Author Mira Ptacin shares her incredible journey to, and through, college. It includes a semester at sea, an archaeological dig in Mongolia, and so much more. It's a powerful story that has almost nothing to do with getting into college. 

Guest: Mira Ptacin (@MiraPtacin)

Music: Back to Earth by BackSpace, Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Everything by Max Sergeev, Andromeda’s Nebula by BackSpace, Rainy Sun by The Owl, Maipen Lei by Beltone. All music aside from Jahzzar on Icons8.com

When J.A. Adande left ESPN to go back to his alma mater, it spoke to what Northwestern means to him. How he got to Northwestern, and the impact it had on his career and life, is a fascinating story that he's about to tell, particularly why "college is a time to fail."

Guest: J.A. Adande @jadande

Music: Surrender by Uncleboris (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Sunrise by Ilya Marfin (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com), Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icon8.com)

What happens when you've known your dream school since 7th grade, but when you get accepted, it might be too expensive? How much does that impact your time in college? Does your dream job get put aside for something more practical? Writer-director Robyn Paris is about to tell you. 

Guest: Robyn Paris (@robynoparis)

Music: Crown by Kuzzo (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Sunny by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

There was an "oh bleep" moment for Rebekka Johnson (GLOW) at the end of her time in college. She was thinking she'd missed out by not going to a fancier school. But now that's changed and she's about to tell you why. 

Guest: Rebekka Johnson (@hellorebekka)

Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Last Day of Winter by Trees Die Standing (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com)

How does someone from New Jersey end up at Purdue without ever visiting? Given Purdue's reputation, it has to involve the sciences, right? Nope. It involves something else. Plus, is the college admissions system broken?

Guests: Dan Ward, Pfizer

Emmi Harward, Executive Director of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (@liketheawards)

Music: Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

Rhodes Scholar Shad White was going to Georgetown, until something changed. It's just one part of his incredible journey from being overlooked coming out of Sandersville, MS (pop 731) to Ole Miss, followed by the University of Oxford, and Harvard Law. Plus, what can you find at a large state school that you might not find at a smaller school and advice for anyone thinking of a Rhodes.

Guest: State Auditor of Mississippi Shad White (@shadwhite)

Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jazzar, Start of a New Day by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

What happens if you end up at a school that isn't the perfect fit? Dean of The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at CCNY Andy Rich talks about his journey to college, finding his voice in a political campaign, and how that informed his college experience. Plus, advice for parents and students from his current work and time with the Truman Scholarship Foundation. 

Guest: 

Andy Rich, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at CCNY @andrewowenrich

Music: V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

What do you do when you have a dream school, or a dream of what college should look like, but you go somewhere else? How do you make a new dream? Ashley Spencer is living proof. Plus, when is the right time for parents to talk to their kids about the role of finances in the college decision?

Guests: 

Ashley Spencer @ashleyyspencer

Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX

Music: Summer Lights by Anchors and Seagulls (Icons8.com), Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, Waterfalls by Samsara (Icons8.com), Lifestream by Dream Machine (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov (Icons8.com)

Missouri's a dream school for future journalists. For Bill Reiter, it wasn't even on his map, literally, and he only ended up there after a series of fluky events. But it transformed his life. Plus, what parents and students lose sight of in the college search.

Guests:

Bill Reiter @sportsreiter

Elizabeth Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago

Music: Andromeda's Nebula by Backspace, Maipen Lei by Beltone (Icons8.com), Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar, V by Weary Eyes (Icons8.com), Air by Ilya Truhanov

As 2019 comes to a close, here is the best advice from our "Ask The Expert" segment, compiled all in one place. 

Experts:

Emmi Harward, Executive Director of ACCIS
Kim Digilio, former Princeton Admissions officer
Chad Fulton, Associate Director of College Counseling, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Austin, TX
Liz Pleshette, Director of College Counseling, Latin School of Chicago
Ann Marie Strauss, Director of College Counseling, Garrison Forest, Owings Mills, MD

Music: Please Listen Carefully by Jahzzar