Podcast Summary: Stronger with Don Saladino

Episode: Every Parent Needs To Know This About College Applications
Host: Don Saladino
Guest: Janine Henby, Co-Founder of College RX
Date: September 2, 2025

Overview

In this highly informative episode, Don Saladino sits down with Janine Henby, co-founder of College RX, for a comprehensive conversation about the college application process—a must-listen for any parent with a college-bound student. Their discussion touches not just on tactics and strategy, but also on the deeper values of resilience, self-reflection, and genuine personal growth in young people. With candid stories, practical advice, and real-world examples, Don and Janine answer common questions about timelines, essays, school choice, parental involvement, and student well-being.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mission of College RX (Starts at 01:30)

• College RX offers a collaborative, two-on-one approach: blending professional college advising and strong writing guidance for essays. Their services now also include test prep and sports recruitment.
  • “It’s the writer and the professional college advisor guiding the student through the process from start to finish... until you get your acceptance in hand.” — Janine (01:31)
• The emphasis is on empowering students to present their authentic selves, not simply doing the work for them.

2. When Should the College Application Process Begin? (04:03)

• Ideally, the process starts in 9th grade—planning activities and interests for long-term engagement.
  • “It’s not about doing 20 different activities. Colleges want to see longevity... What have you done over the four years?” — Janine (04:06)
• It’s more important to show commitment and depth than simply a wide array of activities.

3. Building the “Student Brand” (05:18 & 33:33)

• Students should focus on the clubs, sports, and volunteer work they care about. Sustained involvement matters more than jumping between activities.
  • “Build your brand and market yourself. Not what a college wants, but what you want.” — Janine (33:35)
• On the Common Application, having a mix of 10 activities is an advantage.

4. Demonstrated Interest & Application Tactics (07:11)

• Sign up for college mailing lists, engage with their emails, and follow on social media—"demonstrated interest" often matters.
  • “[For some schools], if you didn’t take a tour, didn’t sign up for their email, they probably won’t take you.” — Janine (07:37)
• Anecdote: Janine’s daughter missed out on a "safety" school due to not demonstrating interest. (08:21–08:55)

5. “Safety” Schools and Falling in Love with Options (09:34)

• Apply to 12–15 schools: a few reaches, realistic options, and safeties.
  • “We always tell everyone, fall in love with one safety school just so you have one that you’re so excited if that’s all you get into.”— Janine (09:36)

6. College as a Human Experience, Not a Number (13:54)

• College decisions are subjective—sometimes even overqualified applicants are rejected from safeties.
• Essays matter: Authenticity is key, as readers want to see a multidimensional human being, not a perfect “robot.”
  • “They don’t want robots. They don’t want perfection. They want human people. That’s why the essay is more important than ever.” — Janine (04:58)

7. College Essays—The Do’s and Don’ts (16:36; 17:20)

• Schools are aware of AI-assisted writing and can detect generic or “soulless” essays.
• Focus essays on personal stories and traits, not controversial or divisive topics.
  • “Write your essay imagining everyone has a chip on their shoulder. You don’t want to offend anybody with anything.” — Janine (14:30)
  • “A good essay is about a small moment... not this big ‘I cured cancer’ thing.” — Janine (17:21)

8. The Role of Parents (28:21; 31:35)

• Parents often have unrealistic expectations and may try to influence essays/applications.
  • “A lot of parents have unrealistic expectations... we say, throw your hat in the ring, apply to Harvard, but you also have to be realistic.” — Janine (28:21)
• Janine advises parents to reiterate there is a school for everyone and to take the pressure off:
  • “Where you go to college does not define your success.” — Janine (31:35)

9. Practical Application Timeline (31:10)

Janine’s "Cliff Notes" for Parents:

• 9th Grade: Start planning activities, think about honors/AP courses relevant to student interests.
• 10th Grade: Continue involvement—no need to overload; sustained passion matters most.
• Junior Year: Begin college tours, sign up for mailing lists, prep for standardized tests.
• Essay/Applications: Start early in junior year (January), aim to finish the main essay by end of school year to reduce summer stress.

10. Early Action vs. Early Decision (35:20)

• Early Decision: Increases admission chances, is binding, often means full price with less merit money.
• Early Action: Non-binding, receive decisions earlier, can apply to multiple schools.

11. Major Selection, Changing Course, and Parental Pressure (12:08)

• Changing majors/interests is common, and parents should be flexible.
• Focus should be on student passion, not future dollar signs.
  • “Find something you’re passionate about. Go after something you love or are really interested in. You might surprise yourself.” — Don (40:46)

12. Dealing with Stress and Pressure (24:00)

• Today’s college process is far more pressurized and public than previous generations.
• Students benchmark themselves on social media and often feel overwhelmed.
  • “Everyone comes to us very overwhelmed… It’s our heads that make it feel like it’s worse.” — Janine (24:15)
• College rejections can be positive redirections.

13. Social Media & Digital Presence (27:33)

• Universities may review applicants’ social media for professionalism and appropriateness.
• College RX recommends a “social media sweep” to present a mature, suitable presence. (27:45)

14. Costs, Networks, and Success (36:31)

• College is expensive; state schools offer good value.
• Alumni networks can have significant impact on opportunities post-graduation—for students, proactive outreach (LinkedIn, etc.) is highly recommended.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Where you go to college does not define your success.” — Janine, on the true meaning behind a degree (31:35)
• “You have to reach out and learn how to write, for God’s sake.” — Janine, on professional communication (16:17)
• “For every time I’ve been rejected, I really got redirected to something else.” — Don, on reframing setbacks (24:52)
• "They don’t want robots. They don’t want perfection. They want human people." — Janine (04:58)
• "We always tell everyone, fall in love with one safety school just so you have one that you’re so excited if that’s all you get into.” — Janine (09:36)
• “Build your brand and market yourself. Not what a college wants, but what you want.” — Janine (33:35)
• "If you’re going to have a meltdown, have a meltdown with me... We don’t want them—this is not a stressful process." — Janine (29:24)
• “Mental health is such a big deal now, and nobody takes that into consideration during this process.” — Janine (39:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|---------------| | College RX Mission | 01:30 | | When to Start/Timeline | 04:03, 31:10 | | Building Authentic Student Brand | 05:18, 33:33 | | Demonstrated Interest (emails, tours) | 07:11, 07:37 | | Number of Schools to Apply | 09:34 | | The Importance of the Essay | 04:58, 17:20 | | Parent Role and Expectations | 28:21, 31:35 | | Early Decision vs. Early Action | 35:20 | | Social Media & Applications | 27:33 | | Dealing with Stress | 24:00 | | Costs/Networks/Success | 36:31 | | Passion Over Perfection | 40:46 |

Tone & Style

The conversation is supportive, empathetic, and seasoned with humor and real talk. Both Don and Janine share personal stories and practical tips, making the episode relatable and actionable for parents and students alike.

How to Contact College RX

• Email: thecollegerxmail@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thecollegerx (Janine posts tips and advice)

Final Takeaway

This episode underscores that while the college application process can be daunting, authenticity, communication, and resilience are more vital for long-term success than any school’s name on a diploma. Both parents and students are encouraged to let go of rigid expectations, focus on genuine growth, and remember there truly is a great college fit for every student.