As someone who has written many letters on behalf of students, I noticed some common mistakes that students make, both in the choice of the writer and the way they ask for letters. There are ways to ensure you get the best possible letter on your behalf. You just need to know how.

Simply put: Develop long-lasting, deep, meaningful relationships with supervisors, teachers, counselors, and community leaders.

DEI seems to elicit so many feelings, and I am not sure why. It's not unfairly trying to benefit anyone. Instead, its goal is to ensure fair, equitable treatment for all. So then why is this even a source of controversy?

This is the segment of the podcast in which I just rant about whatever annoys me or puts me in an unreasonable state of rage. Everything I say is meant to be taken as entertainment.... though I believe everything I say is true.

Ever ask for feedback, only to feel like you don't know what to do with that feedback? There might be ways to ask for feedback that will elicit more useful responses.

That's right. It's that time of the year when application decisions start to roll out and students record their reactions to getting accepted, waitlisted, or rejected from the colleges they hope to attend. Which mean... It's also the time when idiotic ideas start to float around about who got in or not and why. Students, parents, college consultants, everyone seems to have an opinion. Let's stop that garbage now. All these opinions are likely completely uninformed guesswork, and leads to nothing more than stirring up a lot of unwarranted resentment and anger toward universities, underrepresented groups, and so on. It happens every year, and it pisses me off because it's just not grounded in reality. So let's please respond with reason, and learn to deal with our emotions in a healthy, mature way, instead of suing.

What should community college students focus on? How is the application process different for a transfer student?

Get a sense of how to prepare.

In a new segment, I just want to make sure that if we are going to critique something, we are critiquing what it actually is, not whatever people perceive it to be. Many of these ideas that are used in public discourse are ways to target colleges as perpetrators of something bad or sinister. Yet in most cases, people seem to be presenting ideas as something that simply isn't true. So let's clear the air.

This is the segment of the podcast in which I just rant about whatever annoys me or puts me in an unreasonable state of rage. Everything I say is meant to be taken as entertainment.... though I believe everything I say is true.

Who should consider going to a community college?

Community college is not for everyone. Like your decision with a four-year college, you should put some serious thought into what college is a good fit for you. So for some, community college does not make sense. For others, it makes a whole lot of sense. So let's discuss why someone might consider going to a community college, and whether that applies to you.

As my understanding and experience is highest at California community colleges, I would be grateful for any insight from those who are familiar with community colleges in other states!

Stay away from Drake.