What does it actually feel like to go through the college admissions process, choose your school, and thrive once you get there? We brought in someone who lived it — and she is absolutely brilliant.

This week, we sat down with Mercedes Patrick, a first-year student at Davidson College — yes, that Davidson, where Steph Curry put it on the map. 🏀

And let us tell you Mercedes is the real deal.

Coming from a low-income background in Florida, she approached the college search with wisdom well beyond her years: prioritizing affordability, academic rigor, and community. She applied to Spelman, Howard, Tufts, Swarthmore, Furman, and Davidson — and ultimately chose Davidson after visiting campus and receiving a handwritten note from her admissions officer telling her exactly why she belonged there. That's the kind of student Mercedes is: the kind people go out of their way for.

She shares what it's like to be pushed and developed at a small, connected liberal arts school. She gets candid about being a student of color navigating PWIs vs. HBCUs. And her closing advice for rising seniors? A genuine mic drop moment about embracing your uniqueness because no one else is you.

Her voice is warm, thoughtful, and grounded. You will want your student to hear this episode.

📢 Rising Seniors — this is your reminder:

The summer will fly by. Now is the time to be working on your essays. Your story is distinctive, authentic, and powerful — but it takes time and preparation to tell it well. That means your personal statement, your supplementals, and knowing what makes you you on the page.

The resource you need right now: 📖 Powerful College Admission Essays: A Guide to Telling Your Story — pick up your copy and get to work. The students who start now are the ones who stand out later.

🎓 Davidson — small campus, hands-on faculty, no loan-based financial aid, and students like Mercedes. That's the story.

Subscribe, share, and help us get this to every family navigating the process. 70+ episodes of great (not just good) information — and this one is one of our best.

🔗 Follow us: @ApplicationtoAdmissionPodcast on Instagram🌐 understandthechoices.org

#CollegeAdmissions #ApplicationToAdmission #DavidsonCollege #LiberalArtsCollege #CollegeEssays #RisingSeniors #FirstGeneration #BlackFamilies #CollegePlanning #PodcastAlert #PowerfulCollegeAdmissionEssays

In this episode, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen seven books, over a million copies in print, and a speaker who has visited more than 400 college campuses. You've seen him on The Today Show, The Washington Post, and all over TikTok. In our world, he's a rock star.

And in this episode, he brings the framework that changes everything.

Harlan breaks down his SEPFAP model the six major transitions every student must navigate to truly thrive in college: Social, Emotional, Physical, Financial, Academic, and Professional. Most families pour their energy into getting accepted. Harlan's life work is about what happens next.

The biggest mistake? Focusing on school rankings and statistics instead of asking what do I actually want, and which of these six areas matters most to my family right now?

Harlan's passion for students is undeniable. He's so deep in the trenches helping people that, as he laughs, he barely has time to come up for air. Whether he's on a college campus doing walk-and-talks with random students or writing his next book on the college-to-career transition, this man is relentlessly committed to making sure young people are set up to succeed not just to get in.

We also dig into his updated 7th edition of The Naked Roommate and his powerful new initiative at bestfirstyear.com.

And yes Shereem boldly predicted the Knicks championship before this episode dropped, and he is absolutely glowing. 🏀🗽

🎧 Listen now. Link in comments.

In this powerful episode of Applicaiton to Admission,we sit down with Dr. William R. Brody physician-scientist, entrepreneur, president emeritus of Johns Hopkins University, and coauthor alongside Mike Field of Uncommon Sense: Rethinking Ordinary Problems in Extraordinary Ways.Drawing from decades of experience in medicine, leadership, business, and higher education, Dr. Brody explores the uncomfortable but important truth that academic success alone does not prepare students for the complexity of reallife.

Born from his seminar for graduating Johns Hopkins seniors, Uncommon Sense examines what students and families truly need beyond grades and credentials: judgment, adaptability, curiosity, ethical clarity, and the ability to recognize opportunity. In this conversation, we discuss why intelligence is only one part of success, why career planning can sometimes be misleading, and why wise decision-making matters so much in a world without easy answers. Forfamilies navigating the college admission process, this episode is a timely reminder that getting in is not the same as being prepared, and that true success is bigger than prestige.

Along the way, we also hear the story of a remarkable leader inspired by visionary leadership at organizations like Bose and Lockheed Martin, while highlighting the greatness of institutions that are too often overlooked, including PurdueUniversity, University of Rhode Island, Ball State University, City College of New York, Grinnell College, and many others. 

We hope you enjoy this thoughtful and inspiring conversation and leave reminded that leadership, growth, and success are often built in places and through experiences that the world does not always celebrate loudly enough.

What if the most important college decision isn’t the campus you pick, but whether the price you pay sets your student up for success?

In this practical, must-listen episode of Application to Admission, Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy L. Fields sit down with Miranda McCall, Associate Vice Provost & Director Financial Support, Duke University and national financial aid expert. Miranda whose own college access story drives her work walks listeners through how to read aid offers, distinguish sticker price from true out‑of‑pocket cost, and spot the hidden expenses that derail even well-intentioned plans.

Key topics:

• Build cost vs. net price: turn aid letters into real out‑of‑pocket comparisons
• Hidden costs, outside scholarships, and multi‑year aid expectations
• Loan guidance: federal student loan limits, Parent PLUS basics, private lenders, and why to avoid income‑share agreements
• FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: when each matters and how to complete them
• Practical advice for single‑parent households, business owners, and students on waitlists

Miranda reframes financial fit as a long‑term decision—one that affects academic choices, career flexibility, and family wellbeing. Essential listening for families, counselors, and students deciding where “yes” will truly lead.

🎧 Tune in for clear, actionable steps to prioritize price over prestige and protect your family’s financial future.

Check out this special edition of the Application Admission podcast as we break down what to do next after your admissions decision.

 Whether you’ve been admitted, waitlisted, or denied, we’ll walk you through your nextsteps.

Tune in to move forward with clarity and confidence.

What if the most significant threats to college success aren’t academic at all, but emotional, cultural, and psychological?

In this timely and deeply insightful episode of Application to Admission, we are joined by Dr. Veronica Carey, Assistant Dean for Culture, Climate, and Belonging at Drexel University, scholar, international lecturer, and author of FrameYour Degree: How to Avoid Pain while Seeking a College Degree.

Drawing on more than two decades of work in higher education and student development, Dr. Carey offers a rare, research-driven look at the unseen challenges that shape students’ college trajectories long before grades,majors, or career outcomes are decided.

At the center of the conversation is Dr. Carey’s 10 Universal Academic Pain Points framework, a powerful lens for understanding why capable students oftenstruggle academically, emotionally, or socially, even at institutions that appear supportive on the surface. These pain points, which include imposter syndrome, mental health strain, boundary-setting, and self-advocacy, emerge notas personal failures, but as predictable moments where institutions, families, and students often lack shared language or preparation.

This episode invites parents, counselors, and educators to think differently about college readiness. Rather than asking only whether a student can get into college, Dr. Carey challenges us to ask whether students are prepared to remain well, to belong, and to navigate the hidden curriculum of higher education once they arrive.

With insights shaped by global teaching experiences, institutional leadership, and her widely viewed TEDx talk, “Pain, Pain Go Away!”, Dr. Carey reframes student struggle as data, not deficiency, and offers a more humane, strategic vision of what it means to support students before and during college.

🎧 This episode is essential listening for anyone invested in student success, mental health, and the long-term impact of higher education on young people and their families.

In this episode, we will focus on how parents can effectively support their students during this challenging and sometimes overwhelming period, especially between Early Decision results and Regular Decision deadlines. We’ll delve into key areas such as:

1. Celebrating Wins: It's important to recognize and celebrate any acceptances, even if they aren't the "dream" schools.

2. Navigating Deferrals and Denials: We’ll discuss what it means if your child is deferred or denied and the steps to take next, including reassessing applications and lists.

3. Setting Healthy Boundaries: With the holidays come questions from family and friends about college applications. We’ll share tips on how to manage those conversations and protect your child's mental health.

4. Reassessing Fit: Understanding what constitutes a good fit for your child, including considering cost, location, majors, and overall environment.

5. Managing Deadlines: We’ll emphasize the importance of staying organized and meeting all application deadlines while navigating these changes.

6. Updating Applications: Learn about the opportunities to enhance applications with updated information, essays, and activities.

Remember, the goal is to keep students and their well-being at the center of this process. Tune in as we empower your family with the insights needed to navigate the world of college admissions successfully!

In this unforgettable episode of Application to Admission, we sit down with Alicia Oglesby Associate Director of College Counseling at Winchester Thurston School, licensed counselor, equity advocate, Howard University alumna, and co-author of Interrupting Racism: Equity and Social Justice in School Counseling. Alicia brings experience, wisdom, and a sharp pen, all wrapped in Philly pride.

This conversation dives deep into what it means to champion equity in education, mentor communities, and navigate college counseling with heart and honesty. Expect laughter, realness, and insights that will challenge and inspire.

There are guests who bring experience. Some bring wisdom. And then there’s Alicia Oglesby—who brings all that plus a full heart and enough Philly pride to last three lifetimes.

In this episode, Alicia shares:

• How her Howard University experience shapes her work in independent schools.
• Why she calls herself a legacy educator and what that means.
• Real strategies for building belonging and pushing past performative DEI.
• Why families—especially from historically excluded backgrounds—need to start early in the college process.
• And what it’s like being a mom preparing for her own child’s college journey.

This episode is for counselors, parents, students, and educators who believe college access isn’t neutral—and want to make it just.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and share this with your counselor group chat.

📚 Learn more about Alicia’s work in Interrupting Racism and connect with her at Winchester Thurston School.

🐐 Howard University raised her right. Go Bison!

Let’s Bust a Myth: College Isn’t a One-Way Ticket

College is a journey and sometimes the smartest move you can make is to transfer.

In this energizing episode, we sit down with Jaime Smith, founder of https://transfersavvy.com, Certified Educational Planner, longtime educator, and one of the nation’s leading voices on transfer admissions done right. With 25 years in education, two master’s degrees, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Transfer Leadership, Jaime brings unmatched insight into using transfer as a strategy for growth, opportunity, and a better college fit.

This isn’t about fixing a mistake. It’s about owning your journey, skipping the hyper-competitive first-year applicant pool, and leveling up on your terms.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why starting at one school and finishing at another is becoming a power move—not a problem
• How families can use transfer to bypass the most competitive first-year admissions cycles
• What most people don’t understand about community college pathways and why they often lead to surprising success
• The biggest missteps and misconceptions students have about transferring
• How Jaime supports neurodiverse, homeschooled, and nontraditional students with personalized, practical advice
• What families should start doing NOW even if their student is in 9th or 10th grade to keep the transfer option open

Whether your teen feels stuck, undecided, or just wants smarter ways to approach college this episode is a must-listen.

Jaime reminds us: It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. Sometimes, your best college experience doesn’t come through the front door.

🎧 Listen now, share with your network, and stay Transfer Savvy.
🔗 Learn more about Jaime’s work: https://transfersavvy.com
🎙 Subscribe to Application to Admission for expert guidance with heart, humor, and the facts you really need.

Some people support your work from afar. Charlain Bailey has supported us from the front row.

As a veteran school counselor and founder of Going-To-College.com (https://www.going-to-college.com),

Charlain has dedicated her life to helping students especially first-generation and underrepresented students understand how to navigate the often confusing and unequal college admissions process.

She’s spent nearly two decades doing the work in schools. Now, through her business, she’s stepping beyond the counseling office to support families directly—withculturally informed, accessible, and personalized college planning guidance.

And let’s be clear—Charlain doesn’t just talk about support. She lives it. She was one of the very first people to buy The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions—owning both editions and the audiobook—and even invited us to present the book to her community. She understands that getting this information into more hands is a collective responsibility.

🎯 In this episode, we cover:

    •    What most families don’t realize about the real workload of school counselors

    •    Why college planning has to start before senior year

    •    The inspiration behind Going-To-College.com, and how it’s helping families create action plans early

    •    How Charlain infuses faith, structure, and cultural insight into her advising

    •    Practical steps families can take to build a balanced college list

    •    Why she continues to support our mission and align with our message: cost, location, major, and career — in that order

🔥 So… we have to ask:

 What are YOU doing to get this good information?

Because it’s out here. Charlain has it. We have it. Thequestion is—are you ready to use it to change the trajectory of your family’s future?

🎧 Listen, share, and take notes. This episode is packed with real talk and real tools.

🔗 Learn more about Charlain’s work at: https://www.going-to-college.com

📚 Get The Black Family’s Guide toCollege Admissions (print or audio):

Strategic Admissions Advice (https://www.strategicadmissionsadvice.com/theblackfamilysguide)

🎙 Subscribe to Application to Admissionfor weekly insights and conversations with the people doing the work.