The College Spy Podcast

In this episode, host Michelle McAnaney talks with Sean Dermody , a junior at the University of Virginia and current campus tour guide, about how families can get the most out of college tours. With a longtime personal connection (dating back to when Sean was 5 months old!) conversation is both warm and informative, offering valuable behind-the-scenes insights into what college tours are really li...

In this episode, host Michelle McAnaney of The College Spy speaks with Beth Felsen, founder of Spectrum Transition Coaching , about the challenges autistic students face when transitioning to college. Beth Felsen is the founder of Spectrum Transition Coaching and an autism specialist with a Master’s in Psychology. Beth brings over twenty years of experience in the autism community to her coaching...

We all know that college admissions officers look at your student’s GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars and test results. But would you be surprised to know that your intended major can also impact admissions decisions? This conversation with Lisa Marker Robbins is a must-listen as your high school student plans for college applications. Thinking ahead to majors and career goals can have a signifi...

Join us for my interview with Ryan Palm, Executive Director of the Brad McGarry Center for Neurodiversity at Mercyhurst University. Not only will you learn about the AIM program at Mercyhurst and how it supports autistic students, but we also cover how to research and evaluate these kinds of fee-based programs, how college is different from high school for neurodivergent students and what you can...

Join us for my interview with Brett Fuller of Pioneer Academics , a company that coordinates research opportunities for high school students. We discuss the impact of academic research on the college admissions process, why it makes sense for some students and what to look for in a research program. You’ll learn if publication really matters, how to share this on your application and what a resear...

#23: Charting Your Course Preview: An Interview with Aaron Basko Join us for an interview with Aaron Basko, author of “Find Your Purpose. Manage Your Career” and instructor for our upcoming live class Charting Your Course .  As a higher education leader, speaker and author, Aaron has led four different colleges to enrollment turnarounds and been quoted in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle...

Is academic research an important part of the admissions process? How do you know if it’s right for your student? And how do you find a position that fits your student’s interests? We cover all of these topics and more in today’s episode with Dr. Robert Malkin, Professor of the Practice of Biomedical Engineering and Global Health, Emeritus at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  He is also...

Back to school season is here! High school students often start the year excited to reinvent themselves. Learn how to harness this positive energy to start the semester on the right foot. Today, we’re talking with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities. As a high school special education teacher for over 40 years, Lisa helps st...

Today, we widen our lens to help students connect their education and career success. We’re talking with Sonia Cacique of DiscoverU, College and Career Ready Coaching. Sonia is a student advocate and career coach expert that is challenging the status quo of college and career readiness by bridging the gap between education, careers and the current workforce. Her goal is to help students create car...

The college admissions process is synonymous with stress & anxiety these days. How can parents go against the grain to actually enjoy this process with their students? Join us for a conversation with Lisa Rouff, Ph. D, from School Match 4 U and co-host of Your College Bound Kid about her experiences as a clinical psychologist and independent educational consultant. Lisa works with all types of...

Eighty-five percent of colleges have some type of first-year experience or first-year seminar course. So why have colleges added these courses to their curriculum? Join Michelle McAnaney, founder of The College Spy, while she talks to Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner. As a sociologist, professor and first-year expert, Dr. Brenner is the creator of Talking College Conversation Cards and the co-author of H...

“My kid will listen if you tell them to do it.” That’s a phrase we hear all the time in our work as college consultants.  So why do teenagers listen to other trusted adults more than their parents? And what impact does an expert voice have on a student’s college admissions process?   Listen to today’s episode to learn why adolescents experience conflict with their parents (and why it’s completely...

Got a student studying for the SAT? Today’s episode is a must listen! Join us as Michelle McAnaney of The College Spy speaks with Heathery Krey, co-owner of World Class Tutoring . With Bachelor’s degrees from Lehigh University in Engineering and Psychology and multiple master’s degrees, Heather tutors students across all subjects covered in the SAT and ACT. Her services have been incredibly helpfu...

Join us for an interview with Aaron Basko, author of “Find Your Purpose. Manage Your Career.” As a higher education leader, speaker and author, Aaron has led four different colleges to enrollment turnarounds and been quoted in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Today, we’ll be talking about his practical book full of hands-on advice to help students discover where thei...

Join us for an interview with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with learning differences. As a Nationally Board Certified (NBCT) Exceptional Needs Specialist, Lisa is certified to teach students with mild and moderate learning differences. Listen to learn how to help your student during the third quarter slump (hint: It’s on their back!). You’ll also discover the best ti...

Join us for our interview with Diane Dempster (CPC, PCC, MHSA) of Impact Parents. As a coach, educator and speaker, Diane works with parents of complex kids of all ages to figure out how to allow their students to become more independent. Diane shares the four roles that parents can take on - director, collaborator, supporter, champion - and helpful advice for parents to shift their style as kids...

In this spring episode, Michelle covers a hot topic - academic rigor. As parents and students look to make course selections for the upcoming school year, this episode provides useful guidance and considerations they may not have though of yet when choosing classes. Learn what colleges are looking for regarding academic rigor. Dive into what academic rigor means and why it’s not just AP and IB cou...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney of The College Spy interviews Elliot Felix, author of “How to Get the Most Out of College: 127 Ways to Make Connections, Make it Work for You, and Make a Difference.” We discuss spaces on campus like libraries and residence halls that can help prospective students decide which college would be the best for them. We also discuss the shift from papers to projects,...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney interviews Sol Rosenbaum, an engineer and founder of The Engineering Mentor about the soft skills engineers need that aren't taught in college, as well as various factors a high school student could consider as they search for a perfect college, such as ABET certification and the ability to sit for the professional licensing exam. They also discuss whether se...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks school counselor and independent educational consultant, Piet Lammert, about the differences between school counselors and independent educational consultants, how to use your school counselor more effectively and reasons to hire an independent educational consultant. Also in this episode: *** Admissions Tip of the Day: Estimating the Cost of College with...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks with Dale Troy about the transition to college. They talk about a proactive approach to parenting teens that will help teens develop the independent skills and confidence and thrive in college. Also in this episode: *** Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons to tour colleges early (before grade 11). *** College Spotlight: DePauw University. *** 2:40:  Mai...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, college admissions expert and founder of The College Spy , gives you a list of holiday gifts that teens really want and need. Michelle developed this list based on her conversations with students and her knowledge of what students need both to get into college AND be successful once they get there. Also in this episode: *** Admissions Tip of the Day: Why you nee...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, college admissions expert and founder of The College Spy , discusses the college essay and how it fits into the college application as a whole. Learn about the purpose of the college essay, how to choose a topic, off-limit topics, and The College Spy's tips for writing an effective essay. Michelle also discusses how to determine what part of the application is m...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy , and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss the five types of college application deadline: Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Regular Decision and Rolling Decision. As students plan for college, an understanding of how each type of application deadline can affect their admissions chances as well as how a deadl...

In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy , and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss letters of recommendation. We review where the letter fits into the college admissions process and how, from whom and when to ask for a letter recommendation. We address strategies for working with school counselors, teachers and others to obtain strong recommendation letters and some pit...