Getting In: A College Coach Conversation College Admissions In The Media; Putting Merit In Your College List
Nov 13, 2025
Blair Dixon, a former senior assistant director of admissions at Brandeis, and Aysha Wong, ex-assistant director at the University of Florida, join finance expert Chrissy Foran from Bright Horizons College Coach. They unpack the myths in college admissions, discussing the realities behind D1 athletics and the importance of matching colleges to student strengths. Chrissy delves into merit aid, explaining how schools offer it and why negotiation can be key. The team emphasizes the importance of planning and the need to alleviate parental fears in the college search.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Athlete Ambitions Versus Academic Reality
- Justin's D1 athletic dreams collide with a low GPA, creating real stress and misaligned family expectations.
- Blair Dixon and Aysha Wong highlight that early planning and involving coaches and counselors reduces late-stage panic.
Broaden Athletic College Options Early
- Expand your search beyond Division I to explore D2 and D3 opportunities that balance academics and athletics.
- Use high school and club coaches as active recruiters and start the recruitment process early, not senior fall.
Media Misrepresents College Selectivity
- TV often downplays how selective top colleges are, creating unrealistic expectations for viewers.
- Blair Dixon warns students not to assume fictional outcomes match real admissions realities.
