The College Spy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Michelle McAnaney
A podcast for parents and students addressing all aspects of the college selection and admissions process hosted by Michelle McAnaney, founder of The College Spy.
Back to school season is here! High school students often start the year excited to reinvent themselves. Learn how to harness this positive energy to start the semester on the right foot.
Today, we’re talking with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities. As a high school special education teacher for over 40 years, Lisa helps students master their strengths, organize their time and improve their grades.
Here’s Lisa’s top 4 tips to help your neurodivergent student hit the ground running this year!
- Encourage your student to send an email introducing themselves to their teachers. This is a great way for students to share their learning disability, accommodations and why they need those accommodations. Thank the teacher for reading the email.
- Find an organization system that your students want to engage in. Don’t impose your own organization style on your student (and don’t write their name in marker all over every folder!)
- Create a plan for grade checks. Once a week seems to be the right cadence. Choose a set time such as Wednesday afternoons or Thursday evenings to check grades together.
- Every student has to maintain some type of a calendar. How they do it needs to be up to them. The student should maintain their own calendar and consult with the parent, rather than vice versa.
Academic coaching can help your student become a better learner, a more efficient student and generally happier kid.
Studying now is different than it was for parents. Google classroom, technology tools and AI have all dramatically changed the skills you need to study effectively.
Reach out to get started with academic coaching? Email us at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com.
Tip of the Day: Take a walk around a college campus this fall — no matter what age your kid is. Just drive to the closest campus, grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll.
College Spotlight: California Polytechnic University
Key points in this episode
2:12 Meet Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with disabilities
4:18 Four strategies to help your student succeed this semester
14:57 Why every student needs to maintain their calendar
18:00 College changes
22:21 How the right schedule can make all the difference
24:15 All about academic coaching
31:52 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day
33:00 College Spotlight
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast
Learn more about academic coaching with Lisa Delfino for high school students:
https://thecollegespy.com/academic-coaching-package-high-school
Learn more about academic coaching with Lisa Delfino for college students:
https://thecollegespy.com/academic-coaching-package-college
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle, Lisa and the College Spy team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Today, we widen our lens to help students connect their education and career success. We’re talking with Sonia Cacique of DiscoverU, College and Career Ready Coaching. Sonia is a student advocate and career coach expert that is challenging the status quo of college and career readiness by bridging the gap between education, careers and the current workforce. Her goal is to help students create career connections early in their education journey. She helps students with character development, identity, self-advocacy, career connections and networking skills among other soft skills.
We dive into how to prepare your student to make the most of any college they attend. We also talk about the importance of connections for career exploration and why students’ should prioritize getting a real life ‘behind the scenes’ look at their careers of interest to gauge if it’s a good fit. We wrap up with conversations about defining success between generations and how parents can truly listen to what their kids are saying.
Tip of the Day: Follow the college’s official social media accounts as well as student group accounts (like the marching band or student organizations). By following lots of accounts about a particular college, you’ll get a lot of information.
College Spotlight: The College of William & Mary - the second oldest college in the US!
Key Points in this Episode
2:59 Meet Sonia Cacique
6:04 Why career assessments aren’t a easy button
8:33 Coaching parents to be connectors for their kids
12:01 Sharing with students that they have something special to offer
13:29 Connections and why they matter so much
15:10 Why 30% of college students don’t complete their degree
17:27 Why Gen X parents are advocating for their Gen Z kids
19:38 Defining success if different seasons of life
21:15 “The Not Your Mom” phenomenon and tips for parents to connect with kids
22:40 Sonia’s latest course to be college and career ready
27:53 Tip of the Day
28:38 College Spotlight:The College of William & Mary
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast
Learn more about Sonia Cacique: https://collegecareerready.org/
Get in touch with Sonia Cacique: info@collegecareerready.org
Listen to the “Not Your Mom” podcast episode: Episode 16
Register for The College Spy Bootcamp: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/the-college-spy-boot-camp
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
The college admissions process is synonymous with stress & anxiety these days. How can parents go against the grain to actually enjoy this process with their students?
Join us for a conversation with Lisa Rouff, Ph.D, from School Match 4 U and co-host of Your College Bound Kid about her experiences as a clinical psychologist and independent educational consultant. Lisa works with all types of students and parents and shares her real world tips to reduce stress around college admissions with a deep understanding of the pressure parents feel to keep up socially and make smart financial decisions. Michelle and Lisa discuss hidden gem universities and the benefits of focusing on the process instead of only the outcome.
Tip of the Day: Visit colleges. You and your child will be able to determine criteria for the college search and gain confidence in the process as you find the best fit college for your student based on their interests and personalities, not a list of rankings.
College Spotlight: Binghamton University in NY
Key Points in this Episode
2:29 Meet Lisa Rouff
7:46 How can parents lower their stress levels- knowledge is power!
8:12 Why rankings are meaningless
9:30 Why hidden gems colleges are so special
11:13 Favorite resources - The FISKE Guide
12:50 LinkedIn as a tool to research colleges
17:30 Handling rejections with a disaster plan
19:54 MIchelle reflects on not getting into her dream school of Cornell
25:30 Opting out of the highly competitive side of the process
28:53 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day
30:07 College Spotlight: Binghamton
Read the podcast transcript: link after posted on website
Learn more about Lisa Rouff: www.schoolmatch4u.com & https://www.highlandsco.com/consultants/lisa-rouff-phd/
Watch PBS’ Dream School: https://www.pbs.org/show/dream-school-a-journey-to-higher-ed/
Order the FISKE Guide to Colleges - https://www.amazon.com/Fiske-Guide-Colleges-2024-Edward/dp/1728271835
Start a LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/
Talking College Campus Visits Card Deck: https://talkingcollege.com/products/talking-college-campus-visits
Register for The College Spy Bootcamp: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/the-college-spy-boot-camp
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Eighty-five percent of colleges have some type of first-year experience or first-year seminar course. So why have colleges added these courses to their curriculum?
Join Michelle McAnaney, founder of The College Spy, while she talks to Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner. As a sociologist, professor and first-year expert, Dr. Brenner is the creator of Talking College Conversation Cards and the co-author of How to College: What to Know Before You Go and When You’re There. After teaching at American University at Washington DC, Dr. Brenner shifted to administration to design a First-Year Experience Course for all incoming students. She is now a speaker and educator on the college transition, helping families and universities around the nation empower their students to succeed in college as they learn ‘adulting’ skills and balance academics, social skills and life skills in college..
Tip of the Day: What is the right number of colleges to apply to? There is no ‘right’ number for all students. Depending on a student’s goals, desired major, importance of merit aid and many other factors, the number of colleges to apply to can vary widely. The College Spy’s students have applied to as few as 3 colleges or as many as 25.
College Spotlight: Drexel University in Philadelphia
Key points in this episode
2:20 Meet Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner
5:25 What is a FYE or FYS?
7:10 Why do we need to help students with the transition to college?
10:41 What can you do to help ease this transition for your student?
13:40 Why is it so hard to let your kids fail?
14:32 Detrimental enabling
15:49 “Messy bodies, messy brains’
19:48 “You can’t keep being a high school parent to a college student”
21:25 Redefining success in high school
22:42 All 5 Talking College Card Decks
27:40 Tip of the Day
28:26 College Spotlight on Drexel University
Read the podcast transcript: link after posted on website
Learn more about Dr. Brenner: https://www.ambrenner.com/
Learn more about Talking College Conversation Decks: https://talkingcollege.com/
Register for The College Spy Bootcamp: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/the-college-spy-boot-camp
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
“My kid will listen if you tell them to do it.” That’s a phrase we hear all the time in our work as college consultants.
So why do teenagers listen to other trusted adults more than their parents?
And what impact does an expert voice have on a student’s college admissions process?
Listen to today’s episode to learn why adolescents experience conflict with their parents (and why it’s completely normal). We’re also sharing our top 5 top tips to connect with students and help them through the college admission process.
Whether you decide to work with a consultant or not, this episode will help your family navigate the college admissions process with a few less headaches and disagreements.
Tip of the day: Stop relying on fellow parents or peers to answer questions that you should ask directly of your student’s universities of interest. Call the admissions office instead. Admissions staff are usually more than happy to reply to your questions about their specific process and then you know you are getting the right answer for that particular school. You can also utilize the staff at the financial aid office for questions about financial aid, scholarships and tuition.
College Spotlight: Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI
Key points in this episode
1:48 What College Consultants do
2:08 Why do students listen to other adults and not their parents?
2:37 Why separation from parents is developmentally normal and expected
4:10 Why to expect some degree of conflict during the college admissions process
6:55 How The College Spy keeps you updated every step of the way
8:07 Handling “I don’t know?” kids
10:00 Top 5 tips from The College Spy on connecting with your student
15:42 How to get our concierge service with unlimited conversations
17:19 All about College Admissions 101
19:24 The College Spy tip of the day
20:58 College Spotlight: Roger Williams University
Read the podcast transcript here.
Register for the next College 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Got a student studying for the SAT? Today’s episode is a must listen!
Join us as Michelle McAnaney of The College Spy speaks with Heathery Krey, co-owner of World Class Tutoring. With Bachelor’s degrees from Lehigh University in Engineering and Psychology and multiple master’s degrees, Heather tutors students across all subjects covered in the SAT and ACT. Her services have been incredibly helpful to many students from The College Spy, helping them to boost their scores with current testing strategy and hands on practice.
In this episode, we’ll cover:
- Surprises from the March digital SAT
- How the actual test differed from the prep exams
- Tips for students taking future SATs (hint: start with practice tests 5 and 6)
- Why you need to know about Desmos
- How to select the ACT vs SAT
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: If your acceptance letter came with a merit scholarship, make sure you ask these two questions:
- Is this scholarship renewable each semester?
- What GPA is required each semester to keep the scholarship?
College Spotlight: Champlain College
Key points in this episode
2:34 Meet Heather Krey of World Class Tutoring
4:42 What is the digital SAT and how does it differ from the prior version
5:03 SAT then and now
6:06 Desmos, the digital graphing calculator
7:21 The four modules of the SAT and how the test adapts to each student
13:03 Recommendations for students taking upcoming tests
20:50 How the SAT and ACT have diverged
21:10 All about World Class Tutoring
23:41 Admissions Tip of the Day
24:04 College Spotlight on Champlain College
Learn more about World Class Tutoring: https://worldclasstutoring.com/
Read the podcast transcript.
Register for the next College 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Join us for an interview with Aaron Basko, author of “Find Your Purpose. Manage Your Career.” As a higher education leader, speaker and author, Aaron has led four different colleges to enrollment turnarounds and been quoted in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Today, we’ll be talking about his practical book full of hands-on advice to help students discover where their passions lie and turn that into a rewarding career. Also in this episode:
Admission Tip of the Day: There is a wide range of competitiveness in college athletics from Division I to club sports to intramural sports. If sports have been an important and positive part of your high school career, look for ways that it can be part of your college life too! There will be a level where you are ‘good enough’ to play!
College Spotlight: American University
Key points in this episode
2:58 Aaron’s favorite way to help people maximize their potential
3:15 The 3 reasons why Michelle loved Aaron’s book
4:30 The 3 keys to a career fit: design, desire and demand
6:14 Why grade 10 is a good place to start
8:06 Why “find your passion” isn’t enough
11:49 Michelle’s love/hate relationship with assessments
17:25 Managing your ‘brand’ in the admissions process
19:33 Aaron’s insider tip on triangulation
21:22 What typical career paths look like today
22:42 The power of informational interviews
26:58 How to get Aaron’s book
Read the podcast transcript
Learn more about Aaron Basko on LinkedIn
Order Aaron’s book on Amazon
Register for the next College Admissions 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Join us for an interview with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with learning differences. As a Nationally Board Certified (NBCT) Exceptional Needs Specialist, Lisa is certified to teach students with mild and moderate learning differences. Listen to learn how to help your student during the third quarter slump (hint: It’s on their back!). You’ll also discover the best time to start academic coaching and how to shift your goals to prioritize independence and organization over grades and exams.
Also in this episode:
Admission Tip of the Day: On campus visits, always ask about upcoming changes planned for the campus. This is a quick way to learn what is important to this college now and where they will make investments going forward.
College Spotlight: College of Charleston
Key points in this episode
2:56 Meet Lisa Delfino
3:51 How to help your neurodivergent student stay motivated through the year (especially 3rd quarter)
4:57 The first place to help your student get organized - “Let’s clean out your backpack!”
6:58 How to make a checklist to help students deal with feelings of overwhelm
9:11 Lisa and Michelle’s thoughts on digital vs. paper tools
11:20 What is academic life coaching - learning, time management, anxiety
15:25 Reminding parents that ‘all kids grow up’
16:09 Why 10th grade is the sweet spot for starting academic coaching
21:54 Helping parents pull back
24:15 Redefining success from grades to practicing independence
26:44 College Admissions 101 details
28:49 College Spy Tip of the Day
29:16 College Spotlight: College of Charleston
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/s/The-College-Spy-Podcast-Episode-13-Transcript.pdf
Learn more about Lisa Delfino: https://thecollegespy.com/meet-the-team
Register for the next College Admissions 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
Join us for our interview with Diane Dempster (CPC, PCC, MHSA) of Impact Parents. As a coach, educator and speaker, Diane works with parents of complex kids of all ages to figure out how to allow their students to become more independent. Diane shares the four roles that parents can take on - director, collaborator, supporter, champion - and helpful advice for parents to shift their style as kids grow and mature. You’ll also learn why connecting and building trust with your student is fundamental to having those meaningful conversations and how this applies to the college admissions process.
Also in this episode:
Admission Tip of the Day: Make a list of the resources you think you will need on campus like a writing lab, math tutor or internship support. Make sure that your list of target universities includes these resources and pay them a visit while you are on campus.
College Spotlight: Rhode Island School of Design
Key points in this episode
2:15 Meet Diane Dempster of Impact Parents
3:55 The four types of parenting roles (director, collaborator, supporter, champion)
6:05 Why working with someone who is not the parent can be helpful
9:27 Why kids say ‘I don’t know’
10:24 Setting a day to talk college
14:08 What coaching requires
15:22 ‘Getting help’ as an adulting skill
16:36 How to get help from Impact Parents
20:32 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day
21:21 College Spotlight on the Rhode Island School of Design
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/s/The-College-Spy-Podcast-Episode-12-Transcript.pdf
Get your free guide from Impact Parents: https://impactparents.com/spy
Learn more about Diane and Impact Parents: https://impactparents.com/
Register for the next College Admissions 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
In this spring episode, Michelle covers a hot topic - academic rigor. As parents and students look to make course selections for the upcoming school year, this episode provides useful guidance and considerations they may not have though of yet when choosing classes.
Learn what colleges are looking for regarding academic rigor. Dive into what academic rigor means and why it’s not just AP and IB courses. Why do colleges want to see students who are choosing to challenge themselves in high school? And what does it predict about future college success? This episode will help parents and students make smart choices for their fall high school classes.
Also in this episode:
Admission Tip of the Day: On college visits, let your child express their opinion first and then you, as the parent, chime in afterwards. To find out what they really think, let your child process the experience on their own and form an opinion before you voice yours.
College Spotlight: Vanderbilt University
Key points in this episode
1:48 Definition of academic rigor
2:56 The job of an admissions advisor
4:04 The qualities that strong academic rigor demonstrates
5:01 The College Spy’s recommendation on academic rigor
5:42 Common concerns from families
9:10 How to get your specific college admissions questions answered
9:39 All about College Admissions 101
11:40 Tip of the Day
12:27 College Spotlight: Vanderbilt University
15:02 Interesting facts about Vanderbilt
15:46 Interview with a Vandy student
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast
Register for the next College 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney of The College Spy interviews Elliot Felix, author of “How to Get the Most Out of College: 127 Ways to Make Connections, Make it Work for You, and Make a Difference.” We discuss spaces on campus like libraries and residence halls that can help prospective students decide which college would be the best for them. We also discuss the shift from papers to projects, the importance of experiential learning and research tips to navigate college websites to find out what you really want to know.
Elliott combines his background in architecture with his graduate education to help universities create their future campus design and student experience. He founded Right Spot Strategy, a higher ed consultancy and has worked with over 100 universities on the entire student experience including Carnegie Mellon, MIT, NYU, NC State, and the University of Virginia.
Also in this episode:
Admission Tip of the Day
College Spotlight: Williams College
Key points in this episode
2:33 Main Segment: Interview with Elliot Felix
8:20 How libraries are changing from places to access information to places to create information
8:53 The transformation from papers to projects
10:53 How using the library is linked to students graduation rates
16:20 How to engage with helpful services on campus
18:05 Students concerns about making friends and getting along with roommates
19:20 Funding on campus and how that connects to choosing a college
22:40 College 101 by The College Spy covering how to build a college list, how to choose from the ACT & SAT, the college application timeline and an overview of financial aid
24:08 Tip of the day about listing hobbies on college applications
24:45 College Spotlight: Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Read Elliot Felix’s book: https://www.elliotfelix.com/book
Listen to Elliot’s podcast: https://www.elliotfelix.com/podcast
Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast
Register for the next College 101 session: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team: https://thecollegespy.com/
Contact Michelle McAnaney at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney interviews Sol Rosenbaum, an engineer and founder of The Engineering Mentor about the soft skills engineers need that aren't taught in college, as well as various factors a high school student could consider as they search for a perfect college, such as ABET certification and the ability to sit for the professional licensing exam. They also discuss whether selectivity is important when choosing an engineering program.
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons High School Students Need a Resume
College Spotlight: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
1:32: Main Segment: Interview with Sol Rosenbaum
27:04: Help with College Visits from the Talking College™ Campus Visits card deck
28:00: Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons High School Students Need a Resume
28:44: College Spotlight Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: 28:44
The Engineering Mentor website: https://www.theengineeringmentor.com
Podcast Transcript -- Go to Episode 9 Transcript
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at michelle@thecollegespy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks school counselor and independent educational consultant, Piet Lammert, about the differences between school counselors and independent educational consultants, how to use your school counselor more effectively and reasons to hire an independent educational consultant.
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: Estimating the Cost of College with Net Price Calculators
College Spotlight: Bowdoin College
1:29: Main Segment: Interview with Piet Lammert.
35:46: The College Spy Can Speak at Your School.
36:23: Admissions Tip of the Day: Net Price Calculators.
37:06: College Spotlight Bowdoin College.
Dirigo College Consulting Website: https://www.dirigocollegeconsulting.com
Podcast Transcript -- Go to Episode 8 Transcript
Listen to a recording of The College Spy’s Extracurricular Activities Webinar HERE
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website
Contact Michelle McAnaney at michelle@thecollegespy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks with Dale Troy about the transition to college. They talk about a proactive approach to parenting teens that will help teens develop the independent skills and confidence and thrive in college.
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons to tour colleges early (before grade 11).
College Spotlight: DePauw University.
2:40: Main Segment: Interview with Dale Troy.
31:53: College Admissions 101.
33:11: Admissions tip of the day: Tour colleges early.
33:37: College Spotlight: DePauw University.
Crush College Stress Website: https://crushcollegestress.com
Dale Troy’s Facebook Group, College Parent Support Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CollegeParentSupportCommunity
Podcast Transcript -- Go to Episode 7 Transcript
Learn More about College Admissions 101: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/college-admissions-101
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/
Contact Michelle McAnaney at michelle@thecollegespy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, college admissions expert and founder of The College Spy, gives you a list of holiday gifts that teens really want and need. Michelle developed this list based on her conversations with students and her knowledge of what students need both to get into college AND be successful once they get there.
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: Why you need to be careful building a college list if your GPA is boosted by elective courses.
College Spotlight: University of Pittsburgh
- 1:32: Main Segment: Holiday Gift Guide for Parents of Teens
- 8:45: The College Spy's College Admissions 101
- 10:03: Admissions tip of the day: Electives and GPA
- 11:05: College Spotlight: University of Pittsburgh
For the Holiday Gift Guide in Writing -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/blog
For a transcript of this episode -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/s/The-College-Spy-Podcast-Episode-6-Transcript.pdf
To learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/
Contact Michelle McAnaney at michelle@thecollegespy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, college admissions expert and founder of The College Spy, discusses the college essay and how it fits into the college application as a whole. Learn about the purpose of the college essay, how to choose a topic, off-limit topics, and The College Spy's tips for writing an effective essay. Michelle also discusses how to determine what part of the application is most important to each college.
Also in this episode:
Admissions Tip of the Day: Optional Essays
College Spotlight: Vassar College
- 1:43: Main Segment: The College Essay
- 11:25: How The College Spy can help with college essays
- 12:20: Admissions tip of the day: Optional essays
- 13:29: College Spotlight: Vassar College
Learn more about college essays -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/blog/the-role-of-the-essay-in-your-college-application
Podcast Transcript -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/s/The-College-Spy-Podcast-Episode-5-Transcript-The-College-Essay.pdf
Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to https://thecollegespy.com/
Contact Michelle McAnaney at michelle@thecollegespy.com
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy, and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss the five types of college application deadline: Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Regular Decision and Rolling Decision. As students plan for college, an understanding of how each type of application deadline can affect their admissions chances as well as how a deadline at one college can limit the deadline choice at another college should be a key part of planning the admissions process.
For more information on this topic, see:
The College Spy Blog: 5 Types of College Application Deadlines
The College Spy Guide: College Application Deadlines
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy, and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss letters of recommendation. We review where the letter fits into the college admissions process and how, from whom and when to ask for a letter recommendation. We address strategies for working with school counselors, teachers and others to obtain strong recommendation letters and some pitfalls to avoid as students work through this key element of the college application.
In this episode, Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy, and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss test optional college admissions policies. We review what "test optional" means for the student and the college and why colleges are increasingly adopting these policies, especially in connection with the COVID-19 virus. We address how students should plan for admissions to test optional colleges and universities.
For a list of the 1,000+ test optional colleges and universities in the United States and additional information on standardized testing, see:
The National Center for Fair and Open Testing: https://www.fairtest.org
In this episode Michelle McAnaney, the founder of The College Spy, and her co-host, Justin McAnaney, discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on college admissions and how high school juniors and seniors will need to move forward with their college search and selection process despite the disruption caused by the virus. This is a developing topic that changes day-to-day as colleges, standardized testing providers and high schools continue to update their responses to the virus. The following are key resources for parents and students as they navigate college planning and admissions at this challenging time:
College Virtual Tours:
https://www.campusreel.org
https://www.youvisit.com
College Search Resources:
https://www.niche.com
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
For information about the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and AP Exams:
https://www.collegeboard.org
For information about the ACT:
https://www.act.org
For information about Test Optional admissions policies:
http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional