Let's take a different look at international students - specifically, Americans going to study in Europe. This week focuses on the reasons some families are looking to study overseas, and how European colleges are trying to crack open the North American market. There are lessons in here for all of us.

Sara Bitner, Co-Founder and Head Education Advisor at Launch Education Advisors, gets us started with the perspective of an influencer.

Iain Harris, International Recruitment Manager of the Americas at Northumbria, in the United Kingdom continues the conversation, with the mindset of an admissions professional.

Ever the hot topic, we're tackling the best practices for communicating with parents through the college admissions process. After scouting them at the Illinois ACAC conference last spring, Nathan asked them to bring the insights from their presentation to our listeners.

Christopher Chiakulas, Post-Secondary Counselor at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, gets us started with the perspective of an influencer.

Erin Soroosh, Senior Regional Enrollment Manager at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio continues the conversation, with the mindset of an admissions professional.

At long last, The Admissions Directors Lunchcast comes back for an eighth season. We've got an intriguing slate of topics coming your way, every Tuesday from now until the end of October. If you just can't wait to see who's coming each week, this quick teaser episode will give you the inside scoop early.

Enjoy this extended conversation, where we dig much deeper with Dr. Wicker about the implications of her research for admissions directors.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation.

Originally published as part of our episode, "Getting The Most Out Of Visits in March, our conversation with Kate Hooper, Senior Associate Director of Admissions for Prospective Student Visit Experiences at Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, Michigan, discusses how she makes the visit program work so well at her institution.

Enjoy this extended conversation with Kate Hooper about how colleges can get the most out of a campus visit.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation.

Every season, a few interviews need just a bit more space than we can fit into our regular format. When the full interview can't fit into one hour, we catch up in between seasons to give an unedited conversation.

Originally published as part of our episode, "Getting The Most Out Of Visits in March, our conversation with Jenna Shulman, Independent Educational Consultant with Jenna Shulman College Consulting, in Florham Park, New Jersey, was too long to fit into one episode. However, the conversation was too good to keep to ourselves.

Enjoy this extended conversation with Jenna Shulman about how colleges can get the most out of a campus visit.

Wrapping up the Counselor's Choice season, we bring you the hot topic: is college admissions a business?

Of course, the answer probably isn't plainly "yes" or "no" - but where on the spectrum between those two answers do we land? Where should we land?

To guide us through this, we have Jennifer Jessie, also known as Jenn The Tutor, from Northern Virginia, thinking through the implications of this question as it relates to students and families.

Then, Paul McGinnis, Vice President of Enrollment at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, helps us understand how the world of business does and does not, inform the business function of college admissions.

You've thought about it.

Those of us who've been through a few Aprils in this job have considered it at least once - making the leap to independent educational consulting.

This week, we're discussing just that - why are admissions leaders considering moving over, what's changed in the last few years, and what's the difference between those who decide to do it and those who don't.

We are thrilled to bring you two great guests to speak on this topic.

Kristina Dooley, Founder and President at Estrela Consulting in Hudson, Ohio, and the Immediate Past President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association starts the conversation with her story, and what she's seen from people considering the move.

Dr. Thom Golden, Founder and CEO of Golden Educational Consulting in Hendersenville, Tennesse, describes the program he's built to help professionals make the move.

Like a time capsule to our future selves, from time to time, we check in on the enduring hot topics in our profession. This week, at the suggestion of our influencer guest, we're discussing the state of test-optional admissions in 2024.

Moira McKinnon, Director of College Counseling at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, helps us understand how students today are interpreting the myriad of test-optional admissions policies they have to navigate.

Jim Gibbons, Director of Admissions at Wagner College, in Staten Island, New York, brings the college perspective to help current admissions directors navigate and clarify their policies for students.