College Admissions with Mark and Anna
Episodes
How College Admissions Officers Review Activities and Resumes
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The College Admissions Podcast, Anna and Mark sit down with Sam Joustra from Collegewise for an inside look at how college admissions off...
How to Get Strong Recommendations for College
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Early Action deadlines are here, and if you haven't secured your teacher recommendations yet, it's crunch time. But here's the thing—how you ask mat...
Tackling Changes for Collegebound Families with Molly Carroll
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Molly Carroll to explore the shifting family dynamics that come with having a collegebound student. Molly shares val...
Preparing to Thrive in College with Carol Ben-Davies!
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As more teens prepare to go to college this summer, the importance of what qualities students should develop in high school so that they can thrive in...
Sleep and Students with "The Inner Clock"'s Lynne Peeples
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Lynne Peeples, a distinguished science journalist and author of "THE INNER CLOCK," to delve into the fascinating wor...
Identifying the Best Colleges for You
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's college application season! Building of school lists is into the final push for November 1st - Early Action/Decision. As students/families look f...
Lessons Learned & Best Practices…After Year One in College!
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While there are many consistent challenges and affirmations that teens have historically encountered during their first year of college, some major cu...
Real Cost of College: Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Loans with Daniel Curell
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they talk with Daniel Curell as they get the inside school on how much college actually costs and tips for how families can try ...
College Admissions with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With more students interested in pursuing fields in STEM, Mark and Anna invited Sydney Trahan of Worcester Polytechnic Institute or more commonly know...
Liberal Arts College Admissions with Occidental College
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is a liberal arts college education valuable, especially in an increasing AI dominated world? What's admissions like at a liberal arts college? Jo...
The Future of Testing: Digital SAT with Compass Prep
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The December 2023 SAT will be the last paper exam from the CollegeBoard as they shift to digital SATs in 2024. With such a big shift, Mark and Anna de...
Ranks, Brands - Colleges beyond the Ivies
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When students are asked where they want to college, many of them will list a college based on rank or brand - because that's what they are exposed to....
AI in College Admissions with Mark Cruver
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With ChatGPT being used across different corners of the internet, its not surprising to hear that it is also shaking up the college admissions landsca...
College Application through the Lens of a High School Senior with Kamila
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the hardest part about the college application process? Most fun? Join Mark and Anna as we learn about the college application process through ...
Financial Aid and Affording College in 2023 with Claire Law
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With total cost of attendance edging towards $90,000 a year for private universities, Mark and Anna are excited to have financial aid expert and indep...
Do's and Don't After Getting Accepted to College
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've been accepted to college. Now what? Join Mark and Anna as they discuss next steps after you've gotten into college. From not getting grades bel...
Applying to College with Rick Clark of Georgia Tech Admissions
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what college admissions officers really want from applicants and how students can better prepare for college applications? We went straigh...
To Major or Not
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Selecting a major…or not? Okay, let’s just get it out there…NO…you do not have to select a major and know exactly what you will do for the res...
Rise of Mental Health Issues in Teens with Dr. Sarah Pospos
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With an endless "To Do" list, and the pressure to keep up with their peers, its no surprise that an increasing amount of today's teens face anxiety an...
Colleges that Change Lives with Ann Marano
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As tuitions rise faster than inflation, more and more students and their families may wonder what value college offers and which colleges offer the mo...
Unforgettable Value of International Internships with Fredrik van Huynh
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No idea what to do this summer? Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Fredrik van Huynh from Absolute Internship about finding your passion and lining...
Helping Teens Move Forward with Danit Erlich
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are entering our third year of COVID related social adjustments that have included education, social gatherings, family dynamics, job loss/gain, fi...
Holistic College Admissions 2021
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While a student’s weighted GPA and SAT score are important, and thoughtful recommendations are significant, as are clear, concise, and cogent essays...
College Letters of Recommendation During COVID
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Letters of recommendation are one of the holistic components of the college application, but probably a component that is talked about the least, desp...
College Admissions through a Teen Lens with Kamila from "Who Cares About College"
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What's it like to be a teen actually going through the college admissions preparation process? Between classes, activities, college lists, and essays,...
Surviving College Admissions Madness with Kevin Martin
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like the college admissions process has gotten overwhelming and overall insane? Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Kevin Martin, author o...
Seizing Opportunities at Honors Programs and Colleges
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While many elite universities do not offer merit scholarships, honors colleges and programs at many public universities offer great options for high-a...
Powerful Storytelling for the College Essay with Molly Moynahan
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of year again - writing the college admissions essay! This year, Mark and Anna are excited to share approaches to college essay writing...
College Options: Deeper look at HBCUs
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Class of 2021 faced record-low acceptance rates at many elite universities, but the truth is, there are hundreds of amazing colleges out there that wi...
Applying as a Transfer Student with Deborah Shames
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Without the ability to visit campuses, applying for college and selecting where you want to spend the next four years can be more difficult than years...
Applying to European Colleges and Universities from America
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
So you think you want to go to college in Europe? Fantastic! Have you thought about the differences in the application process, the travel involved, p...
What Works and What Doesn't for STEM College Admissions
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With return on investment at a forefront in the college admissions process, its no wonder that majors related to STEM have become increasingly popoula...
Permission to Feel and College Admissions with Dr. Marc Brackett
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they talk about the importance of acknowledging, expressing, and regulating emotions with Dr. Marc Brackett, the author of Permi...
College for the Musically Inclined with Dave Best
19 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a talented musician who wants to pursue their passion for it in college? Have questions on how to best prepare for the music college admis...
COVID 2020 vs. College Essay
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
College essays have always been an important part of the college application process; however, this year—the year that COVID arrived and stayed for ...
Starting Early: The Long-View Set Up
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
College consultants often get asked “How early do you start working with students in the college application process?” This question almost always...
College Admissions in the Time of Covid
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What a strange and unprecedented time this is. Schools—ALL schools—are closed for what will be months. How many months this closure will last has ...
How to Win Scholarships for College
07 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ever hear that crazy story of how someone wins a ton of money for college? Even when they already have money and didn't qualify for financial aid? Or ...
Yes, But What Have You Learned? (What to do on breaks?)
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the holiday season…and there are always vacations and breaks. What to do, what to do? One of the most common questions consultants hear from ...
Getting your Best Price on College with TuitionFit's Mark Salisbury
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Mark Salisbury from TuitionFit to discuss something revolutionary - transparent college pricing. Learn about how...
Motivations and Healthy Decisions in Choosing College with Michael B. Horn
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Michael B. Horn, one of the authors of Choosing College, as they discuss how to put students and families in the...
ROTC: What to Expect, How to Apply and more with Rob Kirkland
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Rob Kirkland of Gain Service Academy Admission as they cover the benefits of joinin...
The Unexpected. The Un-talked about.The Blindsiders...of Starting College
07 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they talk about what new college students should actually be thinking about and preparing for that are often glossed over or jus...
Paying for College with Debbie Schwartz of Road2College and Paying for College 101
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they speak with guest, Debbie Schwartz. Debbie Schwartz is a former financial services marketing executive with expertise in per...
Athletics in College Admissions with Chris Siedem
17 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder if playing sports makes a difference in college admissions? Or what type of sport? Or how good you have to be? Join Mark and Anna as they ...
Dream College Summit 2019 with Jessica Yeager
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mark and Anna are excited to welcome Jessica Yeager from Dream College Summit back again to learn about what new insights are available for Dream Coll...
Making the Most of Learning Differences in High School and College
27 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Educational consulting addresses many common issues of the application process; however, applications for students with learning disabilities and the ...
Scandal, Designing Activities, and More with College Admissions Toolbox's Steve Schwartz
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mark and Anna as they co-host a special episode with Steve Schwartz from College Admissions Toolbox as they discuss the college admissions scanda...
College Admissions Scandal vs. College Admissions Reality Show
15 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The college admissions scandal has stormed the media! While everyone enjoys a good scandal, join Mark and Anna as they offer perspective on the scanda...
ROI vs. Elite in College Admissions - A New Target
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With college loan debts increasing far beyond any healthy, logical, or sustainable level—approaching 1.6 Trillion dollars, and the average student a...
Top Takeaways on Admissions, Testing, Tours and more from the LA IECA Conference
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Mark recently attended the IECA National Conference in sunny Los Angeles, California—and took over the house! Okay, maybe not so much as to...
Making the Most Out of Campus Visits
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Heading out for some school tours? From figuring out fit, culture, and where to find comfort food to demonstrating interest, learn how to make the mos...
Too Young to Prepare for an Alma Mater?
02 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As college applications and admissions becomes more competitive each year and the financial ramifications of choosing the right school is even more im...
Course Selection vs. Finding Your Path?
30 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you are a sophomore thinking about college, a junior/senior stepping into the application/admissions arena or a recent graduate who is headed ...
Staying Healthy (Mentally, Emotionally, Physically) in College Admissions
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A majority of students can make it through high school and college, and some will do so with incredibly high grades while achieving amazing things. Ho...
What’cha Doing This Summer?
06 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
School is almost out and its time to figure out what to do this summer, besides soaking in the sun with your friends. While we've talked about activit...
Big Fish in Little Pond: What’s the Lure?
22 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath, Mark and Anna discuss how to assess "big fish in a little pond" opportunities. As yo...
Offer Letters: Rainbow of Emotions and What to Look Out For
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
All the work and sacrifice – applications completed, essays written, weekends lost, and joy-filled NetFlix binges missed… has finally paid off. TH...
Art School Admissions with Tali Nesher
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we talk to Tali Nesher, a former literary agent, NYU Tisch graduate and independent educational consultant specializing in the arts. Tali w...
College: Beyond Admissions
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You'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 an...
Extracurricular Activities: What do they want from us?!
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With so many people around you juggling 20 activities, you wonder..do I really need 20 activities? What is the point of these extracurricular activiti...
The Dish on Applying for Med School with Todd Faubion
10 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With 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 f...
College Food - And Why It's Important
06 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Food - its necessary for survival and is often an overlooked attribute. If your stomach is not satisfied, your brain will not work optimally and your ...
Standing Out Positively with Learning Disabilities featuring Dr. Shirag Shemmassian from Shemmassian Academic Consulting
05 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we talk to Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting. As a graduate of both Cornell University and UCLA, Shirag wi...
Getting into your Dream School with Jessica Yeager from Dream College Summit
18 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join 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 ...
Designing the College List
31 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Congratulations… 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...
Essays: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
College 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 ...
Real College Journeys with Aleks Stefanovska
15 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we talk to Aleksandra (Aleks) Stefanovska, Founder of Pain Free to College and first generation college student on her college journey, whe...
Decisions Are In - What Do I Do Now?
01 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
College 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 t...
Real College Journeys with Liz Tenety
10 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join 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 decide...
College Interviews: The Myths, They Magic, The Mirth
03 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
You'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 thi...
Going to College on OPM (Other People's Money) - Financial Aid, Merit Aid, Loans, and More
09 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The 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...
Deadlines, Results, Decisions
14 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Now 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, possi...
ROI of Using an Independent Educational Consultant
29 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever consider using a consultant to help you with the college admissions process? Their more common name is IEC. Learn the benefits and values of usin...
Rankings - What's the big deal and does it really matter?
12 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
There 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 differen...
Gap Year - What Are They? Why Take One?
05 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever 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? Le...
The Importance of Meeting Face to Face
29 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
While 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 ma...
Niceness - The New Factor in College Admissions
22 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Harvard's Turning the Tide Report, more schools are being asked to evaluate how "nice" a student is in the college admissions proc...