Srinath Rangan, co-founder of AchievED, discusses his first couple weeks as a college student at UC Berkeley. Srinath is attending college remotely this term. He gives the team valuable insight on college academics, student life, and clubs. Tune into this special episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Adyant Shankar. Plus, the latest college headlines of the week: a judge rules the UC school system can no longer use SAT and ACT scores in admissions, Common App has a new pandemic section, and COVID-19 continues to impact college students.

A Washington Post article published October last year details how college admissions officers track prospective students before they even apply to the school. Through hidden data tracking, cookies, and predictive modeling on college websites, consulting companies hired by colleges can determine which students are most likely to actually attend or apply to their college. While this allows colleges to target students more effectively, there are concerning implications for data privacy. The AchievED team debates this issue in our latest episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Srinath Rangan. Plus, the latest college headlines of the week: schools continue to be impacted by the pandemic, and students are wondering if the high cost of tuition is worth it.

"Student tracking, secret scores: How college admissions offices rank prospects before they apply," Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/14/colleges-quietly-rank-prospective-students-based-their-personal-data/

Many colleges in the United States utilize the Common Application, which provides a streamlined college application experience for students and teachers. On one hand, Common App indeed simplifies the college application process, perhaps encouraging more students to pursue college. On the other hand, Common App may push students to apply to as many colleges as possible. In the end, do the benefits of Common App or Coalition App outweigh the downsides? The AchievED team unpacks it all in this latest episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Timothy Yang. Plus, the latest college headlines of the week: many colleges are under fire for not cutting tuition costs, schools are closing, and Yale puts out an interesting statement about campus life this year.

Many students dream of attending the most prestigious colleges in the country, including schools in the Ivy League. But does a college's prestige really matter? The AchievED team mulls over whether prestige matters to success in this jam-packed episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Jeffrey Lam. Plus, the latest college headlines of the week: Yale is accused of discriminating against white and Asian-American applicants, a bunch of colleges modify their fall plans, and the August SAT registration deadline is coming up.

Today, high school students are often pressured by teachers, counselors, and parents to go to college. Proponents of college education claim that attending college unlocks new opportunities and allows students to discover new passions. However, critics remain skeptical, arguing that college may not be for everyone. The AchievED team debates whether everyone should go to college in this heated yet fun episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Adyant Shankar.

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Each year, a variety of organizations provide college rankings, both in terms of overall reputation and specific programs of study. But should students pay attention to these rankings? Do the rankings provide accurate representations of colleges? What value do rankings have in the college admissions process? The AchievED team talks it through in this packed episode of AchievED Audio, hosted by Srinath Rangan.