College Admissions with Mark and Anna
71 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★ - 23 ratingsApplying for college is more complex and often times more confusing than it used to be. In addition, there are so many resources out there. How do you know which is the right one? The best one? Shouldn't everyone have access to the best information out there, regardless of price?
That's what we believe! We believe in giving everyone their best chance by providing them with real insight from the college admissions industry. On this podcast, we share real and relevant topics in college admissions to provide you with a fresh perspective and truly actionable takeaways that you can use as you prepare to apply for college.
We look forward to answering your questions and assisting you on your college admissions journey!
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Episodes
Offer Letters: Rainbow of Emotions and What to Look Out For
April 06, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutes - 41.6 MBAll the work and sacrifice – applications completed, essays written, weekends lost, and joy-filled NetFlix binges missed… has finally paid off. THEY want you! Colleges want you! The golden ticket with notice of admission has been issued to you and now all you need to do is select which fabulous school you and your pet goldfish will head to in September. Join Mark and Anna as they walk you through this final step of the college admissions process - from where to check your results to what you...
Art School Admissions with Tali Nesher
February 28, 2018 15:00 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBJoin us as we talk to Tali Nesher, a former literary agent, NYU Tisch graduate and independent educational consultant specializing in the arts. Tali will be offering expertise on applying to different types of art programs and the value of an art education. If you're worried about your child becoming a starving artist, listen to Tali as she talks about how versatile an art degree can be, in addition to information about the process of applying for art programs. Tali Nesher graduated from Ne...
College: Beyond Admissions
January 22, 2018 21:09 - 42 minutes - 37.9 MBYou've gotten into college. Now what? After spending most of high school preparing for this next step, what do you need to be successful in college and even in life? Join Mark and Anna as the cover the top skills you need for life in college and beyond. From accepting criticism and making healthy choices to tying a tie, Mark and Anna tackle life beyond the application.
Extracurricular Activities: What do they want from us?!
January 08, 2018 22:15 - 40 minutes - 35.9 MBWith so many people around you juggling 20 activities, you wonder..do I really need 20 activities? What is the point of these extracurricular activities? What kind of activities should I have? Is there ever too much or too few? What are the "must have" activities? Join Mark and Anna as they answer these questions and more, including whether or not family obligations count as an activity.
The Dish on Applying for Med School with Todd Faubion
November 10, 2017 18:41 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBWith medical school acceptance rates being so low, join Mark and Anna as they talk with expert Todd Faubion on his advice on maximizing your chances for getting into medical school. He'll also cover advice on how you can prepare as a high school student and college student and discuss what you can do if you aren't accepted the first time. If you or your child is thinking about joining the health profession, this is one episode you must check out.
College Food - And Why It's Important
October 06, 2017 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBFood - its necessary for survival and is often an overlooked attribute. If your stomach is not satisfied, your brain will not work optimally and your academic - and social potential may take a nosedive. Join Mark and Anna as they talk about what you should be looking for when you think about college and food. From common food mistakes to where to find food and survive on a student budget, they've got you covered in this fun episode.
Standing Out Positively with Learning Disabilities featuring Dr. Shirag Shemmassian from Shemmassian Academic Consulting
September 05, 2017 18:41 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBJoin us as we talk to Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting. As a graduate of both Cornell University and UCLA, Shirag will be offering expertise on applying as a student who has faced learning challenges, in addition to sharing his own personal admissions journey as someone who has a disability. Join us for real wisdom as we tackle the biggest questions when it comes to helping families apply when the applicant has faced unique challenges and how to use it to s...
Getting into your Dream School with Jessica Yeager from Dream College Summit
August 18, 2017 20:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBJoin us as we talk to Jessica Yeager, Founder of Dream College Summit and Impress the Ivies. Jessica will be dishing on her own college journey as an alumnus of both Harvard for undergrad and MIT for graduate school. She will also be covering new trends in college admissions and her best tips for getting into your dream school, especially the Ivies and other elite schools. You will get insider insight on everything from testing to interviews to financial aid and scholarships! Get your FREE ...
Designing the College List
July 31, 2017 18:52 - 55 minutes - 49.6 MBCongratulations… you are ready to apply to college. But which colleges do you apply to and how many? And even more importantly, how do you pick your list and narrow it down? What factors should you consider and what are some resources you can use? Join Mark and Anna as they tackle these important topics and more, including great resources to get your party/list started!
Essays: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
July 10, 2017 19:35 - 52 minutes - 47.4 MBCollege essay topics are out! Join Anna and Mark as they discuss the do's, don'ts, and their favorite essays on this episode in which they cover how to brainstorm and create a college application essay that stands out. They'll cover what colleges are looking for in the essay, what mistakes to avoid, and their favorite tips on how to come up with some memorable essays!
Real College Journeys with Aleks Stefanovska
April 15, 2017 14:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBJoin us as we talk to Aleksandra (Aleks) Stefanovska, Founder of Pain Free to College and first generation college student on her college journey, where she dishes on her advice to students applying to college for the first time. She covers everything from having the right support to how to select schools and where to spend your time. Aleksandra (Aleks) Stefanovska is a proud graduate of Georgetown University, which is located in our nation’s beautiful capitol, Washington, DC. She has two d...
Decisions Are In - What Do I Do Now?
April 01, 2017 15:35 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBCollege decisions are in! It can be a very exciting and confusing time for many students and their families. In this episode, Anna and Mark are here to advise on what happens when regular decision results are in. They'll cover acceptances, waitlists, and rejections and different ways to try to figure out which school you should move forward with - from March Madness brackets to campus visits to how to write a letter to admissions. Mark and Anna have got you covered in this episode.
Real College Journeys with Liz Tenety
March 10, 2017 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBJoin us as we talk to Liz Tenety, Co-Founder of Motherly and former Washington Post writer, on her college journey, where she discusses how she decided to transfer to her dream school, despite loving the school where she went to and how it has made all the difference. If the thought of not getting into your dream school or the idea of transferring scares you, this episode and Liz's uplifting journey is for you!
College Interviews: The Myths, They Magic, The Mirth
March 03, 2017 17:23 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBYou've finished writing essays and sent your application in. Now, you get an email about a college admissions interview. They want to meet you! In this episode, Mark and Anna cover your most common questions regarding the interview, such as how important are they really, what questions should you be prepared to answer and what should you ask at the end. We'll cover etiquette on both in-person and online interview, how long an interview should last, and more!
Going to College on OPM (Other People's Money) - Financial Aid, Merit Aid, Loans, and More
February 09, 2017 20:45 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBThe average public school's cost of attendance can range from $25 to $45k a year. For private schools, the average university cost can be $60k to $70k! In this episode, Mark and Anna talk about ways you can go to college on OPM (other people's money) through financial and merit aid. Learn more about the process as well and how scholarships can help you cut back on loans. Additional topics covered include what goes into determining a family's expected family contribution and how to apply for...
Deadlines, Results, Decisions
January 14, 2017 22:00 - 45 minutes - 39.8 MBNow that most of the results from early action and early decision are in, its time to make sense of it all. Learn about the different deadlines, possible results, and what to do next. Also learn what types of deadlines might work best for you and your family, especially as it comes to financial and merit aid.
ROI of Using an Independent Educational Consultant
December 29, 2016 04:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBEver consider using a consultant to help you with the college admissions process? Their more common name is IEC. Learn the benefits and values of using an IEC and who they are most beneficial for. We'll also talk about the different type of ways you can work with an IEC, how to pick one, and what the REAL costs are. Not the ones inflated by the media. Join Mark and Anna as they give you the real dirt about using someone to help with the college admissions process.
Rankings - What's the big deal and does it really matter?
November 12, 2016 13:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBThere are so many lists on rankings out there. What is worth considering when looking at these lists? Do they even matter? We'll also review different types of lists out there. For additional resources, please check out: How to Make Sense of College Rankings Best and Worst College Food US News College Rankings Forbes College Ranking Methodology Forbes Top Colleges
Gap Year - What Are They? Why Take One?
November 05, 2016 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBEver since Malia Obama decided to take a gap year, it has been a widely discussed topic in college admissions. So what is a gap year? Why take one? Learn the answers to these questions and more as we delve into what types of gap year opportunities exist, what the benefits are of taking one, how it fits with the college admissions process and how to "pitch" one to your parents in this week's podcast.
The Importance of Meeting Face to Face
October 29, 2016 12:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBWhile the internet has certainly made it easier to research and learn more about a school, meeting face to face and visiting a campus in person can make a big difference. Learn the benefits and what to look for when visiting campuses, when the best time to visit is, and more in this week's episode.
Niceness - The New Factor in College Admissions
October 22, 2016 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBThanks to Harvard's Turning the Tide Report, more schools are being asked to evaluate how "nice" a student is in the college admissions process. Learn more about how you can genuinely demonstrate your "niceness" in today's podcast. Join Mark Hofer and Anna Ren as they talk about the new factor in college admissions and different ways schools may be evaluating how nice a student is.