Maureen Anderson from the Sorority Success Academy shares how as a first-generation college student, who after a injury found she didn’t have many friends outside of cheer, she was able to fill that social void through Greek life on campus. Greek life is a lot more than what we’ve seen in the media. There is an emphasis on:  * sisterhood (brotherhood for fraternities) * philanthropy / service  * academics  * social interaction  * leadership, networking,...

It’s time for college applications! How do we strategize with our college apps to make sure we are applying for the schools we want and not wasting time and effort on our lowest priorities. Erin provides a sample of her College Checklist to help decide what schools to apply to, how to keep them all organized, and the way Erin likes to prioritize schools during the college applications process.

A listener writes in with a question about how to prep for the SAT/ACT on the cheap. Megan uses her expert advice to go through a variety of resources and help vet what might be helpful and what might be a mistake. Erin shares her own stress with taking a standardized exam and trying to piece together various resources. What resources might work for you? Official Guide episode #533

This may be our most controversial episode ever. Megan shares the importance of style guides and Erin throws a fit. Regardless, knowing what a style guide is and how to use one is a necessary skill for any student. What do you think about style guides argument? The various guides are linked down below. APA Style Guide MLA Style Guide OWL Purdue Grammar Girl Guide to Writing

Yes, the all-caps is intentional–Erin is a HUGE fan of school supplies. So much so that she even wrote an entire blog post about it (here is that post)! What are your favorite school supplies? What are the things Erin was right-on about? What was a miss? Let’s chat pens, pencils, notebooks, and everything else!

Megan introduces us to the big one–the Fiske Guide–where you can find a ton of information about colleges. Find out the history, the stories that make the colleges unique, and hear from ACTUAL students. Fiske guide is great for research but also fun to have around and flip through!

Want to get to know yourself a bit better? Curious what careers might be best for you? How do you determine what you might want to major in during your time in college? Erin shares a variety of personality tests for fun (and science)! O-NETMAPP VIA Strengths cardsVIA Strengths DISC ENNEAGRAM cards – Erin’s favorite!

Megan is sharing a special book that is perfect for those who aren’t sure what colleges they might be interested in. Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope covers some great colleges that might not be known because they are not at the top of the problematic US News rankings. These colleges will provide a great education and a life-changing experience. Colleges That Change Lives website

Erin’s back with more tech stuff for your summer resources! Habit trackers, anti-distraction apps, and an app to help you get out of bed! Understood.orgHabiticaFinchI can’t wake up!Cold TurkeyFB erradicator

Spending your summer doing some test prep? Megan tells us why it is important to check out the SAT & ACT Official Guides. Get yourself ready for the test if you are a junior and if you are a senior, it’s crunch time!

Whether you are traveling to visit colleges, attending a summer program, or just enjoying some time with family, it is good to travel with the right gear. In today’s episode, Erin shares some of her favorite travel stuff. Many of these items are things most students can also take with them to college. Power cubeCharger brickSuction cup cell phone holderTowelRumpl (blanket, sit-upon)Collapsible backpack

You may have noticed the list of “new Ivys” from Forbes this spring. In today’s episode, Megan discusses two resources with a similar approach: Greene’s Guides: Public Ivies & Hidden Ivies. These books highlight “how to get an Ivy League education at a college of comparable excellence.”

In this episode, Erin shares some of her favorite podcasts. No Stupid Questions — Research psychologist Angela Duckworth, the author of “Grit” and tech / sports executive Mike Maughan ask lots of questions. Hidden Brain looks into the underlying patterns that drive human behavior to help you understand the world and yourself better.

Megan’s resource for the week is a book that was very influential to her early in her career: The Gatekeepers by Jacques Steinberg. This non-fiction work reads like a story and follows admissions officer Ralph Figaroa through a season of work at a highly selective university. While the information is almost 25 years old by now, this book is helpful in understanding the process. Just remember that the numbers given will be outdated.

We’ve made it to June! Hang in there if you have a few more weeks of school. We typically do shorter episodes in the summer and this year, Megan and Erin will take turns sharing different resources to help you improve your study skills, college planning, and grades. Today Erin shares to books that offer insight into how we think and learn: * Learning Outside the Lines by two Ivy League graduates with learning differences, Jonathan Mooney and David Cole. * Outsmart Your...

Megan and Erin did some reading and have a book report on The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make by Ron Lieber. What does this book cover? Should you pick it up for yourself? Or maybe you don’t want to read it and just want to listen to them talk about it instead. With such an important topic and saturation of information, does this book help add to the scholarship around financial aid.

Students are told that dropping a class will ruin their future prospects–the dreaded W on the transcript is the scarlet letter. Erin argues that sometimes dropping a class is the best and most strategic choice. She also discusses what other options there might beand when it is time to call it and time to stick it out.

Why does this college application question elicit blank stares from students? How do we help students to figure out what they might bring to the college experience or what sets them apart from other applicants? Megan and Erin discuss how this question being used with younger students could help them shift from passive to active participants in their learning.

Megan is back from a whirlwind tour of college visits and is sharing her notes and secret tips. When should you go? Is it worth it to time your visit to coincide with their “special” day? Lots of tips like what to wear, what to ask, how many schools you should see, and how to keep them all straight in your head.

How do you get plugged-in? What goals should you have for socialization? What factors should you consider before accepting a delayed admission? What questions should you be asking? What should you do prior to your delayed start? Megan and Erin help transfers and delayed students to get connected with the people, culture, and activities on campus through these tips.

Maybe you are interested in participating in your sport in college. Or maybe you haven’t thought about it at all. Or maybe you are confused as to what the Divisions mean. Wherever you are in the college athletics process, Megan helps answer some basic questions and provides an overview for those interested in sports.

Approach with Caution! When you see these red flags, it may be a sign that the college on your list could be more of a gamble than you were looking for. These are factors to watch for as you research schools. They may not be enough to remove from your list, but definitely something to consider.

Everyone wants to get into a “good college,” but if we don’t rely on rankings, what are some ways prospective students can tell if a college is good? Megan shares the things she looks for including specific numbers that might help you decide if that college is a good fit for you.

Some colleges do their curriculum in very different ways. Megan and Erin talk about some of these programs, their features, and what students might enjoy these colleges. Some of these you may never have heard of but could be your perfect fit! Plus, a secret FAFSA and SAT update!