Creating A College List Episodes

#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 typ...

#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-...

#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 t...

#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....

#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...

# 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 ...

#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...

#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 lega...

#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 Educat...

#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 v...

#017 – On this episode, we share steps you can follow to make sure your kid successfully builds one of the most important parts of the college application, taking the right courses in high school to meet the course requirements for admission into the colleges or universities to which your kid will be applying. Different types of colleges and universities will have slightly different high school course requirements for admission. It is may not be enough for your son or daughter to be on a coll...

#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 expe...

#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. Ea...

#014 – On this episode we cover that very important question every student should ask, “Can I afford to attend the school to which I am planning to apply?” We uncover the real cost of going to college and go over the elements that you will receive as part of your financial aid. We also talk about the importance of finding out the potential aid you may receive from a college or university itself, also called Institutional Aid, and the efficacy of asking for it. By the you are done listen...

#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 fac...

#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...

#010 – On this episode, we begin to talk about how important it is for a student to make a list of colleges to which to apply, by including schools that are a good fit for that student. The truth is that no college or university is a good fit for every student, regardless of how prestigious or high-ranking that school may be. This important fact, sheds light on how important it is for students to learn to identify schools offer them a good fit. Today, we will begin discussing ways to find the...

#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 info...

#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 c...

#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 priv...

#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 mi...