The College Checklist Podcast

After the initial shock of quarantine life wore off last spring, we realized that one of the biggest ways that the Class of 2021 was going to be impacted by Coronavirus was the inability to visit college campuses. Kelly Queijo of SmartCollegeVisit.com will help us discover how to best use the myriad digital tools now available to us to forge true connection as we select our colleges from a distance.

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

About Kelly Queijo

A Virginia Tech alumna, Kelly Queijo, is an award-winning writer and entrepreneur and founder of Smart College Visit, Inc. Kelly is passionate about education, technology and travel, whether live or virtual.

Smart College Visit publishes current, relative, and relatable content for students, parents, and high school guidance counselors, while SCV Journey provides students an easy way to search for colleges that meet their criteria, access college profile data and create their own, personalized college list.

Together these sites make a connected college planning resource for college-bound teens and their families. Learn more at SmartCollegeVisit.com and SCVJourney.com.

Writing your college essay can be an incredibly daunting task. It can be hard to know how to talk about yourself in a way that shares what you've accomplished without seeming like you're bragging. Or you may struggle to find anything to talk about. We have all the information you need to get started.

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

Throughout the years, I've noticed that many of the families I've worked with have focused exclusively on getting into college throughout high school. There's a sense that you ought to know where you're going and what it will cost before figuring out the financial side of the equation, and this can cost you!

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

Today we're going to dive into a question we've received so very many times over the last few months: Should we take the ACT or SAT this year? Should we take a test at all? It's complicated!

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

When thinking about next steps for college admissions in the time of Coronavirus, something that is top of mind for so many families is the cost.Frankly, it should be top of mind any time we're talking about college.There is a lot of need-based aid and merit-based aid that's available, even in these challenging times.

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

Today's episode is the first in our special series about how Coronavirus is impacting college admissions for the Class of 2021. In this episode, we'll be exploring college admissions from the 50,000 foot view and talking through how you may be impacted if you're applying to college in the fall of 2020.

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

After a 2 year hiatus, the College Checklist Podcast is back to help families navigate the college admissions process in the time of Coronavirus.

Earn the SAT or ACT score that will secure admissions and scholarships to the college of your dreams!

In Episode 82 of The College Checklist Podcast, I interviewed Kelly Peeler of NextGenVest and something she said got me thinking about alternatives to college.  While she was very clear that the data from the last 20 years shows that college graduates make more over their lifetime than their uneducated peers, she also implied that the payoff may decrease in the future but that the industries around college admissions and higher education make it very challenging to buck the trend of going to college.

As some of you know, I love learning and I love helping students who are college-bound succeed and achieve their academic goals. That said, I am not convinced that college is the right fit for every student. We’ve talked about this a bit in past episodes about gap years and trade schools.

Today, we’re going to discuss yet another way that you can veer off the college-bound path or, if you prefer, that you can differentiate your high school and college experience. In this episode, we’re diving into what it takes to become a high school entrepreneur – specifically an online entrepreneur. I’m so passionate about this topic and excited to share it with you!

I hope you enjoy this unique episode of The College Checklist Podcast.

Listen Now: Are You Meant To Be An Entrepreneur

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Show Notes

Resources Mentioned

Books for Entrepreneurs

* EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey*

* Platform by Michael Hyatt*

Entrepreneurial Podcasts

* Side Hustle with Nick Loper

* Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn

* The Unsexy Side with Lauren Gaggioli

Get In Touch With Me

* Listen to The Unsexy Side Podcast

* Connect with my on my Facebook page for entrepreneurs

* Leave a comment here with your questions! I’m happy to help!

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In today’s episode of The College Checklist Podcast, Kelly Peeler of NextGenVest shares a lot of information about the ever-shifting landscape of college financial aid.

Be sure to take advantage of NextGenVest’s free texting service that can help you have your financial aid and scholarship questions answered. NextGenVest can even help you appeal your financial aid award!

Learn more about this free service at NextGenVest.com.

Listen Now: Getting Financially Organized for College Admissions

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About Kelly Peeler

Kelly Peeler is the founder & CEO of NextGenVest – a free text message service designed to help students navigate the financial aid and student loan process. A graduate of Harvard with a degree in History and Economics, Kelly is passionate about empowering young people to live their fullest lives.

Show Notes

RECOMMENDED Resources

* Text NextGenVest at 646-798-1745 for free financial aid guidance.

* For more on the changes to the FAFSA in 2016, check out Episode 71 of The College Checklist Podcast.

* For more on the process of appealing financial aid awards, listen to episode 74 of The College Checklist Podcast.

Quotable quotes

“The number one thing that is holding students back from living their lives to their fullest potential is the student loan burden.”

“Take 2 hours to get organized for the FASFA now to reduce the level of stress later.”

“It is advantageous to submit your FASFA as early as possible.”

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If you’ve ever wondered how students get admitted to top schools like Columbia, you’re in for a special treat! My former test prep student and Columbia University Class of 2020 admittee Tevis joins me on today’s episode of The College Checklist Podcast to share his college admissions story.

Here’s the thing: getting into an Ivy League college is hard work and it’s not the right school environment for everyone. That said, there are lessons that every student applying college can glean from another student who has applied to and been accepted at one of the most competitive colleges in the country.

I think you’ll find Tevis’s story both inspiring and informative. I know I did!

 

Listen Now: How I Got Into Columbia University

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Show Notes

Resources Mentioned

* Higher Scores Test Prep’s Complete ACT Prep Course

Quotable Quotes

“I’ve been self-motivated since I was in kindergarten. If you don’t drive yourself you will never get into a top college.”

“In my junior year I took many AP courses, but the most important thing I did was take ACT test prep.”

“You don’t have to do every activity in high school. Just do the things you are passionate about.”

“For my application, I made sure each section of the app was meticulously written and chosen to showcase exactly what I wanted college admissions officers to see.  I had each section proofed to make sure everything was pristine.  I also sent two recordings of songs from my piano repertoire.”

 

Recommended Listening

Want more episodes like this one? Check out Episode 3 – How To Get Into An Ivy League School to get tips for college admissions from a former Harvard admissions officer.

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