Application to Admission

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.

What if your student’s love of the game could lead tomore than just a win on the scoreboard? What if it could open the door to college, mentorship, mental wellness, and long-term success?

In this episode of Application to Admission, we sit down with Dr. Enzley Mitchell IV, founder of PrepSearch(https://prepsearch.net), seasoned NAIA and NCAA coach, and lifelong educator, to break down what athletic recruitingreally looks like today, how families can leverage sports strategically, and why being a college athlete is about way more than a scholarship. 

Dr. Mitchell’s experience spans nearly every level of college athletics—from Division I basketball to athletic director roles at HBCUs and small liberal arts colleges. He’s helped build championship teams and first-generation college success stories. Today, he’s on a mission to help families navigate theconfusing college athletics landscape through his groundbreaking PrepSearch College Success Seminar.

🏀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    •    The myths and mistakes families make during athletic recruitment

    •    Why waiting until junior year is too late to build your college-athlete plan

    •    How to prioritize cost, location, major, and career even in athleticdecision-making

    •    Why NAIA and D3 schools are often overlooked gems for student-athletes

    •    The mental health benefits of sports and why athletic identity helps studentsthrive

    •    What makes a program “transfer-safe,” “coach-connected,” and worth your trust

    •    And how faith, structure, and mentorship form the foundation of Dr. Mitchell’s advising philosophy

🎯 If your student is in grades 8–12 and loves their sport, this episode is a must-listen. Athletic recruiting is changing fast—and the families who win are the ones who plan with purpose.

🔗 Links + Resources:

    •    Learn more about PrepSearch and Dr. Mitchell’s programs: https://prepsearch.net

    •    Subscribe to the Application to Admission podcast for more insights on college admissions, storytelling, and access

We’re kicking off Season 3 with the wisdom and warmth of The Scholarship Mama herself, Laverne Mickens. This episode is not just a conversation, it’s a masterclass inturning hustle, heart, and strategy into real college money.

Laverne is the proud mom of five, and together her children have earned over $3 million in scholarships. But her story is much bigger than the money. It’s about building confidence, advocating boldly, and helping families—especially Blackand Brown families—understand how to access the opportunities they deserve.

I this episode, we get into:

    •    How Laverne became a trusted national voice on scholarships

    •    Her personal playbook for winning big with essays, local awards, and free resources

    •    Why mindset, self-advocacy, and family engagement matter

    •    The myths that stop students from applying and how to fix that

    •    How to start even if you feel behind

With the cost of college higher than ever and admissions more chaotic than ever, we need voices like Laverne’s. Parents are stressed, teens are confused, anddeadlines are coming fast. This episode reminds us that strategy and hope can—and must—coexist.

🟢Listen now, subscribe, and share it with a parent who wants to win this year!

This week, we feature Julianna Mokaya, a Chicago native and first-year Princeton student, shares her experiences navigating the application process, choosing a college, andadjusting to campus life. She talks about the importance of researching schools, leveraging resources, and being intentional about her college choices—highlighting her focus on affordability, campus vibe, and academic interests.

Juliana also offers valuable advice for students preparing to transition to college: start exploring your classes early, stay open-minded, and make the most of your summer before college begins.

Parents and educators, don’t miss her insights on supporting students, the significance of parental involvement, and how to help students craft impactful essays.

 Subscribe, share, and tune in for inspiration and practical tips on thriving during college admissions and beyond!

Join us for a captivating and fun episode of the Application to Admission podcast, featuring college counselor China Hutchins, Senior Associate Director College Counseling · Ransom Everglades School. Together, we dive deep into the pivotal junior year, highlighting crucial summer opportunities and unpacking the changing landscape of standardized testing.

China shares targeted, actionable insights specifically aimed at supporting underrepresented families, emphasizing the power of proactive planning, the importance of exploring diverse college options, and how to make the most of virtual campus visits.

This dynamic conversation reveals if and why independent consultants sometimes play an essential role in navigating college admissions, and why parents who stay engaged are crucial for long-term success.

Students, parents, and counselors alike will come away empowered with practical strategies to confidently tackle their college admissions journey.

College creates experiences that can last a lifetime,both positively and negatively. In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we're truly honored to talk with sisters, activists, and the co-founders of A Long Walk Home, Salamishah and Scheherazade Tillet. They bravely share how they transformed a life-changing experience into a powerful narrative of sisterhood, healing, and activism, built on their groundbreaking work supporting survivors of sexual and racial violence.

We delve into how their own college journeys shapedtheir paths, influenced their roles as educators and advocates, and ignited their passion for empowering young women and girls. Their stories remind us of the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of creating supportive spaces for healing.

Join us in celebrating their visionary leadership,artistic bravery, and unwavering commitment to social justice. Together, we'll discover how A Long Walk Home continues to foster healing spaces and transformative opportunities for girls and communities across the nation. Their work serves as a testament to resilience and the profound impact of compassionate activism.

Parents, if you’ve ever felt lost in the college admissions process, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! We’re sitting down with Rhona Vega, the powerhouse behind Parent Matterz, an organization that’s changing the game for families navigating college prep.

Rhona is a dedicated advocate, mentor, and event curator, hosting impactful workshops and networking experiences across the country—from New Jersey to Martha’s Vineyard—helping parents and students understand the ever-changing world of higher education. Whether it’s financial aid, test prep, scholarships, or building the right college list, Parent Matterz provides real, actionable strategies to make sure families are informed, empowered, and READY.

If you’re a parent trying to help your child get into the right school without stress and confusion, Rhona Vega and Parent Matterz have the blueprint. Tune in now for expert insights and straight talk about what families need to know in 2025! 🎧✨

In this episode, we dive into the intersection of education marketing, data analytics, and admissions strategy with José Mallabo, Marketing expert and a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience spanning Fortune 200 companies, tech startups, and higher education.

 José brings his expertise from leadership roles at institutions like Morehouse College and SCAD, where he reshaped marketing and admissions strategies, and

 Together, we explore:

 How data analytics is transforming college admissions and recruitment. The role of storytelling in creating compelling educational marketing campaigns.

Insights into how HBCUs and selective colleges can leverage marketing to stand out in a competitive landscape.

Practical advice for educators, administrators, and parents on navigating today’s admissions environment.

Whether you’re a parent, an education leader, or just fascinated by the evolution of marketing in higher ed, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration.

Tune in for a dynamic conversation that bridges the worlds of tech innovation and transformative education.

In this thought-provoking episode of Application to Admission, we dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the college admissions process with

Emily shares insights into how AI tools are revolutionizing student support, from personalized essay feedback to college list generation, while addressing the ethical considerations that come with these advancements. Together, we explore the implications of AI for underrepresented students, how families can responsibly use these tools, and what admissions offices need to understand about the growing presence of AI in applications.

Tune in to learn:

This is an essential conversation for anyone invested in the future of college admissions, equity, and the responsible use of AI in education. Don’t miss this insightful interview with Emily Pacheco, a leader at the forefront of this technological revolution.