College Matters. Alma Matters.

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

“International”  has always been a part of Lewis’s vocabulary. He was the first International Studies major at Albion College. He had lots of International Student friends on campus & loved traveling. 

That has led him to opportunities in international recruiting, admissions over the last 15 years.

Today, Lewis is the Regional Manager for South Asia with EducationUSA REAC based in New Delhi, India.

On our podcast, Lewis talks about his background, EducationUSA, His Role, How it helps International Students,  Education Advisors, 5-Step Process, International Student Trends and Challenges, and his Advice for High School students.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Lewis Cardenas is the Regional Manager for South Asia with EducationUSA REAC. Lewis graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Albion College. He earned his Master’s degree in International Public Service and Non-Profit from DePaul University.

Memorable Quote: “... so these advisors still stay in touch with students even many years after, after they've come back after completing their journey to the US. And they're encouraged to come back and attend an alumni fair, serve as a volunteer for a future event.” Lewis Cardenas.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

In High School, snowboarding and photography were Tanner’s passions. He would have loved to do that for the rest of his life.

Then towards the end of  his sophomore year, his architecture teacher involved him in building an engineering program for his school. Tanner found himself hooked on engineering - the idea of building things, touching people and making life better. 

Tanner joins our podcast to share his Duke University undergraduate experience, Interest in Neurosurgery, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Applying Engineering for Medicine, and his Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Tanner Zachem is a Goldwater Scholar who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering applied to Neurosurgery from Duke University. Tanner is currently a PhD student at Duke University.

Memorable Quote: “Yeah, things, things don't go your way a lot in research. I have learned how to really be able to detach and take a deep breath. And you know, things break. You know, you don't get funding, paper gets, you know, rejected, you name it, it happens. ” Tanner Zachem.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

The Honors Programs at Drexel U started in 1991, and became the Pennoni Honors College in 2002.

10 years ago, Prof Cohen became the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College. Dr. Cohen is a Distinguished English Professor, a writer, a novelist. 

On this Podcast, Dean Cohen introduces the Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Experiential Programs including the Co-Op, Scholarships & Grants, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Dean Cohen is a Distinguished English Professor, writer and novelist.

Memorable Quote: “But overall, I would say our students are used to being leaders of one sort or another. They're not afraid to voice their opinions. But they're also, I would say, very respectful.” Dean Cohen. 

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Erick pursued a lot of interests in High School which included marching band, wrestling and volunteering at Give the Kids the world. But Engineering always interested him, because his dad was an engineer. He just wasn’t sure what kind of engineering.

In middle school a friend of his fought through cancer. He is doing well now. Seeing his friend go through that journey, inspired Erick to leverage engineering to find better medical treatments.

Erick joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Johns Hopkins University, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Biomedical Engineering, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Erick Rocher is a Goldwater Scholar studying Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Memorable Quote: “So try those classes [in High School] that are kind of maybe on the edge of your knowledge, or maybe are pushing your skill set a little bit. And I think you'll find them really rewarding and or at least very formative. ” Erick Rocher.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. 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.

Calls-to-action:

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Bobbi-Jo started in higher education after her undergraduate degree. While she enjoyed her work, the money wasn’t enough. So she took a detour through the Insurance Industry.

After the crash of 2008, Bobbi-Jo decided to take an “Interest Inventory” and figure out her next career move. That pointed her to School Counseling. Bobbi-Jo went to grad school and became a high school counselor.

12 years later, she is the Director of School Counseling at Middletown High School.

On our podcast, Bobbi-Jo talks about her background, about Middletown High School, Data-Driven Counseling Approach, Belief Gap Challenges, Success Stories, and her Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Bobbi-Jo Wathen is  Director of College Counseling at Middletown High School in Connecticut.

Memorable Quote: “But our college going rates are going up, as opposed to down like the rest of the nation, right.” Bobbi-Jo Wathen.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences, College Application Workbook 

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

In High School Hanh wasn’t very focused on academics. While STEM came naturally to her, she was more interested in relationships with people.

After high school, she joined Nursing School, but soon dropped out because of personal and financial hardships.

After working a number of years and saving up some money, Hanh decided to enroll in a local Community College for a Trigonometry course.

Hanh joins our podcast to share her road to undergraduate college, Dropping out of Nursing School, Going back to a Community College, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, UG Research on Diseases, Transferring to NCSU for a 4-year degree program, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Hanh Tran, a Goldwater Scholar is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University. 

Memorable Quote: “ So it wasn't until being out of school that I realized that the things I want to do in life, like what I found to be my purpose in life. Unfortunately, I could not get far unless I got an education. So the last few years, I have worked really hard to put myself in this position to be back in school.” Hanh Tran.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Education was always important to Paula’s family. So, she did her Master’s in School Counseling and became a School Counselor. Over the years Paula has worked as a Counselor in 4 states, both, in private and public schools. 

Today, she is a College Counselor at Jenks High School, which she calls the “very best” Oklahoma.

On our podcast, Paula talks about her background, about Jenks High School, her Counseling Approach and Challenges, Success Stories, and her Advice for High School students.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Paula Dennis is a College Counselor at Jenks High School in Oklahoma.

Memorable Quote: “I feel my role as the college counselor is to find what those colleges want to know about that student that they don't find any place else in their application.” Paula Dennis.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences, College Application Workbook 

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

In High School, Haylie was very interested in STEM. She did a lot of research, experiments, poring over research papers. In her senior year, she found herself moving away from STEM into Political Science and Psychology. 

Haylie joins us on our podcast to share her UG Experience at CU Boulder, Studio Lab, UG Research, Climbing, and Advice for High Schoolers. 

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Haylie Schramm is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Memorable Quote: “And actually working on a project that's going to be published has helped me refine and revise the things that I'm doing for class, and implement these projects in a meaningful way, and be able to really engage with class concepts really nicely.” Haylie Schramm.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

In High School, Lea was interested in a variety of activities. Her driving passion had to do with helping people.

Her Chemistry teacher told her Chemistry was her future and she should pursue it. She joined college as an undeclared major, with the idea of pursuing Chemistry.

That would soon change!

Lea joins our podcast to share her undergraduate College journey at Northwestern so far, Role at Matriculate, Counseling College-bound Students, and her Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Lea Kalkowski is studying Psychology and Social Policy at Northwestern University.

Memorable Quote: “...my biggest piece of advice is, don't be scared. Don't be scared of rejection. Don't be scared that you will make a fool of yourself if you aim for something because you won't. You know, that's how people get places.” Lea Kalkowski.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action: