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College Matters. Alma Matters.
By Venkat RamanEducation
College Matters. Alma Matters. episodes
- Global Journey with Dr Chandru Rajam: Educator, Entrepreneur.
Episode summary introduction: A trip down memory lane with Dr Chandru Rajam, an educator and entrepreneur, as he shares his experiences and learnings studying, working and living in multiple countries.
In particular, we discuss the following with him:
- Life as an academic
- The transition from academia to industry
- Working in the US and Asia
- The merits of studying abroad
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Being an Academic [7:06]
- Working in Singapore [10:36]
- Comparing the Singapore and US experiences [17:38]
- Transitioning from Academia to Industry [20:24]
- The Entrepreneurial Adventure [22:15]
- Power of Study Abroad and Ge0-relocation [26:53]
- Post COVID-19 Future [31:40]
Our Guest: Dr Chandru Rajam is an educator-turned-entrepreneur. Dr Rajam is currently the CEO of RichFeedback, a startup providing knowledge-intensive services to Colleges and Universities. Dr Rajam has served on the faculty of University of Colorado at Denver, National University of Singapore and George Washington University.
Memorable Quote: "Life has a way of taking you on detours”
Episode Transcript: Please visit almamatters.io/podcasts
Calls-to-action:
- Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations:, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor.
- Send your feedback on this podcast to [email protected].
39 min - Life as an academic
- College News Fit to Digest. May 2, 2020
Episode summary introduction: 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:
- US Colleges under Financial Pressure [2:09]
- International Students in limbo in US after campus closings [9:17]
Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.
Resources referred to in this episode:
- Curated News at Alma Matters[0:11]
- Inside Higher Ed[2:09]
- Inside Higher Ed[2:09]
- ABC News[2:09]
- Quartz India [9:17]
- Boston.com[9:17]
- HeraldNet[9:17]
Episode Transcript: Please visit almamatters.io/podcasts
Calls-to-action:
- Redo your College Lists based on the current events in this episode and we offer a FREE review of the College List by our Counselors. Email the list to [email protected] with the Subject: “College List” along with your profile.
- Please Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations:, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor.
16 min - US Colleges under Financial Pressure [2:09]
- Ivy League Online. Abhinav Sriram of Brown talks about his virtual semester
Episode summary introduction: College campuses have closed due to Coronavirus. Students have gone back to different corners of the globe. They are finishing the second half of their spring semesters Online. How is that working out?
In this Episode, we hear from an international student, Abhinav Sriram who is attending classes in Brown University from Chennai, India.
In particular, we discuss the following with him:
- How is the online semester being conducted?
- How are courses being graded?
- What does that mean for Fall 2020 semester?
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Learning of the Brown decision to close campus [1:02]
- Scramble to get back to India [4:58]
- Spring Semester continues - Online [8:28]
- The Online Experience [10:40]
- Fall 2020 semester? [17:53]
- About being back home [20:16]
Our Guest: Abhinav Sriram, is a freshman at Brown University studying Computer Science and Economics.
Memorable Quote: "I was on a flight back home, and you know, 24 hours before that I was just going about my life at college like, like usual.”
Episode Transcript: Please visit almamatters.io/podcasts
Calls-to-action:
- Please Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor
- Get a FREE Review of your 2021 College List. Lot has changed. Get feedback from Experts. Email your College List to [email protected] with the Subject: “College List” along with your profile.
25 min - How is the online semester being conducted?
- College News Fit to Digest. April 25, 2020
Episode summary introduction: 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:
- Fall Semester. On campus or Online? [2:08]
- Gap Year. How to go about it? [6:19]
- SAT/ACT tests at home? [9:16]
Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Curated News at Alma Matters[1:16]
- PhilonEdTech[2:08]
- Post Gazette[2:08]
- NPR[2:08]
- The Daily Pennsylvanian [6:19]
- CNBC[6:19]
- US News[9:16]
- ABC News 15[9:16]
Calls-to-action:
- It is imperative to redraw the College Lists based on the ongoing events and we offer a FREE review of the College List by our Counselors. Email the list to [email protected] with the Subject: “College List” along with your profile.
- Please Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor
15 min - Fall Semester. On campus or Online? [2:08]
- Online now. On Campus in Fall? Let's ask Kartikeye Khanna, Freshman U of Wisconsin Madison
Episode summary introduction: Coronavirus was spreading, campus was shutting down. International students were hustling to get home before the borders closed.
In this Episode, we hear from an international student from India, Kartikeye Khanna who luckily made it home.
In particular, we discuss the following with him:
- How well online instruction is working for him?
- What needs to happen, so he can get back to campus in Fall? What’s the fallback plan?
- What would he tell aspiring international students?
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Online Semester experience [3:10]
- Criteria for return to UW Madison campus this fall [6:09]
- How his classmates dealing with the situation [10:34]
- Guidance for new students in Fall 2020 [12:00]
- Advice for Fall 2021 aspirants [14:32]
- Thoughts on the unexpected stay in India [15:54]
Our Guest: Kartikeye Khanna, is a freshman at University of Wisconsin Madison studying Computer Engineering.
Memorable Quote: "Got to do, what you got to do”
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Daily Pennsylvanian [1:17] Gap Year. Taking a break of maybe a year, before starting college
- New York Times [11:38] Returning International Students
Calls-to-action:
- Please Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Breaker, Anchor
- To get your College Lists reviewed by our Counselors for FREE, Email [email protected] with the Subject: “College Lists” along with your profile.
18 min - How well online instruction is working for him?
- College Applications? Think Differently in the COVID-19 world
Episode Title: College Applications? Think Differently in the COVID-19 world
Episode summary introduction: As COVID-19 rolls and roils the globe, it is changing the US College landscape. Colleges are facing huge financial losses which could shake things up structurally. The students & families have challenges of their own which could upend their future plans.
In this Episode, we are focused on how college-bound students who plan to enter college in Fall 2021 should approach their College Applications in the COVID-19 world. It is time to re-tool your College List!
in particular, we would like to explore the following:
- How colleges and other stakeholders are impacted by the pandemic?
- What has changed for the future college students?
- How can students turn adversity and uncertainty into advantage with their College Applications?
Shveta Bagade, College Counselor from SIlicon Valley California will help us through the discussion and offer guidance to rising senior students worldwide.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- SAT/ACT testing postponed & Colleges going Test Optional [1:17]
- Increased College Acceptance Rates for Class of 2024 [8:29]
- The prospect of fewer international student applications [11:38]
- How to reclaim your summer [15:34]
- Family Financial Challenges [19:17]
- Time to Retool your College List [23:33]
Our Guest: Shveta Bagade is a College Counselor in Silicon Valley, California for the last 5 years. Shveta's students have been accepted into prestigious public colleges like the University of California colleges as well as elite private universities and liberal arts colleges.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- College Board [1:17] SAT Test dates
- ACT [1:17] ACT schedules
- Alma Matters [1:17] Test Optional Colleges
- College Board [1:17]. AP Online tests
- Alma Matters [8:29] College Acceptance Rates
Calls-to-action:
Email [email protected] with the Subject: “College List” to retool your current college list along with your profile. Don't have a college list? We can guide you as well.
27 min - Tests Cancelled! What should a Student be doing now?
COVID-19 is impacting everyones' lives. For the US College-bound, coronavirus has resulted in the standardized tests being cancelled or postponed. Some US Colleges are going Test Optional and social distancing is forcing the test prep industry to change. We are interested in answering two basic questions: How should the students respond to the uncertain testing landscape? How is the test prep industry adapting and stepping up to help students. To help us make sense of all this, we have invited Ashish Kumar, CEO of India-based Tutela Test Prep, India. Also, Ashish Kumar has a FREE OFFER for you! Listen to the podcast to hear what it is. Thanks for listening. Alma Matters
25 min - Stuck @Home? Counselor Shveta has Suggestions for your New Found TimeCOVID-19 has changed all our lives. We are sheltering at home. Our daily life and schedules are drastically altered. As a result days may seem longer. This is what we call Found Time - a consequence of our reconfigured daily schedules!Shevta Bagade, a College Counselor based in Silicon Valley, California takes time to share some great suggestions and ideas on how to capitalize on the time to make a difference. Make a difference to others, to yourself and more importantly make a difference to your future.Shevta describes opportunities to volunteer, learn, new projects, plan summer projects and to get a head start with the college planning.Hope this podcast inspires you to use the time well.To share how you are using your NEW Found Time at home, email us at [email protected].Stay Safe.21 min
- Coronavirus Impact on College Students: Conversation with Ajan Subramanian, senior at UC IrvineThe Coronavirus has completely disrupted our lives. As we pick up the pieces and try to make sense of this, each one of us is trying to take some semblance of control.Ajan Subramanian is an international student from India and currently a senior at University of California, Irvine. Ajan shares how the students were informed about the University shutting down to combat the virus and how he is coping with the stay at home order to contain the virus spread.18 min
About College Matters. Alma Matters.
From the publisher's feed
Podcast for High Schoolers about College. We chronicle personal experiences on College Life, College Preparation with College Alumni, Faculty, Admissions and Counselors. The goal of these stories is…
to Inform & Inspire students all over the world to pursue their college dreams.