Countdown to College Radio

What exactly is a Rhodes Scholarship, how are the scholars chosen, and what are the selection criteria? Elliot Gerson, the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, answers these questions and dispels several myths about this prestigious scholarship for study at England’s Oxford University.

American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, answers these questions and dispels several myths about this prestigious scholarship for study at England’s Oxford University.
http://www.rhodesscholar.org

Mick Hagen, founder of Zinch.com, describes how students and colleges are using the Zinch.com web site to start a dialogue that helps students show colleges more about their talents and interests than most applications allow, and helps colleges identify students with interesting traits or characteristics that would add depth and diversity to their campuses.
http://www.Zinch.com

Mick Hagen, founder of Zinch.com, describes how students and colleges are using the Zinch.com web site to start a dialogue that helps students show colleges more about their talents and interests than most applications allow, and helps colleges identify students with interesting traits or characteristics that would add depth and diversity to their campuses.
http://www.Zinch.com

Rob Killion, Executive Director of the Common Application, and Chad Massie, Director of the Common App Online Technology Group, describe the now ubiquitous online application that so many private colleges (and a few public colleges) are now using in the application process. How does it work and what do you need to know? Find out in this informative interview.
http://www.CommonApp.org

Rob Killion, Executive Director of the Common Application, and Chad Massie, Director of the Common App Online Technology Group, describe the now ubiquitous online application that so many private colleges (and a few public colleges) are now using in the application process. How does it work and what do you need to know? Find out in this informative interview.
http://www.CommonApp.org

Molly Baab, Director of the Consumer Web Experience at StudentEdge.com, discusses this free site’s many customizable content areas designed to help 8th-12th grade students explore careers, search colleges, prepare for a wide array of tests (including SAT, ACT, and many others), track activities, write college application essays, and more.
http://www.StudentEdge.com

Molly Baab, Director of the Consumer Web Experience at StudentEdge.com, discusses this free site’s many customizable content areas designed to help 8th-12th grade students explore careers, search colleges, prepare for a wide array of tests (including SAT, ACT, and many others), track activities, write college application essays, and more.
http://www.StudentEdge.com

The high school counselor is a critical member of a student’s college preparation team. Counselors help students and families select the right college-prep courses, offer suggestions for extracurricular activities, understand the admissions process, and write letters of recommendation. Hear strategies and tips for working with your high-school guidance counselor in this interview with Abby Hirsch, an admission counselor at Lehman University in New York and a former high school guidance counselor.

The high school counselor is a critical member of a student’s college preparation team. Counselors help students and families select the right college-prep courses, offer suggestions for extracurricular activities, understand the admissions process, and write letters of recommendation. Hear strategies and tips for working with your high-school guidance counselor in this interview with Abby Hirsch, an admission counselor at Lehman University in New York and a former high school guidance counselor.

Gene Kalb, publisher of the online High School Counselor Week newsletter, describes this free online publication. Each week, he searches media outlets to find stories of interest to high school guidance counselors, independent counselors, college admissions officers, and interested parents, then provides a quick synopsis and link to the original stories. The newsletter makes it easy for busy counselors to stay on top of the news in the field.
http://www.hscounselorweek.com/

Penny Hastings, co-author of the book, “Win a Sports Scholarship,” discusses what seniors, juniors, and even sophomores should be doing in the fall months if they are aiming to find a place on an intercollegiate sports team.
http://www.winasportsscholarship.com

Chris Long, President of Cappex.com, talks about the features of this free site, which helps match high-school seniors with colleges that fit each student’s profile and interests. It also gives students listings of the merit aid available at each college, and provides information about how likely that student is to get admitted to any particular college (based on grades, test scores, gender, ethnicity, and more).
http://www.cappex.com

Chris Long, President of Cappex.com, talks about the features of this free site, which helps match high-school seniors with colleges that fit each student’s profile and interests. It also gives students listings of the merit aid available at each college, and provides information about how likely that student is to get admitted to any particular college (based on grades, test scores, gender, ethnicity, and more).
http://www.cappex.com

Sally Blount, Dean of the New York University School of Business Undergraduate College and special advisor to the provost for global academic integration at NYU describes their new “Business and Political Economy” program, which requires three full semesters of study abroad and explains why the school is putting so much emphasis on overseas study. For high school students who are interested in study abroad during college, she also lists factors to look for in a study abroad program when considering colleges to which they will apply.
http://www.stern.nyu.edu/uc/BPE

Sally Blount, Dean of the New York University School of Business Undergraduate College and special advisor to the provost for global academic integration at NYU describes their new “Business and Political Economy” program, which requires three full semesters of study abroad and explains why the school is putting so much emphasis on overseas study. For high school students who are interested in study abroad during college, she also lists factors to look for in a study abroad program when considering colleges to which they will apply.
http://www.stern.nyu.edu/uc/BPE

Justin Sachs, author of “Your Mailbox is Full: Real Teens in the Real World,” explains why it is helpful, even essential, for students to take a step back and do some serious self-examinations to clarify their beliefs and goals before embarking on the college application process, particularly the college application essay, and how this clarity can help students craft application essays that become powerful personal declarations of who they and what their goals are.
http://www.MotivateYourTeen.com

Justin Sachs, author of “Your Mailbox is Full: Real Teens in the Real World,” explains why it is helpful, even essential, for students to take a step back and do some serious self-examinations to clarify their beliefs and goals before embarking on the college application process, particularly the college application essay, and how this clarity can help students craft application essays that become powerful personal declarations of who they and what their goals are.
http://www.MotivateYourTeen.com

Beth Pickett, host of Countdown to College Radio Show, offers an internet-based technique for methodically searching for and investigating colleges. This four-step method utilizes the College Board.com’s College Matchmaker web site, YOUniversityTV.com’s video-based campus tours, the U.S. News and World Report college database for information on freshman retention and graduation rates, and student reviews from Unigo.com.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college

Jeannie Borin, president and founder of College Connections, discusses the components of a student activity resume and describes how they are used by those writing commendations and reviewing college applications.
http://www.college-connections.com

College web sites are full of information--sometimes overwhelmingly so. Jeannie Borin, president and founder of College Connections, gives hints on how students and parents can navigate college web sites to hone in on critical information about a college’s mission, core requirements, and more.
http://www.college-connections.com

Joanne Levy-Prewitt, an independent college advisor who works with students in the San Francisco Bay Area, discusses the past year’s admission season and shares her observations on the need for financial safety schools on a student’s list, the importance of extracurricular activities, and more.
http://www.ggworkshops.com

The Getting In EDU College Admissions Journal and web site provides students, parents, and counselors with direct access to the advice of today's college athletic coaches and admissions officers. Knowing what coaches and admissions officers are looking for helps student-athletes prepare for, research and get recruited by the right college. GettingInEdu.com founder Chris Strausser explains.
http://www.gettinginedu.com

The Getting In EDU College Admissions Journal and web site provides students, parents, and counselors with direct access to the advice of today's college athletic coaches and admissions officers. Knowing what coaches and admissions officers are looking for helps student-athletes prepare for, research and get recruited by the right college. GettingInEdu.com founder Chris Strausser explains.
http://www.gettinginedu.com

YOUniversityTV.com offers high-quality video tours of hundreds of U.S. colleges, showing campus layouts, giving an overview of campus culture, and sharing basic statistics about population size and admissions qualitifications. The site gives students and parents a great way to preview dozens of colleges in a short period of time, and determine which schools might make the student’s short list for further investigation.
http://www..YOUniversityTV.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

The admissions decisions are in, and now many students need to decide which college to attend, given two or more offers of admission. What are some factors that can help them choose? Joanne Levy-Prewitt, an independent college advisor and nationally syndicated columnist, gives ideas and advice on how to choose.
http://www.nacacnet.org/AboutNACAC/Policies/Documents/StudentsRtsNEW.pdf

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

Stephen Smith, CEO of Naviance, describes how high schools and families around the country are using their Workspace K12 software as a web-based communication tool for selecting high-school courses, exploring possible careers, and applying to colleges.
http://www.naviance.com/products/workspacek12/index.html

Terri Lewallen, Director of the College and Career Center at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, discusses how she uses the Naviance Workspace K12 software program to motivate students in their academic achievement, and to keep students and families informed and on track during the college application process.
http://www.naviance.com/products/workspacek12/index.html

Kim Clark, senior editor at U.S. News and World Report and developer of the FinancialAidLetter.com web site, describes why financial aid award letters from colleges can be confusing and even misleading, and tells us what families need to know to to understand what the colleges are really offering.
http://www.FinancialAidLetter.com

Show host Beth Pickett gives an overview of demonstrated interest—the ways in which students show colleges how much they are really interested in attending a particular school—and how that can influence the student’s chances of gaining admission.
http://www.CountdownToCollegeRadio.com

Matt Fissinger, Director of Undergraduate Admission at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, describes what it means to be waitlisted, and details what students should and should not do if they get put on the waiting list at their top choice school.

Matt Fissinger, Director of Undergraduate Admission at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, describes what it means to be waitlisted, and details what students should and should not do if they get put on the waiting list at their top choice school.

Kate Augus, Director of College Counseling at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California, discusses planning and strategies for making the most of a campus visit over spring break or at any other time of year. (March 6, 2009)
http://www.unigo.com

Kate Augus, Director of College Counseling at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California, discusses planning and strategies for making the most of a campus visit over spring break or at any other time of year. (March 6, 2009
http://www.unigo.com

Penny Hastings, author of the book, “How to Win a Sports Scholarship,” discusses the college coach’s role in advocating for admission of student-athletes. (March 6, 2009)
http://www.winasportsscholarship.com

Jeffrey Durso-Finley, director of college counseling at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and author of the book, "Understanding Athletic Recruiting," discusses goal-setting and recruiting timelines for students who wish to continue playing their sport at the intercollegiate level.
http://www.lawrenceville.org

Jeffrey Durso-Finley, director of college counseling at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and author of the book, "Understanding Athletic Recruiting," discusses goal-setting and recruiting timelines for students who wish to continue playing their sport at the intercollegiate level.
http://www.lawrenceville.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

Maria Furtado, Director of Admission at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, discusses what it means for students to seek out and find the right "fit" in a college, and how the National Survey of Student Engagement can provide useful data to help students and families consider colleges based on student outcomes and involvement rather than relying solely on selectivity or magazine rankings.
http://www.CTCL.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

Co-directors of college counseling at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, Durso-Finley and Becker bring their many years of experience to bear on the question of why many students have trouble writing college application essays. They then provide suggestions for de-stressing the students and allowing their creativity to flow.
https://www.conferencemedia.net/node/3913

Co-directors of college counseling at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, Durso-Finley and Becker bring their many years of experience to bear on the question of why students have such trouble writing college application essays. They then provide suggestions for de-stressing the students and allowing their creativity to flow.
https://www.conferencemedia.net/node/3913

Troy Hammond, Director of College Counseling at Bayview Glen School in Toronto, Canada, reports on the National Association for College Admissions Counseling's annual conference in Seattle, where high school counselors and college admissions representatives gather to exchange ideas and discuss best practices for helping students and families make the high-school-to-college transition.
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Events/NatlConf08/

Troy Hammond, Director of College Counseling at Bayview Glen School in Toronto, Canada, reports on the National Association for College Admissions Counseling's annual conference in Seattle, where high school counselors and college admissions representatives gather to exchange ideas and discuss best practices for helping students and families make the high-school-to-college transition.
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/Events/NatlConf08/

Junior year is a big year for testing, with SATs, SAT2s, and ACTs. How many should you take, and when? And what about those AP exams? Countdown to College Radio host Beth Pickett walks you through one possible testing calendar for junior year and explains the logic behind what to take and when.
http://www.CountdownToCollegeRadio.com

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/

There are nearly 4,000 colleges in the U.S. One of the first ways to begin categorizing those schools so that students can understand better what their choices are is to understand the differences among public schools (community colleges, state colleges, and state universities), private schools, federal schools (i.e., the military academies such as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy), and the international college options open to U.S. students.
http://www.CountdownToCollegeRadio.com

Countdown to College Radio Show host Beth Pickett sorts through Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and other college application options that many parents and students find so confusing these days.
http://www.CountdownToCollegeRadio.com

Peggy Wallace, founder of Making Conversation, discusses reasons why teenagers seem to have lost the art of conversation, and suggests strategies for helping them develop those skills.
http://www.MakingConversation.com

Peggy Wallace, founder of Making Conversation, outlines several strategies for making the most of your college admissions interview.
http://www.MakingConversation.com

Beth discusses how to use visits to local college campuses to help determine what the right college population size is right for any particular student.
http://www.CountdownToCollegeRadio.com

Beth talks about college entrance exams, and why juniors should be taking them this year. She also goes through the senior year calendar, and what seniors should be doing this month to plan and pace themselves now that the application season is upon us.
http://www.countdowntocollegeradio.com