We are reaching out to experts in various professions to share their stories on how they got their start and what advice they would give to a student looking to enter that particular field of study. If you are interested in PR and journalism Amy Kossoff Smith has some great advice for you. Amy also works with students on their college application essays. As a seasoned writer, Amy knows how to pitch a story. She brings her expertise from her journalism and PR experience to help students convey their “wow factor” throughout their application.

As high school students and parents navigate the new college landscape this fall, high school college counselors are working hard to help families get to know a college from afar. Without the on-campus programming activities, what resources and advice do high school college counselors share with their families? How can parents support their students without taking control of the process? What are some tips for both students and parents this fall? Erika Chapin, the Director of College Counseling for Hopkins School, will share her thoughts and guidance for students and parents navigating the college admissions journey this fall. 

Thinking of starting a company while in college? Think no further - Sabine and her best friend from home, Milan, knew they wanted to go into business together, and once at their respective colleges, they decided to go for it. Join us today to hear Sabine discuss the origin of her company, Dormzi, and how she navigated the opportunities and challenges it presented. In addition, she will offer advice to current and prospective student entrepreneurs, guiding us through the start-up process. Dormzi is an online marketplace designed specifically for college students to monetize their unique skills, connect with fellow students and entrepreneurs, and build relationships with outside businesses and individuals. If you are a student with a specific skill, sign up as a Dormzi or a student ambassador. 

Many schools are test-optional for the Class of 2021 - Now more than ever, the essay and other components of the application will play a larger role in the application process. What do colleges look for in terms of “character” on a college application? How do you define character attributes? How do you evaluate character attributes on an application? Do colleges really value “character” as a deciding factor in the decision-making process? What are some tips for high school students going through the process now as to the most effective ways to demonstrate their true self and character?  Benjamin Caldarelli, Co-Founder of Princeton College Consulting, is here with us today to share his thoughts on how Character Counts more than ever now.

Advice for student-athletes - the ramifications of COVID19 are still playing out now especially for the Class of 2021. With lost seasons, the cancellation of showcase events and invitation-only visits, no game tapes - what now? How can student-athletes approach the college admissions process if they are looking to play sports in college? A lot has happened outside of our control but what can student-athletes do that is within their control? Chad Dorman joins us today to share his insights and advice.

Jaclyn Corley, aka The College Essay Captain, has been a College Scoops supporter since we launched sharing her expertise in blog posts for College Scoops. Jaclyn helps students stand out from the crowd with a powerful essay. Oftentimes, students wonder if there are topics that should be avoided and that is why we asked Jaclyn to join us today. Are there particular subjects that students should avoid? What are they and why?

Students considering taking a gap year, listen up!

Adelaide Hanson took a gap year composed of 3 segments - Fall semester in East Africa, winter semester working at home, spring semester - backpacking Southeast Asia. She joins us today to share why she choose a gap year, her stories, her lessons and learned, and recommendations for students considering taking a gap year. Adelaide was introduced to College Scoops by Marion Taylor - Founder of Taylor the Gap. Marion was a guest on our podcast a while back. Thank you Marion for continuing to support College Scoops and introduce us to students across the globe.

Navigating legal documents can be a daunting task, especially for parents and their young adult children. Attorney Nara Herbowy-Callanan will join us today to break down important legal documents, including the advance medical directive (living will), the HIPAA release, and the durable power of attorney. Nara helps us to understand the different ways in which parents can remain involved in their child’s medical life, while also taking into account the privacy concerns of young adults.

Students are gearing up for internship interviews this fall so we reached out to companies who have renowned internship programs to ask them what they are looking for from candidates? How can students best prepare for interviews and internship opportunities? We know the last six months were challenging with students losing out on internships or jobs they had committed to due to the pandemic. What can they do now and how can they explain the lost opportunity? Mikala Bush is part of a University Relations team at NCR Corporation which has won numerous awards for their Internship program and she joins us today to share her advice, guidance, and insights to help students as they navigate researching and applying to internship programs.

There are ways we can support and help students perform to the best of their abilities in and out of the classroom by modeling good behavior and role-playing. It is hard to get and stay organized or prioritize all the homework and extracurricular activities in a way that does not increase the stress levels. Ensuring students develop life long skills that will enable them to live, learn, and grow in the next academic environment is the goal of Christy McGarry. She joins us today to discuss how to prepare your students with the executive functioning skills necessary to succeed in college.