Your Keys to College
98 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsYour hosts, Gina and Jen, provide families and educators with their expertise on all things college - from preparing for college throughout high school, to smoothly working through the college admissions and financial aid process, to seeing great success in accessing and unlocking all the opportunities in college.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Ep. 52 - How to Shift your Student's Testing Mindset (and improve their scores too!)
March 01, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBGina, Jen, and their special guest, Lauren Gaggioli, a former tutor and course creator on taking the SAT and ACT, discuss what standardized testing means, how to decide if the ACT or SAT is right for your child, and how admissions and financial aid might use test scores to make admissions and scholarship decisions, even if they are test optional. We'll talk about what to look for in a college that says it's test optional and how to tell if sending in your scores will help you get the best fi...
Ep. 51 - Preparing for the SAT and ACT
February 23, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBNot many students look forward to taking the SAT or the ACT. Taking a standardized test is the bane of many students' college admissions experience. In this episode, we'll talk about some ways you can prepare your student with a good mindset and some practice. We'll share three places to get free help and practice questions (see the links below). Next episode, we'll take a deeper dive into the SAT and ACT and get some great advice from our guest, who tutored students in standardized test tak...
Ep. 50 - Talking About The Parent College Admissions Experience with Parent, Lou Mongello
February 15, 2023 17:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode we talk with parent Lou Mongello, about the journey to college as a family with his son in 12th grade, and his daughter a first-year student at Carnegie Mellon. Lou talks about the constant conversations they had about college, the massive adjustment of his daughter being away at college (and HIS adjustment, not just hers). He talks about some tips for creating good habits early for success in the classroom and how that first year in college can require tasting some humble pi...
Ep. 49: What happened in school today? A conversation with a high school teacher and school counselor
February 08, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBJoin Lindsay Dollinger, high school Spanish teacher, and Cindy Wolfe, school counselor, as they talk about what they're seeing as high school students talk about and prepare for college. We talk about asking for help, getting letters of recommendation, and how you as a family, can support your student. There's lots of good information to answer the question, what happened in school today? If you want to find our more or reach out to our guests you can find Lindsay at [email protected]...
Ep. 48 - College visit and financial aid tips with our parent guest, Beth Shorten
February 01, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBBeth Shorten, parent of a high school senior who is getting ready to make his college choice, talks to us about tips that worked for her, where she sought thoughtful advice, and how to add the college search and campus visit process to an already busy schedule! Beth shares some great tips about the campus visit and what helped her and her son really get a feel for each college. We know you'll get great information from listening. Sign up for our webinar, Creating a Roadmap to College: For P...
Ep. 47 - Managing Grief Alongside Your Student and Talking About College: A Conversation with Tim Bigonia
January 25, 2023 00:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBTim Bigonia, parent of a daughter in graduate school and two sons in high school, shares his experiences helping his daughter through college during the pandemic and after the loss of his wife in 2020. He also shares how he guides his boys as a single dad through the ups and downs of high school, and the conversations he has with them about getting ready for college. Tim has some great tips for parents of high school students throughout our conversation. You can find Tim's podcast at Jour...
Ep. 46 - Starting Your Roadmap to College: For Parents of 9-11 Graders
January 16, 2023 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBNow is the time to start mapping out your college plan with your student, whether they're just finishing their first term in high school or about to finish their junior year. We share three tips (and a bonus tip!) to get you started. We'll talk about the importance of reflecting on the first term, planning for the next academic year, talking with your student about their interests, launching the college search, and our bonus, thinking about summer programs. We have more in-depth dive into...
Ep. 45 - All About Scholarships with Jocelyn Pearson of The Scholarship System
December 21, 2022 17:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBIf you are looking for ways to help finance college through scholarships, then this is the episode for you. We talk to Jocelyn Pearson, founder of The Scholarship System who has helped students (and families) find millions of dollars in scholarships. Jocelyn dispels a few myths, like how athletes are the only ones to get scholarships, or that the only way to find scholarships is by using a search engine (that everyone else uses!). She shares tips that you can use right after your done listen...
Ep. 44 - What We Do at Keys to College
December 06, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBWe talk a lot about college admissions and financial aid and share many strategies and tips for you to help your student. But what exactly to we do and why do we do this work? We talk about our three pillars for helping families of high school students succeed in admissions and beyond. They are Insight, Expertise, and Collaboration. We'll unpack those in this episode, covering what they mean to us and what they mean for you as we guide you through college admissions. Contact us at k2c@keyst...
Ep. 43 - Being Thankful and Moving Forward with College Plans
November 23, 2022 18:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBThis is a Thanksgiving and thanksgiving episode. We will talk about ways to stay in the moment and be thankful for the work you and your student have done so far on the path to college. Your student has the time and the power to influence their college journey through both continuing to send in applications, applying for scholarships, and working on improving their grades and their study skills. We'll share reminders on why senior year grades are important, even after the acceptance letter c...
Ep. 42 - College Graduate, Katie G, Shares Her Strategies on Navigating College Admissions
November 16, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBSpecial guest, Katie G, recent college graduate from the University of Virginia, shares her experience of getting to college. It's a story of getting help from family and her high school college counselor, procrastinating, feeling peer pressure to apply to certain colleges, and ends with some words of advice. We loved our conversation with Katie and how she shared her ups and downs as she navigated college admissions as a high school senior. We hope you will too! Sign up for our newsletter...
Three Strategies to Help Polish College and Scholarship Essays
October 06, 2022 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.9 MBAdmissions is looking for students to present their best selves in their college application, including their essay. This means taking the time to proofread and polish the essay. As parents and family, you (if you're allowed) can give some wonderful advice on if the essay is clearly communicating what the student wants to share about themselves AND be sure their grammar, spelling, and punctuation is good to go. Jen talks about encouraging students to ask someone else to review their essay an...
Ep 41 - Three Strategies to Help Polish College and Scholarship Essays
October 06, 2022 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.9 MBAdmissions is looking for students to present their best selves in their college application, including their essay. This means taking the time to proofread and polish the essay. As parents and family, you (if you're allowed) can give some wonderful advice on if the essay is clearly communicating what the student wants to share about themselves AND be sure their grammar, spelling, and punctuation is good to go. Jen talks about encouraging students to ask someone else to review their essay an...
Ep 40 - Three Tips to Guide Your Students to Write a Great College Essay
September 28, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 6.91 MBIn her 35 year career, Jen has read a lot of essays. She, like most seasoned admissions counselors, can tell when the essay is written quickly, when it's a first and only draft, and when a student has put the time in to thoughtfully write about themselves. Here, she'll talk about three tips for you to help students start writing that takes the pressure off and ensures they are writing about themselves. Not a book report or listicle, please! To find Jen and Gina's webinar about writing a st...
Ep. 39 - Two Great Ideas for Choosing The College Essay Topic
September 21, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.37 MBJen has been reading college application and scholarship essays for more than 20 years. She knows what makes a great topic to write about and helps students share their stories. In this episode, Jen will share two tips you can use to get your students to reflect on their high school experiences both in and outside of high school to ensure they pick a topic that is meaningful to them and not just the freshest experience. If you'd like our professional help guiding your student through the a...
Ep. 38 - Three Tips for Parents of Tenth Graders
September 15, 2022 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.5 MBIt’s not too early to start thinking about college with your 10th grader. As Gina says, 10th grade is a year of motion, moving toward college in ways that are social and emotional and academic. Tenth grade is a chance to build a solid foundation to move into higher level classes, Honors, AP, and IB. It’s also an opportunity to talk about what activities are exciting to move into and (perhaps take a leadership role in) and activities that are no longer interesting and could be dropped. We clo...
Ep. 37 - Valuing your student's passion and joy in the college search process
September 07, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.03 MBThere are three reasons why valuing your student's passion and joy can contribute to their success in the admissions process and once they are in college. Gina and Jen share why joy and passion in the application is something admissions people look for, why students deserve to be happy where they choose to attend college, and how joy, passion, and belonging come together to create success for your student socially, emotionally and academically in college. To sign up for our newsletter: key...
Ep. 36 - Creating the Activities List: The Five Lenses to Use
August 31, 2022 03:00 - 8 minutes - 5.76 MBWe have a short episode today with Jen talking about what five areas to include when helping your student craft their activities list on the application. Those area, or lenses to use when deciding what should be included, are Commitment, Leadership, Service, Prestige, and Passion. The activities list, like the college essay, helps admissions counselors answer the question, what will this student bring to the campus community. How will they add to what we have here? By guiding your...
Ep. 36 - Creating the Activities List: The Five Lenses to Use
August 31, 2022 03:00 - 8 minutes - 5.76 MBWe have a short episode today with Jen talking about what five areas to include when helping your student craft their activities list on the application. Those area, or lenses to use when deciding what should be included, are Commitment, Leadership, Service, Prestige, and Passion. The activities list, like the college essay, helps admissions counselors answer the question, what will this student bring to the campus community. How will they add to what we have here? By guiding your...
Ep. 35 - Going to College and the College Experience in Pop Culture
August 24, 2022 02:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBWe are talking about pop culture and how going to college is represented in the movies. Our guest is Dr. La'Tonya Rease Miles, LT, who teaches and talks about pop culture especially as it relates to students who are first-generation to college (students whose parents don't have a four-year college degree). But just because we talk about how first-generation students are represented in movies, in Spiderman, Harry Potter, Zootopia, Monsters, Inc., and the Oscar-winning CODA, doesn't mean the c...
Ep. 35 - College and Pop Culture - what the college experience looks like in movies
August 24, 2022 02:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBWe are talking about pop culture and how going to college is represented in the movies. Our guest is Dr. La'Tonya Rease Miles, LT, who teaches and talks about pop culture especially as it relates to students who are first-generation to college (students whose parents don't have a four-year college degree). But just because we talk about how first-generation students are represented in movies, in Spiderman, Harry Potter, Zootopia, Monsters, Inc., and the Oscar-winning CODA, doesn't mean the c...
Ep. 34 - Tips for Parents of Ninth Graders: Thinking Early About College
June 29, 2022 01:00 - 11 minutes - 8.11 MBIt's not too early to start thinking about college if you're the parent of a 9th grader. Jen and Gina are here with three tips on the important areas of class selection, skill building, and finding activities that are meaningful and interesting to your student. Ninth grade is a clean slate for students, the beginning of building a high school transcript and the activities that will go into their college application. It's a short episode with good information to help your student is they're c...
Ep. 33 - Orientation: Getting ready for course registration and making the most of your time on campus as a family
May 23, 2022 09:00 - 14 minutes - 9.98 MBYou may not think of preparing for orientation as something that is necessary, but we think you'll have a much better time of it if you do a little research before you go (like you and your students getting familiar with the course catalogue).We'll walk you through strategies for selecting first semester courses and how to make the most of all of the student and family activities on campus. We'll close with a conversation on how to talk with students about any anxiety they may be feeling and...
Orientation: Getting ready for course registration and making the most of your time on campus as a family
May 23, 2022 09:00 - 14 minutes - 9.98 MBYou may not think of preparing for orientation as something that is necessary, but we think you'll have a much better time of it if you do a little research before you go (like you and your students getting familiar with the course catalogue).We'll walk you through strategies for selecting first semester courses and how to make the most of all of the student and family activities on campus. We'll close with a conversation on how to talk with students about any anxiety they may be feeling and...
Ep. 32 - All about on-campus housing!
May 04, 2022 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBThere's a lot to consider when your students are filling out the housing forms - from the types of rooms and halls, finding a good roommate (and answering the housing questionnaire honestly!), location of the hall to classes and resources, and thinking about where your students might find like-minded friends their first year. Gina and Jen will guide you through a few key points to talk about as a family before you send in your housing form and deposit. As always, you can email us with any q...
All about on-campus housing!
May 04, 2022 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBThere's a lot to consider when your students are filling out the housing forms - from the types of rooms and halls, finding a good roommate (and answering the housing questionnaire honestly!), location of the hall to classes and resources, and thinking about where your students might find like-minded friends their first year. Gina and Jen will guide you through a few key points to talk about as a family before you send in your housing form and deposit. As always, you can email us with any q...
Ep. 32 - All about on-campus housing!
May 04, 2022 15:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBThere's a lot to consider when your students are filling out the housing forms - from the types of rooms and halls, finding a good roommate (and answering the housing questionnaire honestly!), location of the hall to classes and resources, and thinking about where your students might find like-minded friends their first year. Gina and Jen will guide you through a few key points to talk about as a family before you send in your housing form and deposit. As always, you can email us with any q...
Three Things to Consider Before Choosing Which College to Attend
April 25, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBA lot of families will think about financial aid as one of the main points to consider before putting down that enrollment deposit, but not only are there other money considerations, there's the travel (for you and your student), majors and academic atmosphere, and deciding where your student can grow into who they want to be. Gina and Jen guide you through these considerations (and a few more) to help you think through how to make your college choice. Please feel free to reach out to us a...
Ep. 31 - Three Things to Consider Before Choosing Which College to Attend
April 25, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBA lot of families will think about financial aid as one of the main points to consider before putting down that enrollment deposit, but not only are there other money considerations, there's the travel (for you and your student), majors and academic atmosphere, and deciding where your student can grow into who they want to be. Gina and Jen guide you through these considerations (and a few more) to help you think through how to make your college choice. Please feel free to reach out to us a...
Three Things to Know About College Admissions If Your Student has a Learning Difference
December 02, 2021 15:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBMany students have learning differences, and often parents want to know what questions to ask and whether their student should share this information during the admissions process. Gina, a former school counselor, shares some fantastic advice on how to make sure your student's evaluation is up to date and not expired, what to look for during your college visits to make sure the college can accommodate your student, and whether (and when) you might consider disclosing the learning difference ...
Ep. 30 - Three Things to Know About College Admissions If Your Student has a Learning Difference
December 02, 2021 15:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBMany students have learning differences, and often parents want to know what questions to ask and whether their student should share this information during the admissions process. Gina, a former school counselor, shares some fantastic advice on how to make sure your student's evaluation is up to date and not expired, what to look for during your college visits to make sure the college can accommodate your student, and whether (and when) you might consider disclosing the learning difference ...
Early College Decisions Coming Soon: Focusing on opportunity, working through disappointment
November 25, 2021 13:00 - 11 minutes - 8.15 MBColleges are about to send out letters of acceptance, referral to regular decision, and some denial letters. How can you help your students think about what's next, especially if they are disappointed with what they hear? We'll talk about the things you can focus on now with your student, having conversations about redirecting them to apply to other colleges, and a reminder that now is the perfect time to submit all of your financial aid documents.
Ep. 29 - Early College Decisions Coming Soon: Focusing on opportunity, working through disappointment
November 25, 2021 13:00 - 11 minutes - 8.15 MBColleges are about to send out letters of acceptance, referral to regular decision, and some denial letters. How can you help your students think about what's next, especially if they are disappointed with what they hear? We'll talk about the things you can focus on now with your student, having conversations about redirecting them to apply to other colleges, and a reminder that now is the perfect time to submit all of your financial aid documents. Thank you for joining us today! Please v...
When to Hit Submit on the College Application: Grades, Perfection Paralysis, and Deadlines
November 18, 2021 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBWelcome and thanks for joining us on this episode where we talk about when to hit submit on your applications. Gina spends time talking about grades and when and why to send in your application based on your grades. Jen talks about why waiting until everything is absolutely perfect could be a problem. We close with both your gurus talking about different admissions deadlines and how you can use them to your advantage, and why you might want to reach out to colleges if your circumstances chan...
Ep. 28 - When to Hit Submit on the College Application: Grades, Perfection Paralysis, and Deadlines
November 18, 2021 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBWelcome and thanks for joining us on this episode where we talk about when to hit submit on your applications. Gina spends time talking about grades and when and why to send in your application based on your grades. Jen talks about why waiting until everything is absolutely perfect could be a problem. We close with both your gurus talking about different admissions deadlines and how you can use them to your advantage, and why you might want to reach out to colleges if your circumstances chan...
Ep. 27 - Tips for the College Application Activities List
November 04, 2021 03:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBHere's a short episode where you'll learn what your students should include in their college application activities list. The Activities List often doesn't get the attention it deserves as students focus their attention on their college essays. We'll talk about how to help your student include some of the important activities that are too often forgotten or that students don't think count. Should they include leadership roles where they worship? Does a job count as an activity? What if they ...
Tips for the College Application Activities List
November 04, 2021 03:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBHere's a short episode where you'll learn what your students should include in their college application activities list. The Activities List often doesn't get the attention it deserves as students focus their attention on their college essays. We'll talk about how to help your student include some of the important activities that are too often forgotten or that students don't think count. Should they include leadership roles where they worship? Does a job count as an activity? What if they ...
Ep. 26 - First-Year and First-Gen College Student Jessenia: On her parents' support, asking for help, imposter syndrome, and getting into college
October 07, 2021 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBJessenia is a first-year college student and the first in her family to attend college. She sits down with Gina and Jen to talk about how important her parents' support was in her college journey, how she found mentors to help her with her application and financial aid, and gives us some insight on what her first 6 weeks of college has been like. Jessenia shares some great advice about handling imposter syndrome and using daily affirmations to be in the best mindset for college. You can ema...
First-Year and First-Gen College Student Jessenia: On her parents' support, asking for help, imposter syndrome, and getting into college
October 07, 2021 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBJessenia is a first-year college student and the first in her family to attend college. She sits down with Gina and Jen to talk about how important her parents' support was in her college journey, how she found mentors to help her with her application and financial aid, and gives us some insight on what her first 6 weeks of college has been like. Jessenia shares some great advice about handling imposter syndrome and using daily affirmations to be in the best mindset for college. You can ema...
An Interview with Rachna, a current university student, on navigating the admissions process
September 23, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBThis week, Rachna, a third-year student studying IT and Management at the University of Virginia, talks to us about how she navigated the admissions process and how she found success in college. She shares her tips on admissions (and Gina talks about Rachna's essay and gives some great advice for you), talks about how she's the first to go through the college application process for US schools, and shares thoughts on how to help students avoid social comparison, or comparing themselves to ot...
Ep. 25 - An Interview with Rachana, a current university student, on navigating the admissions process
September 23, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBThis week, Rachana, a third-year student studying IT and Management at the University of Virginia, talks to us about how she navigated the admissions process and how she found success in college. She shares her tips on admissions (and Gina talks about Rachana's essay and gives some great advice for you), talks about how she's the first to go through the college application process for US schools, and shares thoughts on how to help students avoid social comparison, or comparing themselves to ...
An Interview with Rachana, a current university student, on navigating the admissions process
September 23, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBThis week, Rachana, a third-year student studying IT and Management at the University of Virginia, talks to us about how she navigated the admissions process and how she found success in college. She shares her tips on admissions (and Gina talks about Rachana's essay and gives some great advice for you), talks about how she's the first to go through the college application process for US schools, and shares thoughts on how to help students avoid social comparison, or comparing themselves to ...
Tips for Your College Visit in 2021
September 16, 2021 19:00 - 12 minutes - 8.93 MBThis year, college visits can have restrictions and protocols in place that make it harder for the whole family to get a sense and feel of the university. We offer some tips for getting the most out of your visit and some ideas on what to expect on campus. We also talk about alternatives to the traditional campus tour and admissions information session to discover if a college is a good fit for your student and your family. For questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]...
Ep. 24 - Tips for Your College Visit in 2021
September 16, 2021 19:00 - 12 minutes - 8.93 MBThis year, college visits can have restrictions and protocols in place that make it harder for the whole family to get a sense and feel of the university. We offer some tips for getting the most out of your visit and some ideas on what to expect on campus. We also talk about alternatives to the traditional campus tour and admissions information session to discover if a college is a good fit for your student and your family. For questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]...
Ep. 23 - Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission: What they all mean and what's best for your student
September 08, 2021 04:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBWhen it comes to college admissions, there's a lot of lingo on applying - early decision, early action, rolling admission, and regular decision. And then those admissions folks like to abbreviate them - ED, EA, RD! Find out what each one means to you and your students and what they mean to the admissions offices. We'll talk about which one might be the best and how to ask admissions offices for advice on when to apply. You will walk away from this podcast with great information on the colleg...
Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission: What they all mean and what's best for your student
September 08, 2021 04:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBWhen it comes to college admissions, there's a lot of lingo on applying - early decision, early action, rolling admission, and regular decision. And then those admissions folks like to abbreviate them - ED, EA, RD! Find out what each one means to you and your students and what they mean to the admissions offices. We'll talk about which one might be the best and how to ask admissions offices for advice on when to apply. You will walk away from this podcast with great information on the colleg...
Ep. 22 - All About Letters of Recommendation: Who, how, and when to ask
August 19, 2021 19:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBEven though someone else is going to write your student's letters of recommendation for the college application, there's a lot you can do to guarantee they can get a good one that compliments their application. Gina and Jen will talk about who to ask, whether they're a great student or an average student, how to ask, and what to give your recommenders so they can highlight your student's awesomeness. Grad your family and pen and paper to take some notes, and the use the takeaways to prepare ...
All About Letters of Recommendation: Who, how, and when to ask
August 19, 2021 19:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBEven though someone else is going to write your student's letters of recommendation for the college application, there's a lot you can do to guarantee they can get a good one that compliments their application. Gina and Jen will talk about who to ask, whether they're a great student or an average student, how to ask, and what to give your recommenders so they can highlight your student's awesomeness. Grad your family and pen and paper to take some notes, and the use the takeaways to prepare ...
Ep. 21 - The Why, Where, and Types of Supplemental Essays for College Applications
August 11, 2021 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBThis might not be good news to you, but some colleges ask for additional essays, called supplemental essays, as part of the college application. Gina and Jen unpack why colleges ask for this additional information and how it's an advantage to your student, where you can find the essay prompts in the application, and how to answer the different types of essays that they ask for. We know applying for and going to college is a family affair, so we'll share takeaways that you can use right away ...
The Why, Where, and Types of Supplemental Essays for College Applications
August 11, 2021 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBThis might not be good news to you, but some colleges ask for additional essays, called supplemental essays, as part of the college application. Gina and Jen unpack why colleges ask for this additional information and how it's an advantage to your student, where you can find the essay prompts in the application, and how to answer the different types of essays that they ask for. We know applying for and going to college is a family affair, so we'll share takeaways that you can use right away ...