In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss global education and study abroad. We go over a variety of global programs, and also discuss what is important to consider as students decide if a global program is right for them. Different institutions have different processes, so we do not dive too deep into specifics, but we do discuss how to make the most of your time abroad to ensure you are able to expand your global perspective and earn credits for your time away from your home college campus.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss what might come as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling which eliminated race as a factor in college admissions, ending affirmative action. We discuss some of the immediate impacts of this ruling with schools announcing updated supplements to address the ruling and investigations into other factors of college admissions, such as legacy admission and athletics. Additionally, we talk about other factors that are considered as part of making an admission decision beyond race.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana review the various elements that make up a complete college application. We discuss what students are responsible for submitting and what school officials or teachers are responsible for submitting. We also go over the importance of submitting everything in a timely manner so that applications can be considered for the admission rounds a student is hoping to be reviewed for. As the fall approaches, application platforms will be opening soon, so we want students to understand what they are responsible for submitting and what information to include- and we hope this episode provides an understanding of some of the logistical pieces of the college application process.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss some of the observations they have picked up on while working with students as they relate to high school development since the pandemic. We chat about some of the things we have seen and heard when talking with students about the challenges they have faced as a result of starting high school online during COVID. We also discuss how colleges have largely maintained expectations of students even though student development has been impacted. Additionally, we provide suggestions on how parents can support their students as students open up about the stresses they have related to their development and experiences.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss the role of parents as students are searching for and applying to colleges. We dive into when it is appropriate for parents to take a step back and let their child have agency and responsibility, and when parents and step up and provide support and feedback. Parents serve a critical role in the college process, but it is important to remember that the college process should always be student-centered. This episode covers tips for parents on how to be an advocate and support figure for their children as they look towards their college experience.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana take a dive into the cost of college and how financial aid works. We also discuss types of aid, financial aid documentation, resources and tools to use, and why considering cost of attendance is a factor that all families need to consider when building a college list. One of the best tools to use to get an idea of what the cost of specific institutions may look like is the Net Price Calculator. This is a tool that is on college websites that when run, provides a ballpark number of what the cost of attendance might be based on student and family information along with the school's costs. You can find each school's Net Price Calculator by searching in your web browser "[Institution Name] Net Price Calculator."

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss the importance of doing school research to build a balanced list of schools for students to consider. We define what the breakdown of a balanced list can be and also talk about what factors are used to define the admissions probability of a school on a student's list, beyond the student's individual academic profile. We dive into why not all factors that go into an admission decision are within the applicant's control, and how building a balanced list can make application outcomes a little more predictable.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss trends we have seen over the last few admission cycles when it comes to selectivity in the applicant pools. We discuss why being intentional when building a balanced list is important and how applying to a higher volume of selective schools does not necessarily increase a student's chances of getting into any one of them. We also chat about selectivity and unpredictability of the UC system as well.

For more information on our team at College Unlocked, visit us at collegeunlocked.com and find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

In this episode, Hollis and Jordana discuss what factors students should consider in order to make their own definition of what a good school is. It is important to look beyond overall college rankings because there are different factors to the college experience that are important to different individuals. We take a deeper dive into student experience and how that impacts the perception of a good school and why students should also consider outcomes and specific programs rather than any one national ranking.

For more information on College Unlocked, visit us at www.collegeunlocked.com or find us on social media @collegeunlocked.

Should I take the SAT or ACT? What schools want to see test scores versus do test optional schools really mean test optional? How can scores positively add to a student's application? Can test scores hurt an application? In this episode, Hollis and Jordana give an overview of all things testing. We also discuss when students should plan to sit for an exam if they are hoping to include scores with their application materials. We discuss this and more!

For more questions, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or Tik Tok @collegeunlocked. You can also find more information on our website: collegeunlocked.com.