College Smart Start

Many students ask me whether there's truly a difference between taking challenging courses, such as AP Calc BC or GPA boosters such as Introduction to Counting Toes. My answer to that is: it depends. In today's episode, we are going to discuss when and how the courses you select can matter.

• The classes that you chose can very much matter

• Most schools will significantly differentiate between ap, ib vs honors vs regular

• Students who are aiming for the most selective schools should consider taking the most rigorous courseload that they can handle

• However, if deciding between different courses you need to pay attention to your workload, the teacher, etc. basically if its worth it

• While, many schools offer weighted GPA which make it appear numerically that a B in an AP course is better than an A in honors or an A in regular

• Depending on how schools recalculate that may or may not be the case

• In the perfect world, students should take the max number of APs and IPs

• In the real world, mental health, happiness, and balance is also important

• Perfect is not necessary, many students that do not have perfect unweighted 4.0s that have still gotten into schools like Harvard

• 1 B does not mean that you are doomed

• The courses that you take need to be determined by your interests and your goals but there are some schools including, internationally ranked schools such as McGill in Canada or strong state schools such as the University of Arizona that to them an A is an A is an A whether it is in AP Calc BC or Intro to Counting Toes.

Pre-med is NOT a major, it's a track. In today's episode, we'll talk about what to consider when looking at your options for undergrad and what med schools are truly looking for in their applicants. Additionally, we'll discuss BSMD programs and what they do– and what they do NOT– guarantee and offer to aspiring physicians

There are a number of schools that admit VERY differently depending on your intended major, especially if you hope to major in Business, Engineering, or other 'gatekept' majors. In today's episode, we will talk about which majors can complicate your admission chances and what to be aware of as you build your list.

There's a prevalent myth of "millions of dollars of unclaimed scholarships", but external scholarships are often HIGHLY competitive, require a ton of work/writing, are nonrenewable, and–even worse– even if you DO earn external scholarships, many schools will not allow you to use those scholarships (as they simply offset institutional aid rather than "stacking" on top of aid). In today's episode, we will discuss scholarships and other funding options to ensure that your tuition bill is not a burden.

There are over 5000 institutions in the U.S. that you can apply to– yet, seemingly, every student wants the same 50 schools. With admissions rates for some schools in the single digits, students need to have a balanced list that includes at least one (and preferably more than one) safety. In today's episode, we will discuss how to determine which schools are safe for you– and how to ensure that you choose one that is not only safe, but also meets your goals

At selective schools smart, well-rounded applicants are a dime a dozen and many great applications get lost in the shuffle. There are specific ways to ensure that you stand out and differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. In today's episode, we discuss how to become more "spikey" and ways you can go about branding yourself to boost your admissions chances.

Many students get caught up on the idea of having a dream school, but sometimes these dream schools can turn into nightmares. While you can - and possibly- should shoot your shot at your dream school, you also don't want to put all of your eggs in one basket. In today's episode, we will discuss how you can use the qualities of that school to help you find backups that have similar characteristics to your so-called "dream school".

You might not think you need to worry about college applications until closer to your highschool graduation , but you can get much or all of your applications done before the start of your senior year. In today's episode, we are going to break it down step by step what you can do to best set your senior up for success.

Many schools offer entry points other than fall, sometimes those are options that students can opt into that can potentially make admissions easier. In today's episode we'll discuss some specific schools and their alternate entry points, how to apply for and/or avoid them, detailing the options, what they entail, and why schools offer them.

Transfer admissions can be easier - yet less direct - way to gain entry to selective schools, it can also be a way to save on college costs. In today's episode, we detail the transfer admissions process and how to determine whether it's an option worth considering - either as a primary strategy or as a back up plan.