Shows
Tom Talks CollegeEpisode 24 - How do I find the right colleges, and where do we start?Not sure where or how to start? Here are the two best ways to jumpstart your search for the University of You. Head over to the OnCampus blog for the graphic version of the U. of You Matrix. 2025-04-2413 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 23 - How do college applications work?The first installment of our Hey, Juniors series helps students take a simple but powerful first step by choosing their 30-45 day "work window" for college applications. A condensed version of this episode can be found in this blog which includes the easy to follow graphic and a nice nod to Dwight Schrute. 2025-03-2006 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 22 - 8 Takeaways from 11 Campus VisitsJust back from my Pacific Northwest Expedition, I have 8 takeaways: time-tested, Tom-tested pro tips for better campus visits and college exploration. Your backup may be a better fit than your top choice.A sunny day on campus is just one sunny day. Comparisons = connections Listen to what they’re saying. Get off campus. Every campus visit is about being a college student. Spend some time now where you’ll spend a lot of time later. Visit early. Visit often. 2024-03-2633 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 21 - Pacific Northwest Expedition (or How I Traded My Credit Card Miles for Campus Visits)It's been a minute since you've heard from me, and even longer since I've visited any new campuses. Time to kill two birds with one stone on a three-day, eleven college tour of Washington and Oregon. View my itinerary and campus visit wish list in the accompanying blog. 2024-03-1415 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 20 - Why Essays MatterHere's the skinny: Why and how much essays matterEssay myths, misconceptions and harmful half-truthsThe real reasons colleges make you write essaysTwo primary types of essays Two quick tips for every writer2023-08-2927 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 19 - Three Reasons NOT to Freak Out in the College Admissions ProcessWhen a Mom asks for your help, you better deliver. Here's something parents can share with stressed, panicky students pondering seriously scary college and life decisions. 2023-06-3036 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 18 - Estimating College Costs with Net Price CalculatorsPart 3 of our College + Money series digs into a tool you can find on (almost) any college website called a Net Price Calculator. The best versions help you estimate merit and need-based aid, and I'll show you how to spot the good, the bad, and the potentially game-changing ones. As with parts 1 and 2, you can access key information on our blog and get an added bonus of "why my fictitious third son is going to Vanderbilt on a sweet deal". 2023-05-0836 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 17 - Merit Aid: Your Teen's Best Part-Time JobMerit aid is the best tool you have to reduce the cost of college, and it expands options you didn't know existed. It's also one of the least understood pieces of the college admissions process, so here's a quick introduction into what it is, where to find it, and how to lower costs by turning in your homework. This is part 2 of a 3-part series on College + Money and just like episode 16 "College Costs Simplified", you'll find a condensed version with all links and graphics on our blog. I'm proud to report that Tom Talks Co...2023-04-2428 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 16 - College Costs Simplified: The 15/35/45 RuleThe cost of college can be not only overwhelming, but confusing if you're looking at incomplete data or misunderstanding key components. In this episode you'll learn how to simplify costs and use a valuable 15/35/45 tool for better comparisons. Here's a condensed version in blog form with easy to follow numbers and clear graphics. Links to the three universities referenced in the second half of this episode are included for your convenience. AlabamaMichiganGonzaga2023-04-0331 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 15 - Creating a Timeline for SophomoresHey, sophomores! You're now halfway between the day you began high school and the time when you'll apply to college. (Really?) Let's do some math. You'll apply after junior year - that's six semesters - and you're now done with three. (Whoa.) To hear what matters most to colleges and learn three things you can do now to prepare. 2023-02-1532 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 14 - Both sides of "no" in college admissionsSometimes a "no" from a college means more than you might think, and it's not just about looking for other options -- although scanning the horizon a bit more is always good practice. Students also get to say "no", but the best time to do so is NOT right now. If you or your student just heard "no", or if you live in fear of that happening one day, give this a listen. 2023-02-0220 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 13 - My Most Rewarding Moments: +8 ACT, Chem Nerd, Cultural Connections, and One Fun FamilyHere are four quick stories about three students and one family all doing amazing things. 2022-11-1517 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 12 - The Low Risk, High Fun, One Hour College Kickstarter PlanKickstart the college conversation in one hour with an easy to follow, proven plan that's low risk, high fun, and includes a meal on a college campus. Everybody wins! For you note-takers out there, here are the four required components: Share a part of your story.Ease into some low risk questions. Take a walk and talk about what you see. Share a meal on campus. And stick around until the end for a chance to win some college gear. 2022-11-0121 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 11 - Test Drive Majors with Four-Year Curriculum PlansFour-year curriculum plans are a simple but powerful tool found on every college website. They're a road map of required and elective courses, and can be used not just to explore majors but make apples-to-apples comparison between colleges. Learn how to find this valuable resource and then put it to good use. Email me at tom@oncampuscollegeplanning.com for notes with easy to follow examples and tips. 2022-10-1216 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 10 - Campus Visits, Cilantro and Rodney Dangerfield: How my 3 big takeaways from 31 colleges in 11 days can help your family find the right collegesJust back from 31 campus visits in 9 states over 11 days and covering 3300 miles, here are 3 big takeaways to help your family when it's time to visit campuses (HINT: Visit early and visit often!), and to find the right colleges. 2022-04-0230 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 9 - 33 colleges + 9 states + 11 days = The Great College Road TripI'm heading out to visit 33 colleges in 9 states in 11 days. Here's why I'm doing this and how it will help your family. Here's the list...Oberlin, Case Western, RIT, Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Hartwick, SUNY Oneonta, RPI, Middlebury, Vermont, Dartmouth, BC, BU, Berklee College of Music, Northeastern, Wentworth, Worcester Polytechnic, Trinity, Wesleyan, Fordham, Rutgers, Naval Academy, Johns Hopkins, Goucher, Swarthmore, Villanova, Lehigh, Lafayette, Penn State, Duquesne, Pitt and Carnegie Mellon.2022-03-0519 min
The Student Manager#95 - “What to do and what not to do” - from a college counselorDownload and listen to owner of OnCampus College Planning of Verona, WI Tom Kleese. He is the author of “Building The University of You”. He shares stories, recommendations and tips and the importance of the essay for students and families on what to do and what not to do. Also, find out what his Midwest students are looking for in colleges.
2022-01-2952 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 8 - Why the ACT still mattersHere are four good reasons you may choose to invest time, effort and resources into raising your ACT score, and why "the ACT doesn't count anymore" myth is false.2021-12-1425 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 7 - How, why and when to talk with teens about the costs of collegeLearn how to have an empowering conversation with your teen about the costs of college using "models of shared responsibility" that are easy to understand and help families move forward in their search for better University of You options.2021-11-1136 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 6 - FAFSA in 5Here's a brief overview of the FAFSA with some helpful tips and a few words of encouragement for hesitant first-timers from a college planner who is also a parent (and also doesn't like to fill out the FAFSA...but he does). Download our FAFSA in a Nutshell PDF for quick reference when you begin the process. 2021-10-2920 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 5 - October Game Plan for Seniors = One Hour Next Week + Five Minutes Every Other DayWith one month remaining before most Early Application deadlines, Tom helps seniors take small steps in the college application process while also carving out critical time to pause, adjust and be courageous as they build their University of You college list. 2021-09-3030 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 3 - The Importance of a Great Safety School in Your College ListWhat exactly is a 'safety school' and why is it so important for your college list? How should I categorize my list of college options? We're tackling these questions and more in this week's episode of the OnCampus Podcast as we explore the best ways to build a solid college list.2021-09-3022 minTom Talks CollegeEpisode 2 - How to Make the College Search Process Actually FunOur first 'real' episode of the OnCampus College Planning Podcast is out now! In this episode, Tom takes a deep dive into how to turn the college search process, which many people dread, fear and avoid, into a fun (yes, FUN) student-parent journey.2021-05-2736 min