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College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Shilpi Bardhan Of Jenks High School, Oklahoma.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Shilpi has a varied set of interests. In High School, Shilpi pushed herself academically taking a heavy load of AP courses, did credit card research as part of AP Capstone. She started a cricket club in her Freshman year which grew to 50 people.  In this Podcast, Shilpi talks about her High School Journey, her interest Quilting, Choosing Math as a Major, her college search process, and her advice for high schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Who is Shilpi Bardhan? Extr...
2024-06-1127 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Looking Back with College Counselors: The 2023-24 College Application Season.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The 2023-24 College Application Season is almost in the books. It is a good time to step back and reflect for the benefit of the next set of high school seniors and parents. And who better to help us than the College Counselors who guided the current graduating seniors through the college process. I talked to over half-dozen High School College Counselors from across the US to put together this episode. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors To...
2024-06-0127 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Rishika Kartik of Brown University: Custom Major Design, Disability & Design, and Community.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter It is not often that I get to go back and have a follow up conversation with a guest. When I last spoke with Rishika, she had just won the Coke Scholarship,  just graduated from High School and was headed to Brown University. Rishika has just completed her sophomore year at Brown. In this episode, Rishika shares her undergraduate experiences at Brown University, Passion for Disability & Design, Research, and Custom Design Major. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors ...
2024-05-3046 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Brian Rogers of CSU Long Beach: Electrical Engineering, Honors Program, and Southern California Edison Internship.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Brian was a long distance runner in High School. He was the co-president of the Outdoor Adventure Club. In the classroom, he enjoyed STEM courses. He decided to attend CSU Long Beach which offered him the Presidential Scholarship and it was close to home. Brian joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the Honors Program CSU Long Beach, The Presidential Scholarship, Transition to College, Internship, EE Major, and Advice for High Schoolers. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Se...
2024-05-291h 08College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Nia Sequeira Of Creighton University: Biochemistry, Undergraduate Research, and Being an International Student.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In the 9th Grade while in High School in India, Nia decided that she wanted to pursue college abroad. She was interested in Biology, Math. She was part of Model UN. When it was time to apply for college, Nia approached Education USA for guidance. Nia joins us on our podcast to share her freshman experience at Creighton, Transition to Creighton, Research, Campus Activities, and Advice for International Applicants. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors In particular, we di...
2024-05-2828 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Taylor Miller-Ensminger of Loyola University Chicago: Bioinformatics, Goldwater Scholar, and Love For Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Taylor has always loved Science. Particularly Biology & Math. In High School, she discovered Photography, which provided her with a creative outlet. Taylor discovered research through a summer program in high school, something that has shaped her education career so far. Taylor joins our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Loyola University Chicago, Interest in Viruses and Diseases, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Overall Loyola University Chicago Experience Insects and Diseases Res...
2024-05-2753 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Prof. John Weldon of Towson University: Undergraduate Research Helps Bridge Academics to the Real World.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Prof. Weldon got his start in research early. As a sophomore in High School, he worked at the National Institutes of Health. He pursued Biology in college leading up to his doctorate. During his post-doctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, Prof Weldon became very interested in Protein Engineering. Prof. Weldon joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research in Biological Sciences at Towson University, CUR’s role, Impact of Research on UG Students, Success stories, and finally Advice for High Schoolers. Topi...
2024-05-2131 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Tarana Pahlajani of SCAD: Architecture, Universal Studios Internship, and Backstage Theme Park Tours.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Tarana’s family love to travel and explore. Touring Sainte Chapelle in Paris, for example, made a lasting impression on young Tarana. In her High School in India, Tarana found herself drawn to the theater and arts. She especially enjoyed the creative aspects like script writing, set production design. When time came for guidance on US colleges, Tarana turned to Education USA. Advisor Deborah Rosario guided & helped her with the college process. Tarana joins us on our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at SCAD...
2024-05-1843 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.NCUR 2024 Undergraduate Research Stories Part 3: College Athlete Brand, Japan Study, Web Comics, and Music for the Hard of Hearing.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter This April, I had the privilege of doing a series of conversations with undergraduate researchers at NCUR 2024 in Long Beach, California. This is the last in a series of 3 episodes  based on those conversations. On this Episode we feature 4 Student Researchers on a variety of topics from College Athlete Brand Valuation, Impact US Military base presence in Japan Study, Web Comics and Music Curriculum for the Hard of Hearing. The students are Mikes LeBlanc of Northern Arizona University, Levi Mahler of CSU Monterey Bay, Sta...
2024-05-1244 minSpace POD (Space Technologies and Exploration)
Space POD (Space Technologies and Exploration)Ep-30 Sea Launching RocketsWelcome to Space POD, where the vastness of space meets the tranquility of the sea. I'm Venkat Raman Patnaik, your solo guide on this cosmic journey, and today, we're setting sail into the uncharted waters of sea-launched rockets. Join me in 'Solitude in the Sea,' an episode that explores the mesmerizing world of launching rockets from the open ocean.In this solo adventure, we'll navigate the allure of sea launches, uncovering the unique advantages and captivating aspects that draw us to the intersection of rockets and waves. Without the distraction of guests, it's just you, me, and the cosmic...
2024-05-1019 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.NCUR 2024 Undergraduate Research Stories Part 2: Hospitals, Medicaid, Biological Tools, and School Boards.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter This April, I had the privilege of doing a series of conversations with undergraduate researchers at NCUR 2024 in Long Beach, California. This is the Second in a series of 3 episodes  based on those conversations. On this Episode we feature 4 Student Researchers on a range of topics from Hospitals to School Boards. The students are Tobi Ojo of Virginia Commonwealth University, Susanna Kim of Johns Hopkins University, Tim Schulz of St. Catherine University in MN, and Natalie Castro of University of Colorado Boulder. Our...
2024-05-0942 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.NCUR 2024 Undergraduate Research Stories Part 1: Education, Voting, and Changing Neighborhoods.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter This April, I had the privilege of doing a series of conversations with undergraduate researchers at NCUR 2024 in Long Beach, California. This is the First in a series of 3 episodes  based on those conversations. On this Episode we feature 3 Student Researchers. Their research is broadly related to Inequities in society.  Our Guests: The students are Lucas Wolk of Moravian University in Pennsylvania, Sriman Thangarajan of American Univ in DC, and Willem Flaugher of UW OshKosh. Memorable Quote: “ And everyone's like...
2024-05-0727 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Maura Jarvis of Drexel University: Custom Design Major, Co-Op Experiences, and Environmental Sustainability.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School. Maura was known for 2 things: Environment Sustainability and an obsession with Japan. She was the president of the Ecology club. She was creative. Good at Science. Math, not so much. So, she felt she wouldn’t be successful as a technical environmental professional. Maura joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey at the Honors College at Drexel University, Environmental Sustainability, Co-Ops Experiences, Custom Design Major, and Advice for High Schoolers. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors In...
2024-04-301h 14College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Christina McBride of Haverford College: Chemistry, Goldwater Scholar, and Natural Product Biosynthesis.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Christina was involved in a lot of activities in High School. She was at Science Fairs. She was on the Tennis team, quiz bowl. She did choir, theater, acapella, and leadership roles. But Science was her main thing. Christina joins our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Haverford College, Interest in Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Overall Haverford Experience Natural Product Biosynthesis Research The Goldwater Scholarship Advice to High Sch...
2024-04-2935 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Aparna Chandrasekharan of 10X International School: Financial Aid For College Study in the US.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter US Colleges cost quite a bit, to put it mildly. For International Students, cost is quite often the primary factor. Given Aparna’s experience guiding Int’l students, we turned to her for a Primer and tips on Financial Aid for International students. On our podcast, Aparna gives us an overview of Financial Aid for Int’l Students, College Cost, Merit Scholarships, Graduate Study Aid, Resources and Tips for Int’l High School students. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Introduction to Internation...
2024-04-2134 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dean Nicola Foote of Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh: Joint Degree Programs, BPhil for Independent Research, and Social Innovation.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Dean Nicola Foote discovered Honors education, when she came to the US after getting her PhD in History from University College London. She found that Honors education allowed students to explore different disciplines in addition to being part of a community. Three years ago, Dean Foote became the Dean of Frederick Honors College University of Pittsburgh. On this Podcast, Dean Foote introduces the Frederick Honors College, BPhil & Experiential Programs, Undergraduate Research, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the following wi...
2024-04-2043 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Deniz Olgun of the University of Virginia: Neuroscience & Computer Science, Goldwater Scholar, and Having A Public Impact.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Growing up, Deniz was interested in Science. He enjoyed AP classes in High School. He was on the robotics team for 8 years, and went to summer STEM camps. When COVID happened Deniz cold emailed a Prof in Dept of Neuroscience in Virginia Tech to do research. Shortly thereafter, Deniz was doing cognitive tests on mice, with touchscreen devices! Deniz joins our podcast to share his University of Virginia undergraduate experience, Interest in Neuroscience, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Neuroscience and CS, and his Ad...
2024-04-2050 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.How FAFSA Delays Have Impacted Their Students: Jodi Foxx of Charlotte Christian and Tom Stepkoski of Westhill High School.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter This admissions season, FAFSA delays have cast a huge shadow. Jodi Foxx of Charlotte Christian and Tom Stepkoski of Westhill High School have different perspectives based on the experiences at their school. In this episode, the two Counselors share the FAFSA Impact on their students, How Colleges have been Responding, the New FAFSA features, and Learnings from this experience. Topics discussed in this episode: FAFSA Delays Impact [] Current Status [] Is New FAFSA Simpler? [] The Learnings [] Our Guests: Jodi Foxx is the Di...
2024-04-0824 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Rayyan Ayoub of UC Riverside: Bioengineering, Goldwater Scholar, and Growing Extracellular Matrix.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Rayyan was working 30 hour weeks while in High School. Outside of that, Rayyan was more likely to be playing basketball or video games. Then in his senior year he took some “sciency” classes, as he calls it, and did well and liked them! He felt Science might be his thing. Rayyan joins our podcast to share his UC Riverside undergraduate experience, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Pursuing in Bioengineering, and his Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Ov...
2024-04-0639 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dean Nicola Foote of Frederick Honors College, University of Pittsburgh: Joint Degree Programs, BPhil for Independent Research, and Social Innovation.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Dean Nicola Foote discovered Honors education, when she came to the US after getting her PhD in History from University College London. She found that Honors education allowed students to explore different disciplines in addition to being part of a community. Three years ago, Dean Foote became the Dean of Frederick Honors College University of Pittsburgh. On this Podcast, Dean Foote introduces the Frederick Honors College, BPhil & Experiential Programs, Undergraduate Research, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the following wi...
2024-04-0541 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Grant Lai of UC Irvine: Chemistry & Biology, Goldwater Scholar, and Antibiotics UG Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Swimming took up a lot of Grant’s time in high school. So he had little time to think about his career and beyond. He did get interested in Biology later in high school, and was involved in Biology competitions. Grant joins our podcast to share his UC Irvine undergraduate experience, UG Research in Antibiotics, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Pursuing in Chemistry, and his Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Overall Undergraduate Experience UG Research in Antibiotics The G...
2024-03-3044 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Chris Boehm of Archmere Academy on College Counseling: It’s About The Student, Not About A College.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter While he was in grad school, Chris Boehm applied for a College Admissions job at Albright College after seeing an ad in the Newspaper.Chris didn’t get that job, but the job description intrigued him. So, he cold emailed the President of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling. The President invited him for a chat and connected him with 3 College Admissions professionals. One of them was the Director of Admissions at Albright.  Things worked out better this time, and Chris started as a summe...
2024-03-2742 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Paula Dennis of Jenks High School: About College Campus Visits and Shilpi Bardhan’s Experiences.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter College Campus Visits are a crucial part of the College Process. It is a great way to get a feel for College in general, and certainly can help you, if that college is of particular interest to you. Paula Dennis joins our podcast to share her insights into College Campus Visits, The Benefits, How to Plan for them, Senior Shilpi Bardhan on her Fly-in Experiences and Advice for Juniors. In particular, we discuss the following with them:  The Importance of College Campus Visits Wha...
2024-03-1832 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dr. Savita Chakravarthy of 10X International School: Where Innovation & Experiential Learning Meld into the High School Curriculum.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter When Dr. Chakravarthy was deciding what to study in college, she chose Physics because her father wanted her to. Left to herself, she would have pursued Nutrition and Dietetics. Today, decades later, she heads 10X International School, where Experiential Programs allow the High Schoolers to explore and experience different disciplines & ideas,  do research, build products, and in the process get a really good idea of what college program or career they want to pursue. Dr. Chakravarthy joins us on our podcast to share her educational bac...
2024-03-1452 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Phillip Post of Olin College: Electrical Computer Engineering, Goldwater Scholarship, and Satellite Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Phillip liked to build things. Like growing popsicle sticks in elementary school. Technology fascinated him. At the same time he loved Humanities. He loved History. When he started applying to Colleges, he hadn’t figured out whether he wanted to take the Liberal Arts route or pursue Engineering. Phillip joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Olin College, Researching Government databases, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Internship at FCC, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  ...
2024-03-0858 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.CUR STR Scholars 2024: NASA Minds, Hydroponics, Captive Polar Bear Diet and Other UG Research Stories.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter This is a special episode of the Podcast “College Matters. Alma Matters.”, featuring UG students from CUR’s Program called Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) 2024. In this episode, Student Researchers from Five Institutions, Mercer University, McLennan Community College, University of Rochester, Piedmont University, and Towson University, tell their stories. Topics discussed in this episode: Introduction [] Mercer University UG Research [] Mclennan Community College UG Research [] U of Rochester UG Research [] Piedmont University UG Research [] Towson University UG Research [] Our Guests: Undergraduate Researchers and Faculty Mentors Me...
2024-03-0548 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dr. Deborah Rosario, Senior EducationUSA Adviser: A Relationship Approach to College Counseling.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter When Deborah was doing her PhD in the UK, she would help International students transition to studying and living in another country. She liked working with students individually and broadly. After graduating she came back to Mumbai, and found that the kind of academic roles she desired were in short supply. So when the Adviser opportunity at EducationUSA came up, she felt she was ready for it. On our Podcast, Deborah talks about her background, Experience as EducationUSA Adviser, her Counseling approach, Challenges, Su...
2024-02-2656 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Jillian Paulin of Colgate University: Astronomy Physics, Goldwater Scholar, and Dark Matter Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Jillian was an ambitious and competitive High Schooler. She was very interested in Science and in music. She spent her sophomore and junior summers at Harvard and Brown studying Astro and Quantum Mechanics. But Jillian knew from a very young age that she wanted to do something with Astronomy in College. Jillian joins our podcast to share journey through Colgate University, Interest in Astronomy, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Dark Matter Research, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  ...
2024-02-2337 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dartmouth & Rethinking Test Optional in College News Fit to Digest. February 19, 2024.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: The Dartmouth Decision  [] What Should Students Do? [] How Colleges Use Test Scores[] Closing Thoughts [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] The Hill [] The New York Times [] Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: Follow us...
2024-02-2013 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Adriana Cuibus of Skidmore College: Biochemistry, Goldwater Scholar, and The Computational World.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Adriana came to the US when she was 10 years old from Romania. While she had a lot of catching up to do, her determination and competitive spirit helped her. She was a science nerd in high school. She loved Earth Science, Geology & Biology. She was into Languages, Music, Photography. She was also on the Varsity Tennis team. Adriana cut her teeth in research at a 2-year research program in her High School. Above all, she really wanted to be a doctor! Adriana jo...
2024-02-1056 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Director Sandra Perez of CSU Long Beach University Honors Program: Interdisciplinary Classroom Experiences.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The University Honors Program at CSULB has been around for at least 3 decades and has grown organically. 3 years ago, Dr. Perez became the first Director of the Honors Program and started to give it “cohesion” as she puts it. Prior to that, Dr. Perez was the Director of the University Honors Program at CSU Fullerton. In this podcast, Director Perez introduces the University Honors Program at CSU Long Beach, Honors Courses, Experiential Programs, How to Apply, Scholarships and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the fo...
2024-02-0744 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Undergraduate Students: Why they Do Research and More.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Undergraduate students in US Colleges have the opportunity to do Research.  I have been fortunate enough to talk to a number of these students over the last couple of years on my Podcast. In this episode, I have used select snippets from the numerous stories in this Podcast, to give you a flavor of undergraduate research at US Universities and Colleges. Topics discussed in this episode: Introduction [] Getting Started with UG Research [] Examples of the Research [] Impact of Research [] Our Guests: College Students and Alumni featured on our Podcast over the last 3 years. Epi...
2024-02-0119 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Kaitlyn Hung of Northwestern: Biological Sciences, Goldwater Scholar, and Research on Aging.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kaitlyn had a lot of different interests in High School. She was a lot into sports - rowing, taekwondo. She loved math, sciences, and languages. She didn’t really know what she wanted to study in College. So, she was looking for a college with the opportunity to study across a number of disciplines and be able to interact with students from fields other than her own. Kaitlyn joins our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Northwestern, UG Research in Aging, Winning the Gold...
2024-01-3038 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.UVM Vice Provost Jacobs on FAFSA Delays & ED Students, in College News Fit to Digest. January 22, 2024.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. This week Dr. Jay Jacobs, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont talks about the Impact of the FAFSA Delays. Topics discussed in this episode: Impact to UVM [] What Should ED Students do? [] Federal Roadblocks [] Advice for ED Students [] Is May 1 Deadline in Trouble? [] Our Guest: Jay Jacobs is the Vice Provost Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont. Jay has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Lawrence Univ...
2024-01-2312 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Gabrielle Cruz of SUNY Fredonia: Molecular Genetics, Goldwater Scholar, and Regeneration Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Gabrielle loved school. She loved science. Her school years were tough because she used to be homeless off and on.  Despite that, she graduated High School with Honors. After graduating from high school, she knew she wanted to get a Bachelor’s degree. She couldn’t afford it then. She worked 16-hour days, and 4 years later decided to study Nursing at Mercyhurst University in PA. Gabrielle joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey, starting at Mercyhurst, Transferring to SUNY Fredonia, UG Rese...
2024-01-1952 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Allison North, Regional Associate Director at UVM: Recruiting and Establishing UVM’s Brand in the South.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Founded in 1791, the University of Vermont (UVM for short) has the distinction of being the 5th oldest university in the US. Allison graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in Sports Administration. Upon graduation, she found it challenging to find a job. A friend from the Sports department suggested she look at admissions recruiting at the College of Agriculture and Liberal Sciences at Mississippi State. She loved to travel and recruit. That launched Allison in College Admissions. In this podcast, Allison gives us an ov...
2024-01-1428 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Daniel Cudzich of UI Urbana-Champaign: Material Science & Engineering, Goldwater Scholarship, and Battery Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Daniel took all the AP Classes his High School offered. He loved AP US History. He was also very active in the Science Olympiad and really enjoyed it because it involved building things. He was also fortunate to have been in a high school where there was a class dedicated to doing research. It was here that Daniel cut his teeth in research, and got his hands dirty doing Battery technology. Daniel joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at UIUC, Battery Research, Winning th...
2024-01-1053 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.The Meaning of The FAFSA Delays, in College News Fit to Digest. January 5, 2024.Episode Title: The Meaning of The FAFSA Delays, in College News Fit to Digest. January 5, 2024. Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: The Background [] Soft Launch [] Glitches and Changes [] End of January Delivery [] Limited Application Availability [] How Colleges Will Deal With the Delay [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode:...
2024-01-0613 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Megan Mitchem of UNC at Charlotte: Biology, Goldwater Scholar, and The Need to Keep Going.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Megan was working full time while she was in High School. She found it challenging to balance school and full time work. Megan didn’t go directly to College after High School.  She had a lot of fear and also lacked the confidence then, about going to college. After working in Health care for almost a decade, Megan joined the Gaston Community College in North Carolina to get a 2-year degree in Nursing. Little did Megan know where college would take her. Megan joins our p...
2024-01-0442 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Gavin Fry of Dartmouth College: Earth Sciences with Physics, Goldwater Scholarship, and Storm Spotting.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Gavin went to a high school in the rural south where the focus was greater on athletics & sports. Gavin was more academically inclined. He was fascinated by Extreme Weather - tornadoes, damaging winds, snow storms etc. He was known as the weather guy in school! Gavin joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Dartmouth, Being a Storm Spotter, Volunteering at National Weather Service, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Earth Sciences, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we di...
2023-12-061h 14College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Isabella Osuna of Rice University: Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Autoimmune Disease Research, and Determination.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter AP Physics was the first course Isabella took in High School that challenged her. It really pushed her to think outside the box. Then a senior project opened her eyes to diseases that affected not only the elderly but young people as well. That got her thinking about college and Pre Med. Isabella joins us on our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Rice, Transition to college, Autoimmune Disease UG Research, Impact of Research, and Advice for High Schoolers.  In particular, we discuss the...
2023-11-3037 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.John Georgiades of WashU: Biochemistry, UG Research & Goldwater Scholarship, and Music.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter John calls himself an “average nerd” while in High School. He enjoyed learning and Chemistry was his favorite class. In addition to classes, he was into debate, was in the school orchestra, concertmaster for the local youth symphony. Since he loved science and liked helping people, he decided to be Pre Med in college. John joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at WashU, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Moving away from Pre Med, Majoring in Biochemistry, and Advice for High Schoolers. In p...
2023-11-2649 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.What is Rolling Admissions?, in College News Fit to Digest. November 17, 2023.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: What is Rolling Admissions? [] Which Colleges Offer RA? [] Is there a Good Time or Best Time to Apply? [] Are Rolling Admissions Binding? [] Are there any Downsides? [] Closing: Great Honors Programs too! [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] USNews [] ...
2023-11-1710 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Tom Stepkoski With Seniors from Westhill High School: A Workshop Using This Podcast’s Stories to Build College Lists.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In the Spring of 2023, Tom conducted a special workshop at Westhill High School. In this episode, we talk to Tom & 3 Students, Melissa, Anne and Chelsea, from the Workshop, Motivated by his experiences and based on our discussions, Tom decided to pilot a workshop for rising seniors using episodes from this Podcast to build college lists. On our podcast, Tom talks about Why he created the Workshop, its structure, the content, Classroom discussions, and 3 Students share their experience with the Workshop. (If you would like th...
2023-11-1350 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Lewis Cardenas of EducationUSA REAC: Connecting International Students with Educational Opportunities in the US.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter “International”  has always been a part of Lewis’s vocabulary. He was the first International Studies major at Albion College. He had lots of International Student friends on campus & loved traveling.  That has led him to opportunities in international recruiting, admissions over the last 15 years. Today, Lewis is the Regional Manager for South Asia with EducationUSA REAC based in New Delhi, India. On our podcast, Lewis talks about his background, EducationUSA, His Role, How it helps International Students,  Education Advisors, 5-Step Process, International Student Tre...
2023-11-0942 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Tanner Zachem of Duke University: Mechanical Engineering & Neurosurgery, Goldwater Scholar, and Ugly Mustaches.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, snowboarding and photography were Tanner’s passions. He would have loved to do that for the rest of his life. Then towards the end of  his sophomore year, his architecture teacher involved him in building an engineering program for his school. Tanner found himself hooked on engineering - the idea of building things, touching people and making life better.  Tanner joins our podcast to share his Duke University undergraduate experience, Interest in Neurosurgery, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Applying Engineering for Medicine, and hi...
2023-11-0752 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dean Paula Marantz Cohen of Drexel University Pennoni Honors College: Where Students Engage, Think and Talk.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The Honors Programs at Drexel U started in 1991, and became the Pennoni Honors College in 2002. 10 years ago, Prof Cohen became the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College. Dr. Cohen is a Distinguished English Professor, a writer, a novelist.  On this Podcast, Dean Cohen introduces the Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Experiential Programs including the Co-Op, Scholarships & Grants, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Dean Paula Marantz Cohen’s Background Pennoni Honors College Student Requirements Career Opport...
2023-10-3147 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Erick Rocher of Johns Hopkins University: Biomedical Engineering, Goldwater Scholarship, and Recharging by Wrestling.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Erick pursued a lot of interests in High School which included marching band, wrestling and volunteering at Give the Kids the world. But Engineering always interested him, because his dad was an engineer. He just wasn’t sure what kind of engineering. In middle school a friend of his fought through cancer. He is doing well now. Seeing his friend go through that journey, inspired Erick to leverage engineering to find better medical treatments. Erick joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Johns Hopk...
2023-10-2648 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.5 FAFSA Questions Answered, in College News Fit to Digest. October 16, 2023.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Why Apply to FAFSA? [] What Kind of Financial Aid Can You Get By Filling FAFSA? [] When is FAFSA Due? [] Will I still be Eligible, if my parents don’t provide their financial info? [] Do I reapply for FAFSA every year of college? [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to i...
2023-10-1911 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Bobbi-Jo Wathen of Middletown High School on College Counseling: Taking a Data-Driven Approach.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Bobbi-Jo started in higher education after her undergraduate degree. While she enjoyed her work, the money wasn’t enough. So she took a detour through the Insurance Industry. After the crash of 2008, Bobbi-Jo decided to take an “Interest Inventory” and figure out her next career move. That pointed her to School Counseling. Bobbi-Jo went to grad school and became a high school counselor. 12 years later, she is the Director of School Counseling at Middletown High School. On our podcast, Bobbi-Jo talks about her backgrou...
2023-10-1840 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Hanh Tran of NC State University: Goldwater Scholar, Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences, and Diseases Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School Hanh wasn’t very focused on academics. While STEM came naturally to her, she was more interested in relationships with people. After high school, she joined Nursing School, but soon dropped out because of personal and financial hardships. After working a number of years and saving up some money, Hanh decided to enroll in a local Community College for a Trigonometry course. Hanh joins our podcast to share her road to undergraduate college, Dropping out of Nursing School, Going back to a Co...
2023-10-1243 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Paula Dennis of Jenks High School on College Counseling: Being The Encourager.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Education was always important to Paula’s family. So, she did her Master’s in School Counseling and became a School Counselor. Over the years Paula has worked as a Counselor in 4 states, both, in private and public schools.  Today, she is a College Counselor at Jenks High School, which she calls the “very best” Oklahoma. On our podcast, Paula talks about her background, about Jenks High School, her Counseling Approach and Challenges, Success Stories, and her Advice for High School students. In particular...
2023-10-0947 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Haylie Schramm of CU Boulder: Political Science & Psychology, Studio Lab, and UG Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Haylie was very interested in STEM. She did a lot of research, experiments, poring over research papers. In her senior year, she found herself moving away from STEM into Political Science and Psychology.  Haylie joins us on our podcast to share her UG Experience at CU Boulder, Studio Lab, UG Research, Climbing, and Advice for High Schoolers.  In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Overall Experience at CU Boulder Studio Lab & UG Research Majoring in Political Science & Psychology Advice to High Schoo...
2023-10-0535 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Lea Kalkowski of Northwestern: Psychology & Social Policy, Matriculate Advising Fellow, and Helping People.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Lea was interested in a variety of activities. Her driving passion had to do with helping people. Her Chemistry teacher told her Chemistry was her future and she should pursue it. She joined college as an undeclared major, with the idea of pursuing Chemistry. That would soon change! Lea joins our podcast to share her undergraduate College journey at Northwestern so far, Role at Matriculate, Counseling College-bound Students, and her Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the fo...
2023-10-0239 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dr. Anna Quider of University of Pittsburgh: Physics and Astronomy & Religious Studies, Goldwater & Marshall Scholar, and Science & Higher Ed Policy.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Anna enjoyed learning in school.  When Anna was in 8th grade, in her Earth Science class, the teacher told the class that the Universe is expanding! That fact completely captivated Anna and launched  her interest in Astronomy and Physics in high school. Anna was socially engaged in school as well. Her crowning achievement was being high school valedictorian & being voted Senior Prom Queen! Anna  joins our podcast to share her University of Pittsburgh undergraduate journey, Interest in Astronomy, UG Research on Quasars, Winning the Goldw...
2023-09-271h 03College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Paul Destefano of SDSU Weber Honors College: Pre Med Biology, UG Research, and APPHO.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Paul had a well-rounded experience in High School. He loved the Sciences and took every science course offered in school. He had a number of leadership positions in the  student government. He was on the soccer team, track team, and managed the girls soccer team. From a career point of view, he was interested in medicine.  Paul joins our podcast to share his undergraduate Honors College journey so far at SDSU, UG Research, Passion for Medicine, and Advice for High Schoolers. In part...
2023-09-2238 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dr. Anil Menon of the University of Cincinnati: Adventures of a Molecular Geneticist.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter As a kid, Science for Dr Anil Menon was a dinner table conversation with his parents, who were both scientists. Dr Menon enjoyed those discussions. As a young boy, he was fascinated with Mendeleev’s Periodic Table of the Elements. This fascination led to his lifelong commitment for science in general, and Molecular Genetics in particular. Dr. Anil Menon is Professor of Molecular Genetics & Associate Dean of the UG Program in Medical Sciences. In this Podcast, Dr. Menon reflects on his journey into the then...
2023-09-191h 00College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Waiting For The New FAFSA, in College News Fit to Digest. September 11, 2023.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: What’s New in FAFSA [] OPT Changes [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] CNBC [] National Law Review [] Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any...
2023-09-1414 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Derek Price of Kennesaw State University: Mechanical Engineering, Goldwater Scholarship, and Wrestling.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Derek’s high schools changed quite frequently. Despite that he loved school and enjoyed science and math, and engaged in activities like Robotics. About half way through high school, Derek realized that he would need scholarships to go to college. He then mapped out a plan to raise his aggregate GPA & achieved it to qualify for the Zell-Miller scholarship that would pay for all his college tuition. Derek joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Kennesaw State University, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scho...
2023-09-1250 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.College Application Workbook: Step-By-Step Guide to A Holistic and Compelling Presentation of Your Best Self.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In this episode we will introduce you to a College Application Workbook. The impetus for this workbook came after I wrote a piece in my newsletter Alma Matters Letter last fall about how college application readers have about 8 mins to read an application. In this Podcast with Athena, we cover, What is Self-Phrase and How to Create Your own Self-Phrase; The Workbook Sections - which include Superpower, Academics, Experiential, Testimony and Fit, and Guidance using Ian’s Story as an example. You can find the Work...
2023-09-0544 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Aparna Chandrasekharan of 10X International School on College Counseling and EducationUSA.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter While Aparna was working in the Social Development sector, she would save newspaper and magazine clippings of higher education and scholarship opportunities.  When she took a break from work, when her daughter was very young, she found herself working at a primary school. Eventually, with some powerful nudging from a friend, Aparna jumped into college counseling with both feet. On our podcast, Aparna talks about her background, EducationUSA & Experience as EducationUSA Advisor, Counseling approach, 10X International School, and Advice for High School students. ...
2023-09-0145 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Prateek Raj of the University of Cincinnati: Int’l Affairs, UG Research, and Feminist Issues.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter While growing up in India, Prateek participated in Model UN. He found that he enjoyed meeting students from other parts of the world, discussing and debating issues. With these experiences, his interest in Journalism grew. He already loved writing, reporting on world issues. He decided to apply to the US for college, to study journalism. As it turned out, the University of Cincinnati had something else in mind for him! Prateek  joins us on our podcast to share his UG Experience as an International Stu...
2023-08-271h 01College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Prof. Heather Townsend of Community College Rhode Island on CURE: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter As an undergraduate, Prof. Townsend was only able to be a part of a small research project. At that time only a select number of students were able to participate in research. Today, Prof. Townsend is championing CURE - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience in her Department and across CCRI so that an entire class of students can experience research - not just a select few. Prof. Townsend joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at CCRI, CURE, Re-engineering Courses for Research, Evangelizing Research, Re...
2023-08-2523 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Saoirse Disney-McKeethen of Rice University: Cell Biology, Microbial Evolution Research, and Quiz Bowl.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Saoirse was interested in microbiology in High School. This may have had a lot to do with all the volunteering she did at the Hot Springs National Park. She loved nature and hiking. She also did some research focused on bats at the Park. Saoirse joins us on our podcast to share her undergraduate journey at Rice, Transition to college, UG Research, Impact of Research, and Advice for high schoolers.  In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Overall Experience at Rice UG Rese...
2023-08-2145 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Elizabeth Nieto of Bottom Line on College Counseling: Guiding First Generation Students.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Elizabeth is a first-generation college graduate. When she was applying to college, she didn’t have anyone in her family that could help her with the process. Luckily, she found people who could help her with her questions. Today, Elizabeth guides students like her younger self, with the college application process. On our podcast, Elizabeth talks about her background, her role at Bottom Line, Counseling approach and challenges, and her Advice for High School students. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  ...
2023-08-1743 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Sarah, 2023 Coke Scholar, American Heritage School, Broward Campus, Florida.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Sarah is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Sarah talks about her passion for CS & AI, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, her college search process, and his advice for high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Who is Sarah? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Sarah Dufays, Coke Scho...
2023-08-1030 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Sean Kennedy of Ravenscroft School: Guidance For Students on the Supreme Court Ruling On Affirmative Action in College Admissions.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The Supreme Court handed its momentous verdict about Race in College Admissions on June 29, 2023. To help us understand and to guide students and parents about what it means for them, we are joined by Sean Kennedy, President of SACAC and Co-Director of College Counseling at Ravenscroft School in North Carolina Topics discussed in this episode: Overview of the Supreme Court Decision [] How To Provide Race Info in College Application [] Thinking Differently About Elite Colleges to Apply To [] Closing Thoughts [] Our Guest: Sean Kennedy is th...
2023-08-0818 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Raymond Jiang, 2023 Coke Scholar, Jenks High School, Oklahoma.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Raymond is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Raymond talks about his passion for Math, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, his college search process, and his advice to high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Who is Raymond Jiang? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Raymond Jiang, Coke Scho...
2023-08-0439 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Gianna Thomas, 2023 Coke Scholar, Middletown High School, Connecticut.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Gianna is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Gianna talks about her passion for Public Health, STEM Curriculum, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, her college search process, and his advice for high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Who is Gianna Thomas? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Gian...
2023-08-0236 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Gabriel Nagel, 2023 Coke Scholar, Denver East High School, Colorado.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Gabriel is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Gabriel talks about his passion for Climate Policy, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, his college search process, and his advice to high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Who is Gabriel Nagel? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Gabriel Nagel, Coke...
2023-07-2938 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Anna Yang, 2023 Coke Scholar, Notre Dame High School, San Jose, California.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Anna is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Anna talks about her passion for Poetry, Beekeeping, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, her college search process, and his advice to high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Who is Anna Yang? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Anna Yang, Coke...
2023-07-2634 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Sky Harper of Drexel University: Goldwater Scholar, Chemistry, and Truman & Udall Scholarships.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Sky was a very active student in high school - inside and outside the classroom. He was into sciences, writing and Science research projects. Research took him to the International Science Fairs starting in the sophomore year. Sky was also very involved in the Student Government. He was the President of the Student Body in his senior year. Sky joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University, Passion for Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, The Truman Scholarship, Majoring in...
2023-07-2038 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Asanshay Gupta, 2023 Coke Scholar, Atlanta International School, Georgia.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Every year the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation awards a select set of High School Seniors the Coca Cola Scholarship. Asanshay is a 2023 Coke Scholar.  In this Podcast, Asanshay talks about his passion for building products, Winning the Coca Cola Scholarship, his college search process, and his advice to high schoolers. #CokeScholars In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Who is Asanshay Gupta? Extracurricular Interests Winning the Coke Scholarship College Process Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Asanshay Gupta, Coke...
2023-07-1940 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Looking Back with College Counselors: The 2022-23 College Application Season.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The 2022-23 College Application Season in the books. It is a good time to look back and learn from the experience for the benefit of the next set of high school seniors and parents. And who better to help us than the College Counselors who guided the current graduating seniors through the college process. I talked to 6 High School College Counselors from across the US to put together this episode. Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing The Takeaways [] The Learnings...
2023-07-1229 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Ella Smith of Ravenscroft High School, Raleigh, North Carolina.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter After her freshman year in high school, Ella did not play a lot of sports to focus on getting good grades and pursuing her college dreams. She did join the Youth and Government club and held various officer positions during the 4 years of High School. Ella will be a Freshman at North Carolina State University in Fall 2023. In this Podcast, Ella talks about her High School Experiences, her college search process, Digital SAT, and her advice to college aspirants. In particular, we discuss the fo...
2023-07-0828 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.LiAnna Davis of Wiki Education: Integrating Wikipedia into College Coursework.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter It all started over 10 years ago, with College Faculty using Wikipedia for college coursework, and their students editing its content. Wiki Education was created to support these Faculty members. LiAnna Davis is the  Chief Programs Officer and the Dy. Director at Wiki Education. LiAnna joins us on our podcast to tell us all about Wiki Education, Types of Content, Process to Edit Content, Why Students Should Engage, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  What is W...
2023-07-0337 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.90% of College Grads Say College is Worth It, in College News Fit to Digest. June 26, 2023.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: College Cost Confusion [] Acceptance Rates in Elite Colleges Have Bottomed Out [] 90% of College Grads Say College is “Worth It”! [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] NBC [] CNBC [] Yahoo Finance [] Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls...
2023-06-3016 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Krystal Nzeadibe of SDSU Weber Honors College: Finance, Comcast Internship, and Student Leadership.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kyrstal thought her first three years of High School weren’t that memorable. She was just doing things she thought she was supposed to do. Classes like AP Biology, Soccer, and the rest. In her senior year she really got involved in leadership. Organized student rallies for football games & was the Class treasurer. She found that these experiences gave her access to lots of opportunities.  Krystal joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at SDSU, Honors College courses, Internships, Majoring in Finance, and Advic...
2023-06-2940 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dr. Beth Beason-Abmayr of Rice University: Course-Based Undergraduate Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Prof. Abmayr discovered UG Research during the Summer after her Junior year in college. She subsequently did research in her senior year in genetics. These research experiences were instrumental in her decision to go to graduate school. Dr. Beth Beason-Abmayr joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research in Biosciences at Rice University, CUR’s role, Impact of Research on UG Students, Success stories, and finally Advice for High Schoolers. Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Dr. Beth Beason-Abmayr of Rice University [] Hi Five...
2023-06-1541 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Daniel Posmik of the University of Cincinnati: Economics, UG Research in Student Aid, and The Outdoors.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter As a high schooler in Germany, Daniel cared only about Sports. Specifically American Football. He wanted to go to college to play football. Daniel came to a US College on a Sports Scholarship.  Things, however, didn’t go as planned. Daniel  joins us on our podcast to share his UG Experience as an International Student, At UC Blue Ash, and then the 4-year UC program, UG Research in Financial Aid, The Scholarships, and Advice for high schoolers.  In particular, we discuss the followi...
2023-06-1334 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.College Rankings Methodology Changes in College News Fit to Digest. June 5, 2023.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: USNews to Update Rankings Methodology [] Paying for Higher Education [] Community College Enrollment Drops [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] USNews [] Yahoo [] Axios [] Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. Subscribe or...
2023-06-0920 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Jodi Foxx of Charlotte Christian School on College Counseling: Finding a Good Fit For Students.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In her 24 years in College Counseling, Jodi has seen a lot of things change, but the joy of working with students 1-on-1 remains unchanged. Today, with her counselor colleagues, Jodi is helping students find the college that is right for them. On our podcast, Jodi talks about her background, about Charlotte Christian School, her Counseling approach, managing expectations, and her advice for high school students. In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Jodi Foxx’s Background Approach to College Counseling Challenges & Manag...
2023-06-0725 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College and Beyond: Vismaya Gopalan of Notre Dame High School, California.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter After taking Spanish in middle school, Vismaya had dreamed of spending a semester in Spain. However, when she got to high school, she found out that it wasn’t going to be easy to get away to Spain for a semester. It hadn’t been done before. But Vismaya and the school found a way. Vismaya Gopalan will be a Freshman at Dartmouth College in Fall 2023. In this Podcast, Vismaya talks about her High School Experiences, Semester Abroad in Spain, her college search...
2023-06-0334 minSpace POD (Space Technologies and Exploration)
Space POD (Space Technologies and Exploration)Episode 2 - Ground Station Systems and Spectral BandsEpisode 2 - Groundstaion Systems and Spectral BandsHello listeners,Today is Friday, and this is Venkat Raman Patnaik, your host in Space Pod with another episode on Ground Station Systems and Spectral Bands. Remember to tune into this podcast on every Friday to listen to a new episode on space technology and exploration.Here in this episode, you will listen about, 5G Technology, in satellite communication and X Band systems.X band refers to a specific range of electromagnetic frequencies in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is named "X" because it falls between...
2023-06-0224 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Chiara Biddle of Ball State Honors College: Fashion Merchandising, UG Research, and Dean Search Committee.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Chiara is a “chronic achiever” with a Passion for Fashion. In High School she was in the Orchestra, Band, Student Council, Scholastic Bowl to name a few. In class she loved History, French. But the class that changed everything for her was a Sports Marketing course. After that she was hooked on Business and Marketing. Chiara joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at Ball State, her UG Research experiences, Passion for Fashion, Deep Campus Involvement, and Advice for High Schoolers. In par...
2023-06-0158 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Prof. Sarah Wilson Sokhey of CU Boulder: Studio Lab is Where Students Start UG Research.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter UG Research, they say, changes career trajectories. However, the challenge for most undergraduates is knowing where to start.  This is precisely where Studio Lab comes in.  Prof. Sarah Sokhey started the Studio Lab in the Political Science department to train students to do their first research project. Prof. Sarah Sokhey joins us on our podcast to talk about the Studio Lab, How it is Helping Students Get Started with Research, Scaling Studio Lab, Success Stories, and finally the Advice for high schoolers. Topi...
2023-05-2634 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Hana Julazadeh of SDSU Weber Honors College: Bioengineering, Pfizer Internship and Club Tennis.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Hana was into Science. Especially Biology. She also felt an affinity for engineering, because her dad is an engineer. Interestingly, an English Teacher introduced her to Bioengineering, as part of a writing assignment. And so when time came for college, she was looking to major in Bioengineering. Hana joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at SDSU, her UG Research experiences, the Pfizer Internship, Playing Club Tennis, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following wi...
2023-05-2339 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Elisa Krapcha of Regis Jesuit High School on College Counseling: Taking an Individual Approach.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In college, Elisa was a student ambassador who gave campus tours and was an orientation guide. After college, she joined college admissions at her alma mater, the University of Kansas, and worked there for more than a decade! For the last 4 years, Elisa has been the Director of Counseling at Regis Jesuit High School. On our podcast, Elisa talks about her background, about Regis Jesuit High School, her Counseling approach and challenges, managing expectations, and her advice for high school students. In particular, we...
2023-05-1633 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Isaac Smitherman of U of Cincinnati: Environmental Engineering, President Student Body, and The Train Ride.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Isaac loved Chemistry and the Environment. He was heavily into performing arts and music. He did Opera with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He was the President of his senior year class in the Student Government. Isaac joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the University of Cincinnati, his UG Research & Co-op experiences, Being Student Body President, Majoring in Environmental Engineering, and Advice for college-bound students. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Overall U Cincinnati Experience UG Research Bei...
2023-05-1253 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.About College Success With Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University Honors College.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Colleges are expensive. So students going to college should have a clear idea of What College Success is and How to achieve it. We are fortunate to have Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University Honors College to guide us through this conversation. In this Podcast, Dean Harper tells us How Students Should Think of Success, Your College Ingredients, Taking Advantage of College Resources, and finally Measuring Your Progress towards Success. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Why Do Students Attend Col...
2023-05-1030 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Adam Elzarka of U of Cincinnati: Medical Sciences & Liberal Arts, Truman Scholar and Refugee Mentoring.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Adam was really interested in STEM while in high school. He loved tutoring and mentoring other students. At that time, he was really into dentistry. He entered college as Pre-Dental. But soon, the breadth and diversity of medicine captivated him. Adam joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the University of Cincinnati, about double majoring in medical sciences and liberal arts, Mentoring Refugees, Co-op, winning the Truman Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the fo...
2023-04-291h 02College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dir. Stacey Sinclair of SDSU Weber Honors College: Honors Minor and Interdisciplinarity.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Dr. Stacey Sinclair loved the idea of working with bright motivated students. So when an opportunity came up to work with the Honors Program in 2005, Dr Sinclair jumped in with both feet. In 2014, the Honors Program transitioned to Honors College and Dr. Sinclair became the Director of the Weber Honors College. On this Podcast, Director Sinclair introduces the Weber Honors College, Honors as a “Minor”, the Interdisciplinary Programs, UG Research & Study Abroad, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the follow...
2023-04-2051 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.What is a Gap Year? With Kate Asgari, Director of College Counseling at Overlake School, Redmond, Washington.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kate took a Gap Year after High School and took part in an International Study Program. When she joined college after her gap year, she felt she was very clear about her goals in college, compared to her peers who had come straight after high school. The one year gap had energized her! In this Podcast, Kate first tells us what a Gap Year is, Why Students Take a Gap Year, Benefits & Downsides, and Transition to College after. Topics discussed in this episode:...
2023-04-1926 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Dean John Emert of Ball State Honors College: A Personal, Nimble Approach to Learning.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Prof. Emert is a first generation college graduate. His undergraduate degree was in music performance. His Doctoral work was in Mathematics. He has had a successful career as a Mathematician & Academic. Since 2017, Prof. Emert has been the Dean of BSU Honors College. In this podcast, Dean Emert introduces the BSU Honors College, The Programs, UG Research, Study Abroad, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the following with him: Dean John Emert’s Background Ball State University Honors College Stud...
2023-04-1443 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Kate Asgari of The Overlake School on College Counseling: A Plan That’s the Right Fit for Each Student.Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kate fell into College Counseling due to what she calls “a happy accident”. Kate just followed her first year roommate into an interview to be a campus tour guide. She wasn’t interested in doing the interview. But an aggressive future Dean persuaded her to do the interview. Many happy accidents later, Kate is the Director of Counseling at The Overlake School. On our podcast, Kate talks about her background, The Overlake School, counseling approach and challenges, managing expectations, and her advice for high sch...
2023-04-091h 13College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Grace Fox of Columbia University: Psychology & Indigenous Studies, Rhodes Finalist and Matriculate Alum.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Grace was, by her own admission, a nerd and an activist. She took lots of AP classes. She played the viola, cello, and violin. She also played varsity tennis. As an activist she fought for Educational Equity and Indigenous causes. When time came to think about college, she felt scared and unprepared. That’s when a good friend introduced  her to Matriculate. Grace joins us on our podcast to share her Undergraduate Experience at Columbia, Matriculate’s Role, Transition to College, Indigen...
2023-04-051h 15College Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Emmi Harward on ACCIS: Community Helping College Counselors Be Successful.Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter When Emmi Harward attended her public high school, she did not know anyone in her school, whose job was just college counseling. After college, Emmi went into College Admissions. She started by supervising college tour guides and loved interacting with students. That led Emmi to College Counseling roles in High Schools. Today, Emmi is the Executive Director for ACCIS - working with College Counselors in Independent Schools across the country. On our podcast, Emmi talks about her background, about ACCIS, her Counseling approach, Counselors’ chal...
2023-04-0442 minCollege Matters. Alma Matters.
College Matters. Alma Matters.Episode #300: What Alumni Would Do Differently, If They Could Redo Their College Years!Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter One alum would take more classes, difficult ones, another would attend all the daily talks (followed by dinner) on campus by renowned experts, and yet another would befriend professors as future collaborators. There’s more. This episode organizes alumni thoughts on this topic from past episodes, into 6 different buckets, while providing a flavor of their thinking in the form of snippets. Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Episode #300 [0:27] Learn More, Explore More [2:23] Start Something Earlier [7:58] Paying Attention to Relationships [13:03] Be Involved on Campus [16:58] Experiential Programs [20:25] Take...
2023-03-3031 min