Podcast Summary: "Dealing with College Decisions Dropping with Jenna Schebell of The College Navigators"

Podcast: College Bound Mentor
Hosts: Lisa Bleich, Abby Power, Stefanie Forman
Guest: Jenna Schebell, Founder of The College Navigators
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of College Bound Mentor dives into the emotional and strategic challenges of college admissions decisions season, specifically as early decision (ED) and early action (EA) results begin to drop. Hosts Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie are joined by Jenna Schebell, a former admissions counselor and popular social media presence, who shares candid insights from her decades in higher education. The discussion covers managing expectations, combating misinformation, dealing with deferrals and rejections, the growing complexity of the admissions timeline, and prioritizing mental health and perspective through the process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jenna’s Background, Motivation, and Social Media Influence

• Jenna recaps her journey from an MBA at University of Tampa, through a decade in admissions, then running high school college counseling, to launching The College Navigators (02:13).
• She leverages her business and admissions experience to demystify the college process for families, emphasizing that "college is a business decision for schools" (04:53).
• On social media, Jenna found an audience craving facts over hype:

  "There's already enough craziness around the process. We don't need to like create more crazy in it." (05:48, Jenna)

The Dangers of Misinformation Online

• Hosts vent about viral posts that spread panic or falsehoods right after college decisions are released (06:26).
• Jenna and the team stress verifying sources, since sensationalized content often triggers anxiety for students and parents:

  “My favorite, like my cringe is always the one that's like ‘this essay got me into this school' and I'm like... give a little more context!” (07:40, Jenna)

Best Advice for Navigating Decision Season (08:49–11:08)

• Jenna recommends analogies for shifting perspective, comparing college lists to "homecoming dress shopping" where true favorites often shift over time (08:58).
• Importance of focusing on colleges that “love you back”—places offering admission, merit, and recognition—rather than fixating on a specific “dream school.”

  “There needs to be a point... you really start focusing on the colleges that love you back, the ones that want you.” (09:34, Jenna)

• Encourages students to reframe a "no" or a "deferral" as "not never"—reminding that transfer and graduate school paths can lead to their ultimate goal.

Managing Disappointment and Catastrophizing (11:08–15:12)

• December’s ED/EA decisions are often harder because students have little context or comparison, amplifying rejection or deferral feelings.
• Hosts share anecdotes of clients who didn’t initially get their top choice but later found deeper satisfaction elsewhere (13:30, Lisa).
• Parents are cautioned:

  “Sometimes the kids aren't as upset as you are... don’t project... negativity or make it a bigger deal.” (14:20, Jenna)

• Abby highlights the confusing concept of "yield protection" and its impact on outcomes for even strong candidates (15:12).

Blocking Out the Noise: Social Comparison & Local Cultures (16:00–18:41)

• Jenna advocates for distraction and fun during decision anticipation, explaining that the “normal” process means hearing back in waves, not all at once (16:38).
• Students are reassured that seeing others commit early doesn’t mean they are behind.

  "The thing that makes the journey the hardest is when you start comparing yourself to others." (16:48, Jenna)

Regrouping After Early Disappoints: Making the Most of Rolling & New Applications (18:50–21:15)

• Jenna urges an individualized approach: use rolling admissions schools for “early wins” and reassurance; shift focus to new applications or revisit admitted options.

  “It's okay to cry and be upset and do that for one day... then the next day we...get moving and... what's going to be next." (19:32, Jenna)

• Clients often find themselves delighted by colleges they initially overlooked as they get to know those communities.

Handling Deferrals & the Myth of Guaranteed Deferral Conversion (21:26–25:22)

• Deferral outcomes are wildly school-specific; Jenna advises setting realistic expectations with actual historical data:

  "I'm always... more negative. Like we're just gonna expect that it's not gonna work out, so if it does, it's just a pleasant surprise." (22:53, Jenna)

• Notes that being deferred often leads students to emotionally invest in other, previously “less exciting,” options.

Early Decision 2 (ED2), Enrollment Management, and New Trends (25:22–32:37)

• The ED2 pool is often highly competitive, filled with strong but disappointed ED1 applicants:

  "Ed2 does not necessarily mean easier by any means." (26:00, Jenna)

• Warns against “knee-jerk" last-minute ED2 choices unless part of the original plan.
• Acknowledges the strategic use of early notification, deferrals, and guaranteed transfer admits by colleges, especially as schools seek to manage unpredictable enrollments post-COVID.

Changing Perceptions of Alternative Pathways (32:37–36:31)

• Social stigma around transfers, spring admits, and community college is decreasing as families pursue cost-friendly, flexible options.

  “There are all these different avenues for you... figure out your path, how you want to get there... there's not one right way to do it.” (34:51, Jenna)

Combatting Misinformation Online & Vetting Content (36:31–39:26)

• Jenna urges families to check the background of info sources (look for IEC associations, admissions experience, etc.).
• “Trust but verify”: Prioritize content from college officials, e.g., admissions blogs or livestreams.

• “If it ends with AI, it’s probably outdated...just really doing your research before you take something [as fact].” (37:16, Jenna)

The Business and Institutional Reality of Admissions (39:28–45:15)

• Admissions decisions are driven by pre-set institution priorities: enrollment, class composition, donor/endowment factors—often far beyond the control of any applicant (39:54).
• Jenna uses real examples (e.g., a student gaining admission due to a specific funding source related to 9/11 survivors) to illustrate how priorities/“hooks” operate behind the scenes (43:03).
• Each applicant is viewed in the context of their high school’s offerings and peer performance, not just as an isolated academic record (44:15).

Final Myths, Truths, and Takeaways (45:31–49:21)

• Not everyone has to go to college to succeed, and each student’s path can look different.
• The landscape is changing; students should invest in skills (critical thinking, problem-solving) as jobs shift, especially with technological upheaval.
• Lisa echoes the career benefit of a liberal arts foundation in an AI-influenced job market (48:15).

Jenna's Parting Wisdom (49:21–50:31)

• “Don’t believe everything you hear on social media...if you haven’t started in 8th grade, you’re never going to a good school—just watch everything you hear...it does work out the way it’s meant to be. Enjoy senior year.” (49:28)

• Focus on what is in your control, block out noise, and know there are many ways to succeed.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “College is a business, yes, it's education. But every day when I worked in admissions, it was all about, you know, enrollment numbers and yields.”
  — Jenna, (04:53)
• "There needs to be a point during the admission cycle that you really start focusing on the colleges that love you back."
  — Jenna, (09:34)
• “Sometimes the kids aren't as upset as you are...don’t project negativity or make it a bigger deal.”
  — Jenna, (14:20)
• "The thing that makes the journey the hardest is when you start comparing yourself to others."
  — Jenna, (16:48)
• “Ed2 does not necessarily mean easier by any means... I only encourage students to do ED2 if that was part of the initial plan...not just a knee-jerk reaction.”
  — Jenna, (26:00)
• "There are all these different avenues for you... figure out your path, how you want to get there... there's not one right way to do it."
  — Jenna, (34:51)
• “If it ends with AI, it’s probably outdated...just really doing your research before you take something [as fact].”
  — Jenna, (37:16)
• “There’s so much more to it that goes into it...what works for one school and makes you so perfect for one, makes you completely wrong for another.”
  — Jenna, (42:13)
• "Don’t believe everything you hear on social media. ...Just enjoy senior year."
  — Jenna, (49:28)

Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Jenna’s Background: 00:19–05:48
• Navigating Misinformation: 06:01–08:10
• Advice for Decision Season: 08:10–11:08
• Managing Catastrophizing & Yield Protection: 11:08–15:12
• Blocking Out the Noise: 16:00–18:41
• Action Plan for Disappointments: 18:50–21:15
• Handling Deferrals & ED2: 21:26–30:00
• Admissions Timeline/Trends: 30:00–32:37
• Alternative Pathways & Destigmatizing Transfers: 32:37–36:31
• Social Media & Vetting Information: 36:31–39:26
• The Business Side of Admissions: 39:28–45:15
• Final Myths, Truths, and Takeaways: 45:31–49:21
• Parting Wisdom: 49:21–50:31

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, empathetic, and direct—balancing seasoned advice with humor, personal experience, and practical metaphors students and parents can relate to. The hosts and Jenna are deeply invested in the student experience while unafraid to “pull back the curtain” on the less-personal mechanics of college admissions.

Conclusion

This episode provides a refreshingly honest, well-informed, and reassuring perspective on the rollercoaster of college decision season. Whether confronting the disappointment of a deferral, strategizing application moves, or struggling with comparison and rumors, listeners will find actionable advice to clarify, refocus, and enjoy the ride.