Shows
The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Personal Essay (Part 3). How to Write Your First Draft and Topics to Stay Away From. Advise from Vanderbilt University on How to Write Your Essay#099 – Today, Jankel and I continue giving you insights on how to write your personal essay. We begin by going over the importance of the essay as an integral part of your college application, review the prompts that you will find in the Common App, and highlight the beauty of the essay as the only part of the application in which you control 100% of the narrative. We also present 10 different topics you should stay away from, or at the very least, be very careful with, when writing your essay. After the midpoint of the episode, we present you with the ste...
2022-08-1546 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Steps All 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders Should Take Before the December Break. Follow Your Checklist to Continue Strengthening Yourself for Admission into Selective Colleges and Universities#098 – Can you believe we are already starting a new school year? On this episode we explore the steps that each high school student should take during the fall to continue their college prep and finish the semester (or trimester) strong. There are timely steps that must be taken each year of high school. These are important because in many instances, the steps to take throughout high school are sequential, meaning that one has to be taken before the next one can be taken. Therefore, missing a step may keep a student from being able to meet the admission requirements fo...
2022-08-081h 00The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Personal Essay (Part 2). How to Select a Prompt from the Common App. 17 Questions that Will Help You Create Content for Your Essay. The Writing Requirements for Admission into Brown University#097 – On this episode, we continue talking about the personal essay or the personal statement. We begin by reminding you of a few very important facts to keep in mind about the essay, and analyze precisely what it is that you will be asked to do as you tackle this very important component of your college application. Jankel and I continue our conversation by going over the steps to follow when choosing the prompt from the Common App that you will use to write your own personal statement. We provide a vivid example by analyzing the writing requirements for Brown Un...
2022-07-2644 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Personal Essay (Part 1). Why It Is Important in Your College Application. Two Things Admission Officers Want to Learn About You from Reading Your Essay. What the University of Chicago Wants You to Know About It#096 - Today, we begin a multi-episode series focused on the personal essay, that is the part of the application where you will have a chance to present yourself in a way that makes a positive and direct impact in your chances for admission into a college or university. That is especially true for the more selective ones, who historically have given more weight to the importance of the personal essay. The episode begins by highlighting the fact that the entirety of the college application will, in some ways, tell a story about you. College admission officers will look at...
2022-07-1741 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents25 College Survival Skills You Should Learn in High School to Succeed in College. The Quicker You Learn Them, the Higher Your Chances for Success (Part 3)#095 – On this, the last episode on our 3-part series, we conclude our list of the 25 skills that every high school student should learn prior to going to college. Jankel and I talk about the importance of taking notes, what to do when you share notes from a classmate, seeking permission from the instructor prior to recording a lecture, and what to do with the recorded lecture. Additionally, we share plenty of personal experiences in the different subjects we present. We conclude the episode by highlighting the importance of asking questions during or after class, socializing and networking with your pe...
2022-07-1039 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents25 College Survival Skills You Should Learn in High School to Succeed in College. The Quicker You Learn Them, the Higher Your Chances for Success (Part 2)#094 - Today, we continue on our list of the 25 skills and habits that every high school student should begin to practice in high school so that, by the time they transition to college, those habits and skills are part of their normal way of operating. The quicker students integrate them into their lives, the quicker they will be able to put them into practice while in high school, and the higher the chances they will have to succeed as they transition to college. You can access the resources mentioned on this episode on our show notes at https://collegemetropolis...
2022-06-2738 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents25 College Survival Skills You Should Learn in High School to Succeed in College. The Quicker You Learn Them, the Higher Your Chances for Success (Part 1)#093 – The transition from high school to college is one that every student must learn, practice, and prepare for, to do it properly. The sooner that preparation begins in high school, the higher the chances that the transition will be a successful one. There are several expectations that will be placed on new college students by their professors. For example, they are expected to practice self-monitoring, and do everything else that is expected of them, at the college level. While some colleges are better than others at helping students with this transition, it is extremely helpful for students to learn ea...
2022-06-2049 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat Every Selective School Wants to Find in Your Extracurricular Activities (Part 2). Passion and Leadership. How to Present a Job in Your Application. Admission Requirements for the University of Southern California, USC#092 – On this episode we conclude our two-part conversation about extracurricular activities by focusing on the different activities that can be included in the college application. Although we discuss participation in clubs, volunteering, and other similar activities, we focus our conversation on ways applicants could present any jobs they may have had while in high school. The experiences gathered in these jobs could be presented in the application in ways that greatly benefit applicants. We go over several examples of how to do it. Jankel and I also talk about the main reason why students should become involved in extracurricular ac...
2022-06-1448 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat Every Selective School Wants to Find in Your Extracurricular Activities (Part 1). How to Best Present Your Extracurriculars in Your Application. What Cornell University Looks for in Candidates#091 – Today, we uncover the admission requirements for Cornell University, focusing deeply on the non-academic factors. For selective universities, high academic achievement is expected and cannot be counted on to differentiate you as a candidate. Rather, it is the non-academic factors of your application that will set you apart. Cornell University, a school with a 10% admission rate, looks for several factors in their applicants, including character, community involvement, and their reasons for choosing Cornell, in addition to intellectual potential. Jankel and I talk about the ways in which selective schools review an applicant’s extracurricular activities, and provide you with the...
2022-06-0751 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow Commitment to Your Vision Is Necessary to Overcome Obstacles. Also, the Many Advantages Offered by Honors Colleges at State Universities, and a Deep Look at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University#090 – On this episode, Jankel and I begin by highlighting the ways in which high school students can increase their chances for success by overcoming the inevitable obstacles and challenges that will present themselves throughout the college path. This conversation is, at the core, about personal leadership. As the episode continues, we present honors colleges found within state universities and the many advantages found in them. These give students the ability to enjoy the many benefits of attending some of the largest Research I institutions, while enjoying important advantages usually found only in private institutions. We explore Barret, the Honors Co...
2022-05-3040 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsQuestions College Admission Officers Ask About You and Your High School to Estimate Your Potential for Success in College. How the ‘Summer Melt’ Can Help You Gain Admission and Get More Financial Aid. How Many APs to Take for Selective Schools#089 – On today’s episode, I present the meaning of the “Summer Melt” and the ways in which it could help you gain admission to college, while at the same time allowing you to negotiate more institutional aid for yourself. Changes in the rules that guide how colleges and universities recruit students now allow colleges to poach students away from other colleges, even after May 1st, commonly known as Commitment Day. This has increased the level of competition among colleges as they seek to fill every available admission slot. I present a couple of ways in which this increased level of compe...
2022-05-2328 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat Gets Students Accepted to MIT? Here Is What MIT Admission Officers Have to Say. This Will Help Your Chances of Admission into Any Schools, Specially the More Selective Ones#088 – Today, we explore the admission criteria at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT. We begin by analyzing admission information about the most recent freshman class, highlighting the admission rate, standardized test scores, and other academic and non-academic factors considered by MIT Admission Officers as they offer or deny admission to students every year. This episode centers on the one component of the application that is the most important to MIT. Regardless of academic prowess, if that component is not evident in a student’s application, admission to MIT is not given. The information you will learn on t...
2022-05-1243 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat Every College Admission Officer Will Look for in Your Application (Part 2). –Select the Courses You Take in High School Wisely. Taking Advanced Courses Is Crucial, Especially When Applying to Selective Colleges and Universities#087 - Today, we continue our conversation focused on the most important portions of your college application that will garner the attention of College Admission Officers. Depending on what they find on your application, they will decide to continue exploring your qualifications, or not simply deny you admission to that college or university. On this episode, Jankel and I present a very important way to present yourself in a way that impresses Admission Officers, giving you a great chance to succeed as an applicant. This particular way to stand out is, in fact, extremely important and should be part of...
2022-05-0247 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat Every College Admission Officer Will Look for in Your Application (Part 1). Core Course Requirements for Virginia Tech and UT Austin. Update on Our Recent Trip to UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and UC Santa Barbara#086 – This is a very special episode in which I am joined by my son who will share with us some of his observations about a recent trip we took to visit some of the schools to which he will apply. These include, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and UC Santa Barbara. Although his ultimate goal is to do graduate work in vertebrate paleontology, his undergraduate degree will be in geology. The trip was very informative. As the episode progresses, I share ways in which students can learn to think like college admission officers, and in doing so, use that information to...
2022-04-2345 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe One Extremely Important Characteristic That Every College You Apply to Must Have. The Ability of a College to Engage You is Necessary for You to Achieve Your Best Outcomes#085 - This is the third episode in a series that deals with some of the most common misconceptions about college admissions. On the previous two episodes we talked about the fallacy of the “Best-College Rankings” and what research shows is the connection between the level of selectivity of a college or university and the quality of education students receive in those institutions. Spoiler alert, there is no connection! On this episode, we conclude with a presentation of what different types of research show is the one characteristic that all the schools that have allowed students to enjoy the best outc...
2022-03-2752 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWill Attending Highly-Selective Colleges Lead to Superior Learning, Increased Job Satisfaction, and Much Higher Economic Opportunity? Here Is What Research Shows#084 – The perceived complexity of the college admission process makes it easier for students and parents to believe misinformation, as they attempt to gather as much information to do it right. On the previous episode, we debunked the idea that Best-College Rankings are true indicators of the quality of education offered by a college or university. On this episode, we will visit another common misconception, one that has to do with what many expect enjoy as a result of attending a highly-selective college or university. This episode is based on a white paper produced by CollegeSuccess, a non-profit organization affiliated wi...
2022-03-2039 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsDo You Know How Colleges and Universities are Ranked Each Year? What the Rankings Measure May Surprise You. It Is Time to Rethink the Idea of “Best Colleges”# 083 – Today, I uncover the fallacy of common methods of ranking colleges and universities. On any day, it is very common to hear talk about so-called best colleges, top colleges, ranked colleges, highly-ranked colleges, top-10 colleges, etcetera. These designations are usually based on rankings published every year, mostly by newspapers and magazines, such as, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and The U.S. News & World Report, as well as The Princeton Review, better known for providing test prep and tutoring services. On this episode I shed light on the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, the most popul...
2022-03-0438 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat is a Teaching Institution? Questions to Ask to Determine If You Should Apply to Teaching Universities or Research Universities. The Experience Students Receive at Amherst College in MA#082 – Today, we uncover the characteristics of teaching institutions, which in many ways, are different from research institutions. We begin by presenting an article that appeared on the Chicago Tribune, which criticized the state of higher education at the time, from the perspective of the author. The article exposed colleges and universities in which teaching was not a priority, and as such, students received an education that greatly differed from what many students set out to receive. Jankel and I continue by introducing a research project undertaken by three professors at DePaul University in Chicago, which came as a result of...
2022-02-0757 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsWhat are Research Universities? Qualities Students Need to Succeed in Them. Harvard University Research Findings and the Many Research Opportunities for Undergraduate Students at UC Irvine#081 – On this episode, Jankel and I begin by outlining some of the major differences between research universities and teaching universities. We begin by sharing some Jankel’s experience doing geological research in the Pisco Basin of Peru, while at Loma Linda University. We then dive deep into the characteristics of research universities and the advantages of attending one. We also uncover the qualities and abilities that students should have to do well in research universities. As the episode progresses, we highlight the importance of research to the world, and give an example of a recent findings that came from a res...
2022-01-2945 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsImportant Questions That All High School Students Should Ask Their High School College Counselors for Success in College Admissions. Be Proactive and Exercise Your Personal Leadership On This!#080 – On this episode, Jankel and I present a very important person in the college admission aspirations of high school students, the high school college counselor. We discuss the enormous workloads that are placed on the desks of counselors, who on the average are assigned with guiding 500 students through their college admission process. In some states, high school college counselors are assigned as many as 1,200 students. Considering the huge time and resource limitations in which counselors have to carry out their duties, we provide advice for high school students to follow to create the best working relationship with their counselors. Ad...
2022-01-2346 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsEssential Info from Guests During Our First Year. What to Communicate in Your College Essay, How to Get More Financial Aid, Ways to Stand Out to Highly Selective Schools, and More!#079 – As we kick off our episode line-up for 2022, we begin by recapping some of the most memorable guests we had during the past year. These are guests that shared very valuable information in matters related to college admissions and college life. The content we revisit today is broad and covers the college essay, the advantages some private colleges offer over state schools, and ways to secure more financial aid than initially offered. Additionally, you will hear about ways to prepare a high school kid for the social challenges that may be experienced in a college setting. One of our gu...
2022-01-1544 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Importance of College Interviews and How They Will Affect Your Chances for Admission. When Your College Interviews Will Happen, Who Will Interview You, What You Should Be Ready to Answer, and What You Should Ask.#078 – Today, we dissect a part of the college admission process that many applicants find very challenging, the college interview. Jankel and I dive into the details of the interview, which for some schools is a required portion of the application, while for others it is optional or not considered at all. We begin the episode by tracing the steps you will take beginning the senior year of high school. These steps include turning your college applications and scheduling your college interviews where they are required or made optional. We present important facts about your college interviews, and what you ca...
2021-12-2242 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Colleges You Apply to May Be Test Optional, Test Flexible, or Test Blind. Here Is What These Terms Mean, and How They Have Changed What Is Expected From You on Your College ApplicationsEp. 077 – On this episode, we begin by reading a very kind and warm review that was given to our podcast by a parent who is a listener. Towards the end of the review, she asked whether we could talk about college interviews. Jankel and I talked about our plans to talk about that subject on the next episode. But in the meantime, we went over three very important and very commonly asked questions during college interviews. Additionally, we mentioned the importance of sprinkling in information about your accomplishments to the interviewer during the interview, and the need to have qu...
2021-12-1241 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow Selective Colleges and Universities Determine Which Students Get Admitted or Rejected Each Year. A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 13 Admission Criteria Used by UCLA. Understand Them to Increase Your Chances for Admission into Selective Schools#076 - Admission into selective colleges and universities requires more than a stellar academic record. Most selective schools follow a holistic admissions approach, in which they consider other aspects of their applicants, including character, talent, work history, community service, and other elements to get to know the applicants as individuals. To them, it is important to know each applicant beyond academics, and to use what they learn about those applicants through their applications to gauge what each of those applicants will potentially add to the college body. To learn the specifics of how colleges and universities carry out a holistic...
2021-11-2745 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsAll About Class Rank. What It Is and How It Is Used in College Admissions. The Reason Why Some Schools Do Not Use It. How Important Class Rank Is for Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Stanford, and UCLA# 075 – Class rank is one of the factors considered for admission decisions by college admission officers in some colleges and universities. Because class rank is so important to those institutions, it is important that you understand everything about class rank. On this episode, I talk about what class rank is, how it is computed, and how it is used in the college admission process. Additionally, I present some of the reasons why some high schools choose not to rank students. For example, in cases where the GPAs of several students in a grade level are high but also very close to...
2021-11-1438 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Importance of Grades in Your College Application. Weighted and Unweighted GPA. How to Find GPA Requirements for Colleges and Universities. What to Do If Your Grades are Too Low for Admission Into Your Dream School. GPA Data for UCLA# 074 – Your academic record will be the first part of your application to be checked by the college admission officers of the schools to which you will apply. The courses you take and the grades you receive make up a big part of your academic record. On this episode, we focus on the importance of grades as part of your transcripts, and how they are reported as a Grade Point Average. Jankel and I uncover the difference between unweighted and weighted GPA, and the reason why most schools, especially the more selective ones, will pay particular attention to weighted GPA. As...
2021-11-0643 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Figure Out Whether a College or University is a Reach, Target, or Safety School for You. The Importance of Creating a Balanced List of Schools. Analyzing University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Riverside# 073 – After listening to this episode, you will be able to analyze whether a college or university is a Reach, Target, or a Safety school for you. One of the most important things you will do as part of the college admission process is to create a list of schools that is balanced. That is, a list that has a number of schools that will likely accept you, some that may or may not accept you, and some that, more than likely, will not accept you, but you still apply to them because they are part of your dream college li...
2021-10-2953 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 4). Organizational Skills, Keeping the Brain Engaged, Embracing Feedback, and Participating in School Activities# 072 – Today, on this episode, we conclude our series on the habits of successful and overachieving students. Jankel and I embark on a conversation about how important it is for students to have excellent organizational skills to do well in high school and carry out the college admission process successfully. Jankel tells a story about one of her students, whose organizational skills made a big impression on her. That student is now completing medical school. Our conversation also touches on the importance of having the commitment required to acquire these habits. We compare this process to everything that successful athletes ha...
2021-10-2036 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe 5 Pages You Should Explore on a College Website to See If that School is a Good Fit for You. Today, We Explore Cornell University#071 - One of the most important things you will do in high school, is to make a list of colleges to which you will apply. Making that list will be a challenging exercise because there are a great many colleges and universities from which to choose. Although they all share some characteristics, they are also very different in many other important ways. It is important that you recognize the elements of a college or university that are important to you. On episodes 10, 11, 13, and 14, we shared with you the questions to ask about every college, so that, at the end...
2021-10-1335 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 3). How to Generate Self-Motivation and Intellectual Curiosity. The Importance of Your Inner Circle, Developing Endurance, and Keeping Your Emotions in Check# 070 – Today, on our next-to-last episode of in our Habits of Successful Overachieving Students, Jankel go over five habits and activities that historically have produced positive results in the lives of students in the past. As we begin our conversation highlighting the importance of intellectual curiosity, we transition into the ways in which successful students find self-motivation. Inner self-motivation is a necessary must-have for anyone interested in pursuing a worthwhile cause. Jankel continues emphasizing the importance of having the right people in your inner circle. That is a point that I truly value and wish more high school students understood an...
2021-10-0736 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Build a Strong Academic Record. Your Academic Record Will Define How Your Application Will Be Viewed by the Schools to Which You Apply. [How the University of Pennsylvania Reviews the Academic Record of Each Applicant]#069 – The information in your high school transcripts is the first element of your college application that will be scrutinized by the college admission officers of the colleges to which you will apply. The classes you took, the grades you earned, and your GPA, will all come together to give them an idea of how prepared you are for college. On this episode, Jankel and I explore this and everything else related to your academic record. At the beginning of the episode, we explore the reasons why your academic record is so important to your chances for admission. We also di...
2021-10-0248 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 2). How to Increase Your Understanding of Everything Your Learn in Your Courses, and the Essential Role That Reverse-Engineering and Prioritizing will Play in Your Success# 068 – On this episode, Jankel and I, continue outlining the habits of successful and overachieving students by going over habits number 4 to 6. We begin by describing what “owning the course material” means and the ways in which students can do so, in ways that affect their academic performance. We also uncover an often-automatic and very positive action that overachieving students take, that is reverse engineering the many seemingly unsurmountable tasks that are part of the high school and college experience. We end the show by discussing the importance of prioritizing and establishing a system that will allow you to prioritize. In our...
2021-09-2940 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Habits of Successful and Overachieving Students (Part 1). Vision is Absolutely Vital to Achieving College Success. How to Create Your Own Vision for Success While in High School# 067 – In my life as a professor I have had the sweet privilege of seeing a number of students who went on to accomplish and surpass their goals. These are the students I refer to as successful and overachieving. Their paths were crafted with care and their steps were taken with absolute precision. Some of them went on to complete their bachelor and graduate degrees at great universities. Today, they are successful professionals, each making the world better within their own domain. I have also seen my share of students who coasted along to graduate and do something with their de...
2021-09-2430 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsAdvanced Placement Courses. How to Figure Out How Many and Which AP Courses to Take. The Right Mix of Courses to Have in Your Academic Record. The Role of Holistic Admissions. [Columbia University and the USC Marshall School of Business]#066 – On this episode we dive into the details of Advanced Placement courses, including the importance of having a number of them reflected in your transcripts, especially if you are planning to apply to highly selective colleges and universities. There may be departments or programs within colleges or universities that will expect to see specific AP courses on your academic record. An example of this may be Engineering Programs expecting to see a number of AP math and science courses in your transcripts. Jankel and I go over the different AP courses available, the number of AP courses you should ta...
2021-09-1853 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] Industrial Engineering. A Vital Profession Today. Personal Characteristics Required and Important High School Courses to Take. Pay and Job Prospects for the Next 10 Years. Industrial Engineering Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology#065 –Today, on this Career Episode, we present Industrial Engineering, one of the hottest careers for the period between 2020 and 2030. Jankel and I begin our conversation by explaining what industrial engineers do and highlighting their utility in diverse industries and organizations throughout the world. As I define industrial engineering as “Project Management on Steroids,” we uncover the robust activities that industrial engineers perform on a daily basis, from using computer simulation to decide on the best way for passengers to board planes at United Airlines, to performing quality control at Hershey Food to minimize candy breakage on its way to retail...
2021-09-1534 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSelective Colleges will Look For Higher-Level Classes in Your Transcripts. Build a Strong Schedule by Taking the Ones You Can Safely Handle. Comparing Regular, Honors, and Advanced Placement Classes#064 – Selective Colleges and universities want to give admission to applicants who have a demonstrated record of great academic performance. One of the ways in which college admission officers are able to gauge the academic abilities of applicants is by scrutinizing the information provided in their transcripts. The more high-level classes students take and do well in, the more favorable they will be perceived as applicants. On this episode, Jankel and I go over the different levels of classes offered in high schools across the country. These include regular classes, honors classes, and advanced placement classes. Each type of class is...
2021-09-1140 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Successfully Carry Out Your College Plans, Even If You Have Little Support, Very Few Resources, and a Low College Preparation#063 – Each year, thousands of students find themselves in the unfortunate position of not being ready for college, even as they get close to graduating high school. On this episode, I talk about the different reasons why students fall behind on their college preparation, even as some of them do all that they think they should be doing in addition to their academic work. There are two pieces of advice I introduce, based on my personal experience, research on this topic, and years of participating in workshops and seminars devoted to helping high school students succeed in the college admission pr...
2021-09-0833 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents6 Myths About Colleges and College Admissions That May Hurt You. Some are 100% False#062 – Misinformation about college admissions is widespread and constant. And, although poor and downright wrong information is often circulated with the best of intentions, it has the potential of taking you down a path that does not help your college goals. On this episode, I uncover the truth behind six popular myths, having to do with preparing and applying to highly selective colleges and universities, the affordability of a private college education, school rankings, the role that legacy and networking play in college admissions, whether some people simply cannot succeed in college, and the value of community colleges. Using a co...
2021-09-0231 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Truth About How Colleges See First-Generation College Students (FGCS). What Most Colleges Do to Help. How This Could Benefit Your Chances for Admission#061 – Today, on this solo episode, we uncover the default assumptions colleges and universities make about First-Generation College Students (FGCS). Those assumptions aim to guide the efforts higher education institutions make to support applicants who are considered FGCS. They have to do with the applicants’ academic preparation, ability to afford college, and the ability to manage the college admission process and college success. As the episode progresses, I present the different ways in which First-Generation College Students are defined, each depending on the college or organization doing the defining. This presents problems to students who may be classified as FGCS unde...
2021-08-2834 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Path to Becoming a Veterinarian. Our Guest Today is Dr. Jonathan Dear, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine#060 – Becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is a goal that requires full commitment and dedication. Our guest today is Dr. Jonathan David Dear, professor of medicine and epidemiology at one of the premier veterinary programs in the world, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Dear is also very involved in the SVM’s admission board. That is the group of people who are in charge of selecting the applicants who will become part of the veterinary medicine program for a given academic year. He shared extremely important details related to the path to becoming a veterinarian and tips...
2021-08-2647 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] Physician. How to Become a Medical Doctor. Pre-Med Courses and the MCAT. What Medical School is Like. Admission Requirements and Expected Competencies for the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA#059 – On this episode, we wrap up our discussion about medicine as a field of study and as a profession. Today, we expand on areas related to medical school that were introduced during our previous episode. The path to becoming a physician is very challenging and requires a high level of commitment for a long period of time. Students who successfully get admitted and succeed in medical school often begin their preparation many years before graduating high school. Jankel and I have a profound appreciation and respect for the path that leads to becoming a doctor. That is a path th...
2021-08-1949 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Get Accepted into Medical School. Our Guest is Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, a Foremost Expert in Medical School Admissions#058 – Today, we begin a couple of episodes focused on the path to becoming a medical doctor. This is a topic often filled with misinformation. To dispel myths and do away with bad information, Dr. Shrag Shemmassian joins us today to talk about medical school admissions. Dr. Shemmassian is one of the world’s foremost experts, not just on medical school admissions, but also on college admissions and graduate school admissions. During our conversation, we discussed various elements related to getting into medical school, including, the steps to take after high school to become a doctor, whether there are college majo...
2021-08-0753 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow Safe is the College of Your Dreams? Campus Safety Is Extremely Important. How to Check the Campus Crime Stats for the Schools to Which You Will Apply#057 – Campus safety is one of the most important factors to consider when making the list of colleges to which you will apply. On this episode, Jankel and I share the importance of practicing situational awareness, the ways in which the local population may affect a college campus, the strong efforts made by college campuses to keep you safe, and tips for you to remain safe in the college campus that will be your home for some years. We also go over statistics from the Institute of Education Sciences about college crime from 2017. We also share a magnificent tool created by...
2021-07-3044 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Become an Airline Pilot. Our Guest is Dr. Kenneth Byrnes, Professor, Assistant Dean, and Chairman of the Flight Department at the Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Campus [Updated Episode]#056 – On this episode we uncover the path that leads to becoming an airline pilot. Dr. Kenneth Byrnes outlines the steps students must take to succeed in the aviation program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a highly respected university in the country. The airline industry has begun to rebound and is expected to reach the pre-COVID levels of 2019 in short order. Additionally, from reports presented by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing Company, and airlines, such as American and United, we can forecast a high demand for airline pilots by diverse airlines in the near future and for the next couple of...
2021-07-2451 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsStudy Abroad Programs. Take College Courses in Another Country. Your Financial Aid Can Be Used to Pay for It [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]#055 – Today, we share our love for Study Abroad Programs. These are programs that offer students a great opportunity for personal, academic, and even, professional growth. We begin the episode by uncovering the details of Jankel’s experience as a participant in a study abroad program that took her to Italy. The experiences she had there were extremely positive, and continue to play a role in her life today. We continue our deep dive into Study Abroad Programs by sharing details of the program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That program that makes a great number of o...
2021-07-1648 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsStrategies to Make Your College Application Stand Out (Part 3). How to Frame Your Job, the Advantage of Internships, and the Importance of Showcasing Your Personal Interest Project#054 – Today, we finish our series on strategies to use to help your college application stand out. Jankel and I begin the episode by putting into context the episodes that were part of this series. We continue our conversation by highlighting the importance of being mindful as you complete each section of your college applications, keeping in mind that the information you provide gives college admission officers a picture of who you are. In college admission parlance we say that everything you provide your college admission officer as part of your application is the narrative you provide about who you ar...
2021-07-0940 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsStrategies to Help Your College Application Stand Out (Part 2). Show Your Grit by Taking College Courses. Enroll in Your Local Community College and Take Free Online Courses by Top Colleges and Universities#053 - On this episode, Jankel and I continue to present steps you can take to help your college applications stand out. We begin the show by highlighting the fact that College admission officers favor students who, in addition to being smart, are also interesting. That means that they welcome students who grab their attention with their academic and non-academic accomplishments. They like to see applications that tell a congruent story, in which students not only mention their passions for subjects and fields of study, but also provide evidence by listing the steps they took to broaden their knowledge and...
2021-07-0237 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsStrategies to Help Your College Application Stand Out (Part 1). How to Create Activities in High School That Make a Real Difference and Highlight Your Leadership Abilities. Ways to Catch the Attention of College Admission Officers#052 – With this episode, we begin a series of episodes that will give you non-academic ideas you can put into practice, so that your college application can stand out to the colleges and universities to which you will apply. This is especially important if you are planning to apply to the more selective colleges and universities. Today we talk about ways display leadership skills in projects that can be very helpful to those around you, while at the same time catching the attention of college admission officers and college admission boards. As Jankel and I present easy ways to use wh...
2021-06-2649 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHigh School Sports and Your College Application. A Comparison of Sports to Other Extracurricular Activities. How College Admission Officers Perceive Participation in High School Sports#051 – The percentage of high school students that receive scholarships to Division I and Division II NCAA teams is surprisingly low. That leaves millions of high school kids without the opportunity to benefit from them each year. But does that mean that students who do not receive scholarships wasted valuable time participating in sports throughout high school? On this episode, we answer this and other questions related to high school sports. We will give you a hint, high school sports provide a big window through which college admission officers and college admission boards can learn about the character of a st...
2021-06-1939 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] Computer Science. 7 High-Paying and High-Demand Jobs for Graduates. Hot Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Cybersecurity, and Others. Bachelor’s Degree in CS. [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech]#050 – Today, Jankel and I present the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. This is a degree that leads to a number of careers that are and will continue to be in high demand, are very well-paid, and are extremely important to organizations of all types. The episode begins with a discussion on the important role computer science plays in the modern world, and the continue importance it will yield in the future. We present some of the hot topics related to computer science, including, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Bioinformatics, Computer-Assisted Education, and Cybersecurity. Jankel presents the skills necessary for a pe...
2021-06-1153 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Truth About College Admissions. There are Different Types of Colleges for “All” High School Graduates, Regardless of Academic or College Preparation. [Columbia University, Boston College, University of Oregon, Southwestern U., and Miami Dade College]#049 – Today, Jankel and I talk about the different types of colleges available to high school graduates. The truth is that all high school kids, with different levels of academic preparation, can obtain a college education immediately after high school, if they choose to do so. There are a variety of types of colleges in the United States that exist to serve students from different levels of academic achievement and preparation. That also includes those students who had what may be considered an abysmal high school preparation. On this episode, we explore the different types of colleges, starting with those th...
2021-06-0757 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 8). Five Important Steps to Take During the Summer Before College Begins. The Summer Reading List. Preparing to Participate in Events and Activities Outside the College Classroom [UCLA, USC, UT Austin, and U of Miami]#048 – On this episode, we conclude the senior year checklist with part 8. Jankel and I talk about a very important step to take during the summer before college begins, using the reading list that your college or university has prepared for you. College reading lists are all different, depending on the institution, what society may be going through at the time, and other factors that the school may find to be important. Some professors will teach class with the assumption that students read material from the reading list, and the school may have a series of activities that coincide with it...
2021-05-3055 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] Mechanical Engineering. Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. The Interesting and Diverse Work That Mechanical Engineers Do, Skills and Characteristics Needed, Required Education, Pay, Employment Prospects, and Other Important Data#047 – Today, on this midweek episode, we present very interesting information about one of the most fascinating careers today, mechanical engineering. Although we start by going over some quick facts about this field of engineering, we quickly dive into some of the most interesting mechanical engineering projects going on today, including, the construction of a mechanical arm to operate on the moon, where temperatures easily drops to 292º Fahrenheit, the work that Purdue University is conducting in its Resilient Extra Terrestrial Habitats Institute, the introduction of advanced augmented reality into the cockpits of military aircrafts so pilots can practice managing different sce...
2021-05-2750 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 7). Five Important Steps to Take During the Summer Before College Begins. Getting a Dorm and Choosing Your Roommate#046 - Today, we highlight a very important step to take during the summer before college begins, securing your dorm and choosing your roommate. Getting your student housing set up and being matched with a great roommate will make a difference in your college experience. It may also influence your academic performance. We will tell you how the typical process of securing your dorm is carried out, and two steps that are usually taken to be properly matched with a roommate. The first step is filling out your personal bio, while the second is answering a questionnaire with your preferences...
2021-05-1553 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] Registered Nursing. Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs. The Life of a Registered Nurse, Skills and Characteristics Needed, Required Education, Pay, Employment Prospects, and Other Important Data#045 – On this Midweek Episode Jankel and I begin the first career deep dive by focusing on Registered Nursing. We uncover important information that will give high school students a well-informed idea of all that entails earning a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and working as a Registered Nurse (RN). In our conversation, we go over essential qualities that are necessary for a person interested in becoming an RN, the duties and responsibilities associated with this profession, the different patient groups with whom RNs may work, the educational path to follow to earn a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degr...
2021-05-1358 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 6). Five Important Steps to Take During the Summer Before College Begins. Reasons Why Your Last High School Summer Job is Key and Attending Your New Student Summer Orientation is Crucial#044 - Today, we continue our senior year checklist discussing the first two of five important steps to take during the summer before college begins. Jankel and I will talk about the first two, starting with the importance of securing a job that allows you to save as much money as you can for several expenses you will need to make during your first term. During our discussion, we debunk a myth that many students believe about the problems that may arise if they earn too much money during the last high school summer of the high school year. We...
2021-05-1158 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 5). How do to Analyze the Letters of Admission from the Colleges That Accept You. The Steps to Follow to Find Out Which Offers You the Most Financial Aid. Additional Important Items to Consider to Make Your Final School Choice#043 – What do you do after you apply to all the colleges that made it to your final list and some of them respond granting you admission, actually saying yes, we want you to be one of our students? How do you choose the one whose admission you will accept? In today’s episode, we give you the steps to follow as you read the acceptance letters you receive from each of the college and universities to which you applied, and how to decipher the contents of the Financial Aid Award letters in them to figure out what each college is w...
2021-05-0159 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSpecial Episode. President Biden Presented His "American Families Plan" Today. Here Is What This $1.8 Trillion Plan Means to High School Students Who Will Attend College in the Near Future#042 – On this special episode, I pinpoint important elements of the $1.8 trillion plan that president Biden presented today to help American families. There are many elements of this plan that will positively affect high school students who will begin their college careers in the near future. The plan proposes free tuition for the first two years of college, increases to the amount of funds that students will receive through the Pell Grant, and a number of new important services to be offered to students enrolled in community colleges. I will talk about the requirements students need to meet to receive th...
2021-04-2924 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 4). Steps to Take After Turning in Your College Applications. Sending Back Your Formal Admission Acceptance Responses. Ways to Tilt the Scales in Your Favor If You are Waitlisted#041 – Today, we present the steps to take after the college applications have been sent in. Jankel and I talk about what you should do around your winter break to ensure that your application packet is complete for each of the universities and colleges to which you applied. Although turning in your college applications is a huge and monumental milestone, it is not the last step in your college admission process. There are also very easy and important steps you are expected to take for those schools that grant you admission. Those steps are important because failing to act on th...
2021-04-2452 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] AdventHealth Global Missions Program Director, Andrea Ward. The Path to Finding Professional Fulfillment While Improving the Lives of People Around the World. From Community College to a Master's Degree in Non-Profit Management#040 – On this midweek episode, we feature Andrea Ward, Program Manager for AdventHealth Global Missions Department, which exists to bring health and healing to people around the world. An example of the projects which this department carries out is Operation Sunshine, through which healthcare leaders and medical professionals help almost 600 children who lost their parents during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Through Operation Sunshine provides it, the department provides medical care to every kid and cover all medical costs. On this candid interview, Jankel asks questions that prompt Andrea to share important details of what became her professional path, one that to...
2021-04-2257 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 3). Make Sure You Meet the Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements for the Schools to Which You Will Apply. Apply for Financial Aid on Time. Financial Aid Requirements for UCLA and California State University Los Angeles#039 – We continue covering two elements of the senior year checklist that have everything to do with financial aid. It is in the senior year when students apply for financial aid. Different colleges and universities have different financial aid eligibility requirements, and they must be taken into consideration when applying for financial aid. These include, but are not limited to Grade Point Average and number units taken during a quarter or semester. Jankel provides an explanation of the different financial aid elements that may be available to students, including, different grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, and student loans. She also goes ov...
2021-04-171h 13The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] From the NETFLIX Series Last Chance U: Basketball, 5-Time Coach of the Year, Coach John Mosley. Lessons to Achieve Your Goals for College and Beyond#038 – Coach John Mosley is our guest on this special episode. We discuss several topics related to his successful approach to coaching, which has led several accomplishments inside and outside the basketball court. Coach Mosley was very generous with us as he gave us a behind-the-scenes look at several of the steps he takes each year to make sure his players achieve personal and collective goals, that result in success. Although our conversation took place within the context of basketball, the parallels with the college admission process are palpable. Everything coach Mosley shared with us related to personal leadership is ab...
2021-04-1541 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Overcome the Challenges That Come Your Way as You Get Ready for College. The Key to Resilience and the Role Vision Plays in the Process. Also, Jankel’s Story of Resilience After the Horrific Car Accident She Endured as a Senior in High School#037 – Long term success requires the ability to practice resilience, the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Students can count on experiencing difficulties as they go through high school, carry out the college admission process, and as they become college students. Difficulties are part of life. On this episode, Jankel and I talk about the importance of developing resilience early in high school to go through the many obstacles that will surely present themselves. We also highlight the essential role that having a vision plays in developing resilience. That is, the ability for high school students to visualize what they ul...
2021-04-1052 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Careers] The Path to Earn a Law Degree. Interview with Attorney Joel Peterson. The Path He Took to Earn Degrees in Business and Communication, to Graduating from Law School, and Passing the Bar Exam in His First Try. Advice from a Pro!#036 - This is first of our Midweek Episodes, which feature professional profiles of people in what are considered to be the hottest careers in the next 10 years. These are not episodes that will take the place of our regular college admission episodes. They will simply add to the content we present to you. These career-focused episodes will appear in the middle of the week. While our regular episodes will continue to be posted on Fridays. Today, we highlight the legal profession. California attorney, Joel Peterson, is in the studio, where he shares information about his upbringing, the role his h...
2021-04-0848 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 2). Filling Out and Submitting the College Application. Information Students Will Need to Complete It. Details About the Common App. And, an Important Announcement About a New Mid-Week Segment of Our Podcast#035 – We have reached one of the most important parts of the senior year checklist, filling out the college application. Today, we explore every area of the application and provide you with advice that will you avoid some of the pitfalls that, in the past, have affected others at this stage in the process. We will discuss the information you will need to fill out the application, including personal information and information about your parents. We also go over elements about your academic history and achievements that you may have been earned while in high school, which will also be in...
2021-04-0348 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSenior Year Checklist (Part 1). Steps to Take Before Turning in Your College Applications. Making Your Final College List, Deadlines, How to Get Last-Minute Letters of Recommendation, Early Decision & Early Action, and Communicating with Your HS Counselor#034 – Today, we begin a series of episodes that focus on the senior year checklist. We will cover all that seniors should do during that very important last year of high school. On this episode, we will go over the things that students must do before they turn in their college applications. These are things high school seniors should do before the month of November, the month in which many college applications are due. Jankel and I talk about the number of schools that should be part of the final list of colleges and universities, the importance of having a ba...
2021-03-2746 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 7). Visiting Colleges to Narrow Down Your List to Those to Which You Will Apply. What to Do Before, During, and After Each Visit, Questions to Ask 3 Key People at Each School, and What to Do If You Cannot Visit Schools#033 – On this final episode of the junior year checklist, we focus on a very important step all high school students must do in the junior year. That is, narrowing down their big list of colleges, so at the end, they arrive to their final list, with only the colleges to which they will apply. We present visiting colleges and universities, as a way to gauge whether a school is a good fit and should make the cut to become part of the final list. We talk about the schools that should be visited, how to prepare before visiting schools, the...
2021-03-2054 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents13 Things Every High School Student Should Do for a Smooth Transition and Success in College. My Advice After 17 Years of Teaching New College Students#032 - Today, we talk about the 13 things high school students should to transition smoothly from high school to college. This is advice I am offering after 17 years of teaching freshman and sophomore level students, who just a few months before taking my classes were finishing high school. These pieces of advice have to do with having the right mindset, how to manage college classes, the differences in classroom management between high school teachers and professors, and the different expectations that are placed on students since the first day of class. Additionally, we go over different ways in which students...
2021-03-131h 22The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 6). Who Should Write Your Letters of Recommendation, and the Importance of Asking Them Long Before the Rush Begins. How to Ask Properly, and What to Do When They Accept or Decline#031 – The letters of recommendation are an important part of the college application for any student seeking admission into most institutions, especially those that are selective. On this episode, we talk about the differences in requirements regarding letters of recommendation that most colleges and universities have, and specific teachers and other individuals who a student should ask to write those important letters for them. We dive into the importance of asking them to write these letters early enough to beat the rush, that is when most students overwhelm teachers trying to get those letters in on time to make the di...
2021-03-0633 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 5). Narrowing Down Your List of Schools and Defining Your Reach, Target, and Safety Schools. Also, Analyzing Admission Data from Occidental College, and the Importance of Attending College Fairs#030 - On this episode, we will go over a very important step you will take as a high school student who is planning to go to college, narrowing down the list of colleges to which you want to apply, by selecting only colleges that are a good fit for you. This is something you should do during the junior year. We will talk about how to make sure the list is well balanced, meaning, it has three types of schools. These are schools to which getting admitted is a stretch, schools to which you will possibly be admitted, and...
2021-02-2651 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 4). How to create a system to keep your important college admission documents organized and, most importantly, meet all your deadlines. Organization is a big part of your personal leadership and success#029 - Today we talk about something very important in the college admissions process, creating a system that allows you to maintain the many documents and information that will be part of your college application. This is especially true for juniors, who suddenly find themselves having to gather a great many important documents that will be part of their college applications, all with their own and different deadlines. We share with you why this is so important. Maintaining a system for organization reduces the level of anxiety in students. Additionally, regardless of how qualified a student is and how much...
2021-02-2052 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents10 Tips Teenagers Need to Hear from Their Parents Before Heading Off to College. Interview with Experienced Parenting Coach, Teen Expert, and founder of The Impactful Parent, Kristina Campos!#028 - Today on the show, we are joined by a very special guest, Kristina Campos. She is the experienced parenting coach, teen expert, and founder of The Impactful Parent. Kristina shared with us 10 very important tips that parents need to share with their kids as they get ready to go to college. These are very important pieces of practical advice that kids will be able to easily put into practice to avoid many of the negative situations that kids may encounter in college and beyond. This is an episode Jankel and I truly enjoyed, not just as co-hosts of...
2021-02-1345 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSpecial Episode. President Biden's Plan for Higher Education. Everything That May Be Coming Your Way Soon, Including, Free Community College and State University Tuition, Increased Pell Grant Amounts, and More#027 - Welcome to another special episode of The College Metropolis Podcast. Today, we are stepping away from our normal episode line-up to make you aware of important information that will affect you if you are a high school student planning to go to college, or if you are the parent of one. We will go over president’s Biden’s Plan for Education Beyond High School, the document in which he spelled out what he intends to do help students get a higher education. Although the document is lengthy, I dissect only the areas that will affect high school stud...
2021-02-0646 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist. Conquer the SAT by Preparing on Khan Academy, the 100% Free, Official SAT Prep Partner of the Makers of the SAT! (Part 3)#026 - This episode is very important because in it we present a way for high school students to create a well thought out plan of action to prepare for the SAT. The SAT is extremely important, especially to gain admission into the more selective schools. We introduce Khan Academy as that great tool to help students prepare for the test. In addition to being absolutely free, it is the official SAT prep partner for The College Board, the organization that puts together the SAT. Jankel and I go over the best ways to use Khan Academy, and some of t...
2021-01-2949 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSpecial COVID-19 Episode. Hidden Advantages and Threats Brought by the Pandemic. Specific Steps to Benefit Your College Plans During These Challenging Times. Also, the End of the SAT Essay and Subject Tests, How to Ask for More Financial Aid, And More#025 - This is a special and timely episode that will give you important information to help you manage your college admission path within the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. You will understand how most college admissions departments are gearing up for the next academic year, the pressures that are guiding what they do, and the ways that can be used to give you an advantage. We also discuss whether you should take the SAT, which has been made optional for admission into most colleges and universities. We talk about the importance of requesting a Professional Judgement Review to...
2021-01-2451 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 2). The Steps Every 11th Grader Should Take to Build a Strong College Application#024 - On this episode, we continue uncovering the steps every high school junior should take to succeed in the college admission process. We go over one of the most important components of the college application, scores from the standardized test. This is one of the 3 kings of the college admission process, the other two being the courses students take in high school and the grades they receive in those courses. We highlight the different elements that make up the SAT and the ACT, the two standardized tests generally accepted by universities and colleges. We also talk about the differences...
2021-01-1844 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsJunior Year Checklist (Part 1). The Steps Every 11th Grader Should Take to Build a Strong College Application#023 - Today, we begin a series of episodes about the junior year of high school, one of the most influential in the college admission process. There is a lot that goes on in the eleventh grade that gives college admissions people a good idea of the ability of an applicant to handle the workload that is typical in a college or university. Because of that it is important that high school students do well in the junior year. We will talk about the importance of high grades and standardized test scores, especially when applying to the more selective schools...
2021-01-1341 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSophomore Year Checklist (Part 2). The Steps Every 10th Grader Should Take to Build a Strong College Application#022 - Today, we analyze the last four of seven steps that high school sophomores should take to build a strong college application. We will go over the different types of official Preliminary SAT assessments and the different ways in which students benefit from them. You will gain an understanding of the PSAT10, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the importance of the SAT in your college admission process. You will also get to know different ways in which sophomores can create their own SAT practice strategy. We also share the value Khan Academy offers high school students as they prepare for t...
2021-01-0442 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsSophomore Year Checklist (Part 1). The Steps Every 10th Grader Should Take to Build a Strong College Application#021 - Today, we analyze the first three of seven steps that high school sophomores should take to build a strong college application. We will go over the importance of grades and ways students can earn a grade point average above 4.0. You will learn about the first three items that all college admission officers look at in each application to decide whether a student should continue in the selection process. You will also uncover the story that your grades tell about your kid and the one thing no college or university wants to see in an applicant. At the beginning...
2020-12-2933 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsFreshman Year Checklist. The Steps Every 9th Grader Should Take to Build a Strong College Application#020 - This episode is the first in a series that will take you through all the steps your kid should take during each year of high school, to build a strong college application in all areas, and maximize the chances for admission. The freshman year is a very important one. College admission officers look at what each student has accomplished during all the years of high school, not just the junior and senior years. We will go through a combination of 11 very important steps and things you should keep in mind to make sure your kid begins to build...
2020-12-1451 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe 7 Things Every Parent of a College-Bound Teen Should Do. Advice from a College Professor (Part 2)#019 –On this solo episode, I conclude my talk about the seven most valuable pieces of advice I commonly share with parents of college-bound teens, by going over the remaining three. As you may remember, these are seven pieces of advice I share with personal friends who are parents of kids in high school who want to go to college. I am sharing them with you hoping these can help you add value to your kid’s college prep and admission process. Today you will hear the reason why it is important to reach out to your kid’s high school...
2020-12-0735 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe 7 Things Every Parent of a College-Bound Teen Should Do. Advice from a College Professor (Part 1)#018 – On this solo episode, I cover the first four of the seven most valuable pieces of advice I commonly share parents of college-bound teens. As a parent, you have the opportunity to exert a profound influence in your kid’s college admission process. Today, you will learn about your ability to lower your kid’s anxiety about college, the role you play in the college admission process, the importance of outlining every course your kid will take in high school, and the importance of becoming and remaining involved with your kid’s high school. You will hear some of what I h...
2020-11-2937 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Reasons Why It Is Crucial to Map the Right Courses Early In High School, Especially If Applying to Highly Selective Colleges. Analysis of Course Requirements for Admission Into California State University Los Angeles, UCLA, and Stanford University#017 – On this episode we uncover the importance of planning the courses that a student will take throughout the 4 years of high school. Different schools, including those with open admission policies and those that are highly selective, each requires a slightly different amount of courses to be presented in the transcripts. Missing important courses will severely weaken an applicant’s chances for admission. That is a mistake that can be easily avoided by following advice we share today. Remember, you can get in touch with us on our homepage at collegemetropolis.com, by leaving us a voice message, or by send...
2020-11-2350 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsImportant Differences Between Private and Public Colleges and Universities, and How Each Affects Students (Part 2)#016 – We continue our conversation about the differences between private and public colleges and universities, starting with the number of students in the larger classes, and following with differences in campus culture, student support, availability of undergraduate research opportunities, number of degree programs, student diversity, perceived prestige, access to the alumni network, and the likelihood of students graduating on time. All of these are important components of the college experience and can make a sizeable difference in the educational life and future professional career of every student. Remember, you can contact us on our homepage at collegemetropolis.com, by leaving us...
2020-11-1658 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsImportant Differences Between Private and Public Colleges and Universities, and How Each Affects Students (Part 1)#015 - On this episode we highlight the differences between private and public colleges and universities. These marked differences will affect your kid’s college opportunities and experience in several ways. It is important to understand them so that your son or daughter knows how prepare for them. Today, we will talk about differences on how private and public colleges are funded, differences in tuition cost and available financial aid, and differences in the size of their campuses. Each type of institution has great advantages and disadvantages, depending on what each student applicant is looking for. This episode will help yo...
2020-11-0950 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Choose a College That Is a Good Fit for You (Part 4). Questions About Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid. Also, How to Ask for Institutional Aid and Using Your Summers Wisely While in College#014 – On this episode we cover that very important question every parent asks, “Can my kid afford going to the school he or she wants to attend?” We uncover the real cost of going to college and go over the elements that your kid will receive as part of his or her financial aid. We also talk about the importance of finding out the potential aid your kid may receive from a college or university itself, also called Institutional Aid, and the efficacy of asking for it. Remember, you can contact us on our homepage at collegemetropolis.com, by leaving us a vo...
2020-11-0241 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Choose a College That Is a Good Fit for You (Part 3). Questions About Campus Culture, Social Life, Housing, Extracurricular Activities, and Campus Safety#013 – On this episode, we help you identify the colleges or universities that meet your needs by asking questions related to life on campus. We dive deep into the importance of applying to schools with a campus culture that provides you with a good fit, and offers the right type of social life. Our discussion will present you with questions to ask yourself about the type of facilities you will like to find in a school, including, types of libraries, labs, technology, gyms, and medical facilities, among others. We will cover the question of whether or not you will want to...
2020-10-261h 09The College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] Andrews University Professor, Dr. Anthony Bosman. From a Small High School in Florida to Stanford University. Our Guest Today Tells Us How He Did It and Shares the Qualities Highly Selective Schools Look for in High School Applicants#012 – Dr. Anthony Bosman, professor of Mathematics at Andrews University in Michigan, joins us to share his experience and insights on his path from Forest Lake Academy, a small Seventh-day Adventist School in Florida with less than 400 high school kids, to Stanford University. Dr. Bosman talks about the steps he took while in high school, and the one program he took advantage of, which gave him an advantage on his way to Stanford. The program he talks about is free and available to the vast majority of high school kids in the country. He shares with us the qualities that hi...
2020-10-1948 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Choose a College That Is a Good Fit for You (Part 2). Questions About Academics, Admission Requirements, Degrees Offered, Student Population Size, Student-Faculty Ratio, Class Size, Research Opportunities, Academic Support, and More#011 – On this episode, continuing our theme of important questions to ask to uncover the colleges or universities that are a good fit for your kids, we go over questions related to academic fit. No college or university is a good fit for every student, and that is extremely important to consider when it comes to academic fit. Every school has its own academic culture, and that culture brings along with it certain expectations on its students. When there is a good fit between a school’s academic culture and a student, that student will get every opportunity to thrive. When t...
2020-10-1355 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Choose a College That Is a Good Fit for You (Part 1). Questions About Location#010 – After listening to this episode, you will be able to help your kids make a list of colleges or universities to apply to, by asking questions that will get them to pinpoint the colleges that are a good fit to them according to their location. When location is a good fit, it can make the educational experience better, when it isn’t, it can become a difficult obstacle to overcome. Because of that, choosing a college that is a good fit is extremely important. No college or university is a good fit for every student, regardless of how prestigious or hig...
2020-10-1244 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] Dr. Miguel Dueñas, Dean of Student Services at East Los Angeles College. How to Start College While Still in High School with Dual Enrollment Programs. The Importance of Transfer Programs in Community Colleges#009 - Today on the show we are joined by the Dean of Student Services at East Los Angeles College, Miguel Dueñas, who shares with us important information about the new role of community colleges, and the value of Transfer Centers and Dual Enrollment Programs. Dean Dueñas talks about students who have graduated from East Los Angeles College, and other community colleges like it, with AA degrees a week before graduating from high school. He talks about what the staff at Transfer Programs do, including helping students by guiding and mentoring them, while ensuring that they stay on tra...
2020-10-0545 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsTransfer Programs Offer Huge Advantages. Students Start at Community Colleges and Transition to Great 4-Year Colleges and Universities#008 – Transfer Programs in Community Colleges across the country allow students to complete a number of courses that result in a seamless transition into 4-year colleges and universities. On this episode, we describe the different types of transfer programs, and talk about the value they have to offer beyond helping students transition to other institutions. For many students, these programs are a metaphorical academic lifeline and the only way they can get into some of the most popular and respected universities. We dispel a myth surrounding community colleges, and explore the Transfer Center at East Los Angeles College, one of the...
2020-09-2838 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow to Get Accepted Into the More Selective Colleges and Universities. Analysis of Admission Data for Students Accepted Into the University of Southern California, UCLA, and Stanford University#007 – The more selective a college or university is, the more requirements they have, and the higher the level they expect each requirement to be completed. On this episode, we talk about the qualities these schools are looking for in applicants to be considered for admission. These are qualities that go beyond grades, test scores, and academic ability in general, and spill over into areas outside the high schools themselves. We talk about each of those requirements. We also share information related to students who were admitted to two selective schools and one highly selective school, the University of Southern Cal...
2020-09-2157 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] Gene Edelbach, Vice President at Pacific Union College. Important Advantages Students Get at Smaller Private Colleges, the Importance of Campus Culture, and The Surprising Affordability of Private Institutions#006 - On this episode, we continue our conversation about colleges with higher admission rates by exploring Pacific Union College, or PUC as it is more commonly known, an institution with a 55% admission rate. Gene Edelbach, vice president at PUC with more 30 years of experience in higher education, joins us in the studio to share detailed information about the many benefits students experience when they attend a small private college like PUC. Mr. Edelbach talks about the importance of choosing a college or university that is a good fit for a student, the surprising affordability of private colleges, and provides pa...
2020-09-1436 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsApplying to Colleges and Universities That Accept a Higher Number of Students. Analyzing Student Admission Data for High School Kids Who Were Accepted Into California State University Los Angeles, and Azusa Pacific University#005 – On this episode you will learn about the admission requirements at colleges and universities with more lenient admission policies. You will discover the benefits students receive at these schools, which are typically designed to help them strengthen their academic skills. We will analyze the admission requirements at two institutions in the Los Angeles area, California State University, Los Angeles, and Azusa Pacific University. Although one school is public, while the other is private, they share similar admission policies. We will also go over admission data for the incoming freshman class during the 2018-2019 academic year at both schools. You wi...
2020-09-0754 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsThe Importance of the First Two Years of College, and How the Extracurricular Activities Offered in College May Influence Your Kid Forever#004 – We talk about what the first two years of college look like for most students pursuing a 4-year degree and dive deep into the general education curriculum. We discuss the surprising and positive lifelong effects these courses usually have in the future personal and professional lives of students.We present the different extracurricular activities that are strategically prepared by colleges and universities for students to experience. Those activities usually make impressions in the minds of students, which will help form the professionals they become. This highlights the importance of researching colleges and universities properly to ensure they ar...
2020-08-3144 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] Keegan Ash, College Admissions Consultant. How to Avoid Common Mistakes Parents Make While Helping Teens In the College Admission Process. The Importance of Listening to Your Teen, and the Significance of Scheduling a Weekly “Game Day.”#003 – On this episode of the CMP we speak with experienced college consultant and all-around great guy, Keegan Ash from Ash College Consulting. Keegan offers advice to parents and students to avoid the college admissions mishaps he has witnessed through the years. We talk about the important role “listening” plays in connecting with kids and the value of establishing a “Game Day” with your teen. You will be surprised to find that is not what you may think it is! However, it is very important in establishing good communication with your teen in matters related to college admissions.Keegan...
2020-08-2443 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsYour Teen May Need You to Adjust Your Parenting Style During the College Admission Process. How to Apply Intentional Parenting While Avoiding Helicopter Parenting. Allowing Your Teen to Lead the Process Is a Necessary Part of His or Her Education#002 – Did you ever wonder how many steps teens have to take to apply to college while in high school? I counted 15. That is, in addition to all that they have to do to do well in high school and as they deal with the turmoil that the teenage years bring to their lives. On this episode, we talk about the challenges faced by college-bound teens, and the ways parents can adapt their parenting style to offer their teens support they need as they go through the college prep and admission process. We also talk about the differences betw...
2020-08-1731 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and Parents[Interview] Dr. Uchenna Umeh, Nationally Recognized Pediatrician and Teen Expert. How Anxiety Affects Kids Getting Ready for College. The Role Expectations Play and the Importance of Validation From Parents In Their Lives#001 – On this episode, we uncover the scientific reason why some teens are unable to apply skills necessary to the college admission process, such as being able to plan ahead, problem-solve, apply good judgement, and being self-aware. These inabilities jeopardize chances of gaining admission into the more selective colleges and universities. There is a role parents play in ensuring their teens stay on track and maximize their chances for admission. This discussion is based on the following research study on brain development published on the Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews Journal: “Brain Development in Children and Adolescents: Insights from Anatomical Magnetic Reso...
2020-08-1051 minThe College Metropolis Podcast: College Admissions Talk for High School Students and ParentsHow a College Professor and a College Admission Pro Got Together to Make College Admissions Easier for Parents of High School Kids#000 – Welcome parents, guardians, and every person who is devoted to the success of college-bound high school kids! Anthony and Jankel Cadavid, along with guests experienced in the world of colleges and universities, are here come together to bring you what you need to know properly guide, support, and empower your teen as he or she goes through the college admission process. You can learn more about our mission at:https://www.collegemetropolis.com/about/We had a lot of fun recording this episode because it forced us to think about everything we have done in hi...
2020-08-0344 min