Let's Talk College
88 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsApplying to college can be an overwhelming process. Join Shane Bybee as he sits down with students, parents, and other experts in the field to discuss their real experiences in the college admissions process. Find out what worked for them as they discuss their most effective decisions and the mistakes they wish they could have avoided. New episodes drop every Thursday.
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Episodes
#68 - Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy Fields
January 18, 2024 10:30Join me, Shane Bybee, on this episode of "Let's Talk College" as I chat with Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy Fields, experts in college admissions. 🎙️📚 Shereem, CEO of Strategic Admissions Advice, and Timothy, Senior Associate Dean at Emory University, discuss their book "The Black Families Guide to College Admissions." We delve into their insights on college admissions, diversity, and redefining success in education. This episode is packed with valuable advice for families navigating the ...
#67 - Jim Etri
January 11, 2024 10:30 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MB🎙️ In this episode of "Let's Talk College with Shane Bybee," I chat with Jim Etri, a lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a soccer coach. We delve into Jim's journey from defending companies against the SEC to joining the "other team" as an SEC lawyer. We explore the intricacies of law school, clerking, and how Jim balances a demanding career with family life. Plus, we discuss the hidden truths behind TV appearances and share essential advice for parents navigating the ...
Monday Briefs #3 - The Teacher's Perspective
January 08, 2024 10:30 - 11 minutes - 15.3 MB📚🎙️ In this episode of "Let's Talk College with Shane Bybee," I delve into the often-overlooked subtleties of grade inflation from a teacher's perspective. I explore how English teachers, passionate about literature, balance their workload and the impact this has on student grades. We'll discuss the challenges of grading, the pressure from parents and administrators, and how these factors unintentionally contribute to inflating GPAs. Join me as we navigate the complexities of education and c...
#66 - Ben Taylor
January 04, 2024 10:30 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MB🎙️ Join me, Shane Bybee, on this eye-opening episode of #LetsTalkCollege! 🎓 I chat with Ben Taylor, a.k.a. Pleasant Green, about his unique journey on YouTube exposing scams. 🕵️♂️📹 Ben dives into his process of scambaiting, sharing insights and tips to stay safe online. 🌐💻 Don’t miss this intriguing conversation that blends storytelling, education, and a pinch of humor!💡🎥 Click here to check out Pleasant Green on YouTube!
#65 - Mike Rose
December 28, 2023 10:30 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MBJoin Shane Bybee in this enlightening episode of Let's Talk College, where he converses with Mike Rose, a seasoned leader, author, and coach. Mike shares his journey from starting his first business in a dog shed to leading a successful digital marketing agency, Mojo Media Labs, and how the principles of art and science fuel marketing success. Discover the power of being "mentor-able," the art of learning, and insights from his book "Return on Energy." A must-listen for aspiring leaders and ...
#64 - Jason Armour
December 21, 2023 10:30 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBIn this episode of "Let's Start College" host Shane Bybee explores the unconventional career path of Jason Armour from Armour Creative. With no college degree, Jason's journey in creative services is a testament to self-taught skills and seizing opportunities. From working at a call center to founding a successful creative agency, his story is a rich tapestry of resilience and ingenuity. Dive into this insightful conversation that challenges traditional views on education and career success....
#63 - Aaron Denney
December 14, 2023 10:30 - 48 minutes - 67 MBJoin Shane Bybee as he explores Aaron Denney's journey from a Berklee College of Music graduate to a New York actor. Aaron shares the challenges and triumphs of his artistic path, offering insights into the entertainment industry and advice for aspiring artists. A must-listen for anyone interested in the realities of pursuing a creative career. Click here to go to the Instagram page for "Autumn Leaves". Click here to donate to Aaron's short film "Autumn Leaves."
Monday Briefs #2 - Grade Manipulation
December 11, 2023 10:30 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBIn this insightful episode of Monday Briefs, Shane Bybee delves into the complex world of grade manipulation in education. He explores how pressures on educators lead to grade inflation, impacting students' GPA and their college admissions journey. Drawing on decades of experience, Shane analyzes the discrepancies between grades and standardized test scores, and the ramifications of policies like 'no fail' and grade rounding on academic assessment. Join us for a critical look at how grades m...
#62 - Keith Wilkerson
December 07, 2023 10:30 - 47 minutes - 66.1 MBKeith Wilkerson is the founder of College Thoughts, a college prep company that provides help with all of the elements that go into college and private school applications. He shares his insights into what is going on with the changes to the SAT and FAFSA as well as the impact of the Supreme Court decision last June affecting the use of race in college admissions. Click here to find out more about College Thoughts.
Monday Briefs #1: The Problem with Averages
December 04, 2023 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBIn the first part of a multi-part series, I tackle the misconceptions surrounding academic grades. Why a student's GPA might not be telling you what you think it is.
#61 - Andi Thacker
November 30, 2023 10:30 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MBThis week's guest is Andi Thacker, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with kids and adolescents. Note - We had some technical difficulties during the recording. I worked to patch through the especially rough places. I apologize in advance but promise that Andi's insights are well worth it! You can contact Andi at [email protected]. Here are the links to the books and documentaries Andi suggested. Brainstorm by Dr. Dan Siegel Mindful Paren...
#60 - Brian Eufinger
November 23, 2023 10:30 - 50 minutes - 70 MBBrian Eufinger's college prep company Edison Prep works with a couple of thousand students a year. I don't know anyone in the test prep industry who is more dedicated to figuring out how the sausage is being made in college admissions. Based in Atlanta, Brian is our resident expert on all things UGA. In fact, he just released his annual look at UGA's Early Application information. Click here for more information on Edison Prep. Click here for Edison's Prep deep dive into UGA admissions i...
#59 - Manu Shahi
November 16, 2023 10:30 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MBManu Shahi, owner of Homework in a Cafe, is an expert on helping students with executive function and helping parents "connect before you correct." In this episode we talk about a number of the "meta" requirements that go into helping a student be academically successful. Click here for more information on Homework in a Cafe.
#58 - Mike Bergin
November 09, 2023 09:30 - 44 minutes - 61.8 MBI joke that Mike Bergin is the godfather of test prep, but he's been involved in the industry for longer than just about anyone and at all levels having worked with Kaplan and Huntington before starting his own tutoring company Chariot Learning. He's seen multiple changes in the tests themselves as well as the way colleges are usuing the tests for admissions. Click here for information about Chariot Learning. Click here for information on Mike's curriculum at TestBright. Click here for...
#57 - Jason Robinovitz
November 02, 2023 09:30 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBThis week's guest is Jason Robinovitz. As the COO of Score at the Top Learning Centers and Schools in Florida, Jason has a unique insight into trends in college admissions for the range of universities from highly selective on.
#56 - Freddie deBoer
October 26, 2023 09:30 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MBFreddie deBoer was kind enough to find an hour to sit down and catch up with what he's been up to over the last 2 years. He also shares his perspective on what's going on in higher education as well as K-12. You can click here to subscribe to his work at substack or click here to visit his website.
#55 - The Relaunch
October 19, 2023 09:30 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBIt's been close to two years since I shelved the podcast to focus on the growth of the business. Things were moving quickly for us, and something had to give. But now we've gotten organized and I can put my attention back on this passion project. In this relaunch episode, I focus on something that isn't getting shared with most parents when they hear about college admissions. Some critical numbers that affect most of the students who apply to college. If you'd like to see the numbers I sh...
#54 - Freddie deBoer
January 20, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 87.9 MBFreddie deBoer is a freelance writer. He has a Ph.D. in writing assessment and has worked in administration in higher education. After Harvard announced they would stay "test-optional" through the class of 2026, his article "Why the Fuck Do You Trust Harvard?" had some interesting insights. Follow him on Substack: https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/ Find out about Cult of Smart: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/cult-of-smart/
#53 - Ben Sexton
January 13, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 91.1 MBWe're starting off our 2nd year with a conversation with someone who has been doing test prep long enough to see the dramatic changes that have happened. Ben Sexton, owner of Sexton Test Prep, specializes in helping students trying to get into the top 5 percent of test scores. Check out his company at https://www.sextontestprep.com/.
#52 - What they don't tell you about test scores
January 06, 2022 11:00 - 40 minutes - 55.5 MBWant to save $50,000 on college? It's been 1 year! (It's been 1 year?) In this anniversary episode, I look at 2 case studies of students we've worked with recently and the value of their test scores in their college admissions process. This podcast is in connection with my recent blogpost. https://bybeecollegeprep.com/college-applications/what-they-dont-say-about-test-scores/
#51 - Jackie Polina & Josh Kariyev
December 30, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 88.7 MBTikTok stars, SAT prep experts, and now published authors. Josh and Jackie, owners of J&J Test Prep, sat down to talk with me about their new book, No B.S. SAT Math, their approach to helping students improve their scores, and other things going on in the world of college admissions. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/B-S-SAT-Math-Joshua-Kariyev/dp/B09M5L78YB/ Find out more about J&J Test Prep here: https://www.jjtestprep.com/
#50 - Rusty Oglesby
December 23, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBMany parents and students have the dream of playing their sport in college. I sat down with Rusty Oglesby, one of the top soccer coaches in Texas, to talk about the process of becoming a college athlete and his experiences helping students achieve that goal.
#49 - Pranoy Mohapatra
December 16, 2021 11:00 - 57 minutes - 79 MBPranoy Mohapatra, owner of PM Tutoring, is an expert in online tutoring. We sat down to talk about how to make online sessions as effective as in-person tutoring and what parents should watch for in a quality online tutoring session. Find out more about PM Tutoring at https://pmtutoring.com/ Check out his demo video at https://youtu.be/mzCQH3CMYO4
#48 - Dave Lynch
December 09, 2021 11:00 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBLet's Talk LSAT! Dave Lynch is THE expert LSAT tutor! Check out his services at https://studylark.com/ We also talked about a fantastic web designer, Jason Armour. Shout out to Jason at https://jasonarmour.com/
#47 - Vinny Madera
December 02, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBWhether he is a college professor and part time tutor or a tutor whose side hustle is math professor, Vinny Madera is definitely one of a kind. It was great to sit down with him for an hour to talk about his unique perspective on this crazy college thing. Click here to visit Test Prep Wizards
#46 - Wendy Raynor
November 18, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 90.3 MBWendy Raynor is the expert I turn to any time I have a question about accommodations for the SAT or ACT. She sat down to talk with me about the way tutoring and testing is different for neurodivergent students. Find out more about Wendy's programs at http://www.wrhcollegeprep.com/
#45 - Tony Miglio
November 11, 2021 11:00 - 59 minutes - 80.9 MBIn the world of test prep tutors, Tony Miglio is something of a unicorn. He was tutoring virtually well before a pandemic forced tutors to figure out how to make it work. He's built a thriving business focused primarily on helping students with just one section of one of the tests. If you're looking for an expert on ACT Math, Tony is your guy. Check out NKY Tutoring at https://nkytutoring.com/
#44 - Claudia Murga
November 04, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBClaudia Murga is on a mission to help 1st generation college students with the complicated college admissions process. It was exciting to find out more about how she created a program that has already helped hundreds of students realize their college goals. Click here to visit her Facebook page and find out more about her program.
#43 - Kevin Newton
October 28, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBWith the rising costs and increased competition at universities in the US., some students are thinking about attending schools overseas. Kevin Newton, founder of An Education Abroad, sat down to share his insights into how the process of applying to a school in another country is similar to and different from applying to a school here, as well as what the advantages and disadvantages can be. You can find out more about An Education Abroad at http://aneducationabroad.com/.
#42 - 5 questions to help build a college list
October 21, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBNo guest this week. Instead, I share 5 questions we ask to help build college lists and some key resources to help you find the answers. 1. What do you want to study? https://www.youscience.com/ 2. What are you looking for in a college? https://www.amazon.com/College-Match-Blueprint-Choosing-School/dp/1733578412/ 3. What colleges offer what you're looking for? https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ 4. What colleges fit your academic profile? (no link - College Name Common Dat...
#41 - John Irish
October 14, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 132 MBJohn Irish is verifiably one of the top 5 educators in the country. That's not just me saying it. College Board selected him as one of 3 teachers to help rewrite the AP US History exam, and he was selected as the co-chair of that committee. He reads for the AP exam every year and spends his summers traveling around the southern US teaching other APUSH teacher how to teach the subject. I was lucky enough to get him to sit down with me, mostly because he was avoiding grading papers.
#40 - Aaron Golumbfskie
October 07, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 70.3 MBI had the chance to sit down with Aaron Golumbfskie, Education Director at Prep Matters based near Washington, D.C. Sometimes referred to as "the godfather of test prep", Aaron shares his unique perspective about helping students navigate the college admissions process.
#39 - University of Texas at Arlington
September 30, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 67 MBI got the chance to sit down with Anam Iqbal and Karla Hernandez from the University of Texas at Arlington to talk about how the admissions process is unique to them and their mission. They shared the programs that make UTA special and insights into how they can help students and celebrated the university's recent designation as a Tier 1 research university in Texas. Find out more about UT-Arlington: https://www.uta.edu/ Contact Anam: [email protected] Contact Karla: karla.hernandez@...
#38 - Mike Bergin
September 23, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBMike Bergin, founder and President of Chariot Learning, is a recognized leader in the field of test preparation. Among his many endeavors, Mike is one of the founding members of the National Test Prep Association, an organization dedicated to establishing best practices and credibility for test prep professionals. He is also the co-host of a fantastic podcast called "Tests and the Rest". Chariot Learning National Test Prep Association Tests and the Rest
#37 - Gary Stocker
September 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 88.1 MBGary Stocker is the founder and CEO of College Viability, an app parents can use to evaluate the financial viability of a university they are considering. It's not something most parents think about, and we discuss why it can be such an important consideration when selecting a school to attend. Find out more at their website: https://collegeviability.com/ Contact Gary at [email protected]
How to solve the Good Student/Bad Tester problem
September 09, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBWe often talk to parents of students with good grades but low test scores - the "Good Student/Bad Tester" problem. What causes this? More importantly, what can you do to solve it? Here are some links referenced in the podcast: Khan Academy SAT Subreddit ACT Subreddit SATACTPrep Subreddit (Probably the most helpful)
2 things to watch for with your student's grades
September 02, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20 MBWe're taking a break from interviews for the next couple of weeks, and I wanted to share some tips on things parents can watch for here at the start of the school year to help keep their students on track. I discuss 2 specific things that seem to come up in the Fall semester each year and how you can help your student they make these mistakes.
Special Episode 1: 2 things to watch for with your student's grades
September 02, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20 MBWe're taking a break from interviews for the next couple of weeks, and I wanted to share some tips on things parents can watch for here at the start of the school year to help keep their students on track. I discuss 2 specific things that seem to come up in the Fall semester each year and how you can help your student they make these mistakes.
#36 - Trinity University Admissions
August 26, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 75.8 MBJustin Doty, Dean of Admissions at Trinity University, sat down with me to talk about what is without a doubt one the top universities in the state of Texas. We discussed Trinity's admission process as well as how it has adapted to expand beyond its reputation as a liberal arts university.
#35 - Griffin Rea
August 19, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 73 MBGriffin graduated from THE Ohio State University in May of 2021 and started his first job with 49Financial this Fall. He shares how he chose his major and his university as well as his strategy for finding his first job.
4 things to know about test optional applications (College Insights #10)
August 16, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 31.4 MBIn response to cancellations of the SAT and ACT administrations in the spring of 2020, many colleges and universities announced new "test optional" application processes. Now that the class of 2025 is moving into their dorms, what can we tell about the results of these policies?
#34 - Julia Neunreiter Byrd
August 12, 2021 10:00 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBJulie Neunreiter (nine-rider) Byrd is an expert on helping students write their college essays. We sat down to talk about the writing process, what makes college essays different, and how to help students get discover their own voice in the writing. If you want to contact Julia for more information, here's her information. Email: [email protected] Website: https://essay-coach.com/ Phone: (571) 606-5325
#33 - Texas Tech University Admissions
August 05, 2021 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MBThis is the first episode in what I hope will be a series where I get to talk with admissions officers from colleges and universities. Of course, I had to start with my alma mater Texas Tech. Rex Oliver, the Director of Recruitment at TTU, and Jennifer Mauppin, Regional Manager for the Dallas-Fort Worth area sat down to talk about their unique approach to recruiting students to the Ivy on the Plains that is Texas Tech.
#32 - Katherine Reynal
July 29, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBHeaded into her Senior year at Texas A&M, Katherine has a unique major, Industrial Distribution, that is a combination of engineering and business. It's not the sort of major that most students know about when they think about majoring in engineering.
#31 - Srishti Ellson
July 22, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 72.1 MBHaving graduated from from Columbia just 6 years ago, Srishti makes me wonder what I've been doing with my life. Currently working at her 3rd start up, she's been involved in 2 others, both of which have had successful exits. Along the way she worked for Dell, but she found the atmosphere of a start up suits her better. She shares what that means for her and how she discovered that interest.
#30 - Sameer Malhotra
July 15, 2021 10:00 - 39 minutes - 54.5 MBSameer is a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army currently serving in South Korea. He attended Baylor University and earned his commission through an Army ROTC scholarship. In a era of continually rising college costs, and ROTC scholarship remains one of the best ways to pay for college. Sameer shares what it meant for him and how students can qualify.
#29 - Mike McGibbon
July 08, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 89.7 MBMike McGibbon is the founder and CEO of Mathchops, an online program that helps students improve their math skills. Mathchops approach to the process is to gamify the tasks in a way that is engaging and meets the student where they are. It helps math concepts on the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and others. Click here to visit the Mathchops website. Click here for a video walkthrough of the program.
#28 - Michael Cone
July 01, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBMichael Cone has done a lot of things. Business owner, classroom teacher, youth minister. For 28 years now, he's been involved with Young Life, currently as an area director for the organization. Now as a parent of 4 girls, the oldest of whom is starting to think about college, he's looking at the entire process from a range of perspectives.
5 common mistakes students make preparing for the SAT & ACT (College Insights #9)
June 28, 2021 09:00 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBI often talk to students who are preparing on their own for the SAT or ACT. They are often making simple mistakes that, if fixed, could help them get higher scores faster. In this episode, I also reference an earlier College Insights where I talked about using QAS and TIR dates. Click here for that episode.
#27 - Kendall Pryor
June 24, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 88.3 MBIt's not every week you get to sit down with a Hall of Famer. Kendall Pryor was inducted into the University of North Texas Hall of Fame in 2017. She now coaches at Denton Ryan High School. She shares her experiences as a player at the Division 1 NCAA level, how she got to that level, and what it means in her approach to coaching today. We talked about overcoming adversity at all of those levels as well. https://meangreensports.com/honors/north-texas-athletics-hall-of-fame/kendall-juett/207