As more teens prepare to go to college this summer, the importance of what qualities students should develop in high school so that they can thrive in college is ever important. Join Mark and Anna as they speak with Carol Ben-Davies from College Bound Determination as she shares her decades of experience working with students at top universities on the recommendations she has to help students thrive. From self-advocacy to resilience, Carol shares the most important qualities a student can develop when preparing for college and resources that students should take advantage of. 

Carol is the founder of College Bound Determination, where she helps parents prepare their kids not just for college admissions, but for real college success—academically, socially, emotionally and personally. With over 20 years of experience at top universities, Carol has worn many hats—from admissions to student leadership and advocacy—guiding countless students and parents through the highs and lows of college life while working to empower students of all backgrounds with the resources and support they need to thrive.  She’s a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Oh, and she literally wrote the book on paying for college—she’s the co-author of You Can Go to College for Free! Carol holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and Loyola University Chicago, and she’s here today to share her insights on setting students up for success in college and beyond. Learn more about Carol at https://carolbendavies.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Lynne Peeples, a distinguished science journalist and author of "THE INNER CLOCK," to delve into the fascinating world of circadian rhythms and sleep. Lynne shares her journey of writing the book, emphasizing the importance of understanding our internal clocks.

Lynne discusses optimal sleep and wake times, cultural differences in sleep practices, and common misconceptions about sleep, such as the fallacy of catch-up sleep. The episode also addresses the impact of modern lifestyles on sleep, particularly for students. Lynne provides insights into the effects of cramming, the benefits and drawbacks of naps, and the consequences of all-nighters. She offers practical advice for students and college freshmen on prioritizing sleep amidst hectic schedules.

Finally, Lynne shares actionable tips for optimizing sleep and maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their sleep health. Tune in to learn how to optimize your sleep for productivity and well-being. Learn more about Lynne and her book at lynnpeeples.com

It's college application season! Building of school lists is into the final push for November 1st - Early Action/Decision. As students/families look for schools to apply to, there are some general but very important guiding questions to consider:

What IS a GOOD school? What is a GOOD school….for YOU?

Join Mark and Anna as they discuss factors to consider and how to identify which schools should make the final cut on your college list. 

While there are many consistent challenges and affirmations that teens have historically encountered during their first year of college, some major cultural/social/academic shifts have occurred in the last five years to disrupt those traditional challenges. Join Mark and Anna as they check in with current students transitioning to college after COVID about what it's like to navigate and experience a college campus as a freshman in 2024. Our freshman guests include students from Duke, Georgetown, Princeton, and University of Washington-Seattle as they share their biggest lessons from life as a freshman.

Join Mark and Anna as they talk with Daniel Curell as they get the inside school on how much college actually costs and tips for how families can try to better afford college. Dan Currell was Deputy Under Secretary of Education in the U.S. Department of Education from 2018 to 2021.  He has published on various aspects of higher education public policy, including a recent article in the journal National Affairs titled The Truth About College Costs.  Dan and his wife are happy empty-nesters with two children currently in college.

With more students interested in pursuing fields in STEM, Mark and Anna invited Sydney Trahan of Worcester Polytechnic Institute or more commonly known as WPI to join us in discussing what's unique about a technical school and more specifically, WPI. Known for their project-based curriculum and test-blind admissions process, Sydney shares what they really look for in applicants and what type of students thrive at WPI in this episode.

Learn more about WPI at www.wpi.edu or contact Sydney directly at [email protected]. 

Why is a liberal arts college education valuable, especially in an increasing AI dominated world? What's admissions like at a liberal arts college? Join Mark and Anna as they chat with Courtney Stricklin Burgan of Occidental College. Courtney is the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Admission at Occidental College, which happens to also be her undergraduate alma mater. Courtney has worked in higher education for 19 years and has been back at Oxy for more than half of that time, holding positions in both career services and admission.

The December 2023 SAT will be the last paper exam from the CollegeBoard as they shift to digital SATs in 2024. With such a big shift, Mark and Anna decide to sit down with Matty of Compass Education Group to help get the questions on parents and students' minds answered. From what to expect on the new digital format to whether or not super-scoring will be allowed between paper and digital tests, Mark, Anna, and Matty have you covered!

Matty is a Senior Director at Compass Education Group, a provider of one-on-one test preparation and academic tutoring that works with thousands of students nationwide. Prior to joining Compass, Matty obtained their MA from the University of Chicago and a BA from UC Santa Cruz. They have over fifteen years of experience in the testing industry and are regularly invited by counselors and admission professionals to explain the latest updates to the testing landscape. Each year, Matty and their colleagues speak at over 300 high schools and professional organizations.

When students are asked where they want to college, many of them will list a college based on rank or brand - because that's what they are exposed to. While rankings can be a good way to start the college search, a top-ranked school doesn't necessarily equate to a successful college experience or future. After all, US News and World Report rankings were created to sell magazines. Join Mark and Anna as they chat about rank, brands and society's obsession with elite schools and how families can craft a better list for college. 

With ChatGPT being used across different corners of the internet, its not surprising to hear that it is also shaking up the college admissions landscape. Whether its new essay prompts, no essay prompts, or a switch from written prompts, college admissions teams across the country are exploring new ways to get to know applicants authentically. Join Mark and Anna as they speak to Mark Cruver of Capstone Educational Consultants as they discuss the implications of AI in college admissions, including the challenges and potential benefits for all. 

More about Mark Cruver:

Referred to by many as The AI Navigator at AIfortheIEC.com, Mark’s journey has been anything but artificial.  When Mark isn’t working with students and supporting parents as the founder of Capstone Educational Consultants, he’s teaching others how to unleash the power of AI on their business branding messaging, social media content, marketing campaigns, and more. Along with his distinguished credentials as an Independent Educational Consultant, Mark has written articles on AI in Education for the GenAI Newsletter, become Jasper Certified, earned a certificate in AI in Business mirrored from UC Berkley’s AI in Business course, and author of HELP! My Teen Isn’t On Track To College:  10 Tips for Parents on the College Admissions Process