Podcast
College Bound Mentor
Hosted by College Bound Mentor · EN
Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie know college. They also know students. With over 30 years combined experience mentoring young people, they'll show you why understanding yourself is the key to finding the right college. Each episode, hear trends, case studies, and interviews with students who have gone through it all - giving you valuable insight to survive the college application process and beyond. Hosted by Lisa Bleich, Abby Power, and Stefanie Forman, Partners of College Bound Mentor.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Applying to College without Going Broke with Jeff Levy
Sep 2500:53:02Summary readyWhat's new with financial aid? A lot. In this episode, we welcome back returning guest Jeff Levy, Co-Founder of Big J Educational Consulting, who's been an educational consultant since 2007. Hear the latest changes impacting financial aid, the key deadlines for the FAFSA application and CSS Profile, how common full ride scholarships actually are, things to keep in mind when saving for college as it relates to financial aid, and how to maximize your potential for merit aid. Check out Jeff's resources at BigJEducationalConsulting.com and connect with him on LinkedIn, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You with Jeff Selingo
Sep 1100:42:27Summary readyWhat's more important: where you go to college, or what you do in college? Jeff Selingo has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books. His latest, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 parents to give families permission to think more broadly about what signals a "good" college and then the tools to discover their dream school. Hear the Top 5 biggest changes to college admissions in recent years, why you should dig deeper into the universe of colleges to attend, the growing importance of value when it comes to your college choice, the most surprising things Jeff learned while writing the book, and the importance of learning broad skills vs. specialized skills in college. Check out Jeff's new book Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Peeling Back the Curtain on Highly-Selective College Admissions with Dr. Andrew Hoffman
Aug 2701:05:32Summary readyThere are some tough, tough colleges to get into these days. Why is that the case? And how can your student crack the code? Dr. Andrew Hoffman is a College Admissions Strategist who’s worked in college admissions since college, including being the Director of Admissions for Swarthmore College and the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University. He leads his consulting firm with parents in mind - getting you ready for college admissions. Hear what students should know when approaching the college application process, how students can excel at college fairs, how the college admissions process works from the school’s side of things, how important college essays are, and what makes a student stand out with their application. Connect with Andrew at AskDrHoffman.com and use code: COLLEGEBOUNDMENTOR for 50% off the Parent's Ultimate College Admissions Course, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Putting the Wow in Your College Essays with Susan Knoppow
Aug 1300:49:35Summary readyWriting college essays is one of the most challenging aspects of the college application process. Where do students even get started? Susan Knoppow is Co-Founder & CEO of Wow Writing Workshop, where she created the Wow Method - a simple, 10-step process for writing college essays. A former executive speechwriter and copywriter, Susan is also a published poet and essayist. Hear the key elements to a successful college essay, how parents can help - not hurt - their students’ essays, how to reduce overwhelm for students when writing college essays, how to approach supplemental essays, and how to navigate AI as it relates to college essays. Connect with Susan at WowWritingWorkshop.com, on LinkedIn, and Get Your Copy of the 10-Step Wow Method, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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New ACT & Testing Tips with Sean Quinn
Jul 31, 202500:59:54Summary readyWhat’s new with the ACT? A lot. That means students have to change how they prep for the test AND how they approach things on test day. Sean Quinn has you covered. He’s the Founder & Tutor at Onsen Education, providing one-on-one preparation tailored to your needs. He and his team have helped students across the states and in over 20 other countries. Hear what’s different about the new ACT, how the average scores compare to previous years, whether you should focus on the SAT instead, how to prepare for the new ACT test, and how to get over testing anxiety. Connect with Sean at OnsenEducation.com, on LinkedIn, and check out his blog on Understanding the New ACT: Key Changes, Concerns, and Strategic Advice, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Creating a Stellar Engineering Maker Portfolio with Jyoti Jain
Jul 17, 202500:32:12Summary readyThe engineering field is getting increasingly competitive. How do you stand out as an engineering student today? Jyoti Jain believes the best way is to create a stellar engineering maker portfolio. Jyoti is the Founder of Jain College Consulting. She found her passion for college counseling while helping her own child through the college admissions process. Hear why engineering students should consider submitting an engineering maker portfolio, the key components involved, how to tailor your portfolio to the audience, where engineering students can find meaningful experiences outside the classroom, and why you don’t need expensive tools or big projects to make your portfolio shine. Connect with Jyoti at JainCollegeConsulting.com, on LinkedIn, and check out her article on Guiding Students in Creating a Stellar Engineering Maker Portfolio, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Hacking College with Dr. Ned Scott Laff & Scott Carlson
Jul 2, 202501:03:24Summary readyDoes your college major even matter? Dr. Ned Scott Laff & Scott Carlson explore the surprising answer in their must-read book, Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn't Matter―and What Really Does. Dr. Ned Scott Laff has over 35 years of experience in college and university settings in administrative and faculty roles. Scott Carlson is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education who explores where higher education is headed. In this episode, they dive into the difference between a major and field of study, their favorite student case studies from Hacking College, what makes their process different, how to ask your aspiring college students the right questions, and what’s broken with the college advising process today. Get Hacking College on Amazon and connect with Ned & Scott on LinkedIn, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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AI Did My Homework with Dr. Lyra Stein, Dr. Nathalie Moon, and Stephanie Silberstein
Jun 18, 202500:55:40Summary readyAI is taking over everything. College is no different. What is allowed - and should be allowed - when using AI in college classes? In this episode, we welcome on special guests Dr. Lyra Stein of Rutgers University, Dr. Nathalie Moon of the University of Toronto, and Stephanie Silberstein of Rutgers University, New Jersey City University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Seton Hall University, and Kean University. They reveal how much students are using AI in college, the pros & cons of relying on AI for coursework, how grading & plagiarism are changing in the world of AI, how much professors are using or resisting AI, and how AI proficiency will help students throughout their careers. Connect with Lyra, Nathalie, and Stephanie on LinkedIn, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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Passion Projects with Dr. Liz Krider
Jun 5, 202501:00:19Summary readyPassion projects are becoming a hot topic on student resumes. How important are they? In this first episode of Season 2, we welcome on special guest Dr. Liz Krider, the Founder & CEO of KSA Catalyst. She helps students (ages 14-24) find purpose through projects and internships - experiences that reveal their character to prospective colleges and employers. Hear how to find a passion project, examples of passion projects, why it helps to think local, the fine line between being persistent and being annoying, and why it’s a good thing for college and your career to learn from failure. Connect with Liz at PassionProjects.net and on LinkedIn, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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College Waitlist Tips
Apr 17, 202500:23:45Summary readyWaitlists are one of the most unpredictable parts of the college application process - and an area we get questions on all the time. This is especially relevant now, as it’s been such a tough year for college waitlists. In this episode, you’ll hear the ins and outs of waitlists, including whether you should express your continued interest, whether changing your major can help, and why patience is key. Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com
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