Eric Hoover, Senior Writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education, shares  stories about how his stories have come to be, why empathy is his North Star, and why writing about college admission is like writing about the meaning of life.

We discuss some of his stories, including:

• A University in Texas Promised Full Scholarships to Dozens of Nepalese Students. Months Later, It Revoked the Offer. (April 2018)
• The Second Chance Club. Inside a Semester of Remedial English (March 2013)
• The Most Onerous Form in College Admissions (February 2021)

Rapid Descent

• Walkout song:  Fantastic Man by William Onyeabor
• Best recent read: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. 
• Eager to read next: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
• Favorite thing to make in the kitchen: Marcella Hazan's bolognese sauce or Rick Bayless's enchiladas suizas.
• What he uses to take and keep notes: A reporter's notebook that fits neatly in his pocket. 
• Memorable bit of advice: "Stop being afraid of what you don't know" (from his first editor and mentor) and "Try always to come down on the side of humanity" (from his dad).
• Bucket list: "See the aurora borealis while staying in an all-glass igloo. Also, get myself down to Alabama to visit with Mary Ann Willis, college counselor at  Bayside Academy, to come and read to the elementary students in her school.

Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment.

The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment