Podcast
Office Hours
Hosted by Scholarships360 · EN
Scholarships360’s Office Hours podcast explores the trends shaping higher education while breaking down what they mean for students and families today. Host Will Geiger sits down with leaders across the field, including VPs of Enrollment, EdTech founders, and Directors of College Counseling, to unpack the ideas, challenges, and innovations driving the future of higher ed and turn them into actionable advice for students and parents navigating the process of admissions and financial aid.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AI and the Admissions Process at Bucknell with Kevin Mathes
1w ago00:37:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kevin Mathes, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Bucknell University, dives deep into one of the hottest topics in higher education: the role of AI in the college admissions process. Kevin shares how Bucknell became one of the first schools to publish an official AI admissions statement, and walks through the collaborative campus process it took to get there. He explains how his team has trained readers to spot AI-generated essays, and why he still believes admissions must remain a fundamentally human process, where students tell their own stories in their own voices.Kevin also opens up about where he sees AI genuinely helping students, from brainstorming essay topics to condensing activity descriptions, while issuing an important reminder that AI policies vary widely from school to school.
Transcribe →Rethinking College, Careers, and the Trades with Jacob Imam
3w ago00:31:15Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Jacob Imam, President and founder of the College of St. Joseph the Worker, shares the story behind one of higher education's most unconventional institutions, a rigorous honors-level liberal arts college that also trains students in the skilled trades. Jacob explains his philosophy around the "great divorce between the head and the hands," making the case that intellectual and manual work are not opposites but deeply complementary, and that reconnecting the two produces better thinkers and more capable people. He also breaks down how the college's apprenticeship model allows students to earn while they train, fully offsetting tuition costs so graduates leave with both a bachelor's degree and zero debt.Jacob then walks through the practical questions students and families should be asking as they weigh their options in higher education, including whether college is even the right path, and how to honestly assess return on investment. He shares why the skilled trades are consistently underestimated as an intellectual and financial opportunity, how AI tailwinds are making both hands-on skills and deep thinking more valuable than ever, and what advice he has for students already in college who want to start reconnecting with practical, real-world skills.
Transcribe →Aid, Access, and Admissions at Tulane with Shawn Abbott
4w ago00:42:06Tap to summarizeAbout the episodeIn this episode, VP for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Tulane University Shawn Abbott pulls back the curtain on what makes Tulane a unique institution, from its university-wide admissions model that lets students choose their academic path after arriving, to the Louisiana Promise, a suite of programs designed to make Tulane accessible and affordable for students from the state of Louisiana. Shawn also discusses how Tulane has simplified its scholarship application process, eliminating a separate merit scholarship application so more students can be automatically considered for aid.Shawn then shares practical advice students shouldn't miss: why treating financial aid applications with the same urgency as admissions applications is critical, how demonstrated interest actually factors into Tulane's process, and why obsessing over admit rates is one of the biggest mistakes a student can make in the admissions process.Mentioned in this episodeThe CSS ProfileNoncustodial Parent CSS Profile Waiver Request Form
Transcribe →How ReUp Education Is Helping Students Finish What They Started with Scott Lomas
Apr 2800:45:39Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Chief Strategy Officer at ReUp Education Scott Lomas joins Will to shed light on one of higher education's most overlooked challenges: the more than 40 million Americans who have started college but never earned a degree. Scott breaks down the scope of the problem, the common barriers and friction points that prevent students from re-enrolling, and why the re-enrollment rate for this population sits at just around 2%.Scott explains what institutions that are succeeding in this space are doing differently, from removing administrative friction to understanding the unique motivations of adult learners returning to school. He also discusses the role of employers, state governments, and ReUp Education itself in helping students finish what they started.
Transcribe →Direct Admissions, True Cost, and the Future of College Search with Luke Skurman
Apr 2100:38:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode, CEO and founder of Niche Luke Skurman shares the origin story of the platform, from its early days as College Prowler publishing physical college guidebooks to becoming one of the most widely used college research tools in the country. Luke explains how a frustrating college search experience of his own inspired him to build a resource centered on student life and user-generated content, not just academics.Luke then dives into two of Niche's most exciting recent innovations: direct admissions and True Cost. He breaks down how direct admissions is shifting the power dynamic in favor of students and families by pairing upfront admission offers with scholarship awards, and shares how the product has grown to over 170 partner colleges. He also discusses True Cost, Niche's new tool designed to give students and families a clear, apples-to-apples comparison of what college will actually cost them long before decision day.
Transcribe →The Story Behind Scholarships360 with Will Geiger and Brian Geiger
Apr 1400:27:40Tap to summarizeIn this special episode, co-founders of Scholarships360 Will Geiger and Brian Geiger share the origins of the platform and offer practical advice for students navigating college admissions and scholarship applications. As first-generation college students themselves, both brothers found that clear, accessible resources were hard to come by, and built Scholarships360 to fill that gap.Will and Brian also bust some common college myths, including the misconception that students will pay the full sticker price for college, and encourage students to carefully review their financial aid award letters and advocate for themselves throughout the process. They also touch on the evolving role of AI in scholarship applications, stressing the importance of researching the AI policies of any scholarship you're interested in. They round things out with two key pieces of advice: start exploring scholarship opportunities early and don't overlook hyper-local scholarships as part of your overall strategy.
Transcribe →Rethinking the College Admissions Journey with Dr. Jay Jacobs
Apr 700:38:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Vice President of Enrollment Management at the University of Vermont Dr. Jay Jacobs breaks down some of the misconceptions students have about the University of Vermont, and what makes this school a great place for both in-state and out-of-state students. He specifically highlights their financial aid options, retention rates, and exciting programs the university offers.Dr. Jacobs also dives further into the admissions process at UVM at a holistic level, and explains the sorts of topics and qualities that UVM students exhibit. He wraps up the episode by reminding students that the admissions process is only the start of their higher education journey.
Transcribe →How Aquinas College Is Rethinking the College Experience with Brian Matzke
Mar 3100:45:06Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Brian Matzke, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Aquinas College reaffirms the purpose of admissions counselors; to help students find the best possible fit for college. He encourages students to visit schools and pursue classes and topics that interest them.Brian also dives deeper into the culture of Aquinas college, the four pillars of the Catholic Dominican tradition, and how modalities like their block schedules for first year students help facilitate a smooth transition into college life.
Transcribe →A New Model for American Universities with Ben Crocker
Mar 2400:44:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode, University Dean and Director of Admissions at the University of Austin Ben Crocker dives into the formation and ethos of the University of Austin, and what makes this institution different from traditional higher education models. He starts by talking about the university's mission, which is to re-center teaching in the American education system and fix the broken financial model of universities by not charging tuition.Ben continues by diving into the radically simple admissions process at UATX, which only takes into account standardized test scores. He explains that this allows for a simpler process that cuts out the lack of transparency or "black box" of college admissions.
Transcribe →Finding the Right College for You with Andrew Linnehan
Mar 1700:50:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Office Hours, Andrew Linnehan, Former Senior Associate Director of Admission & Former Director of Communication and Audience Engagement at Northwestern University, stresses the importance of students choosing a college that is right for them. He goes into detail about the factors students should consider when choosing a college, along with strategies that allow students to dive deeper and look beyond data points and statistics listed on a college brochure or website. In an age where college admissions is crowded with noise and chaos from outside perspectives, especially with social media, Andrew recommends that students start thinking about what kinds of communities would be a good fit for them and look into colleges during their junior year of high school. This allows students to come into their senior year with more confidence and clarity.
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