What are college and hiring managers looking for in an application, resume, or LinkedIn profile? How can students stand out in a positive and impactful way? Creating your own personal brand is one way students can differentiate themselves from the pack. As a former Director of Admissions and Talent Acquisition executive, Jason Vallozzi brings his knowledge and guidance to students who are in the midst of applying to colleges or trying to secure an internship or full-time position. 

It’s summertime and a perfect time for juniors in high school to read, write in their journal, travel, and start to brainstorm ideas for their personal statement. Andrea is a writer, a storyteller, and someone who has lived, worked, and traveled overseas teaching English and test prep to students along the way. Andrea will share her tips and strategies on how to start your personal statement and why she would highly recommend living and working overseas.

Transitioning from high school to college is not easy for many young adults. Freshman year is full of many "firsts". Not only are students navigating a new, more challenging academic environment, but they are also learning how to live with a roommate, meet new people, manage their time without any help, and a host of other social and personal adjustments. Alex Merrill joins us today to share his expertise working with high school and college students and how parents can support their student's freshman year of college. 

Laurie Genevish joins us today to discuss how students can use career assessment tools to learn more about various professions and the skill sets required to excel in those professions. Are you thinking about majoring in Marine Biology but you absolutely hate math? Maybe that is not the best career choice for you but instead a hobby you can pursue. We also discuss trade schools as a viable and really good option for many students.  

Are you interested in applying to a university in the UK? What do admissions representatives look for from applicants applying to their institution? Ashley Monaghan is the International Student Recruitment Manager for the Americas at King's College London and she will share her tips and advice for students looking to study overseas and in particular at King’s College London. What makes King’s College unique? What do universities look for from international applicants? Ashley provides a quick overview of the application platform, timing, and the personal statement requirement. Since the personal statement is not school-specific, students need to articulate their level of experience and expertise in the particular program of study they are applying to. This is quite different from the format used when applying to universities in the US. For any student interested in studying abroad, this podcast is worth listening to.

You don’t qualify for need-based aid so what next? There is so much data out there but where and how do families start? The data is overwhelming and it takes forever to sift through to find relevant information that is timely. There are merit scholarships offered directly by colleges your student can apply for. My Kid’s College Choice helps families who are “caught in the middle” find affordable colleges and navigate through the college search process.

Are you interested in writing as a career? Craig Heller joins us today to share his story and how he got into the business. As a tv writer and screenwriter, Craig spent fifteen years working in the entertainment industry winning four Emmys and a Writers Guild award. Craig then transitioned to working with students on their college essays. He enjoys helping students find their unique voice.

Did you have the financial talk with your student? Families need to start the discussion earlier rather than later when starting the college search to address any constraints due to “financial fit” when compiling a college list. College is expensive and many families are taking out loans to send their kids to college. Students need to be aware of the total cost of attendance for all four to five years to make sure there is a financial fit as well as an academic and social fit. We are constantly reaching out to financial experts to share their expertise with College Scoops. Today, Vicki Vollweiler joins us to share her advice for families of juniors.

As a society, we seek to educate our young adults to be kind, caring, and thoughtful leaders both in and outside of the classroom. When our sons and daughters graduate from high school and prepare for their next academic adventure, we as parents want to ensure they are living and learning in a safe environment. Do they have the knowledge, tools, and resources to reduce their vulnerability, be aware of any potential threats or behavior that makes them uncomfortable, and be psychologically prepared to respond to any threatening scenario in an effective manner? Prepare is an organization that provides educational programs and classes on communication skills and violence prevention for students, parents, administrators, and businesses.

Do you have a desire to study overseas? If so, what do you need to know as the entire application process is very different from the US in all aspects (testing, programs, and timing)? As a former admissions representative at several top international universities, Sara Cavalier shares her story of studying and working abroad in addition to advice for students as they research what school offers the best academic fit.