Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast

By Tokyo Academics

What's Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast about?

Tokyo Academics presents "Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast." This podcast is dedicated to delivering the unfiltered truth about applying to college in the 21st century.

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Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast episodes:

06.28.2024
#151 - Interview with a Hollywood Professional: Tips on Film School Success
This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Claire Gerety-Mott, a professional writer and director who specializes in film school admissions. A graduate of Columbia University Film School, Claire brings a wealth of knowledge from both the...
06.13.2024
#150 - Everything You Need to Know About Direct Admissions
This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin discusses the growing trend of direct admissions. In this episode, we explore the origins of this innovative practice, its operational mechanics, and the underlying motivations driving colleges to adopt it. Jennifer provides...
06.07.2024
#149 - Interview with a Future University of Michigan Student
This week on the Accepted Podcast, Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin interviews Shaurya Baruah, a senior at the Peddie School who will be studying computer science at the University of Michigan this fall. Jennifer and Shaurya discuss the boarding school experience...
05.31.2024
#148 - Interview with an Ivy-Educated Admissions Consultant: What Authenticity Truly Means
This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Eren Harris, an experienced former admissions consultant and the former Head of Admissions at PrepScholar. Eren, who holds a Bachelor's degree from Yale and a Master's degree from Harvard,...
05.24.2024
#147 - Interview with a Former Rice University Admissions Director: Clarity and Direction in College Applications
In this extended episode, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Brandon Mack, a former Rice University Admissions Director and seasoned Non-Profit Professional. With a wealth of experience in higher education, advocacy, and private consulting, Brandon offers deep...
04.26.2024
#146 - The Return of Test Mandatory
This week, Jennifer shares key insights on the return of test-mandatory for many top-tier universities. We're diving deep into the research that's fueling this shift, exploring if standardized tests truly predict college success, especially for students from diverse backgrounds. We'll...
03.01.2024
#145 - It's Been a Crazy Year: Interview with an Admissions Expert
This week, we're joined by Jennifer Liepin, a seasoned admissions consultant with a passion for educational equity. With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer shares key insights from the recent admissions cycle, highlighting what makes students stand out to top-tier...
01.19.2024
#144 - Does the SAT still matter?
"How optional is optional?" has arguably become one of the most controversial questions in the admissions landscape with regards to standardized testing. However, recent data from MIT and a New York Times article both suggest that there may be some...
01.15.2024
#143 - Crafting a Strategic (and meaningful) Summer Plan
One of the most important parts of this podcast is the opportunity to respond to questions from students and parents. This week, Tyler responds to a student inquiry about seeking out impactful summer opportunities and discerning which options are going...
01.05.2024
#142 - The Truth About AP Exams
Advanced Placement examinations are one of many ways to demonstrate to colleges that you are academically ready for the rigor of their institution. The breadth and flexibility of the AP program means that it absolutely should be considered as part...
12.21.2023
#141 - Crossing the Pond: Interview with a UK Admissions Expert
In this week's episode, Tyler sits down with Oxford alum and UK education specialist, Maggie. Together, they delve deep into the intricacies of UK university admissions, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to secure a place...
12.17.2023
#140 - The Truth About Volunteering
It's the holiday season, which for many means an opportunity to give back. But for college admissions, are a few winter break community service hours going to be enough? In response to a listener question, Tyler spends some time talking...
12.12.2023
#139 - Interview with Dr. Jason Cody Douglass: Yale Young Global Scholars
Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Jason Cody Douglass as we delve into the world of the Yale Young Global Scholars program. Discover what makes this program a game-changer in the realm of summer educational opportunities, unraveling its...
12.01.2023
#138 - Making the Most of Your Winter Break
It's that time of year. Kids are out of school for 2-3 weeks, and all parents seem to see is some combination of video games, hanging out with friends, and screen time. Winter break is certainly a period to take...
11.27.2023
#137 - Things to Know Before Submitting Your UC Applications
The UC application is due in just a few days! There are a lot of key differences between the UC application and the Common App, and with that comes a variety of ways to both make mistakes on and maximize...
11.17.2023
#136 - It's Time to Start Thinking About Summer
There’s no time to waste! Even though it is only November, many competitive summer programs have application deadlines coming up soon. Don’t let a missed deadline be the reason you can’t have a meaningful summer. This week, Tyler talks about...
11.03.2023
#135 - Before and After Hitting 'Submit'
Note: This podcast was recorded on October 31st, 2023. Submissions have begun! If you've already done so, congratulations! You've passed one major milestone! For those of you who are still working away to get that essay just right or fix...
10.20.2023
#134 - How to Play the College Game Part 3: The Truth About Demonstrated Interest
Does it really matter if I open that email? Will joining UCLA's Summer Institute increase my chances of getting in? Do I really have to tour a school to have a chance? Are schools really tracking all of this? There...
10.13.2023
#133 - How to Play the College Game Part 2: Is "Optional" Optional?
The word "optional" is showing up a lot across college applications everywhere. Whether it be test scores, resumes, additional recommenders, or even the supplemental essays themselves, choice (or the illusion of it) is more prominent than ever. What does this...
10.06.2023
#132 - How to Play the College Game Part 1
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about how to best strategize around a college application. The beliefs range from the reasonable - "Test optional can't possibly really mean optional, can it?" - to the extreme - "Should I...
09.29.2023
#131 - Early Action vs. Early Decision: The Rematch
As we get closer to the first round of application deadlines, Tyler takes some time to review the differences between Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and any other terms that may affect your overall college list building and...
09.22.2023
#130 - The New US News College Rankings and What They Mean for You
In the midst of what is already a time filled with stress and indecision, The U.S. News and World Report has decided to release its new college rankings, incorporating a new algorithm that addresses the ongoing criticism it has recently...
09.15.2023
#129 - The Importance of Context: The Additional Information Section
College applications have lots of restrictions. Whether it be word count, number of recommendations, size of your portfolio, or even the length of your school list, there are limits. This means that every opportunity you have to provide additional information...
09.08.2023
#128 - How to Build a Data-Driven College Strategy
Every industry is leaning into the importance of data and analytics to optimize their strategies and decision making. Your college application process is no exception to this. But with all the information out there, how can a student make sure...
09.01.2023
#127 - The New 2023 Supplemental Essays
With all the changes happening in the world of college admissions, and especially the recent Supreme Court Decision, this is a particularly important year to take a look at how college supplemental essays have shifted. This week, Tyler dives into...
08.24.2023
#126 - Interview with TASIS Boarding School Alumna: Discovering Your Purpose
This week, Tyler chats with Elia, a Japanese national and TASIS aluma, now navigating her college journey at Trinity. Dive into her transformative years at The American School In Switzerland, the cultural contrasts she faced, and how those pivotal moments...
08.18.2023
#125 - Interview with Claremont McKenna College: Truth-seeking and Civil Discourse
As viewpoints and opinions become increasingly polarized in a world of social media, few schools have embraced the need for discourse in the way Claremont McKenna has. This week, Tyler sits down with Associate Dean of Admissions Jennifer Hirsch to...
08.11.2023
#124 - Interview with Dartmouth College: Pushing the Boundaries of New Knowledge
In this week's episode, Tyler engages in a long form discussion with Lee Coffin, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Dartmouth College. They delve into the shifting dynamics of the admissions landscape, influenced by...
08.04.2023
#123 - Interview with Hamilton College: The Open Curriculum
This episode was recorded before the Supreme Court ruling on the use of race in college admissions. In this episode, Tyler engages in a thoughtful conversation with Dr. Anna Wise, Associate Dean of Admission and Director of International Recruitment for...
07.28.2023
#122 - Interview with Pomona College: The Importance of Interdisciplinary Exploration
This week, Tyler sits down with Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President & Director of Admissions for Pomona College, to discuss the value of a liberal arts education in a rapidly changing world, and how Pomona College empowers students to explore...
07.21.2023
#121 - The Truth About the Trauma Essay
With colleges still scrambling to decide on their admissions policies after the Supreme Court's decision around affirmative action, one of the elements of the application that has received greater spotlight is the college essay. With many colleges likely to adopt...
07.05.2023
#120 - The Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action
With the recent landmark decision on race-conscious admissions policies, the Supreme Court has forced colleges to quickly re-evaluate their admissions criteria for the upcoming cycle and beyond. This week, Tyler shares his initial reactions to the decision, thoughts implications for...
06.23.2023
#119 - The Truth About Financial Aid
With the ever increasing cost of college tuition, especially for international students, the question of how to even go about affording a college education is more important than ever. This challenge becomes magnified by the myriad and murky processes surrounding...
06.16.2023
#118 - The Truth About "Tier 2" Schools
Even if you're only aiming for the very top tier universities, you're probably approaching your college research the wrong way. While many of these top universities are comfortable with their position and aren't really taking risks in terms of innovation,...
06.09.2023
#117 - Columbia Pulls Rank: The Truth About Engineering Degrees
Some big news to cover this week as Columbia decides to no longer submit data to the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. What does this mean, and how might it affect rankings going forward? After that, Tyler digs...
06.02.2023
#116 - The Truth About Business Degrees
With the world of business increasingly adopting AI and machine learning to drive its decision-making, choosing an undergraduate business degree that is best fit for you is critical. Business programs in particular tend to vary the most among bachelor's degrees...
05.25.2023
#115 - The Truth About College Graduation Requirements
As costs of college continue to rise, greater scrutiny has been placed on the general education requirements of universities. Why am I paying so much money for my child - who knows they want to be a computer scientist -...
05.19.2023
#114 - The Essential Ingredient of Failure
Building on last week's discussion of college application x-factors, Tyler takes some time this week to dive deeper into the essential character building that is inherent in the process of weaving your extracurriculars together. With colleges increasingly looking for mature,...
05.12.2023
#113 - Defining Your College X-Factor
How can you make sure your college application will stand out among thousands of other applicants, especially when your painstakingly and strategically assembled application is only going to get around 8-10 minutes of an admissions officer's time? This week, Tyler...
05.02.2023
#112 - From Tall to Venti: Scaling Up Your College Admissions Strategy
If life is like a box of chocolates, college is like a cup of Starbucks: fully customizable, highly energizing, and a little overpriced. This week, Tyler goes deep into the college menu to offer some tools to explore your college...
04.26.2023
#111 - Finding the Hidden College Gems
When building your college list, it's easy to gravitate towards the biggest names and the highest rankings. But there will always be a difference between the best colleges and the best colleges for you. In this episode, Tyler talks through...
04.20.2023
#110 - On College List Building: Be Intentional
With the majority of colleges reporting their 2022-23 results, it's time to take a look at the data and start planning ahead. This week, Tyler begins by diving into some of the recent acceptance numbers and predicts what this may...
04.18.2023
#109 - UPenn Shifts Its Legacy Policy: What This Means for You
This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki discusses the University of Pennsylvania's recent policy change around legacy admissions and what that means for the admissions landscape for years to come. Join free webinars at www.tokyoacademics.com/events Need help applying to college? Contact us...
04.13.2023
#108 - Common App Prompt 6: What Captivates You?
This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki wraps up his series on the Common Application essay prompts with prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does...
04.07.2023
#107 - Common App Prompt 5: Accomplishments and Personal Growth
This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his series diving into the Common App essay prompts. In this episode, he discusses the essay prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a...
04.05.2023
#106 - Common App Prompt 4: Reflection and Gratitude
This week, Tyler continues his 4-part series on tackling the Common App essay prompts in 2023. This episode focuses on Common App essay prompt #4: "Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or...
03.31.2023
#105 - Common App Prompt 3: Challenging Beliefs and Ideas
This week, college admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his 4-part series on the Common App essays. Tune in as he dives into prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your...
03.29.2023
#104 - Common App Prompt 2: Challenges, Setbacks, and Failures
This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his series on the Common App prompts and discusses #2: Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the...
03.23.2023
#103 - Common App Prompt 1: Background and Identity
This week, Tyler begins the first of a 4-part series delving into the Common App prompts. He discusses common pitfalls, and shares tips and examples that demonstrate the kind of responses colleges are looking for in 2023. Join free webinars...
03.22.2023
#102 - Interview with another Essay Consultant: Good Writing Takes Time
This week, Harry continues his deep dive into the fundamentals of writing effective college essays. He sits down with published poet and expert essay consultant Ryan Dzelzkalns to discuss what makes essays truly stand out, and outlines ways students can...

What's Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Accepted: A College Admissions Podcast episodes:

#151 - Interview with a Hollywood Professional: Tips on Film School Success

#150 - Everything You Need to Know About Direct Admissions

#149 - Interview with a Future University of Michigan Student

#148 - Interview with an Ivy-Educated Admissions Consultant: What Authenticity Truly Means

#147 - Interview with a Former Rice University Admissions Director: Clarity and Direction in College Applications

#146 - The Return of Test Mandatory

#145 - It's Been a Crazy Year: Interview with an Admissions Expert

#144 - Does the SAT still matter?

#143 - Crafting a Strategic (and meaningful) Summer Plan

#142 - The Truth About AP Exams

#141 - Crossing the Pond: Interview with a UK Admissions Expert

#140 - The Truth About Volunteering

#139 - Interview with Dr. Jason Cody Douglass: Yale Young Global Scholars

#138 - Making the Most of Your Winter Break

#137 - Things to Know Before Submitting Your UC Applications

#136 - It's Time to Start Thinking About Summer

#135 - Before and After Hitting 'Submit'

#134 - How to Play the College Game Part 3: The Truth About Demonstrated Interest

#133 - How to Play the College Game Part 2: Is "Optional" Optional?

#132 - How to Play the College Game Part 1

#131 - Early Action vs. Early Decision: The Rematch

#130 - The New US News College Rankings and What They Mean for You

#129 - The Importance of Context: The Additional Information Section

#128 - How to Build a Data-Driven College Strategy

#127 - The New 2023 Supplemental Essays

#126 - Interview with TASIS Boarding School Alumna: Discovering Your Purpose

#125 - Interview with Claremont McKenna College: Truth-seeking and Civil Discourse

#124 - Interview with Dartmouth College: Pushing the Boundaries of New Knowledge

#123 - Interview with Hamilton College: The Open Curriculum

#122 - Interview with Pomona College: The Importance of Interdisciplinary Exploration

#121 - The Truth About the Trauma Essay

#120 - The Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action

#119 - The Truth About Financial Aid

#118 - The Truth About "Tier 2" Schools

#117 - Columbia Pulls Rank: The Truth About Engineering Degrees

#116 - The Truth About Business Degrees

#115 - The Truth About College Graduation Requirements

#114 - The Essential Ingredient of Failure

#113 - Defining Your College X-Factor

#112 - From Tall to Venti: Scaling Up Your College Admissions Strategy

#111 - Finding the Hidden College Gems

#110 - On College List Building: Be Intentional

#109 - UPenn Shifts Its Legacy Policy: What This Means for You

#108 - Common App Prompt 6: What Captivates You?

#107 - Common App Prompt 5: Accomplishments and Personal Growth

#106 - Common App Prompt 4: Reflection and Gratitude

#105 - Common App Prompt 3: Challenging Beliefs and Ideas

#104 - Common App Prompt 2: Challenges, Setbacks, and Failures

#103 - Common App Prompt 1: Background and Identity

#102 - Interview with another Essay Consultant: Good Writing Takes Time

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