My College Life Coach podcast

My College Life Coach podcast episodes:

• 10.17.2016

  How to Prepare for the PSAT

  Mitch Blatstein, owner of Education Plus, Inc., gives us an inside look at October’s PSAT, including its multiple uses (such as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and how to prepare for it, whether it’s three months or three days away!...

  
• 09.08.2016

  College Spotlight on the University of Pittsburgh

  As many college students and alumni will tell you, the perfect college sometimes sneaks up on you.  That’s what happened to today’s guest, Adrienne Newcomer, when she visited Pitt as a high school junior.  She went to placate her parents,...

  
• 08.30.2016

  The Writing Process and Supplemental Essays

  If you listened to the first part of my interview with Dr. Donna Kirschner, college admissions essay coach, you have the mindset you need to write a great essay.  But what about the process, the nuts and bolts of writing...

  
• 08.24.2016

  The Unique Importance of the College Essay

  Do you know the value of the essay in your college application?  Do you know how to take your Common App essay to the next level?  Do you know how to separate yourself from the thousands of students applying to...

  
• 08.18.2016

  Creating Your College Experience with DiscipleMakers

  Brian Stenson rejoins the podcast to share the mission and day-to-day activities of a faith-based organization called DiscipleMakers.  If you interested in developing your faith while you’re in college, you’ll enjoy learning more about DM.  However, if an organization like...

  
• 06.08.2016

  How Your Admissions Process Can Impact Your College Experience

  The post How Your Admissions Process Can Impact Your College Experience appeared first on College Answer Man.

  
• 05.21.2016

  Johns Hopkins University and Making the Most of the Perfect College for You

  Mike Buxbaum is a junior at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, one of the best schools on the East Coast (okay, okay, the nation.  Relax.).  Mike’s journey to Hopkins is a great example of knowing what you’re looking for...

  
• 04.21.2016

  College Spotlight on Penn State University with Ed Jacinto and Dan Reifenstein

  The post College Spotlight on Penn State University with Ed Jacinto and Dan Reifenstein appeared first on College Answer Man.

  
• 04.14.2016

  Thaddeus Stevens and the Best of Both Worlds with Warren Taylor

  Links to material in or related to this conversation: Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Manufacturing Expo/Careers in Manufacturing (podcast episode) Millersville University Drexel University Temple University California University of Pennsylvania Have a question about Thaddeus Stevens or careers in technical...

  
• 04.06.2016

  Eastern University and Getting the Most Value from College with Jordan Norris

  What’s even better than finding the college that is right for you?  Making the most of it once you get there!  If you’re looking for the maximum return on investment from your college experience, you’ll love today’s interview with Jordan Norris....

  
• 03.30.2016

  West Chester University and the Blueprint for the Perfect College

  Today’s episode features a College Spotlight on West Chester (PA) University with Ethan Martin, which serves as a case study for how to choose the perfect college for you.  The interesting part is that Ethan didn’t know he was following...

  
• 03.25.2016

  What I Wish I Would Have Done When Choosing a College

  As they say, hindsight is 20/20, so what better way to plan your college experience than to see college through the lens of someone who has already gone through the process of choosing, applying, and attending? Chris Jackson is a...

  
• 03.23.2016

  How to Take a Semester Off and Still Graduate on Time with Hannah Shade

  So, what do you do when you discover that you don’t have any classes to take next semester?  That you’re so advanced in your program that you’ve temporarily run out of classes to take?  If you’re Hannah Shade, you go...

  
• 03.23.2016

  Academic Success Through Personal Success with Dr. Cherita Weatherspoon

  When students aren’t performing well in the classroom, the first solution offered is usually to study harder, put in more time with an instructor, or cut out extracurriculars.  However, as Dr. Cherita Weatherspoon shares in today’s episode, sometimes the path...

  
• 03.21.2016

  College Spotlight on the University of Delaware with Kellsey Reed

  Today’s College Spotlight is on the University of Delaware in Newark, DE, and our virtual tour guide is Kellsey Reed, who is just five weeks from graduation!  Kellsey shares interesting insights into her journey to UD and how it has...

  
• 03.20.2016

  How to Discover What You Want to Do with Your Life

  One of the biggest barriers that students face when choosing a college is answering the question, “What am I going to do with my life?”  If they decide to attend college,  unless they have answered that question, they risk missing...

  
• 03.18.2016

  The Benefits of Accountability with Dave Dempsey

  Dave Dempsey is no stranger to accountability.  As an athlete in high school he was accountable to his teammates and his coaches, and he always delivered.  But college was different because he was only really accountable to himself, which made...

  
• 03.17.2016

  Should I Transfer to Another School? with Joe Golonka

  Should I stay or should I go now? Joe Golonka, a senior at Penn State University, started his college education at Bloomsburg University, leaving Bloomsburg after his sophomore year.  In our conversation he breaks down his reasons for leaving Bloomsburg...

  
• 03.16.2016

  529 Education Savings Plans Explained with Minh Lu

  Are you thinking of saving for college but don’t know how to do it?  Then you’ll discover an excellent option in today’s episode as our guest, Minh Lu, shares details about 529 savings plans. Minh shares from his experience helping...

  
• 03.15.2016

  College Spotlight on Widener University with Sam Christie

  Are you looking for a school with strong academics, Division III athletics, and a small-town feel with access to a major city?  Then Widener University may be the place for you! Sam Christie shares some great insights into what made...

  
• 03.13.2016

  How Your Values Can Help You Choose a College

  It may seem obvious that you should base your decision about which college to attend on what’s most important to you, for example on your values.  But how can you do that if you don’t know what your values are?  Today’s episode is...

  
• 03.11.2016

  The Importance of Choosing a Major Before You Attend with Judy McGuriman

  Have you heard this advice before: “Just go to college and you’ll figure out what you want to do.”  Or once you get into a college, does the college tell you that it’s okay to start school without declaring a major?...

  
• 03.10.2016

  The Scholarship System with Jocelyn Paonita Pearson

  Jocelyn Paonita Pearson shared her inspiring story of paying for college entirely with scholarships in an earlier episode, but I didn’t want to leave you without a bridge from point A to point B!  Too many stories of success leave readers thinking,...

  
• 03.09.2016

  The ACT Examined with Mitch Blatstein of Education Plus

  Mitch breaks down the ACT and shares some key factors that make it a great alternative to the SAT.  Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Links to resources related to the episode: The ACT Mitch’s detailed explanation...

  
• 03.07.2016

  College Spotlight on Lehigh University with Derek Rush

  Today’s College Spotlight features a graduating senior who grew up wanting to go to Lehigh… but didn’t love it during his first semester.  Derek Rush shares his story of how much Lehigh has helped him in today’s episode! Topics we...

  
• 03.07.2016

  The D-I College Recruiting Process with Gabrielle Pakhtigian

  When you play sports at a high level in high school you may have the opportunity to play in college, and the allure of Division I is enticing for students and their families, especially when scholarship money is available.  What...

  
• 03.04.2016

  Making Your Mess Your Message with Adam Carroll

  What happens when you wake up and realize that you’re not where you want to be in life?  What if you’ve done everything that you’re “supposed to” and it isn’t that great?  You have two options: bury your head in...

  
• 03.01.2016

  Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week with Kevin Chen

  Are you interested in a career in business?  If so, what if you could “try it on for size” for a week to see if you like it before committing to the major in college?  Then you need to check...

  
• 02.29.2016

  Making College Work for You with Riana Catanzaro

  While some students find the school that captures the perfect combination of personal preferences and career preparation, others are faced with the reality of giving up certain things that they want in a college in order to get what’s most important....

  
• 02.29.2016

  Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone with Joe Golonka

  One of the most exciting – and potentially scary – things about college is the opportunity each student has to step outside their comfort zone, to cross the threshold of the familiar and create a new life on campus.  However,...

  
• 02.26.2016

  How to Pay for 100% of College with Scholarships

  What if you could graduate from college without any school loan debt?  Is that even possible with today’s college prices?  Who does that?  Jocelyn Paonita Pearson, that’s who! Jocelyn tells her story of using scholarships to pay for 100% of...

  
• 02.26.2016

  Owning Your Faith in College with Brian Stenson

  Many Christian students and their families wrestle with this question each fall: Should I attend a Christian college or a non-Christian (secular) college?  How can I “keep the faith” while I’m at school?  Do I even want to?  Brian Stenson...

  
• 02.25.2016

  How to Become a College Mascot with Paul Biedlingmaier

  One of the coolest things about college is the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself, to contribute to the student body in a way that enhances everyone’s experience… even if no one knows you’re doing it!  How...

  
• 02.24.2016

  Student Success at (Community) College with Jenn Mullen

  Montgomery County Community College‘s Jenn Mullen answers the question that many parents and students ask: What do I do if I’m not ready for the academics of college?  At least at MCCC, there’s a great answer! Jenn teaches a College...

  
• 02.23.2016

  College Spotlight on the University at Buffalo with Dinorah Santos

  The University of Buffalo boasts the largest campus in New York and some of the best research facilities in the state.  But did you know about The Commons?  What about its Chinese student population?  Check out Dinorah Santos’s perspective of...

  
• 02.22.2016

  PA School for Global Entrepreneurship with Corway Chao

  How can you get a taste of a career if you’re in high school?  Use your summer to participate in an experience that exposes you to different types of careers, people from all over the world, and real-life application of your...

  
• 02.19.2016

  Guiding Your Multi-talented Student through the College Process with Karen Henkels

  How do you advise a student who is gifted academically and in the arts?  What if he or she doesn’t know which major to study or which career to pursue?  You start by learning from others who have gone through...

  
• 02.18.2016

  Finding Success through Failure with Joe Golonka

  Are you so scared of failing that you are missing out on success?  Many students are conditioned to believe that doing something incorrectly or getting turned down is a sign of an inherent flaw, so they avoid doing anything that...

  
• 02.17.2016

  Strategies for Paying for College with Adam Carroll

  One of the biggest challenges that students and their families face when choosing whether or not to attend college (and after that, which college to attend) is how to pay for it.  It’s no secret that college attendees are seldom...

  
• 02.16.2016

  College Spotlight on The Ohio State University with Amber Pharazyn

  Today’s College Spotlight shines brightly on THE Ohio State University!  Our guest is Amber Pharazyn, a senior who is graduating in May with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Studies. Amber shares her story of choosing OSU – including...

  
• 02.15.2016

  A Preview of ManuFest 2016

  Today’s episode is all about an upcoming event called ManuFest 2016.  If you’re interested in a career-based education, you will love learning more about this expo! Career-based education begins by deciding on a career and then choosing the best education...

  
• 02.12.2016

  Plan B Path to College

  Tom Bell, a senior at Drexel University, shares that his journey to college was not as smooth and straightforward as he thought it would be.  However, what he learned along the way can help all students who are choosing colleges...

  
• 02.11.2016

  The Benefits of Studying Abroad with Nichole Sickel from Arcadia University

  Today’s guest is Nichole Sickel, a student at Arcadia University who jumped into a study abroad program with both feet… five days into her freshman year!  She shares her experience and the lessons she learned along the way in this...

  
• 02.10.2016

  SAT 101 with Mitch Blatstein of Education Plus, Inc.

  As I say in the introduction to this episode, when you want the answers, ask an expert!  Enter Mitch Blatstein, owner of Education Plus, Inc. in the Philadelphia, PA area.  Mitch has worked with students for over 35 years helping...

  
• 02.09.2016

  College Spotlight on U of VI with Joe Charles

  Today’s College Spotlight is on the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas.  Why didn’t I know this place existed when I was applying to schools?!  Oh yeah, because I was searching for colleges based entirely on prestige and...

  
• 02.08.2016

  Sorority as Community with Katie Depman

  Today’s guest is Katie Depman, a freshman at West Chester University in the Philadelphia, PA area.  Katie shares her somewhat rocky transition from high school to college, including initially feeling homesick and isolated.  However, she credits her sorority with helping her...

  
• 02.05.2016

  What I Wish I Would Have Known with Sam’s Mom

  Today’s interview is with… my mom!  Leigh Anne shares her experience as a mother of a headstrong son (that would be me), the first of her children to go to college. How she felt limited in her ability to help...

  
• 02.04.2016

  The Need for Individuality as a College Life Skill with Joe Golonka

  Joe, a senior at Penn State, shares insights about what it takes to be successful in college and in life.  Today we discuss individuality: the ability to be one’s self without the (negative) influence of those around you. We discuss...

  
• 02.03.2016

  How to Improve Your Academic Performance with Jan Hoffman

  Today’s guest is Jan Hoffman, an Academic Success Coach from East Stroudsburg University’s ACHIEVE Program.  Jan works closely with students who are not meeting with the university’s standard of success – many of whom performed well in high school and...

  
• 02.02.2016

  College Spotlight on Syracuse University with Melissa Cubit

  Today’s College Spotlight is on Syracuse University, and we get to hear from Melissa Cubit, a sophomore who is majoring in Public Relations. The College Spotlight episode is a weekly feature of the podcast because it is so valuable for students...