The Admissions Club

Many people have the intention to go to college, but haven’t thought much more beyond that acceptance letter. Speaking of intention, colleges are also intentional in the experience they design for students. Some colleges go overboard in their desire to attract and retain students. Did you know that LSU students have a lazy river as part of their campus? In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Jude Kiah about how to experience college intentionally as a student and how colleges intentionally design the student experience. Jude Kiah is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. 

In this episode you’ll learn….

• The importance of getting out of your dorm room. Nothing will happen if you don’t leave your room and see what opportunities exist.
• Why it is essential to say YES in college! Take risks, try things. These will become your favorite lasting college memories. 
• How college departments work together to create a positive student experience. 

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!

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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!

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Demonstrated interest. What is that? You might even be thinking, what does demonstrated interest have to do with college admissions? Demonstrated interest is showing colleges and universities you are not only interested in them, but serious about pursuing your higher education there. As good English teachers say, “Show Me, Don’t Tell Me.” In this episode, we will explore the different ways you can SHOW a college or university that you are interested in them. And remember, there is a fine line between showing interest and bombarding them with questions… 

In this episode you’ll learn…

• Attending a college fair in your town or a college’s open house is a great way to show demonstrated interest. In addition, this is a perfect opportunity to pick up information on financial aid, housing, and campus activities.
• To make notes of who you speak with at college fairs and activities. It is always a good idea to ask for a business card or write that person’s name down. Making that personal contact with an admissions representative from the college will help them remember you when it comes to application time. 
• Demonstrated interest cannot be demonstrated by your parents. Please don’t have your parents call or email the university, this reflects poorly on you. Make sure you are the one contacting the university to show your interest. 

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!

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• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

College can be described as 4 years of incubated growth- it is truly an immense time of learning! So many changes are experienced by college students during their 4 years that often parents don’t recognize the kid who comes home to visit them. In this episode, my friend and former teacher, Bill Lee, shares his 6 E’s for success in college. Bill is currently a professor at SUNY-Cortland who started his education career as a high school dropout. He earned his GED, then went on to college, focusing on social work, and then teaching. He has over 40 years experience in the classroom and loves every minute of it. Tune into this episode to learn 6 success tips for future college students. 

In this episode you’ll learn…

• Why students need to explore during their college years. Did you know that 80% of students switch their major at least once during their 4 years?
• Why students need to engage with their professors, their peers and their community. This is their chance to find their people, ask all the questions, and be connected.
• Why time management is a crucial skill to develop during these years. When students spend 1 hour a week planning their week, they can alleviate many problems and free up their time.

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

Private college counselors - also known as Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) - are definitely an investment, but so worth it to set your student up for the best possible college experience! In this episode, I am sharing all the ins and outs on IECs, including how private college counselors are different from high school and admissions counselors, what to look for in an IEC, and when it’s time to hire one for your student.

Some key takeaways on finding a private college counselor:

• According to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, there is one counselor for about every 482 students in schools. School counselors are way too overloaded to give the 1:1 attention needed for the admissions process.
• Private college counselors offer a variety of services such as workshops, group programs, and 1:1 counseling. Their goal is to make sure you get the most out of the investment you’re making in your college education.
• A good IEC will never ever speak ill of the school counselor community or disparage any academic institution. If they do, run the other way and find a good counselor that is a cheerleader and who is prioritizing finding the best fit college for 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

The admissions process can be overwhelming and stressful for both students and their families. Mindfulness is a great way to help recognize, acknowledge, and manage that stress. In this episode, my friend Lorree Riley, LCMHC, is joining us to share her best tips for practicing mindfulness and staying in yourself during the admissions process. Lorree is a Counselor, Coach, and Consultant at Envision Creative Counseling, PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Resources mentioned:

• Ten Percent Happier App
• Calm App
• Headspace App

Some key takeaways on mindfulness during the admissions process are:

• Mindfulness is a way of “being” in your day. Bring awareness to your day. How are you feeling? How does your body feel? What stories are you carrying with you today? How are those stories manifesting in your body?
• As a parent or guardian to your teenager, model and practice mindfulness so they can learn how to practice it themselves. Share when you’re feeling overwhelmed and then announce what you’re going to do to decompress, then go do that thing.
• Find an activity that helps the stress move through your body. This might be yoga, jumping on a trampoline, banging on drums, going for a walk, or any type of physical movement that you enjoy.

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

Have you ever wondered how a college admissions counselor personally approaches each student’s application? In this episode, my friend Matt Provost, an Admissions Counselor for Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, joins us to share his perspective on what he looks for when evaluating a potential student. From their admissions essay to their interactions at college fairs and on campus tours, he gives the full picture of everything that ultimately goes into the admissions decision.

We are opening up a few spots for our Junior Monthly Retainer coaching on September 1st! This is our most hands-on service for high school juniors, and spots are limited, so visit http://ncewc.com/ to learn more and book a free consultation!

Some key takeaways from my conversation with Matt are:

• College admissions counselors are looking at the whole student and all their strengths. They are ultimately wanting to answer the question “Will this student succeed and thrive at this school?” If yes, awesome! But if it’s not a good fit, that’s okay! There are more options out there.
• When it comes to your admissions essay, counselors are looking first and foremost at your writing skills. Next is how compelling and fun it is to read your essay. If you have a great story to share, it will really make your essay stand out.
• How much personal interest you show in a school means a lot to admissions counselors. If you connect 1:1 with a counselor at a college fair, and then make a point to say hello to them on a college visit, you start to make a strong impression of demonstrated interest in the school.

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

Community college can be an amazing way to transition from high school to a 4-year college or university, and Lydia Ryan is proof of that. Lydia is one of the wonderful students I met and still keep in touch with from my days at Central Piedmont Community College. In this episode, Lydia shares her journey of attending CPCC before transferring to East Carolina University, and how she grew into a confident, self-assured professional thanks to all she gained from CPCC.

Some key takeaways from Lydia’s story are:

• Community college is probably much better than you expect. In Lydia’s experience, CPCC was able to provide her with caring and challenging (in a good way!) professors, memories, friends, and a great transition to a 4-year college.
• Networking begins in college! Meet as many peers, professors, and professionals as you can when you’re still in school. It’s a great skill to learn and nurture, but will also serve you well when it’s time to apply for jobs after graduation and beyond.
• As Lydia put so well in the episode, “Don’t let the plan keep you from trusting your gut.” It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do or where you want to go when you’re 18. Leave room to try different things, and trust your gut when something feels right.

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

Supplemental essays are a college’s way of truly gauging your interest in attending their school, so it’s crucial that you are intentional and strategic in your approach to writing them. In this episode, I’m sharing my best tips on writing strong supplemental essays so you can put your best foot forward in your application. 

Some key takeaways on supplemental essay writing include:

• There are three common types of supplemental essays. They are interest essays, personal or whimsical essays, and academic essays.
• Be specific to the college you’re applying to in your supplemental essay. Demonstrate that you’ve done research and include details of your visit to campus where it’s applicable.
• Specifically mention special programs, events, or traditions that take place on this campus. Not only does this show you know the campus culture, it also drives home your interest in being a part of these events as a student. 

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

Your college admissions essays are a key part of the application process. They give you an opportunity to share your personality, character, and storytelling skills with admissions counselors, which can absolutely set you apart… if you write them well. In this episode, I’m sharing my best tips and guidance for writing your college admissions essays, including the most common essay pitfalls and how to avoid them.

If you want a professional to review your admissions essays, contact us for a consultation to see if our essay review team would be a good fit for you at https://ncewc.com/contact. 

Links mentioned:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• Coalition Essay Prompts

 Some key takeaways on writing your college admissions are:

• Utilize literary storytelling elements, and make sure you’re entertaining your audience. Don’t be too silly or superficial, but find your unique and interesting story and tell it in a compelling way in your essay.
• Be laser focused on the essay prompt or prompts. Are you answering their questions? Did you go off on a tangent? If you don’t follow the directions, you won’t be considered, so pay close attention to them.
• Some further pitfalls you might run into are if your essay is too braggy or narcissistic rather than personable, or your essay is a sob story that comes off as emotionally manipulative. 

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

Are you or your female student interested in STEM careers? In this episode, Jennifer Mathews, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Administration at the University of Rochester, joins us to share her perspective on the opportunities for women and girls to excel in STEM fields. Jennifer has spent her career studying and teaching pharmaceutical sciences, and her view of how STEM has changed for women over the years is incredibly eye-opening. Not only is she an established and recognized speaker, she’s also my childhood friend and my roommate at SUNY Potsdam!

Some key takeaways on opportunities for women in STEM are:

• A lot of women and young girls are discouraged from entering STEM fields or exploring those subjects - even though they’re perfectly capable of excelling in them - because they hear too often how “hard” these fields are.
• While there is still room for more inclusion of women in STEM, there are much fewer barriers for women in STEM today than there were when Jennifer was just starting her career, and many colleges and universities prioritize including women in their STEM programs.
• Just because your college or university isn’t widely recognized for STEM does not mean that there aren’t ample opportunities in those fields. If you’re willing to seek mentors, experience, and programs to explore what you’re interested in, you will find them no matter where you’re going to school.

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