videos that ins...

As we celebrate the holidays together, let’s envision what’s possible for schools and schooling! How can we use some of the changes forced by this global pandemic to create something beautiful and new, and not just “go back to normal”? The following quote by Sonya Renee Taylor has inspired this episode: Listen in as Gretchen and Megan imagine what might be possible, if scho...

Who doesn’t want to make college life easier and more affordable? Today Megan talks with Ayden Berkey of Accessscholarships.com a new site for students to find scholarships and resources that are: Personalized to your year, school, area of study, etc. User friendly and readable Recent (no old, out of date listings here!) Student tested (Ayden is a 2020 graduate!) Ayden shares her tips for tr...

In junior high and high school, teachers often hand out study guides to help students prepare for tests. However, there’s a wrong way and a right way to use them, if you care about optimal learning! Listen in for the full study guide scoop, including: the different kinds of study guides teachers hand out how to fill out that study guide in a way that helps, rather than hurts, your learning w...

Did you know that many of the practice SAT & ACT tests offered by companies to help you study — are fake?! Don’t fall for fake tests! Megan walks you through how to make sure the practice tests you are taking are legit… and will actually help you study effectively for the ACT and SAT. Specifically, she walks you through: What advertisements to watch out for so you don’t get bamboozled by fake...

Parents, have you done an inventory recently of the way you talk about and to your kids? are you 100% sure it’s shame and blame free? Join Elaine Taylor Klause in this interview as we discuss her “coach approach” to parenting, as described in her new book: The Essential Guide to Raising Complex Kids. Also, if you want to watch the full recording of this interview, it will be insi...

Putting together your college list is daunting at any time, much less during a global pandemic. However, there are some straightforward tips you can follow for how to research the best college for you during this strange time. Megan walks you through these 7 tips: Start learning about schools early Do preliminary research online (website, data, virtual tours) Find out how the pandemic has impacted...

Peer tutoring is a super effective method for improving academic skills. Meet Gabriela Nguena Jones, a teenager who started a nonprofit dedicated to teens tutoring teens. She chats with Megan and Gretchen about: what prompted her to start a nonprofit when she was a sophomore in high school where she got her work ethic and resilience from what it’s like being a college freshman this year duri...

Although there is a “standard” path towards college for most students, there are many families who have special circumstances. Tune in as Megan discusses all things unique in the college admissions process, including: how to apply for fee waivers, why it’s so important for the college process to fill out the form for free/reduced lunches if you qualify when and how to apply for t...

Now that so many students are studying virtually, they learning world is limited to two dimensions. That means that now, more than ever, students need to learn the power of 3D learning tools — what Gretchen calls the “Study Senses.” Tune in to learn more, including: an Introduction to how to learn according to the Study Senses The importance of using as many senses as possible du...

In this new age of virtual learning, how does a student build a strong enough relationship with a teacher in order to ask for a letter of recommendation? Megan and Gretchen take on the following listener question: One fear I have is that I’m applying to medical school next year and still need a science professor letter of recommendation. I was planning on asking my public health pathophysiol...

One of the most time consuming activities for students is reading! Tune in to discover simple tips for reading faster and more effectively than you ever thought possible. The section of the book readers usually skip (but shouldn’t) How to skim for the structure of the information so you remember the main points How to find secret clues inside the chapter that will allow you to quickly identif...

Don’t fall prey to myths about how colleges evaluate their applicants! If you have a full understanding of all the criteria, you can better plan for a more successful college search. Here’s the breakdown: Know the 6 factors that are part of the admissions decisions Understand 5 characteristics that colleges are actually looking for (including ability to keep up with academics on campus...

Not sure where to start with visiting colleges? Have you visited a school or two only to get overwhelmed with information? In today’s episode, Megan talks with Danielle Marshall, author of “The College Visit Journal: Campus Visits Demystified.” Danielle knows not every family enjoys the guidance of a college admissions expert, so she has created a journal to help guide you throug...

What does one black student wish white academic coaches would know about how to better support him about race? Recently Gretchen sat down with a former client to have a straightforward conversation about race. In this excerpt from the longer conversation, listen in as they discuss: Their coaching relationship A time when Gabriel had a really hard race-related situation with a teacher, How Gretchen...

The PSAT is practice for 95% of test takers. But for the other 5% it is an important test that qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarship competition. Learn more during this episode about how to tackle the PSAT, whether you’re in the 95% or the 5%. Specifically, we will cover: What is the PSAT and how does it compare to the SAT? What type of recognition is available for students who sco...

What are academic coaches noticing as they start working with students this school year? Listen in as six Anti-Boring Approach coaches share reflections based on their coaching sessions thus far this year. Each one also shares a specific tips for students and parents. If you are a family looking for an academic or executive function coach to support you during this odd school year, most of these c...

There’s going to be lots of virtual learning this school year! Check out these ten tips for how to learn best when your teacher, textbook, and tools are all (or mostly) via a screen. How to set up your space prior to learning Whether to have your video on or off The importance of moving your body Ways to focus your attention so that you have more stamina The importance of note taking and usi...

Although many colleges have relaxed their requirements for standardized testing this year, many students still want to take the SAT, ACT or PSAT. Megan walks you through how to decide whether you should go ahead with testing as planned, or wait. Specifically she discusses: How to understand the fact that most colleges have relaxed their requirements for SAT/ACT Why exams are being cancelled last m...

Welcome to the weirdest school year ever! We thought it would be a good idea to check in with each other, share about our strange summers, and look ahead to plans for a very different kind of school year. Tune in to hear updates like: How is Megan organizing online learning for her 8th grade son, Why Gretchen bought a mini camper van this summer, Why Megan feels safe about her daughter attending R...