In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark shares a text message and a Speakpipe comment on two different topics that he thought were profound, and worth sharing o   Mark talks about a tweet that is generating some buzz and he previews an interview that will air on Episode 430 and 432 about that tweet o   Julia and Mark have a robust conversation about “Double Deposits” o   Lisa interviews Elizabeth Hamlet, a Disability Services Expert. They discuss how students with Disabilities can...

In this episode you will hear:   (02:00) We have a five-way conversation for the first time at YCBK. Our four regular (Julia, Susan, Vince and Mark) are joined by Hillary Dickman, (Assistant Director of Admissions, Colorado College) for a conservation about how to complete the Activities Section of the Common Application. We discuss the Do’s and the Don’ts over the next three weeks.      (31:25) Question from a listener Jessica, an international listener has a question about the...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark shares more details on the FAFSA Fiasco this year o   Mark talks about the tumult on college campuses that is breaking out across the country o   Lisa interviews Elizabeth Hamlet, a Disability Services Expert. They discuss how students with Disabilities can successfully transition to college-Part 2 of 3   Preview of Part 2 o     Liz explains why students choose not to list their disabilities with the college. o     Liz talks about what skills...

In this episode you will hear:    (02:00) Mark and Vince discuss the nine colleges that make up the University of California-Part 2 of 2     (37:20) Question from a listener Jessica, an International listener has a question about the change from test-optional to test mandatory that is happening at a number of colleges. (50:30) Interview Jeremy Lowe, the Assistant Vice Provost of Undergraduate Admissions at American University discusses American University with Lisa Rouff-2 of 2...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark and Julia discuss what they learned from admissions decisions from the class of 2024 o   Lisa interviews Elizabeth Hamlet, a Disability Services Expert. They discuss how students with Disabilities can successfully transition to college-Part 1 of 3   Preview o     Liz shares her backstory from special ed teacher to author and success advocate for students with learning disabilities. o     Liz talks about the range of disability accommodations that...

In this episode you will hear:   (02:02) Mark and Vince discuss the nine colleges that make up the University of California-Part 1 of 2     (36:50) Question from a listener An anonymous mom from New York wants to know how highly rejective colleges evaluate extracurricular activities (54:16) Interview Jeremy Lowe, the Assistant Vice Provost of Undergraduate Admissions at American University discusses American University with Lisa Rouff-1 of 2 (01:13:33) Interview 2 Chris...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark gives a preview of his 63 minute interview with Jed Applerouth, founder of Applerouth.com   Preview Preview ² Jed gives his background, and he tells us a little bit about Applerouth ² Jed talks about the work Applerouth does for students with executive functioning. ² Jed and I talk about public flagship colleges and their insane out of state selectivity. ² Jed gives us the history of the ACT and he tells us what is going on with the ACT. ² Jed...

In this episode you will hear:   (03:30) Mark and Vince discuss an article on how students are being coached to brand themselves in their applications. This is an article that appeared in the NY Times by a Guest Essayist, entitled, “Elite college admissions have turned students into brands”      (33:30) Question from a listener Lee from Northern California has three questions about how colleges admit students when there is so much grade inflation. (49:22) Interview Jeremy Lowe,...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark gives a preview of some up and coming episodes o   Lisa gives advice about selecting a college from a psychological and practical standpoint. o   Lynda interviews Marjorie Betley, the Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University of Chicago, and the Executive Director of Admissions at the STARS College Network, and they discuss the STARS College Network STARS is an acronym for Small Towns and Rural Student-Part 3 of 3     Marjorie...

In this episode you will hear:   (01:50) Mark and Vince will eventually discuss an article on how students are being coached to brand themselves in their applications. This is an article that appeared in the NY Times by a Guest Essayist, entitled, “Elite college admissions have turned students into brands” but they get into that article in Part 2, on Episode 421, that will air on April 11th, but this week, Vince and Mark discuss their observations from this year in college admissions; they...

    o   Mark gives a recap of some of his key takeaways from the SACAC conference o   Mark shares some key takeaways from college visits and from conversation with reps o   Mark looks at what may look like perplexing admissions decisions for about a dozen students School Match 4U counselors worked with and he discusses the reasons why this surprising decisions happen o   Lynda interviews Marjorie Betley, the Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University of Chicago, and the...

In this episode you will hear:   (06:30) Julia and Mark discuss an article by “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but Julia and Mark know this is a national crisis, so they discuss the article in the context of the national challenge. Part 3 of 3     Mark shares a moving email that came in this week about why college is turning off many families.   (45:10) Question from a listener Clare from VA asks about a special program offered at...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark gives a recap of the first ever YCBK Meet & Greet that occurred in Durham, NC on 3/23 o   Julia has returned to admission file reading after 8 years and she shares how things have changed and what she has learned o   Lynda interviews Marjorie Betley, the Senior Associate Director of Admission at the University of Chicago, and the Executive Director of Admissions at the STARS College Network, and they discuss the STARS College Network for the...

In this episode you will hear:   (02:15) Julia and Mark planned to  talk about an article that ran in Bowdoin Orient, their student newspaper entitled: “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but they don’t get to the article until next week but they do discuss some application tips. Part 2 of 3   (25:55) Question from a listener Do you have any tips for my son who was admitted ED but now he is seeing all of his classmates get in schools in...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark discusses three upcoming events: The YCBK gathering in Raleigh, Andy Strickler’s Q & A with our listeners and the final info session for ScholarMatch o   Mark shares a powerful quote from Nvidia founder Jenson Huang that he can’t stop thinking about o   Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the topic of, Understanding Connecticut College, Part 3 of 3     Andy Strickler Interview-Understanding Connecticut College Preview Part 3 ² Andy goes into...

In this episode you will hear:   (02:10) Julia and Mark planned to  talk about an article that ran in Bowdoin Orient, their student newspaper entitled: “Dean of Admissions Claudia Marroquin on the decline of male applicants to Bowdoin” but they don’t get to the article until next week but they do discuss some application tips including, should you write your Personal Statement on Your College Major? Part 1 of 2     (24:36) Question from a listener Marissa Salazar, Associate Director...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark takes a look at the growing trend to guarantee admission to students based on class ranking. Mark shares six reasons opponents don’t like these plans and six reasons why proponents love these direct admit plans based on class rank o   Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the topic of, Understanding Connecticut College, Part 2 of 3     Andy Strickler Interview-Understanding Connecticut College Preview Part 2 ·        Andy talks about Connecticut...

In this episode you will hear:   (04:52) Matt Bonser, the Director of Admissions at Colorado College and a Gap year expert answers 20 questions about Gap Years in this 75-minute discussion. (Part 3 of 3) ²  Should a student reapply to the selective school they didn’t get in the next year, after taking a Gap year? Matt tells us when this can work. ²  Matt gives his thoughts of a student who takes a gap year in high school ²  Matt talks about Verto, a third-party provider of study abroad...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Susan and Mark answer a Speakpipe question that asks for advice when your student is selecting a college and he/she has two or more quality options, and they are really torn o   Mark interviews Andy Stickler on the topic of, Understanding Connecticut College, Part 1 of 3     Sign up for our Q & A session with Andy Strickler  (VP of enrollment at Rhodes College) on March 3rd, 9:30 EST and 6:30 PST by going to   Here are the remaining two dates...

In this episode you will hear:   (05:06) Matt Bonser, the Director of Admissions at Colorado College and a Gap year expert answers 20 questions about Gap Years in this 75 minute discussion. (Part 2 of 3)     (30:50) Mark and Lisa answer a question about whether college is worth it?   (57:50) Mark interviews Nora and Hannah, two college coaches with ScholarMatch, the CBO that matches college coaches with First Gen, under-resourced students. . They explain who ScholarMatch is and how...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark does a deep dive on Yale’s decision to embrace a test flexible policy o   Hillary Dickman comes on to explain how Colorado College’s non-harm test score policy works. o   Mark interviews Andy Borst, the VP of enrollment at the University of Georgia on the topic of, why do college students go out of state and why are so many heading to southern universities o   Mark shares an investment story.       Andy Borst Interview Preview Part 2 §  Andy...

In this episode you will hear:   (11:20) Matt Bonser, the Director of Admissions at Colorado College and a Gap year expert answers 20 questions about Gap Years in this 75 minute discussion. (Part 1 of 3)   (40:56) Mark and Susan answer a question about how being a talented classical pianist is perceived by admission officers, when a student is not planning on majoring in music.    (01:01:22) Mark interviews Nora and Hannah, two college coaches with ScholarMatch, the CBO that matches...

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark and Julia discuss Dartmouth’s decision to be the first IVY league school to require test scores. Part 2 of 2 o   Mark interviews Andy Borst, the VP of enrollment at the University of Georgia on the topic of, Why do college students go out of state and why are so many heading to southern universities     Andy Borst Interview Preview Part 1 ²  Andy shares data on the five states where students are leaving the most and he shares where they are...

In this episode you will hear:   (02:20) Vince and Mark discuss an article that appeared in the New Yorker entitled, How Rich or Not Rich do you need to be to get in the IVY league By Gail Cornwell. Kids whose parents make $158,200 to $222,400 a year have the worst odds of acceptance. Vince describes the article and Vince and Mark share whether they agree with the article. Part 2 of 2     (34:50) Mark and Susan each give a few tips for homeschool students in response to a Speakpipe...