Destination YOUniversity

Is it okay to change or adjust your college path? In this episode, hear from Briana of Lawrence University about that and more. If you are worried about not knowing your preferred major or college, this episode is for you. If you want to see how much relationships can help you on your college journey, this episode is for you.

TRUTH: Change - it is okay to change your mind, and to be your own person!

TIP: If you need to change majors, or even colleges, that's okay! One key to being successful THROUGH these kinds of changes is to build relationships and connections along the way.

In this episode, you'll hear Briana talk about her current role at Lawrence University, you'll hear about her journey leading up to and through college and how she made many adjustments along the way. You'll hear great college admissions tips along with a few tales about college applicants that stuck out to Briana. And finally, you'll hear about why Briana loves her work.

Listen to this episode to learn from Briana's own interesting experience, both as a student and as a professional!!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

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#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

Do you want to learn about why it's important to be weird? In this episode, hear from David Hautanen - Vice President for Enrollment Management at St. Mary's College - about why he loves St. Mary's, and how important it is to be truly yourself. If you want to hear about how your weirdness can help you get into college, this episode is for you. If you want to know how to balance parent involvement with your college application, this episode is for you. 

TRUTH: Colleges want you to BE YOU, be weird, find a tribe, and take the lead.

TIP: If you let yourself be yourself and find who you are, find something you love, and take ownership over YOUR college application process, colleges will recognize  you as a strong, unique individual who can take ownership.

In this episode, you'll hear from David about his current role at St. Mary's, learn about David's personal journey to college and how it connects directly to his best tips for college applicants today, hear a tale from David about a student whose parent was TOO involved, a finally you'll hear about why David does the work that he does.

Give this episode a listen to learn from David's wonderful stories and advice!!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

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#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

Are you trying to figure out what it is that colleges want to learn about you in your application? Check out this interview with Carlos Leyva, admission counselor, to hear more. If you want to learn about why colleges want to see your true PASSION, this episode is for you. If you want to learn about what it can be like to go on the journey to college as a first generation college student, this episode is for you.

TIP: What You See In Others Is What You Believe In Yourself.

TALE: Carlos had a cousin who had already attended Chapman. Not only was Carlos familiar with Chapman, he had been there, and knew someone who was successful there. He could envision himself on the campus studying, working, and being mentored by the adults, just like his cousin. What Carlos saw his cousin achieve, he then believed he could do the same.

TRUTH: Cousins, peers, friends count for a lot of who we believe we can become. I was one of the older cousins, so for me I looked to my peers and friends. If they were getting A’s in class, I thought I could too. If they were joining student council, well, why not me? When they applied to public AND private colleges, I simply did the same.

As a parent you have only two responsibilities: 1 – give your child the best education you can possibly afford and 2 – expose your child to as many experiences you can possibly think of. If you can do these two things, everything will fall into place. It is all about WHO they will meet along the way. Who she sits with and debates with, who he learns with and plays with will manifest into confidence and self-belief in ways that you can’t imagine.

In this episode, learn all about Carlos' interesting journey to college, and hear about why he loves Chapman University, the school he works at. You'll also hear his intertwined tale and truth, and you'll learn about why the prototypical "overachiever" student may not actually be the most compelling applicant!

Watch, listen and learn from Carlos! He is extraordinary!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

How do you make your college application stand out? Check out this interview with Carl Forbes, Associate Director for Multicultural Admissions at The Evergreen State College. If you're thinking about how to show off your passions to colleges, this episode is for you. If you're curious about the perspective of an admissions office expert, this episode is for you.

TIP: Counting Backwards Forces Forward Thinking

TALE: Picture this: On your 10th birthday there are only 7 candles burning atop your yellow cake with white frosting. “I’m ten,” Carl reminded his mother. She looked straight at him, eyeballs to eyeballs, “I know. Seven is the number of years I have left with you.”

When you listen to Carl tell this story it will just melt your heart. What an image and pivotal moment for both mom and Carl. I get chills. She was, as Carl describes, “Raising men, not boys, and men make decisions.” Carl knew at a young age that he would decide on college.

TRUTH: We celebrate milestones as we achieve them. Birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries mark the years that have passed rather than those remaining. This notion made me question if what we are doing is “right.” Maybe we should perhaps start celebrating first grade with a 16-year themed party to indicate how many years left of school your daughter or son has left. Sixth grade graduation would become a 10-year party and HS graduation a 4-year theme. You follow?

TIP: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say.

TALE: I ask every guest to offer their best tip regarding college admissions. In this interview, Carl Forbes recited the advice he once heard from the “legendary” Peter Johnson of Columbia University. Peter suggests, “Your application should look like you and you should look like your application.” What did Peter mean? If you say you are passionate about trains, planes, and automobiles, then show us the evidence of that. What have you done that I will find that? If you want to become a doctor, lawyer, musician, we are naturally going to look for activities, events, and experiences you’ve had BEFORE arriving to college that shows your interest and engagement.

TRUTH: When it comes to highly competitive colleges we don’t believe in you just TELLING us you are “passionate” about X, you have to SHOW us how you have demonstrated your interest. The truth is this: we don’t believe you until we see it. In grown up terms you might say, “You’ve got to walk the walk and talk the talk,” or as my mother used to tell me, “Say what you mean and mean what you say."

Listen and Learn from Carl Forbes!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

How do you go about following your college dreams? USF Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Admission April Crabtree shows us how to be a dream-builder. If you want to feel inspired to follow your goals, this episode is for you. If you want encouragement to keep at it, this episode is for you.

TIP: I CHOOSE CROW POSE.

TALE: Reading the bios of our guests for Dream College Academy is always a treat, but this particular bio made me stop in my tracks. This decorated Fulbright scholar concluded her brief bio with this sentence: “In her newly found quarantine spare time, April has been learning Klingon on Duolingo, working on her crow pose in yoga, and running away from zombies through the running app Zombies! Run.”

I couldn’t remember anything else in her bio except “crow pose.” It’s not that I too had been working on my crow pose, but the fact that April listed items on her bio that made her real, human, and accessible. That week at Dream College Academy, April became one of the “popular” guests. Why? For the same reason, she was accessible. Her advice to students, “Pay attention to how the admission office treats you before you arrive. That is an indication of how you’ll be treated once you are a student.” So sound. So simple. So true. 

TRUTH: Colleges are made up of people. The administration, professors, student affairs staff, and of course, the students. Maybe it’s just a “Latino” thing, but I am positive that it was equally important to my mother that she connect with someone she trusted at USC as it was for her that I be happy at my college of choice. With each podcast, the goal is to get to know the PERSON being interviewed just as much as learning about the institution they represent. 

In this podcast, you'll hear April talk about her current institution and why she loves it, you'll hear about her own personal journey to college, you'll hear a tale about how challenging it can be for admissions counselors to say "no", hear a tip about how to know what a potential college will treat you when you become a student there, AND hear about why April is learning Klingon, a language from Star Trek.

This week, April Crabtree is a treat to watch and listen to! I can’t wait for you to get to know the woman who I think of every time I attempt my crow pose. 

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University of San Francisco

April Crabtree

Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

What does my college essay need in order to accomplish its intended goal? College essay specialist Betsy Cadel gives us great tales and tips on writing excellent college essays. If you want to learn more what your essay HAS to demonstrate, this episode is for you. If you want to learn what YOU should be doing to stand out on your college application, this episode is for you.

Parents: hear Betsy and Dr. C speak about the most important things YOU need to be doing to ensure your child's success in the college application process.

Students: learn about how to maximize your choices. You may be surprised to learn how many decisions you have control over!

In this podcast, you'll learn about Betsy Cadel's personal journey to college (and a surprise pivot she had to make), you'll hear a compelling tale about an undocumented student's path to college, and you'll learn about how YOU need to tell your STORY through your college essay.

Betsy offers great advice and intel this week on college essays, one of the most important single pieces of your application!!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

How do you navigate the world of quantifiable data as requirements are changing? Candice Lapin fills us in. If you want to learn more about the impact of test prep, AP scores, and grades, this episode is for you. If you want to learn what YOU should be doing to improve your Academic Qualities, this episode is for you.

TRUTH: In terms of Academic Qualities (AQs), a lot is changing in the world of college admissions. All you can control is what YOU do, and what skills YOU are going to build in order to show schools how you're going to make a difference.

In this podcast, you'll learn about Candice Lapin's personal journey to college, you'll learn about test blind/test optional and why it matters to you, and you'll learn about what next steps YOU need to take in regards to quantifiable data and your college application.

Candice offers great advice and intel this week on quantifiable data in a shifting college admissions landscape!!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

How can you strengthen your college application/resume during a pandemic?? Listen to this interview with Vince, college admissions guide, to find out. If you're wondering how important community service is, this episode is for you. If you're thinking about ways to boost your college resume, this episode is for you.

TIP: Never Force a teen to do something they find undesirable.

TALE: When I worked with private clients one of the things families are surprised about is when I give permission to the teen to let go of community service. WHAT? Yep. That’s right. Instead we focus on a coolness project. What is a coolness project? Pairing something you “have to” do with something you “want to” do.

Like Jalynn who had to (wanted to) do her Girl Scout Gild Award AND has a desire to become a veterinarian. Result: authored a children’s book about ocean animals and coordinated an educational fair for 200+ guests.

Or Charlie. Wants to major in mechanical engineering and loves tinkering and building. Result: starting building custom bikes.

Vince Garcia offers great advice this week on how to beef up the resume!!

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Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Teens Make and the 4 Most Common Essay Topics:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/essay-mini-training

Check out the Destination YOUniversity FB Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2489993244570408

See our website here:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/

Schedule a call with Dr. C:

https://www.drcynthiacolon.com/schedule

________________________________

#collegeadmissions #collegeessays #collegeapplication #financialaid #scholarships #collegeessaybootcamp #dreamcollegeacademy #drcynthiacolon #highschooljuniors #highschoolseniors

What happens when you move 11 times before the age of 20? You begin to learn, listen, watch, try, and begin again and again. Learn poignant lessons from this all-star army brat turned esteemed educator.

The lesson this week: Change is constant.

My question is: Are we shaped by those around us or that which surrounds us?

This week our guest, Barbara T. Conner, Director of College Counseling at Foxcroft School in Northern Virginia, shares her extensive experience in helping thousands of adults and teens plan their future and achieve their goals. Using everything she learned on her journey to college, Barbara created the Five First-Choice Colleges© approach to the college admission process.

Whether you are right in the midst of applying to college or you are dreaming of college for your pre-teen, you will not want to miss this episode! Barbara believes you can land at your perfect destination: YOUniversity.

HIGHLIGHTS:

10 minutes: Here father was a first generation ROTC student, her mother did not attend college, yet all siblings earned MA degree!

21 minutes: How Barbara's father introduced her to what would become her dream college. 

31 minutes: Tale of a memorable first generation student that Barbara mentored and guided every step of the way.

40 minutes: The ONE truth she wants you to know about college admissions.

41 minutes: Barbara's Five First Choice College Approach. You don't want to miss these best 5 tips!

Guest Bio: 999 Characters

A graduate of Sweet Briar College (BA – Political Economics) and the University of Virginia (MEd. – Social Foundations of Education), Barbara served as College and Career Specialist at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, VA, before coming to Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA, in January 2011. She has vast experience helping individuals plan futures and achieve goals, having also worked as a human resources director, career development facilitator, and life coach.

She serves or has served on boards and committees of a vast range of organizations, including the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC) and the Virginia State PTA to the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of America, Trinity Church, Upperville and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria, among others.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE AND TITLE: September 12, 2018, 5 Army Brat Lessons.

This episode is packed with valuable golden nuggets for parents, teens, athletes, students struggling with identity, and students who have gifts and talents in something other than academics. Canh Oxelson's shares his real life journey to college. It is one of the most real and candid interviews I've had. Trust me, this one is fabulous! 

OK, but I digress. What is the message of this episode? Interested Students Become Interesting Applicants. Period. 

Students ask, "What do I do? How will I stand out?" They want THE answer. 

What is the RIGHT answer? What is the formula to solve this problem? What do I need to study, do, or repeat to earn a perfect grade, score, time, goal? In many ways school teaches us there is a right and wrong, and as long as we can figure out the “right” way, we will be rewarded.

It is no wonder college applicants everywhere are in search of the magic answer, the perfect formula, or the exact path to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Canh Oxelson, Admission Counselor and leader for over 20 years, believes that students want to believe the admission process is “Fair.” If it is not fair, it must be the opposite, which is, biased. While admission officers may not refer to their work as “fair,” they might use words such as, compassionate, candid, honest, principled, and equitable.

So, what is the right answer? The best advice Canh Oxelson offers is this, “Be Interesting.” Learn more on Destination: YOUniversity!

Highlights in this episode:

about 12 minutes: "I was a good student, but not great student. What I was great at was swimming."

about minute 20: Find out where Canh applied and where he was admitted and denied. 

about minute 25: Canh answers the question, "Is this process fair?"

about minute 30: Canh answers the question, "How do you become more interesting?" We discuss the "Coolness" Factor. Canh shares the tale of one "modestly" talented student and how that student stood out in the application process.

about minute 40: How does a teenager figure out their "Coolness" Factor?

Canh Oxelson is the Executive Director of College Counseling at Horace Mann School in the Bronx, NY. Currently, he is also organizing the New Counselor Series & Workshop for ACCIS (Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools). Canh began his college admissions career at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco, where he earned a B.A. in Psychology. After short stints in admissions at USF, Saint Mary's College of California, and the University of California at Santa Cruz, he earned an M.Ed. in Educational Policy from Harvard's Graduate School of Education. Afterwards, Canh returned to admissions as the Director of Multicultural Recruitment for the University of Pennsylvania. His jump to college counseling came in 2003, when he became an Upper School Dean at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, CA. In 2011, Canh moved east to lead the college counseling effort at Horace Mann School.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE AND TITLE: October 24, 2018, Interested Students Become Interesting College Applicants.