College Matters. Alma Matters.

International students typically apply to colleges and universities in 2-3 destination countries - each with their unique requirements and process.  This results in a lot of separate series of steps across portals, not just for the students, but for the entire ecosystem of counselors, teachers, recommenders and schools.

Cialfo has a solution: Direct Apply - a one-stop application for international applicants.

Rohan Pasari is the Co-founder and CEO of Cialfo, a Global Ed-Tech company in Singapore.

Rohan joins us on our podcast to tell us What Direct Apply is, Feature Highlights, Benefits for Int’l Students, Counselors and Schools, and Why even Colleges and Universities like it.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Rohan Pasari is the Co-founder and CEO of Cialfo. Rohan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Economics from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Cialfo currently supports over 300,000 students on its “common application” platform.

Memorable Quote: “And that [Direct Apply] allows students to make well informed decisions, which is in their best interest. And, you know, getting unbiased information on the application process, and what it takes to actually get into these universities, is really important.” Rohan Pasari.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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In 1977, Oakland University Honors College opened its doors. Prof. Graeme Harper joined as the Dean of the Honors College in 2011. At the time there were around 400 students.

Today, it has grown to over 2000 students across majors.

In this podcast, Dean Harper tells us, What is an Honors College?, It's Origins, Introduces Oakland University Honors College, Its Distinctive Programs, What they look for in their Students, Merit Scholarships and Career Opportunities.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Professor Graeme Harper is the Dean of the Oakland University Honors College, Rochester, Michigan. Dean Harper received the Bachelor of Arts degrees in History, English, Economic History from the University of Sydney. He then earned her Master of Letters from the University of New England (AU), PhD in Creative Arts from University of Technology Sydney. Dean Harper also received a PhD in from the School of English and American Studies from the University of East Anglia (UK).

Memorable Quote: “ There's quite a strong focus here [Honors College] on doing a project and doing some senior work with mentorship. And there's quite a strong emphasis on collaboration and working with the different faculty and so forth across campus.” Dean Graeme Harper.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.

Resources referred to in this episode:

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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Kevin fell in love with Physics in High School. Space intrigued him to the extent that he entertained thoughts of being an astronaut. But above all, he loved teaching.  So, when time came for college, Kevin looked for schools that would help him be a High School Physics Teacher.

Today, he is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

Kevin  joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey, his UG Research in Physics at Truman State University, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Road to Internal Medicine, and his Advice for high schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Kevin Haworth is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Kevin is a graduate of Truman State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. He is the recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. He received his Masters and Doctorate in Applied Physics from the University of Michigan. Subsequently he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cincinnati.

Memorable Quote: “..Sometimes I think maybe the reviewer had misread my application, or had it mixed up with somebody else.” Kevin Haworth on winning the Goldwater Scholarship.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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As undergraduate students at Radford University in Virginia, Jenny Davis and James Chouinard found themselves doing community-based research at the Women’s Resource Center. They were excited and enthusiastic about the research and in doing so learned the research process.

Today Drs. Davis and Chouinard are with the School of Sociology at ANU and nurturing Faculty Mentors.

Drs. Davis & Chouinard join us on our podcast to talk about their UG Research at Radford University, Impact of UG Research, Pursuit of Graduate work, Experiences as Faculty Mentors, and finally the Advice for high schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with them:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Dr. Jenny Davis is a Sociologist and Sr. Lecturer in the School of Sociology at the Australian National University in Canberra Australia. Dr. Davis received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Radford University in Virginia and PhD from Texas A&M University.

Dr. James Chouinard is a Lecturer in the School of Sociology at the Australian National University in Canberra Australia. Dr. Chouinard received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Radford University in Virginia and PhD from Texas A&M University.

Memorable Quote: “ The research process is so messy, and it's really hard. And you have to sort of trust in yourself that you can do hard things, you have to trust in your faculty mentors, that they'll guide you through those, those hard things. ” Dr. Jenny Davis.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Almost half the college applicants cite college cost as a huge factor in college selection. 

In this Podcast, Ben Stern of IvyAchievement shares his expertise in Factoring Finances while Building College Lists, Figuring out College ROI, and the Impact of Applying for Financial Aid on Admissions.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests:

Memorable Quote: “It's absolutely pay to play. The more money you have, the better you'll do with the admissions process.” Ben Stern.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Sophia’s immediate family members have a neurological condition which motivated her to want to go to Medical School. When time came for college, Sophia decided to go to Pasadena City College for financial reasons.

Sophia joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey, UG Research at Pasadena City College and UC San Diego, About winning the Goldwater Scholarship, and her advice for high schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Sophia Barber is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology at University of California San Diego. Sophia received the Associates degree in Biology from Pasadena City College. Sophia received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2021.

Memorable Quote: “And so I think it's important when you're going to [a] lab to realize that you have just as much right to be there as everybody else. And that regardless of you know, you're going to make mistakes when you go in. And that's not a reflection on your person, your personal character or your abilities and lab because everybody makes mistakes. Yeah. And just, you know, enjoy the experience and work hard and it will pay off.”  Sophia Barber.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Prof. Vargis was very excited when she started her undergraduate study in Bioengineering. While she made progress in her classes, she felt she had lost her way. Then, she started doing undergraduate research and applying what she was learning in the classroom.

Research was a Life Changer!

Prof. Vargis joins us on our podcast to talk about her background, UG Research in Vargis Lab, Resources for Students, Success Stories, and finally the Skills needed to do research.

In particular, we discuss the following with her:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Elizabeth Vargis is Associate Professor in Biological Engineering at Utah State University. Prof. Vargis graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in BioEngineering from the University of California Berkeley and Masters and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Memorable Quote: “...the student may not feel comfortable speaking up to me, or, you know, disagreeing with me, but I, you know, I am at the stage where I've been disagreed with so many times. And, you know, my goal is not to be right, my goal is to do good research. And so that, so to me, it's all communication. And that's number one.” Prof. Vargis.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.

Resources referred to in this episode:

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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The goal of this series is to serve as a Primer for High Schoolers about a College Major, through our conversations with Faculty Experts in the various US Colleges and Universities.

We continue this series with Art History, with Prof. Alexa Sand of Utah State University.

In particular, we discuss the following with her:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Alexa Sand is a Professor of Art History and the Associate VP of Research at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Prof. Sand graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Anthropology from Williams College. She received her Master’s and PhD degrees in Art History from the University of California Berkeley.

Memorable Quote: “And the other great thing about Art History is it is often a really complimentary major to other fields of study. So you're an Anthropology major, or you're a Cognitive Science major, or you're a Civil Engineering major, like art history really plugs into so many different fields, because it touches on so many realms of human experience.” Prof. Alexa Sand.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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