The Admissions Club

As more and more colleges switch to test optional admission policies, parents begin to wonder whether or not students should still take the SAT or ACT? To put it simply, the answer is yes. If you want to maximize your chances of getting into your dream college, these tests could be the advantage you need. Elizabeth talks with Dr. Al Benthall today about the history behind these tests, the current political views surrounding the tests, and why your student should still take them….. and take them seriously. Dr. Al Benthall, is the founder and owner of Benthall Test Prep which specializes in helping students achieve optimal SAT scores.  

Connect with Dr. Al Benthall:

Website
LinkedIn

3 Key takeaways from the podcast are:  

• When in doubt, take the test (SAT or ACT). If two candidates are identical in their GPA and extracurricular activities, but one candidate submitted their test scores. Chances are the college will choose the student who submitted the scores. 
• Optional is code for Do It! Anytime a college leaves a section optional on an application, fill that section out and take full advantage of this opportunity to make yourself stand out, tell more of your story. 
• If you have a lower GPA, taking the SAT or ACT is a chance to earn a high score and make yourself a more competitive applicant. Don’t be afraid to take the test more than once to give yourself a better edge.

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

I hope that during this Thanksgiving Holiday you have a chance to sit back and reflect on all that you are grateful for. When I started this podcast and my company, Elizabeth West Consulting (EWC), I set out to make the college admissions process less stressful and daunting for students and their families. In today’s episode, I express my gratitude for allowing me to help you along this most important journey and share what I have gained along the way. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Links mentioned:

• Poem by Joy Harjo "Perhaps the World Ends Here"

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

How do you make yourself truly stand out when applying for college? You need more than an adequate SAT or ACT score to get the attention of admission officials. Colleges are now looking for evidence of soft skills such as communication skills, personal growth skills, advocacy, and civic involvement. Elizabeth talks with Dr. Chris Flowers about what it takes to not only get noticed in the admissions process but also how to set yourself up for future academic success. Dr. Chris Flowers is an award-winning educator, educational consultant, and research specialist at EWC Consulting.

3 tips to help you stand out in the college admissions process:

• Start the college admissions process early- this shows initiative and personal responsibility. Key traits that will lead to college success later on. 
• Be civic minded. Getting involved in your community. Get out there and make a difference! This not only helps you stand out, but shows you care about more than yourself. A lot of colleges are not as concerned about SAT or ACT scores, they want to see you be an active citizen, an advocate working to solve problems.
• Take those research papers seriously. This is your chance to show your scholarly acumen, including your ability to distinguish between scholarly information and general knowledge. You can’t use Wikipedia or Yahoo answers and expect colleges to take you seriously. 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Applying for college is a journey. What might be your #1 school choice when you start your college search may fall off your list once you start doing research. Colleges that were not even on your radar may surprisingly become your new favorites. This is all part of the experience and magic of applying to college. In this episode, Elizabeth talks with high school senior Nick Marciniak about his recent experience applying to college. Tune in to hear valuable tips and insights about what it is really like to apply for college in 2022. Nick Marciniak is an EWC student who recently finished applying to college and is interested in cybersecurity and computer science.  

 3 things to keep in mind when applying to college include: 

• Use the college application process to dig deep and determine what you really want to do with your life. This self-actualization process is important to not only answering the admission questions in a way that authentically reflects who you are, but also helps you determine which college will best fit your needs as an individual. Often students haven’t had a chance to do this type of deep  self-reflection until the college admissions process. 
• Do your research and tour the colleges on your list. Notice how they set up their visitor center. How welcoming are they? Where do they recommend going for lunch? These small but tangible things will give you a glimpse of whether this school might be good for you. 
• Start early. It is easy to procrastinate in this process, but it will do you no favors. Often the hardest part is starting. When you start early, it gives you time to not only complete the process thoughtfully, but also allows you time to stay involved in senior year activities such as academics, sports and a part-time job. 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Relinquishing control is difficult, especially for parents. Unfortunately, the college admissions process is all about letting go of control. You’ll never truly know which college is perfect for them, but ultimately the choice belongs to your child. When the decision of where they will go to college is in their hands, they are empowered and more importantly, invested in their own success. Who doesn’t want that, right? That doesn’t mean this is easy though. Listen in as Elizabeth gives practical tips to help you engage with your child in one of the biggest decisions of their life. 

Links mentioned:

• Kelly Corrigan Wonders Podcast
• Kelly Corrigan’s Memoir Tell Me More

3 Tips to engage with your child in the admissions process:

• Listen. Really listen to your student’s point of view and perspective. Even if you disagree, stay calm and hear them out. 
• It's ok to say I don’t know. Be comfortable with the unknown. We can’t know everything especially in the college admissions process. As Brene Brown says, show your vulnerability…this is a great way to build trust with your child. 
• Connect. Sit down with your child and go through a cost benefit analysis. Research this together as adults. What is the personal and professional cost of this decision and how will it benefit your child in the future? 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

 Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

What did you want to be when you were younger? I bet it was not your current career. Dr. Sharon Jones wanted to be a radio dj called Sharky Sharon and instead became the founder of the Dottie Rose Foundation, which encourages and supports girls in the STEM fields. In this episode, Sharon talks with Elizabeth about how interests change throughout our life and that is ok. When we embrace curiosity and learning, we can develop our STEM strengths and apply them in any number of careers. Dr. Sharon Jones is the brainchild behind the Dottie Rose Foundation, which encourages girls to find their STEM strength through classes, workshops, and camps. 

Connect with Dr. Sharon Jones:

• Dottie Rose Foundation Website
• Lady Tech Charmers Podcast
• LinkedIn

3 ways to encourage your exploration in STEM:

• Own what you love. If you love math, say you love math outloud, let people know. The same goes for reading, biking, jewelry, etc. Be proud of what you love and let others know about it. This is the start of making connections and exploring those interests. 
• Find your tribe. Once you’ve let people know what you love, you can find your people and support one another as you explore this combined interest. Finding your people is a key to college success and happiness. 
• Keep learning. What you loved when you were little, might not be the same as you grow older. Be curious and willing to try new things, you never know where it will take you.  

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Being a parent is all about transitions. You become a master of one season of life and then it all changes and you need to adjust to the next. In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Julie Swafford about a parent’s perspective during this college transition time. While this can be a sad time for parents, it is also a time filled with joy as you have set your child up for their future life. Tune in to hear about how to say goodbye to your child when setting up their dorm, how to have a positive mindset when you have an empty nest, and how to let your child choose the future that is right for them. Julie Swafford is a parent with one daughter in college and one on the way. She is also the client care coordinator at Elizabeth West Consulting (EWC). 

3 ways to embrace your child’s transition to college include:  

• Choice. Ultimately, your child needs to choose their college. As much as you might love one school for your child, they have to choose their own future. 
• Empty nest. You need to feel the heaviness of your child leaving and this is normal. At the same time, shift your mindset and love who your child has become. Embrace the joy of having raised a successful young adult heading off into the world.  
• Less Contact. Don’t be worried if you haven’t heard from your child when they are in college. If they are not reaching out to you several times a day, that means they are adjusting well to college and you should be proud of this. You’ve done your parenting job well. 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

What do you do if you’ve chosen the wrong college? Maybe you’ve switched majors and they don’t have your new major. Maybe the school is not a good financial fit. Maybe you thought you would love this college, but you are miserable. Transferring to another college is not easy, but it is not the end of the world. Education is full of change and sometimes those changes can be full of success. If you are unhappy with your college of choice, you won’t want to miss this episode as Elizabeth walks you through the key things to consider when transferring from one college to another. 

3 things to consider before transferring to another college:

• Let yourself acclimate to college. Attending college for the first time is a HUGE transition. Sharing a bedroom with a stranger, living on your own, these things take time to get used to. Take those transitions slowly, honor them and let them settle. After a few months, assess where you are at and then make a decision. 
• Do Research. Don’t skimp on this step. What would be a good college fit for you in terms of academic programs, social needs and financial needs? Doing extensive research ahead of time, will save you time and money. Tip: see if your new college has a transfer admission counselor to help you through this process. 
• Investigate how your credits will transfer. Will your credits transfer for specific courses or be counted as general education credits? If your classes transfer as general education credits and not specific courses, then you may have to take additional classes at your new college, which means more work, possibly more semesters, and more costs. 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

When choosing a college, there are so many things to consider from price to location to the programs offered. It’s overwhelming to say the least. Student support is a key facet of the college experience that is often overlooked when applying and choosing a future university, but it may be the most important element driving student success in college. In this episode, Elizabeth talks with student support advisor, Adrienne Boswell, about what to look for when examining student support services at a university. Tune in for more information on the best ways to evaluate student support services as well as a discussion on key habits students should be developing during their high school career. 

Adrienne Boswell is a student support advisor in the Engineering and Management Program at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. 

Connect with Adrienne: LinkedIn

3 key things to consider when examining student support services:

• Program level and career advising: What is already in place to guide students in their chosen majors and help them graduate in 4 years? How does the university help students begin their future careers- think job fairs, what business relationships have they fostered?
• Student Success Centers: Where can students get 1:1 help to improve their writing skills? Study skills? Time management skills? 
• Mental Health Services: The pandemic has shown us the importance of mental health. What services does your future college have to support students going through difficult transitions? Ask a current student if they have sought out help and their experience doing that.

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

S.T.E.M. is all the rage these days, but even with its popularity, girls still lag behind boys in pursuing S.T.E.M. based careers. How do we resolve this gap and encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math? Research notes that around age 12, girls who were previously interested in S.T.E.M. begin to fade away from it. In today’s episode, Elizabeth talks with Abi Olukeye about how to encourage, engage, and maintain girls’ interests in the S.T.E.M. fields. Tune in to learn about the latest research involving S.T.E.M as well as actionable tips you can take to engage girls in S.T.E.M. based learning. Abi Olukeye is a S.T.E.M.inist and founder of Smart Girls HQ, helping to encourage and connect young women with a lifelong interest in S.T.E.M.

Links mentioned

• Raising Smart Girls Website 
• Raising Smart Girls Instagram
• Raising Smart Girls Facebook
• Abi Olukeye LinkedIn

3 ways to encourage female interest in S.T.E.M. include: 

• Prioritize numeracy. Math is its own language. When we prioritize numeracy the same way we priority literacy, we will see comfort and interest in this area grow. 
• We need to normalize hard tasks. It’s not that girls are not good at math, they just need consistent practice and exposure as with any subject. Just because something is challenging doesn’t mean you should shy away from it. 
• Explain the Why. Girls often need to see the connection between what they are studying and its application in the real world. When we show how math leads to a career in electrical engineering we create a connection between the two and increase motivation. 

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, I’m here to share my 25 years of higher education experience, with 10 years of direct college admissions experience, with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with Elizabeth!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

The Admissions Club Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things college admissions, complete with a nostalgic 80s playlist and Gen X vibes. It’s hard to believe that we’ve traded in scrunchies and Bruce Springsteen posters for walking our kids through the college admissions process!  But, we are here to share our experience in higher education and direct college admissions with you and your student so you don’t have to walk it alone.

Connect with EWC!

• Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn