The Paula Faris Show

It wouldn’t be a series on college if I didn’t invite my high schooler to the conversation, along with a former Ivy League Admissions Director. 

Caroline and I are joined by Becky Sabky, who spent years as Dartmouth’s Director of Admissions and explains why she’s a fan of the gap year. 

Becky shares her insider insights into the admissions process (and how it’s gone mad), plus answers your questions and Caroline’s. She’ll also outline helpful tips to help us on our journey of determining if college is right for our kids and how to find the right schools. 

And wait until you hear about the most powerful letter of recommendation she ever received and the surprising person who wrote it. (It brought us to tears!) 

This is a must listen for every parent … 

(00:00) Navigating the College Admissions Process

(05:37) Prioritizing High School Over College

(09:02) Preparing for College

(20:57) Navigating Choices as a Family

(28:48) Navigating Options and Admissions Rejections

(36:46) Exploring Gap Years

(43:11) Navigating Financial Aid Decisions

(53:50) Maximizing College Opportunities for Success

(58:54) Fostering Identity in College-Bound Students

In this episode, we are delving into the family aspects of making college decisions, understanding the college admissions process, the two biggest mistakes Becky sees students and families make, the surprising place you should look to get an inside view of campus life, and how to find the right school. 



Learn More About Becky Sabky

https://beckysabky.com/ 

Read Becky’s book

FISKE Guide to College 

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Every year around this time, we see or hear about parents dropping their kids off at college. Not sure about you, but it DOES ME IN. 

In this month-long series about college, I’m covering it from many angles, including  whether or not it’s worth it, where to start and if it’s right for your kid, plus answering all the questions you sent me. 

This week, we’re getting a little levity with comedian Chip Leighton of The Leighton Show. If you haven’t seen his hilarious content about “funny texts from your teens and college freshman”, you’ve got to give him a follow. 

Chip, a dad of two, joins John and I to talk about the process of applying to college and the emotions he did NOT expect when he dropped his son off at college. 

He also tells us about his upcoming book, “WHAT TIME IS NOON: HILARIOUS TEXTS, RIDICULOUS FEEDBACK, AND NOT-SO-SUBTLE ADVICE FROM TEENAGERS”, which we’ll be giving away later this month. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It! 

LISTEN IN TO LEARN MORE:

(00:00) College Parenting Humor and Heartache

(02:58) Navigating TikTok Success and Parenting

(14:35) The Key to Letting Go

(22:37) Parenting College-Bound Teens

(34:04) College Admissions Insights

In this episode, we explore Chip’s experience navigating the wide range of emotions that come with dropping your kid off at college, his best advice for parents when kids are applying to colleges, and the three main areas where high school and college students seem to struggle the most. 

CHIP LEIGHTON ON INSTAGRAM

CHIP’S BOOK

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Season 3 of the podcast is here and I’m honestly more excited about this season than any other. Because every single episode is a topic/conversation that YOU requested. 

We’re kicking it off with a month-long series on COLLEGE, where we’re talking to experts and parents about what one college specialist has called “The most emotionally fraught decision many families will ever make.”

How do you know college is even right for your kid? WHEN should you start saving? Is it even worth it or necessary, anymore? 

According to the US Census, 62% of US workers do NOT have a college degree and only 47% of Americans say it’s worth it, but only if you don’t have to take out any loans. 

Ron Lieber, the New York Times’ Money columnist, has been writing about this topic for decades. He’s also a dad, dropping off his eldest daughter at college this fall. 

Ron helps us to untangle this complex puzzle of college and he says it all begins with our WHY. 

Life Happens, friends! Let’s Talk About It!

Listen in to learn more : 

(00:00) Is College Worth It? Pros and Cons

(04:57) Navigating the College Decision Process

(17:50) College Decision Framework and Gap Year

(30:53) Considering Alternatives to College Costs

(39:12) College Financial Planning

(43:46) Navigating Community College and College Costs

In this episode, we are diving into the four main reasons for choosing college, the truth about statistics surrounding college degrees in the workforce, key conversations to have as a family before making college decisions, and tools for estimating what it will actually cost to send your kid to college. 

Ron’s Book -The Price You Pay For College 

The Net Price Calculator

Common Data Set

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You’ve probably heard or watched your fair share of podcasts…

Let me tell you why this one is different: because I’m only talking about the things you want to talk about.

This season—Season 3…every single episode and conversation, something YOU requested…

If you’re talking about it in your home, at your dinner table, with your friends…at work, or maybe even at the gym, we’re talking about it on the show. And I will always keep it real and authentic.

If you’re new, here's an introduction: I'm Paula Faris…. I spent 25 years in TV News, including anchoring GMA and co-hosting The View…before founding CARRYMedia a few years back as an advocate for working moms and families.

And I’m a MOM of three…so I’m going through this with you.

This podcast, this show is all about the things you, as parents, are talking about:

Work life balance, relationships, parenting…

If you’re talking about it, I’m talking about it.

Join me every Tuesday…along with my occasional guest co-host and husband, John…who always has a unique take on things.

Don't forget to subscribe! Join the conversation, and tell us what you want to discuss.

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We’re wrapping our “School’s Out For Parents” series on a comedic note, with comedian Trey Kennedy. John and I had the chance to see Trey perform on his comedy tour and so much of his material is about being a new dad. We’re recapping what Trey says about how fatherhood has changed his life, what it’s like marrying your opposite and how impossible baby gear is to assemble (we’ve all been there!). 

E5 Trey Kennedy: LISTEN to the full episode here 

E5 Trey Kennedy: WATCH the full episode here 

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John has been a Jesse Palmer fan for a long time and can testify to what a great human being he is. I worked with Jesse during one of his many TV stints (he worked at Good Morning America while I was there), and he’s genuinely one of a kind…he’s also a new dad. We’re bringing you our favorite part of this Season One episode, where Jesse talks about those first-time dad jitters, plus how he’s become one of the most versatile hosts on TV. 

E4 Jesse Palmer: LISTEN to the full episode here 

E4 Jesse Palmer: WATCH the full episode here 

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One of John’s all-time favorite books is Atomic Habits, by James Clear. And, he says it wasn’t until my conversation with James from Season Two that he realized how those principles translate to parenting. Want your kids to be on fewer screens this summer? We’re bringing you our favorite parts of that episode and how you can build strong habits (and mindsets) in your kids this summer. 

E3 James Clear: LISTEN to the full episode here 

E3 James Clear: WATCH the full episode here 

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John can testify firsthand how far Whoopi Goldberg and I have come in our friendship. Rocky, at first, we were dear friends despite our many differences. But our most memorable part of this conversation with Whoopi is when she talks about the many odd jobs she worked to get her break in acting, her journey as a single mom, and how she got the nickname “Whoopi.” 

E2 Apple Podcasts URL (link to original episode): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whoopi-goldberg-on-why-we-got-along-and-how-we-worked/id1707980698?i=1000631579316

E2 YouTube URL (link to original episode): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke67s8wCb30

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John and I are recapping the very first episode of this podcast, with MatchBox 20’s Rob Thomas, where he talks about his son (yes, he has a kid!), how they came up with the name MatchBox 20 and according to him, his “best life advice, but worst parenting advice.” 

Episode1 Apple Podcasts URL (link to original episode): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rob-thomas-on-matchbox-20-parenthood-and-new-music/id1707980698?i=1000630013177

Episode 1 YouTube URL (link to original episode): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9srkftyT5U

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It’s summer, and SCHOOL IS OUT FOR PARENTS.

Join John and I every week in July as we talk about our favorite moments from the podcast…and recap our most memorable episodes. We’re giving you an inside look into the guests and conversations…from their best (and worst) parenting advice, how to get kids off screens this summer….to the stories of them becoming parents.

SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER!

Only on The Paula Faris Show.

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