The Truth about College Admission

Rick is joined by Dr. Steven Antonoff and Jay McCann, the authors of the The College Finder, 5th Edition, to talk about the purpose of their book, how prestige impacts the college search process, recogizing what fit can mean for students, and why counselors are so valuable to the college search process.LINKSThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterPrivate College 529 PlanCollege FinderThe Application TrailCollege Admission Speaker Series - Khan Lab SchoolHost: Rick ClarkGuests: Dr. Steven R. Antonoff & Jay McCannProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Anna Follenbee, the Associate Director (and soon to be Director) of College Counseling at Gilman, to talk about the current period in admissions of students choosing a college, advice for what to do now in that selection process, what parents can do to be supportive, the dynamics of the waitlist, and the importance of college responsiveness in this period.LINKSTruth About College Admission PodcastPrivate College 529 Plan"Choosing a College: Is It Right?" - The Application Trail"Choosing a College: Advice From Admission Experts" - The Application Trail"Ask This Before You Choose a College" - The Application TrailHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Anna FollensbeeProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Kelley Lips, Associate Vice Provost of Enrollment at Emory University, to talk about how Emory's pathways provide more opportunities for students to start and finish college compared to the normal four-year track, why colleges offer different tracks, and advice for high school juniors and seniors considering different start term options.LINKSTruth About College Admission NewsletterEmory University and Oxford CollegeHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Kelley LipsProduction: Jack Purdy

In a cross-post special, Rick heads to the College Admissions Process Podcast hosted by John Durante to talk about building a class, AI, how to best use the Common Application, and other tools families can use in the admissions process.LINKSCAP Episode LinkTruth About College Admissions NewsletterHost: John DuranteGuest: Rick ClarkTACA Production: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Gerry McCrory and Ashley Smith from Scoir to talk about the platform, their recent data reports, advice for juniors beginning the admission process, and tools on Scoir that everyone from families to counselors can use.LINKS:Truth About College Admission Newsletter"Getting into college is getting easier" - The Hechinger ReportScoirHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Gerry Mcrory, Ashley SmithProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and the new Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at Georgia Tech, Rick Clark, are joined by friend of the podcast Jeff Selingo to talk about his new book, Dream School. Their conversation details why Jeff was inspired to write the book, how to get a sense of the resources on campus when visiting schools, misconceptions about college value, and how life has been going through the college admissions process with his daughter.LINKS:The Truth About College Admission Newsletter"Clark Named Vice Provost of Enrollment Management" - Georgia TechJeff Selingo's websiteBuy Dream School List of Harvard 1L InstitutionsFuture U PodcastHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Jeff SelingoProduction: Jack Purdy

Returning from their winter breaks, Brennan and Rick go through their items to watch for in 2026, books they're reading, tips for the current application cycle, their words for the year, and preview a couple guests who will be on the show this semester.LINKS:Brennan Barnard on ForbesThe Application Trail12-Hour Walk"AI is scoring college essays" – LA TimesTruth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Denise Pope, Ph.D., the co-founder and Strategic Advisor at Challenge Success (and Senior Lecturer at Stanford University) to talk about her work in researching student mental health, what families may be getting wrong about what they think colleges want to see in the admissions process, and advice for students to improve well-being in high school and beyond.LINKS:Challenge Success"A 'Fit' Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity" - Challenge SuccessTime Management Worksheet - Challenge Success"Go Wilde For College Admission In The New Year" - The Application TrailThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Denise Pope, Ph.D.Production: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Lisa Keegan, Vice Provost for Enrollment Strategy at William & Mary, to talk about her role at William & Mary and how they approach admissions in their context, understanding the culture of a school, and what juniors can think about this upcoming spring.LINKS:Making a (College) List - The Application TrailBuilding a College List Part II: Outside the Echo Chamber - The Application TrailTruth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Lisa KeeganProduction: Jack Purdy

Today we highlight Brennan Barnard's visit to the Office Hours podcast where him and host Will Geiger talk about the myth of the "dream school" and how to frame the college search process before diving into the AI transformation happening in the college admissions world.LINKS:Truth About College Admissions NewsletterOffice Hours PodcastOffice Hours Host: Will GeigerOffice Hours Guest: Brennan BarnardTACA Host: Rick ClarkTACA Production: Jack Purdy

Today, we divert off the beaten path for The Truth About Admission Podcast as we highlight Rick Clark's appearance on the Something Personal podcast, where he goes into his lessons learned from multiple decades of working in college admissions, how to pay for college, and his advise on keeping perspective during the college search process.LINKS:Truth About College Admission NewsletterSomething Personal Podcast FeedSomething Personal host: Amy LaburdaSomething Personal guest: Rick ClarkTACA Production: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Emily Roper Doten, Dean of Admissions at Brandeis University, to talk about her experiences in helping develop liberal arts programs for the current job economy and how her career leading up to Brandeis has influenced her ability to be a leader in her space.LINKS:Truth About College Admissions Newsletter"Brandeis Pours $25M Into Careers-Focused Liberal Arts" - Inside Higher EdHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Emily Roper DotenProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Jed Applerouth, founder of Applerouth Education, to talk about the origins of Applerouth, the differences and simlarities between the SAT and ACT, how to decide when is enough test prep, why the science section is leaving the ACT, and how to best approach standardized testing.LINKSThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterJed Applerouth BioApplerouthHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Jed ApplerouthProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Ken Anselment, Vice President for Enrollment Management at RHB, to talk about his journey in higher ed, learnings at RHB, how schools approach early decision, and how high schoolers now can approach the pace they attack the admissions process.LINKSTruth About College Admission NewsletterKen Anselment BioThe Admissions Leadership PodcastRick Clark on The Admissions Leadership PodcastClimbing The Admissions Leadership Peak - Anselment"Why Did I Say "Yes" to Speak Here?" - Gladwell"Early Decision Applicants: The College Admission VIPs" - The Application TrailHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Ken AnselmentProduction: Jack Purdy

To kick off the season, Brennan and Rick are joined by returning champion, Juan Espinoza (Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech), to dive into how Virginia Tech has adopted artificial intelligence to help with the essay reading process, how that has affected their timeline, and his advice to students approaching the essay writing process this fall.LINKSThe Truth About College Admission Newsletter Juan EspinozaHumans And AI Collaborate To Review College Admission Essays - ForbesHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Juan EspinozaProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are back from summer vacation and ready for the FOURTH(!) season of The Truth About College Admission Podcast. Today, the pair recap their summers, preview a format update to the episodes this season, and reflect on a word they're thinking about for the upcoming admissions cycle.LINKSBrennan's Substack: The Application TrailThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

In our Season 3 bonus episode, Rick and Brennan visit the College Parent Central podcast with Elizabeth Hamblet and Vicki Nelson to talk about communication during the college search, realistic expectations, how schools evaluate prospective students, how college is an opportunity, and focusing on long term relationships with family.See the video version hereHosts: Elizabeth Hamblet, Vicki NelsonGuests: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction (TACA cut): Jack Purdy

In the Season 3 finale of The Truth About College Admission, Rick and Brennan go over their favorite episodes from the season, what news items in higher education have caught their eyes lately, and what this summer they will be keeping tabs on as we head into the 2025-2026 college admission cycle.Links:LoperScoirThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterJune Essay webinar with Shereem Herndon-Brown and Allison Slater TateThe Truth About Navigating the Admission Process - Dr. Ramon BlakleyThe Truth About Value - Dan PorterfieldThe Truth About International Admission - Sara Riggs and Karen Bartlett"International Students By The Numbers" - Inside Higher Ed"A Call for College Application Innovation" - Inside Higher EdHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by returning guests Diane Campbell and Allison Slater Tate to run through their impressions of the last academic year and what the summer should look like for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.LINKSThe Truth About Artificial Intelligence and Applying to CollegeDiane Campbell BioThe Truth About Admission at the HolidaysAllison Slater TateThe Truth About Mindful Communication Between Families and Their StudentsGeorgia Tech Admission Blog on summerLoper AppThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Diane Campbell, Allison Slater TateProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by a fantastic duo, Karen Bartlett (Associate Director of International Admissions at Middlebury College) and Sara Riggs (Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech) to highlight what international students bring to American college campuses, what the enrollment trends have shown in the last decade, and how international students can find community at American colleges.LINKS:LoperOpen Doors ReportCommon Data Set"The Two Most Important Letters in College Admission" - ClarkThe Truth About Institutional Priorities - TJ SnowdenTruth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Karen Bartlett, Sara RiggsProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Eva Blanco Masias, the VP for Enrollment Management at Santa Clara University, for a deep dive into why schools use waitlists and their purpose on the admissions front, how schools pick from a waitlist, and what to do as a student currently on a waitlist.The Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Eva Blanco MaisasProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Sam Bernstein and Eric Menna, the cofounders of Loper, to talk through how their college admission journeys influenced the creation of Loper, how the app provides assistance during the college search process, and what data from users has shown in giving a more complete picture of needs and wants for students figuring out their next steps in higher education.LINKS:LoperThe College Admission Blind Taste Test - ForbesThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Sam Bernstein, Eric MennaProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Angel Perez, the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), to talk about the current landscape in Washington, D.C. amidst uncertainty with the Department of Education, who NACAC is working with to improve college admissions, what could be innovated in the future in the profession, and the overflowing hope found on college campuses in improving student lives.LINKSAngel Perez BioNACAC Action Alerts"NACAC begins search for director of Center for Innovation in College Admission"LoperThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterThe Truth About College Admission ResourcesHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Angel PerezProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Mark Salisbury, founder and CEO of TuitionFit, to detail for families why college sticker prices are so high, what to look for in a financial aid award, what kinds of financial aid tools are out there, and what they mean in simple terms. LINKSNewsletter:  https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/contactTuitionfit.orggoppi.orgPrior episodes on financial aid and paying for college: Ron Lieber: Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionJohn Leach (Emory): Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionJackie Copeland (UNC): Podcast | The Truth About College AdmissionCollege Admission Grown & Flown Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Mark SalisburyProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick have an epic pod this week joined by Melodie Baker (Founder & Executive Director of ImpactSTATS Inc.) and Akil Bello (Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest) for a massive deep dive into Melodie's research into what the current role of calculus in college admissions is, how it's used as a date point at selective colleges, and then talk on College Board's role in pre-calculus.Links:Impact StatsAkil Bello's websiteMerit: Myths and Money - BelloThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterCollege Admissions Grown and Flown Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuests: Melodie Baker, Akil BelloProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Heath Einstein, the Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at Texas Christian University, to go over what a deferral means in the admissions process, what students should do in response to the decision and while they wait for the next decision to come, and the mentality to take on when your top school sends a deferral decision.Links:Deferred Admission - Georgia TechHeath Einstein Named Vice Provost for Enrollment Management - TCUTruth About College Admissions Newsletter SignupGrown and Flown Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Heath EinsteinProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Sacha Thieme, Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of Admissions at Indiana University, to talk about best practices for visiting colleges, the preparation that is useful before going for a campus visit, and what college visits can do as for high schoolers evolving their thinking in the college search process.Links:Ask The Same Questions, again and again… - ClarkThrow a Dart, Drop a Pin - Truth About College Admissions WorkbookDon’t Waste Your College Visit: Ask The Right Questions - ForbesGrown & Flown Free Trial OfferTruth About College Admissions NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Sacha ThiemeProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick is joined by the interim Director of Admissions at UT Austin, Dr. Ramon Blakley, to talk about UT Austin's Percentage Plan and how that impacts how they recruit + admit applicants. Then, a conversation about how juniors can best navigate the various schools that have a range of test optional to test mandatory policies, plus advice for parents of seniors who are receiving application decisions this month.Links:Hues of Leadership Podcast - BlakleyThe College Admissions Process Podcast - BlakleyGrown and Flown Free Trial OfferHost: Rick ClarkGuest: Dr. Ramon BlakleyProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are back from holidays and are here with their hopes for 2025 in college admissions, what they're looking out for in the industry, and their timely tips for the January portion of the admissions calendar.Links:Admission Leaders Share Resolutions For College Applicants - ForbesImmunity to Change - Kegan and LaheyCollege Uncovered - NPR"Ask The Same Questions" - ClarkTruth About College Admissions NewsletterHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan close out the 2024 calendar year to discuss their favorite guests and what they drew from those conversations. Then, a review of the big issues in college admission that stuck out to them in 2024 with a look ahead to what they're hopeful to see in 2025. Hopefully no more holiday deadlines for applications!Links:Fewer race-based scholarships and a new culture of fear follow the end of affirmative action - The Hechinger ReportAsk Lisa Podcast: Getting into College with Rick Clark - DamourThe Truth About Family and College Admission - The Truth About College Admission w/Lisa DamourThe Truth About Admission and Parenting - The Truth About College Admission w/Lisa HeffernanScoir Halftime ReportHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

In one of our favorite episodes yet, Dan Lugo, current President of Queens University of Charlotte and future President at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, joins Brennan and Rick to talk about his unique admissions journey, how a college president can impact a campus positively, and how parents can best approach helping their child seek the transformative experience college can provide. Links:The Truth About College Admission NewsletterPostelection Uncertainty Looms Large For Presidents - Inside Higher EdHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Dan LugoProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Dianne Campbell, the Director of College Counseling at Liberty Common High School, where they talk about how to manage the conversations that are bound to come up for kids going through the college admissions process over the next month, how to frame the conversation in a healthy way for kids, and if necessary, ways to deflect the conversation to draw out stories from the adults in the room about their experiences.Links:The Truth about College Admission NewsletterA College Admission Holiday: The Friends And Family Guide - Forbes College Admission Indigestion: An Applicant's Guide to Nausea Free Holidays - Huff Post5 Parent Tips For When College Admission Decisions Land - ForbesParenting The Disappointed College Applicant - ForbesDealing With College Admission Disappointment - ForbesHandling College Admission Decisions: A Sidecar Parent’s Guide - ForbesHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Dianne CampbellProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick is joined by Adam Miller from the beautiful Whitman College to give a rundown of the kinds of responses students may get for their early action/decision applications and what do to in each situation, whether it be admitted, deferred, or denied, or even alternative scenarios that may arise. Links:The Truth about College Admission NewsletterHost: Rick ClarkGuest: Adam MillerProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by Liz Chreron, CEO of the Coalition for College Access and proud Boston College graduate, to go over what application review looks like, why it's done the way it's done, how it's done, and how to best approach this time of the admissions cycle for parents and students.Links:Coalition for College websiteThe Truth About College Admission NewsletterHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Liz CheronProduction: Jack Purdy

Dan Porterfield, author and President + CEO of the Aspen Institute, joins Rick and Brennan to dive into the value of college from different perspectives (family, individual, societal, financial), some stories from Dan's time as a college president, and advice as to how to approach being at college and how to support people currently in college.Links:Mindset Matters - Dan Porterfield The Parents Aren't Alright - The DailyOn Edge: Understanding and Preventing Young Adults’ Mental Health Challenges - Making Caring Common ProjectMission Matters - Rick Clark"Georgia Tech and AMSC Collaboration to Boost STEM Pipeline"The Truth About College Admission Newsletter sign upHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Dan PorterfieldProduction: Jack Purdy

Brennan and Rick are joined by the Associate Provost and Director of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid at UNC, Jackie Copeland, to talk through a primer of the FAFSA (both what it is and why to fill it out), the cost of college (and why it is so high), and the crucial roles that parents can fill for their kids navigating college for the first time.LINKS:How it feels to be a college student whose parents can’t let go - SlateEducation Department Delays FAFSA Launch for Most Students - Inside Higher EdU.S DoE Net Price Calculatormyintuition.org College Cost CalculatorThe Cliff, the Pandemic and the Hurricane - Inside Higher EdThe Truth About College Admission Newsletter signupHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Jackie CopelandProduction: Jack Purdy

For the first interview of season 3, Rick and Brennan are joined by Juan Espinoza, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech to discuss his admission journey from applying to schools to becoming Vice Provost, how the mission of Virginia Tech drives his work, and what he is excited about how AI can positively influence the admissions process.Links referenced in the episode:CGN’s AVA: Bringing 24/7 "Enhanced Expert AI" Guidance to College and Career Planning and Success - Yahoo FinanceCollege Admission: An AI Revolution - ForbesColleges are using AI in admissions. How can they do it right? - WBURMorehouse College’s TJ Snowden on Institutional Priorities - The Truth about College AdmissionTruth About College Admissions Newsletter signupHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Juan EspinozaProduction: Jack Purdy

We're back! Season three of The Truth about College Admission is here as we recap our summers and look ahead to what this season of the podcast will bring us.Subscribe to our newsletter! Books and essays mentioned in this episode:Brave New Words: How Ai Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That's A Good Thing) - Salman KhanMindset Matters: The Power Of College To Activate Lifelong Growth - Dan PorterfieldI’m a College President and I Hope My Campus Is Even More Political This Year - New York TimesThird Place University - Chris BurkeSmile Because It Happened - Dr. Beth CabreraHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkProduction: Jack Purdy

To close season 2, we have a role reversal with producer Jack Purdy interviewing Rick and Brennan to talk about learnings from this season's guests, their work outside the podcast, some thoughts on AI afterApple's big WWDC announcements, and what to expect for season 3.THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- free trial offerHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick Clark, Jack PurdyProduction: Jack Purdy

For our final guest of season 2, Rick and Brennan are joined by Harlan Cohen, author of multiple books including WIN or LEARN: The Naked Truth About Turning Every Rejection Into Your Ultimate Success. The trio goes over lots of Harlan's story of going to and transferring colleges, how to build resilience during these transformative years, and the main takeaways from WIN or LEARN. Links:Harlan's websiteThe Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College - CohenTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- free trial offerHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Harlan CohenProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by Michael Horn (author of multiple books, Forbes contributor, host of multiple podcasts, and writer of the Substack newsletter The Future of Education) to discuss making dual enrollment class choices, evaluating intellecutal safety on campuses, and how he likes to approach evaluating a college when deciding where to go.Links: Michael Horn's websiteFuture U PodcastFrom Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)Creating School for Every Child  - HornMichael's Twitter accountTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- free trial offerHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Michael HornProduction: Jack Purdy

With finals season approaching at colleges across the country, Rick and Brennan are joined by Dr. Beth Cabrera, an organizational psychologist and author specializing in positive psychology and well-being, to go through her admission journey, her advice on how to maintain healthy relationships during the college application process, and practical ways to make that process smoother for kids and families. Links:Beth's TEDx Talk at George MasonBeth Cabrera's websiteBeth's Twitter PageWhere You'll Go Is Not Who You'll Be - Frank BruniDavid and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell  THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Dr. Beth CabreraProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by experienced strategy consultant and master of college sports data graphics on Twitter, Tony Altimore, to discuss the landscape of college athletics in relation to admission, how the transfer portal can help or hurt students in their academic journey, and what the oncoming demographic cliff can mean for schools that rely on athletics.Links:Tony Altimore's Twitter pageDemographic Cliff chart - Tony AltimoreTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagments, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: Tony AltimoreProduction: Jack Purdy

With Brennan on vacation, Rick gets his first one on one interview of season 2, talking with David Hawkins from NACAC about his admission experience, the lastest effects from the FAFSA delay, and how to frame to the general public why college is an important piece to a functioning community. Links:David Hawkins' profileJust EquationsTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagementsGrown and Flown Admission -- Free Trial OfferHosts: Brennan Barnard, Rick ClarkGuest: David HawkinsProduction: Jack Purdy

With Rick out chauferring a youth soccer team, Brennan gets a one on one with Dr. Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist, 3x New York Times best seller, host of the Ask Lisa podcast to talk about the added stress the college search process brings, how to deal with that stress, and where families can potentially be freed up to be more happy during and after the process.Links:Lisa Damour's websiteLisa's early admission Instagram videoA panel on supporting youth mental health (feat. Lisa) - Harvard + Making Caring Common ProjectCGN "Teenagers Decoded" RegistrationTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Dr. Lisa DamourProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan this week are joined by Candice Mackey, College Counselor atLos Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and Co-Chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Public School Counselor Group. They talk about her experience going through college, what keeping an open mind in the search process can do for a student, and going through important conversations with your family unit early to ensure everyone is on the same page during the entire college search process.Links:THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission -- Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Candice MackeyProduction: Jack Purdy

TJ Snowden, the Chief of Staff for the President of Morehouse College in Atlanta, joins Rick and Brennan to go through his admissions experience when he was choosing a college, explaining what institutional prorities are and how to find them, along with advice for juniors and parents of juniors heading into their college application cycle.Links:THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission - Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: TJ SnowdenProduction: Jack Purdy

Rick and Brennan are joined by one of Intialview's co-founders, Gloria Crawford, to discuss how the platform has been instrumental in the admissions space, how to approach their interviews, what to focus on, and advice for parents navigating the admissions space.Links:Initialview Home PageChinese Students and U.S. Universities Connect Through a Third Party (2016) - New York TimesCollege Admission Wrapped 2023 - ForbesTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission - Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Gloria CrawfordProduction: Jack Purdy

Eric Hoover, senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education, joins Brennan and Rick to talk about his first impressions of college counseling during his high school days, stories of how he's seen counseling impact people at the ground level, the varying levels of transparency in college aid, and some big admissions items to lookout for in 2024. Links:Articles by EricThe Verification Trap - The Chronicle for Higher EducationEric Hoover on College Admissions and Standardized Testing Changes - C-SPANFollow Eric on Twitter @erichoovTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission - Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Eric HooverProduction: Jack Purdy

To open the spring 2024 episode slate, we welcome Lisa Heffernan, New York Times best selling author of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults, as well as the co-founder of Grown and Flown. Rick, Brennan, and Lisa cover how teenagers can navigate potentially toxic questions about their college future, what Grown & Flown can provide in terms of expert opinions about the college search, along with some current trends happening in the admissions space.Links:College Guidance NetworkThe Truth About Admission and Mattering - Jennifer WallaceStephanie Meade on Grown and FlownTHE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, speaking engagements, podcast, and other resourcesGrown and Flown Admission - Free Trial OfferHosts: Rick Clark, Brennan BarnardGuest: Lisa HeffernanProduction: Jack Purdy