College App 101

College App 101 helps college bound students achieve academic success in high school and produce compelling, competitive college applications as a senior. To inspire students, Dr. Riley regularly hosts current and former students from his career in academic advising. Today's episode features an interview between Dr. Riley and a graduate from the class of 2024. They discuss several topics, including take aways from the last college admissions cycle, tips on achieving an outstanding academic record in high school, the student-parent relationship, and more. 

When a college bound high school student knows her gifts and talents, she chooses a college major and career path on the basis of her gifts. Doing so leads to a more satisfying, fulfilling, and fun experience in college and career. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical stories and anecdotes to explain the importance of understanding gifts and talents for college and career. This episode also explains a College App 101 service called the Career Planning Session, which is designed to help students and their families understand a student's (1) career aptitude and (2) educational opportunities associated with that aptitude.

To achieve academic success and submit excellent college apps, every college bound student should cultivate mental strength. It enables a student to write well, deal with demanding teachers, sit through boring tests, and more. Unfortunately, many habits, often within the entertainment domain, undermine a student's mental strength. In this episode, which is the second and final part of a two-part series, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical anecdotes and stories to explain the importance of mental strength.

College admissions offices do all they can to ensure their freshman classes transition seamlessly from high school senior year to college freshman year. Yet, each spring, college bound high school seniors and their families drop a ball or two. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical anecdotes and illustrations to explain a number of steps college bound seniors need to take, while saluting the high school class of 2024.

Mental strength is an attribute that every college bound student should cultivate. It enables a student to avoid distractions, focus on school work, sit through multi-hour tests, and more. Unfortunately, many habits, common to high school students, undermine a student's mental strength. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical anecdotes and stories to explain the importance of mental strength.

The admissions essay is an opportunity for a college bound high school student to explain a personal virtue or attribute: generosity, grit, affability, work ethic. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his characteristic anecdotes and stories to explain the importance of personal commitment in college admissions.

Many college applications require applicants to select an intended college major like Engineering, Business, or Biology. Ideally, applicants have discussed potential majors with others well before applying to college during senior year fall semester. How does a student explore college majors during freshman through junior years? With his usual anecdotes and stories, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) shares several tips on choosing a college major.

Every high school semester is important. Spring semester junior year has special importance for creating a college list and looking ahead to applying to college later in the year. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical anecdotes and stories to illustrate this topic.

There is appeal to choosing a college major that will lead to a lucrative career. Indeed, life is expensive. This holiday episode of College App 101 takes up this and related topics. With his typical anecdotes and illustrations, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) addresses the benefits of getting rich.

When students apply to college, they need to impress the admissions committee at their prospective college. Admissions counselors constitute this committee. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) interviews a college admissions counselor. The topics of the discussion include the specific academic characteristics that college admission recruiters seek, habits college bound high school students should form today for better college apps tomorrow, and more.