Countdown to College Radio

Dr. Roberta Schorr, Associate Professor of Math Education at Rutgers University and Executive Director of the MATHNext Project, describes techniques for drastically increasing student engagement and accomplishment in math by giving them conceptually complex problems and time to grapple over them in an emotionally supportive environment.
http://www.MathNext.org

Dr. Roberta Schorr, Associate Professor of Math Education at Rutgers University and Executive Director of the MATHNext Project, describes techniques for drastically increasing student engagement and accomplishment in math by giving them conceptually complex problems and time to grapple over them in an emotionally supportive environment.
http://www.MathNext.org

Dr. Christine Carter, Executive Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, discusses the rise of cheating among today’s high school and college students, some of the factors that influence student’s cheating behaviors, the long-term repercussions of cheating on attitudes and adult behavior, and what schools and parents can do to help their students engage in the learning process and avoid the temptation to cheat.
http://ww.greatergood.berkeley.edu

Dr. Christine Carter, Executive Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, discusses the rise of cheating among today’s high school and college students, some of the factors that influence student’s cheating behaviors, the long-term repercussions of cheating on attitudes and adult behavior, and what schools and parents can do to help their students engage in the learning process and avoid the temptation to cheat.
http://ww.greatergood.berkeley.edu

nextSTEP Magazine is a free publication aimed at helping students understand the many options available for post-high-school life and the steps needed to get there. Laura Jeanne Hammond, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of nextSTEP Magazine, discusses the magazine’s target audience, who writes the articles, the topics covered, and the online features of the magazine’s web site.
http://www.nextSTEPmag.com

nextSTEP Magazine is a free publication aimed at helping students understand the many options available for post-high-school life and the steps needed to get there. Laura Jeanne Hammond, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of nextSTEP Magazine, discusses the magazine’s target audience, who writes the articles, the topics covered, and the online features of the magazine’s web site.
http://www.nextSTEPmag.com

The Education Program for Gifted Youth or “EPGY,” at Stanford University is a place where exceptional students from around the country and around the world can find challenging courses and the camaraderie of other high-ability students, all online or, in a few instances, over the summer on Stanford’s campus. Ray Ravaglia, Deputy Director of EPGY, describes the student-directed courses, the seminar courses, the Online High School (7th-12th grades) and the offerings for K-6th students as well.
http://epgy.stanford.edu

The Education Program for Gifted Youth or “EPGY,” at Stanford University is a place where exceptional students from around the country and around the world can find challenging courses and the camaraderie of other high-ability students, all online or, in a few instances, over the summer on Stanford’s campus. Ray Ravaglia, Deputy Director of EPGY, describes the student-directed courses, the seminar courses, the Online High School (7th-12th grades) and the offerings for K-6th students as well.
http://epgy.stanford.edu

What do you do when it’s 11:00 p.m. and you have a nasty calculus problem to solve? Ziizoo.com is an online service that matches students with tutors in real time, using a Flash-based white board and online chat to facilitate communication. Students can choose tutors based on their expertise, their hourly price, and more, and pay only for the minutes they are online with the tutor. Robert Einspruch, CEO of ziizoo.com, gives the details.
http://www.ziizoo.com

What do you do when it’s 11:00 p.m. and you have a nasty calculus problem to solve? Ziizoo.com is an online service that matches students with tutors in real time, using a Flash-based white board and online chat to facilitate communication. Students can choose tutors based on their expertise, their hourly price, and more, and pay only for the minutes they are online with the tutor. Robert Einspruch, CEO of ziizoo.com, gives the details.
http://www.ziizoo.com

Molly Baab, a test prep expert and director at Peterson’s StudentEdge.com, explains format, scoring, and other details about the PSAT test and gives strategies for preparing and pacing during the exam. She also discusses the free PSAT online test prep course available at StudentEdge.com.
http://www.StudentEdge.com

Molly Baab, a test prep expert and director at Peterson’s StudentEdge.com, explains format, scoring, and other details about the PSAT test and gives strategies for preparing and pacing during the exam. She also discusses the free PSAT online test prep course available at StudentEdge.com.
http://www.StudentEdge.com

Vicki Abeles, Executive Producer of the new documentary “Race to Nowhere,” describes the current anxiety, depression, sleep-deprivation and disengagement of many of today’s college-bound teens when they get swept up in the endless pursuit of the higher grade, the better test score, and that one last extracurricular activity. She and host Beth Pickett discuss the difficulties of finding balance in today’s families and what can be done to help families take a step back and reassess their priorities. They also discuss the conflicting messages that other country’s students are outperforming American students in many subjects, despite the fact that many American students seem to be spending hours and hours on homework.
http://www.racetonowhere.com

Vicki Abeles, Executive Producer of the new documentary “Race to Nowhere,” describes the current anxiety, depression, sleep-deprivation and disengagement of many of today’s college-bound teens when they get swept up in the endless pursuit of the higher grade, the better test score, and that one last extracurricular activity. She and host Beth Pickett discuss the difficulties of finding balance in today’s families and what can be done to help families take a step back and reassess their priorities. They also discuss the conflicting messages that other country’s students are outperforming American students in many subjects, despite the fact that many American students seem to be spending hours and hours on homework.

Nigel Nisbet, math expert with the Los Angeles Unified School District, explains why algebra is sometimes thought to be a gatekeeper course for students seeking to graduate from high school or college, and discusses the deeper causes of these difficulties, which often start long before that first algebra course.

David J. Smith, author of the books, “If the World Were a Village” and “If America Were a Village,” and creator of the “Mapping the World by Heart” curriculum, discusses why it’s important for today’s students to be geographically literate and shares his ideas for helping them increase their awareness of cultural, physical, and political geography.
http://www.mapping.com

David J. Smith, author of the books, “If the World Were a Village” and “If America Were a Village,” and creator of the “Mapping the World by Heart” curriculum, discusses why it’s important for today’s students to be geographically literate and shares his ideas for helping them increase their awareness of cultural, physical, and political geography.
http://www.mapping.com

While preschool is too early to begin making college visits, it’s not too early to set the stage for academic achievement later on. Students who enter kindergarten able to pay attention, follow directions, and control impulsive behavior fare better academically throughout primary and secondary school and even into college. Educator and musician Shauna Tominy describes how she puts classic fairly tales to music and accompanying games to help preschoolers develop these essential skills in an engaging, fun way.
http://www.storytimesongs.com

While preschool is too early to begin making college visits,it’s not too early to set the stage for academic achievement later on. Students who enter kindergarten able to pay attention, follow directions, and control impulsive behavior fare better academically throughout primary and secondary school and even into college. Educator and musician Shauna Tominy describes how she puts classic fairly tales to music and accompanying games to help preschoolers develop these essential skills in an engaging, fun way.
http://www.storytimesongs.com

Dr. Gary Lopez, Executive Director of the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education, describes their HippoCampus collaborative online project (funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) that brings high-school and college-level course content from the country’s best educators, and adds audio, visual support, and interactivity. Students worldwide use the site for free to preview, learn, or review course content on topics such as algebra, biology, physics, and history; teachers use the site (also for free) to create customized HippoCampus web sites featuring multimedia lessons from the HippoCampus database that they’ve pulled together to reflect exactly what they want to teach.
http://www.HippoCampus.org

Dr. Gary Lopez, Executive Director of the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education, describes their HippoCampus.org collaborative online project (funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) that brings high-school and college-level course content from the country’s best educators, and adds audio, video, and interactivity. Students worldwide use the site for free to preview, learn, or review course content on topics such as algebra, biology, physics, and history; teachers use the site (also for free) to create customized HippoCampus web sites featuring multimedia lessons from the HippoCampus database that they’ve pulled together to reflect exactly what they want to teach.
http://www.HippoCampus.org

Sherwin Little, President of the American Classical League, discusses the activities and scholarship opportunities for high school students involved in the National Junior Classical League, a group dedicated to the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture and language.
http://www.njcl.org

Sherwin Little, President of the American Classical League, discusses the activities and scholarship opportunities for high school students involved in the National Junior Classical League, a group dedicated to the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture and language.
http://www.njcl.org

Adam Sapp, Associate Dean of Admission at Claremont McKenna College, offers tips and advice for making a strong and successful transition into the junior year of high school.

More than 11 million students participate annually in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which culminates in a national championship that is broadcast live on ESPN and ABC. How does the Bee benefit participating students and how can you get involved? Paige Kimball, Director of the Bee, gives us the answers.
http://www.SpellingBee.com

More than 11 million students participate annually in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which culminates in a national championship that is broadcast live on ESPN and ABC. How does the Bee benefit participating students and how can you get involved? Paige Kimball, Director of the Bee, gives us the answers.
http://www.SpellingBee.com

Colleges will accept results from either test, so how do you choose which one is right for you? What is the difference between the SAT and the ACT, anyway? Find out in this informative interview with Matthew Pietrafetta, CEO and Founder of AcademicApproach.com.
http://www.AcademicApproach.com

Colleges will accept results from either test, so how do you choose which one is right for you? What is the difference between the SAT and the ACT, anyway? Find out in this informative interview with Matthew Pietrafetta, CEO and Founder of AcademicApproach.com.
http://www.AcademicApproach.com

Professor Moshe Zeidner, a world expert on test anxiety, discusses reasons why standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT can be so stressful for students, and discusses specific recommendations for increasing performance while decreasing anxiety.
http://www.edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/mzeidner/publications.htm

Professor Moshe Zeidner, a world expert on test anxiety, discusses reasons why standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT can be so stressful for students, and discusses specific recommendations for increasing performance while decreasing anxiety.
http://www.edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/mzeidner/publications.htm

Dr. Courtney Federle of academic-enrichment and test-prep company Academic Approach outlines strategies to help students prepare for the essay section of the SAT and ACT college entrance exams.
http://www.AcademicApproach.com

Dr. Courtney Federle of academic-enrichment and test-prep company Academic Approach outlines strategies to help students prepare for the essay section of the SAT and ACT college entrance exams.
http://www.AcademicApproach.com

A bad case of senioritis, when reflected on a student’s final transcript in the form of a lowered GPA or tanking in a few classes, or manifested by breaches in ethical or even legal conduct, can not only affect student’s financial aid packages but can also get a student’s offer of admission revoked by the student’s college of choice. Joanne Levy-Prewitt, an independent college advisor and nationally syndicated columnist, talks about senioritis and ways to avoid it.
http://www.ggworkshops.com

Jim Weiss, an internationally acclaimed storyteller, author, and audio reader, talks about the benefits of listening to stories. These benefits include developing an ear for language, cultivating a deep vocabulary, and familiarizing the listener with many of the seminal stories of western culture (such as the Greek myths, Shakespeare’s plays, and even the Bible as literature) that are still commonly referenced in today’s newspapers, magazines, and online writing—and college-level academic work.
http://www.Greathall.com

Jim Weiss, an internationally acclaimed storyteller, author, and audio reader, talks about the benefits of listening to stories. These benefits include developing an ear for language, cultivating a deep vocabulary, and familiarizing the listener with many of the seminal stories of western culture (such as the Greek myths, Shakespeare’s plays, and even the Bible as literature) that are still commonly referenced in today’s popular writing—and in college-level academic work.
http://www.Greathall.com

Stephen Luebke, senior test specialist with the Law School Admission Council (the organization that creates and administers the LSAT), describes test logistics—when to take it, how long it is, what is included—and talks about how best to prepare.
http://www.lsac.org

Walter Brasch, Ph.D., professor of journalism at Bloomberg University in Bloomberg, Pennsylvania, a syndicated columnist, author, and educator for more than 20 years, discusses the dramatic shift that he’s noticed within the last five or six years in student preparedness for college, and explores the underlying causes.
http://www.walterbrasch.com/

Walter Brasch, Ph.D., professor of journalism at Bloomberg University in Bloomberg, Pennsylvania, a syndicated columnist, author, and educator for more than 20 years, discusses the dramatic shift that he’s noticed within the last five or six years in student preparedness for college, and explores the underlying causes.
http://www.walterbrasch.com/

FIRST Robotics Competition Program Director Bill Miller introduces us to the basics of this international competition in which teams of high school students are given six weeks to design a working robot based on guidelines set (and changed) by the competition organizers each year. Competitions take place at the regional and national levels, with more than 40,000 students competing each year. Learn how to participate and what the competition entails.
http://www.USFirst.org

FIRST Robotics Competition Program Director Bill Miller introduces us to the basics of this international competition in which teams of high school students are given six weeks to design a working robot based on guidelines set (and changed) by the competition organizers each year. Competitions take place at the regional and national levels, with more than 40,000 students competing each year. Learn how to participate and what the competition entails.
http://www.USFirst.org

Admissions for the performing arts--music, dance, and theater—require not only the standard application for admission, but an audition as well. Buck and Schoenberg, co-authors of "A Guide to College Choices in the Performing and Visual Arts," discuss the audition process and other considerations for aspiring performing artists.
http://www.lulu.com/southlabrea

Admissions for the performing arts--music, dance, and theater—require not only the standard application for admission, but an audition as well. Buck and Schoenberg, co-authors of "A Guide to College Choices in the Performing and Visual Arts," discuss the audition process and other considerations for aspiring performing artists.
http://www.lulu.com/southlabrea

The Art of Problem Solving is an organization dedicated to helping bright math students understand and solve hard math problems. The Art of Problem Solving math textbooks differ from traditional math textbooks in structure, difficulty, and content, and are used by most of the top math contest participants in the U.S. AoPS founder Richard Rusczyk talks about his approach to teaching math.
http://www.ArtofProblemSolving.com

The Art of Problem Solving's Richard Rusczyk talks about what students can expect in an online AoPS math course for high-school students. Want to do more math problems for fun and practice outside of a high-school course? Richard also describes their new "Alcumus" learning system, which tailors math problems to the student's abilities so the student is continually challenged but not frustrated.
http://www.ArtofProblemSolving.com

Math geeks, unite! In a world where not everyone shares the bright math student's love of a juicy, tough math problem, finding like-minded students with whom to share information, experiences, and problem-solving techniques can inspire students to reach new levels and give them a sense of community that might be missing from their bricks-and-mortar school.
http://www.ArtofProblemSolving.com

A charge of plagiarism can lead to a failing grade on a paper or in an entire class; it can lead to suspension or expulsion from college or, at the professional level, loss of a job or professional credibility. Dr. Michelle Stewart, Associate Professor of English at Mt. San Jacinto College in Menifee, California, describes accidental plagiarism and how to avoid it.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

A charge of plagiarism can lead to a failing grade on a paper or in an entire class; it can lead to suspension or expulsion from college or, at the professional level, loss of a job or professional credibility. Dr. Michelle Stewart, Associate Professor of English at Mt. San Jacinto College in Menifee, California, describes accidental plagiarism and how to avoid it.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

College admissions officers tend to look favorably upon students who are willing to explore places and experiences outside their comfort zones. In particular, a study abroad program during high school (summer, semester, or year-long) can help students to mature and to get a clearer view of who they are and what they want out of college. Lisa Chinnery of Youth for Understanding-USA explains.
http://yfu-usa.org

Lisa Chinnery, Coordinator of Outreach Programs at Youth for Understanding-USA, explains study abroad for international students who are interested in having a high-school experience in the United States, and describes why some American families are eager to host these students in their homes. She also outlines the logistics for becoming a host family.
http://yfu-usa.org

Dr. Denise Pope, a co-founder of the Stressed Out Students and the Challenge Success programs at Stanford University, talks about the pressures many of today's students face as they strive to earn admission to a very few super-selective colleges, and what can be done to help improve student's mental health and families' perspectives on the college admissions process.
http://www.challengesuccess.org

Dr. Denise Pope, a co-founder of the Stressed Out Students and the Challenge Success programs at Stanford University, talks about the pressures many of today's students face as they strive to earn admission to a very few super-selective colleges, and what can be done to help improve student's mental health and families' perspectives on the college admissions process.
http://www.challengesuccess.org

The Founder of Camp Millionaire, Elisabeth Donati, describes this one-week day camp, which teaches students aged 10-15 basic financial literacy, including earning, investing, saving, using credit wisely, and more. Camp Millionaire's sister program, Moving Out!, is designed to teach similar financial skills to older teens headed to college or into the working world.
http://www.creativewealthintl.org

Thea Sahr, Associate Director of Education Outreach at public television station WGBH in Boston, talks about the Engineer Your Life program and web site, which is designed to show high school students, particularly women, how creative and rewarding a career in engineering can be.
http;//www.EngineerYourLife.org

Katherine Bicer, one of the engineers profiled in the EngineerYourLife.org web site, discusses the educational path that led her to a challenging and fulfilling career as a materials engineer for GE Aviation, where she helps ensure that the engine parts for aircraft flown by the Australian military give optimal performance under extraordinary conditions.
http://www.EngineerYourLife.org

Students interested in studying the visual arts in college have many options in terms of university-based or art-school based programs. Buck and Schoenberg, authors of "A Guide to College Choices in the Performing and Visual Arts", describe the considerations for each, and discuss how to begin pulling together a portfolio of work that these schools require.
http://www.lulu.com/southlabrea

Students interested in studying the visual arts in college have many options in terms of university-based or art-school based programs. Buck and Schoenberg, authors of "A Guide to College Choices in the Performing and Visual Arts", describe the considerations for each, and discuss how to begin pulling together a portfolio of work that these schools require.
http://www.lulu.com/southlabrea

Peter Osgood, Director of Admission at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, describes engineering and science colleges and how they differ from other colleges, and reviews factors that help prepare a student for admission.
http://www.jets.org

Peter Osgood, Director of Admission at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, describes engineering and science colleges and how they differ from other colleges, and reviews factors that help prepare a student for admission.
http://www.jets.org

Emma Walton Hamilton, author of the book, "Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment," discusses how to keep a child's enthusiasm for reading going through elementary school and beyond, and why it's important for both college and career success to instill a lifelong love of reading in children and young adults.
http://www.RaisingBookworms.com

Steve Dunbar, Director of the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) and professor of math at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, describes the various AMC competitions, including AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12.
http://www.unl.edu/amc/

Dr. John Churchill, Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, discusses what it takes for a college student to be offered an invitation to join this prestigious national academic honor society.
http://www.pbk.org

David Christian, Professor of History at San Diego State University, author, and creator of the Teaching Company DVD Course, "Big History: The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the Rise of Humanity," discusses Big History and why it's helpful for students to have a mental map of all the great transitions that have shaped the universe, the earth, life, and human beings over the course of more than 13 billion years.
http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=8050

Tom DaRin, immediate past chair of the National Association for College Admissions Counselor's National College Fair Committee, describes college fairs and gives tips on how to make the most of it for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Events/CollegeFairs/NCF/

Dr. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, describes her groundbreaking work on identifying the growth and fixed mindsets, and how adopting a growth mindset clears the way for greater success in academics and many other areas of life.
http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~dweck/

Dr. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, describes her groundbreaking work on identifying the growth and fixed mindsets, and how adopting a growth mindset clears the way for greater success in academics and many other areas of life.
http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~dweck/

Dr. Christine Carter, Executive Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, describes the ways in which perfectionism hinders, rather than fosters, success in academics and other areas.
http://GreaterGoodParents.org

Dr. Christine Carter, Executive Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, describes the ways in which perfectionism hinders, rather than fosters, success in academics and other areas.
http://GreaterGoodParents.org

The College of William and Mary hosts the Pre-College Program in American History for high school students interested in learning about history both in the classroom and at some of the country's most historic sites.
http://www.wm.edu/niahd

Glenn Milewski, Executive Director of the PSAT/NMSQT at the College Board, describes the format and scoring of the test, and discusses its role in launching the college search process for many students.
http://www.CollegeBoard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html

Tim McGuire, President of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, explains what the National Merit Scholarship Program is, how students qualify, and what students need to do to become semi-finalists, finalists, and winners of this prestigious scholarship program.
http://www.NationalMerit.org

Lou DiGioia, Executive Director of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation, talks about how this nationwide extracurricular program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students helps develop students' math and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
http://www.MATHCOUNTS.org

Richard Rusczyk, Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search, co-creator of the Mandelbrot Math Competition, author of the book, "The Art of Problem Solving," and founder of the online Art of Problem Solving online community and training courses, discusses math education in the U.S. today, and why it falls short.
http://www.ArtofProblemSolving.com

USA Math Olympiad winner, Princeton University graduate, and Art of Problem Solving founder Richard Rusczyk discusses the many extracurricular opportunities that students from first grade through high school have to sharpen both their math and their problem-solving skills through the many individual and team math competitions offered in the U.S.
http://www.ArtofProblemSolving.com