A Stanford Grad’s Advice on Elite Colleges, Admissions & College Fit

from Ol' College Try · host Matt and Peg's College Planning Podcast

What is it really like to attend one of the most selective colleges in the world?In this episode of Ol' College Try, host Peg Keough sits down with Mark Hernandez—a Stanford graduate, former high school English teacher of 25 years, and now a college essay consultant with a growing social media following.Mark shares his unexpected path to Stanford (including applying just four days before the deadline) and the difficult financial decision his family faced after he was admitted. Determined to reduce the burden on his dad, Mark created a plan to graduate from Stanford in just two years and two quarters—a strategy that even caught the attention of the university president.Peg and Mark also dive into:What Stanford’s campus culture is really likeThe surprising “work hard but pretend you’re not” academic mindsetHow students can strategically think about college costsWhether AP classes actually help students graduate earlyThe type of student who truly thrives at selective universitiesWhy finding the right college fit matters more than prestigeMark also reflects on how his own teachers shaped his career and how his experience in the classroom gives him a unique perspective on the college admissions process today.If your family is thinking about selective colleges—or just wants a clearer picture of what college success actually looks like—this conversation is packed with insight.🎧 Plus, Mark shares the story behind his intro song: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, a favorite across three generations of his family.Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸Connect with Mark Hernandez! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englishwithmarkh/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englishwithmarkhWebsite: https://englishwithmarkh.com/

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This episode is 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 12, 2026.

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