The Truth about College Admission

Rick and Brennan are back from summer vacation and ready for the FOURTH(!) season of The Truth About College Admission Podcast. Today, the pair recap their summers, preview a format update to the episodes this season, and reflect on a word they're thinking about for the upcoming admissions cycle.LINKSBrennan's Substack: The Application TrailThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

In our Season 3 bonus episode, Rick and Brennan visit the College Parent Central podcast with Elizabeth Hamblet and Vicki Nelson to talk about communication during the college search, realistic expectations, how schools evaluate prospective students, how college is an opportunity, and focusing on long term relationships with family.See the video version hereHosts: Elizabeth Hamblet, Vicki NelsonGuests: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction (TACA cut): Jack Purdy

In the Season 3 finale of The Truth About College Admission, Rick and Brennan go over their favorite episodes from the season, what news items in higher education have caught their eyes lately, and what this summer they will be keeping tabs on as we head into the 2025-2026 college admission cycle.Links:LoperScoirThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterJune Essay webinar with Shereem Herndon-Brown and Allison Slater TateThe Truth About Navigating the Admission Process - Dr. Ramon BlakleyThe Truth About Value - Dan PorterfieldThe Truth About International Admission - Sara Riggs and Karen Bartlett"International Students By The Numbers" - Inside Higher Ed"A Call for College Application Innovation" - Inside Higher EdHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

Diane Campbell, the director of college counseling at Liberty Common High School, and Allison Slater Tate, director at Lake Mary Prep and a seasoned writer, discuss vital strategies for rising high school students. They emphasize the importance of real-world experiences over screen time during summer, and the need for authenticity in college applications. Diane shares insights on AI’s role in college admission, while Allison highlights the necessity of mental health and effective communication between families and students. Their refreshing perspectives provide valuable guidance for navigating the college admission landscape.

Brennan and Rick are joined by a fantastic duo, Karen Bartlett (Associate Director of International Admissions at Middlebury College) and Sara Riggs (Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech) to highlight what international students bring to American college campuses, what the enrollment trends have shown in the last decade, and how international students can find community at American colleges.LINKS:LoperOpen Doors ReportCommon Data Set"The Two Most Important Letters in College Admission" - ClarkThe Truth About Institutional Priorities - TJ SnowdenTruth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Karen Bartlett, Sara RiggsProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Eva Blanco Masias, the VP for Enrollment Management at Santa Clara University, for a deep dive into why schools use waitlists and their purpose on the admissions front, how schools pick from a waitlist, and what to do as a student currently on a waitlist.The Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Eva Blanco MaisasProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Sam Bernstein and Eric Menna, the cofounders of Loper, to talk through how their college admission journeys influenced the creation of Loper, how the app provides assistance during the college search process, and what data from users has shown in giving a more complete picture of needs and wants for students figuring out their next steps in higher education.LINKS:LoperThe College Admission Blind Taste Test - ForbesThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Sam Bernstein, Eric MennaProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Angel Perez, the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), to talk about the current landscape in Washington, D.C. amidst uncertainty with the Department of Education, who NACAC is working with to improve college admissions, what could be innovated in the future in the profession, and the overflowing hope found on college campuses in improving student lives.LINKSAngel Perez BioNACAC Action Alerts"NACAC begins search for director of Center for Innovation in College Admission"LoperThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterThe Truth About College Admission ResourcesHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Angel PerezProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Mark Salisbury, founder and CEO of TuitionFit, to detail for families why college sticker prices are so high, what to look for in a financial aid award, what kinds of financial aid tools are out there, and what they mean in simple terms. LINKSNewsletter:  https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/contactTuitionfit.orggoppi.orgPrior episodes on financial aid and paying for college: Ron Lieber: Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionJohn Leach (Emory): Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionJackie Copeland (UNC): Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionCollege Admission Grown & Flown Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Mark SalisburyProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick have an epic pod this week joined by Melodie Baker (Founder & Executive Director of ImpactSTATS Inc.) and Akil Bello (Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest) for a massive deep dive into Melodie's research into what the current role of calculus in college admissions is, how it's used as a date point at selective colleges, and then talk on College Board's role in pre-calculus.Links:Impact StatsAkil Bello's websiteMerit: Myths and Money - BelloThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterCollege Admissions Grown and Flown Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Melodie Baker, Akil BelloProduction: Jack Purdy