The College Prep Podcast

If you’re ready to tackle the new year and achieve your academic goals in 2025, your syllabus holds the key! In this episode, we break down how to use your syllabus as a powerful planning tool for a successful semester. Learn how to: Decipher the key elements of your syllabus: Understand grading policies, assignment deadlines, and professor expectations. Map out your semester with reverse pl...

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about the impact of cell phones on student mental health and learning. Inspired by “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, we explore: —The rise of anxiety among today’s youth —The potential link between cell phone use and anxiety —The pros and cons of phone use in and out of school —The benefits of phone-free learning environments...

Regardless of how fall semester went, the winter break is a great time to prepare students to succeed in spring and finish the school year strong. In this episode we explore the power of mid-year reflection. We’ll share a simple 3-step process to guide students in: —Identifying their successes and challenges from the fall semester —Uncovering the root causes of academic struggles —Creating a...

Feeling lost in the maze of college financial aid? This episode breaks down the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) clearly and concisely. Join us as we discuss: —What is the FAFSA and who needs to fill it out? —Understanding the Student Aid Index (SAI—previously “Expected Family Contribution”, EFC) and how it impacts aid. —Types of financial aid: grants, loans, and work-s...

Finals week can be a pressure cooker for most students. But conquering exam season doesn’t have to involve all-nighters and endless anxiety! In this episode, we break down three actionable tips to help students stay calm, focused, and productive during this overwhelming time. From prioritizing tasks to banishing all-nighters and creating your ideal study environment, we provide simple yet po...

The transition from the rigid structure of high school to the freedom of college can shock the system. Many students struggle to manage their time effectively when suddenly faced with unscheduled days and the responsibility of deciding how to spend their time independently. This lack of structure can lead to procrastination, missed deadlines, and feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, we explore pr...

How do we guide the student who almost has too many interests and too many passions? They are likely feeling overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of majors, campuses, and careers, especially in the run-up to admissions letters. In this episode, we answer a listener question and discuss practical strategies to support students who “love everything” to find clarity and make informed...

Overwhelmed by what to do after receiving college acceptance letters? In this episode, we tackle a listener question about the pressure to commit to a university, especially when facing a mountain of options and looming deadlines. We’ll uncover why schools push for early decisions, share creative workarounds to avoid those pressures, and provide simple strategies for staying organized and in...

Imagine applying the strategies of FBI hostage negotiators to your interactions with students. In this episode, we delve into Chris Voss’s book “Never Split the Difference” and explore how its principles can transform communication with young people. Discover why giving students a sense of control and autonomy is crucial, and how shifting from “why” to “what&#82...

Choosing the right college is much more complex than affordability, location, and fit. Join us as we introduce our new co-host and explore how our unique upbringings influenced our college decisions. We’ll share our contrasting perspectives – one of us a first-generation college student, the other from a family of graduates – and reveal how family, school environments, and personal experienc...

In this episode, Megan is joined by Phil Black of the ServeWell Academy who helps students and families interested in service academies and ROTC scholarships. Find out how this former Navy SEAL Officer with four sons — two at Yale on Navy ROTC scholarships, one at the U.S. Naval Academy, and one still in high school– saved over $1,000,000 in college expenses. Learn some key strategies...

In this episode Edward Coronado III joins Megan to discuss his Three Pillars Framework of the key areas that impact college success: learning & study strategies, productivity & executive function, and mindset & motivation. We’ll dive deep into each pillar, exploring how weaknesses in one area can affect overall success. We’ll share real-life examples and guide you toward se...

Building friendships and community is so important, but can also be a challenge. Alexis Moore Eytinge from The Confidence Society shares strategies including: Her personal Bill of Rights Building new friendships and networks in college Developing confidence Recognizing your own strengths We also talk about bad relationships and what peers, mentors, and family members can do if they notice someone...

Join Megan as she speaks with guest, Edward Coronado III, founder of Alma Modern about a trap many students fall into this time of year. This is a phenomenon where students can be lulled into a false sense of security assuming they have good grades in all their classes because they haven’t had to submit any major assignments or take any high-stakes exams. 3 strategies. Newness & excitement mas...

Erin shares about a big decision she has been struggling with. Hearing about others deal with tough things can sometimes help us deal with our own. Megan is a loving support as Erin shares that she will be leaving the podcast. The post 545: Erin’s Big Decision appeared first on The College Prep Podcast .

College is expensive, but there are bargains to be had if you do your research. Megan outlines: The range of costs for in-state and out-of-state students at state universities Private college costs Community college tuition Then she helps brainstorm some cost saving ideas that go beyond taking community college classes or living at home: Finding out-of-state university “deals” that cos...

Megan and Erin go through questions that students ask about Extra Curricular activities. What is the best activity? How many hours do I need? Do I have to serve in a leadership role or is a participant good enough? Which is better–civic engagement or personal actvities? How do we write about these on our college applications? The post 543: The Lowdown on Extra Curricular Activities appeared...

Maureen Anderson from the Sorority Success Academy shares how as a first-generation college student, who after a injury found she didn’t have many friends outside of cheer, she was able to fill that social void through Greek life on campus. Greek life is a lot more than what we’ve seen in the media. There is an emphasis on:  sisterhood (brotherhood for fraternities) philanthropy / serv...

It’s time for college applications! How do we strategize with our college apps to make sure we are applying for the schools we want and not wasting time and effort on our lowest priorities. Erin provides a sample of her College Checklist to help decide what schools to apply to, how to keep them all organized, and the way Erin likes to prioritize schools during the college applications proces...

A listener writes in with a question about how to prep for the SAT/ACT on the cheap. Megan uses her expert advice to go through a variety of resources and help vet what might be helpful and what might be a mistake. Erin shares her own stress with taking a standardized exam and trying to piece together various resources. What resources might work for you? Official Guide episode #533 The post 540: T...

This may be our most controversial episode ever. Megan shares the importance of style guides and Erin throws a fit. Regardless, knowing what a style guide is and how to use one is a necessary skill for any student. What do you think about style guides argument? The various guides are linked down below. APA Style Guide MLA Style Guide OWL Purdue Grammar Girl Guide to Writing The post 539: Short Sum...

Yes, the all-caps is intentional–Erin is a HUGE fan of school supplies. So much so that she even wrote an entire blog post about it ( here is that post )! What are your favorite school supplies? What are the things Erin was right-on about? What was a miss? Let’s chat pens, pencils, notebooks, and everything else! The post 538: Short Summer Series: Erin shares SCHOOL SUPPLIES! appeared...

Megan introduces us to the big one–the Fiske Guide –where you can find a ton of information about colleges. Find out the history, the stories that make the colleges unique, and hear from ACTUAL students. Fiske guide is great for research but also fun to have around and flip through! The post 537: Short Summer Series: Megan–Fiske Guide appeared first on The College Prep Podcast .

Want to get to know yourself a bit better? Curious what careers might be best for you? How do you determine what you might want to major in during your time in college? Erin shares a variety of personality tests for fun (and science)! O-NET MAPP VIA Strengths cards VIA Strengths DISC ENNEAGRAM cards – Erin’s favorite! The post 536: Short Summer Series: Erin shares about Personality Tes...

Megan is sharing a special book that is perfect for those who aren’t sure what colleges they might be interested in. Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope covers some great colleges that might not be known because they are not at the top of the problematic US News rankings. These colleges will provide a great education and a life-changing experience. Colleges That Change Lives website The...