Eighty-five percent of colleges have some type of first-year experience or first-year seminar course. So why have colleges added these courses to their curriculum?

Join Michelle McAnaney, founder of The College Spy, while she talks to Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner. As a sociologist, professor and first-year expert, Dr. Brenner is the creator of Talking College Conversation Cards and the co-author of How to College: What to Know Before You Go and When You’re There. After teaching at American University at Washington DC, Dr. Brenner shifted to administration to design a First-Year Experience Course for all incoming students. She is now a speaker and educator on the college transition, helping families and universities around the nation empower their students to succeed in college as they learn ‘adulting’ skills and balance academics, social skills and life skills in college..

Tip of the Day: What is the right number of colleges to apply to? There is no ‘right’ number for all students. Depending on a student’s goals, desired major, importance of merit aid and many other factors, the number of colleges to apply to can vary widely. The College Spy’s students have applied to as few as 3 colleges or as many as 25.

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College Spotlight: Drexel University in Philadelphia

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Key points in this episode

2:20 Meet Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner

5:25 What is a FYE or FYS?

7:10 Why do we need to help students with the transition to college?

10:41 What can you do to help ease this transition for your student?

13:40 Why is it so hard to let your kids fail?

14:32 Detrimental enabling

15:49 “Messy bodies, messy brains’

19:48 “You can’t keep being a high school parent to a college student”

21:25 Redefining success in high school

22:42 All 5 Talking College Card Decks

27:40 Tip of the Day

28:26 College Spotlight on Drexel University

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Read the podcast transcript: link after posted on website

Learn more about Dr. Brenner:  https://www.ambrenner.com/

Learn more about Talking College Conversation Decks: https://talkingcollege.com/

Register for The College Spy Bootcamp: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/the-college-spy-boot-camp

Learn more about The College Spy and the admissions advisory services offered by Michelle and her team -- Go to The College Spy Website

Contact Michelle McAnaney at [email protected]