Colleges that Change Lives - St. John’s College​ Episode 82This is our fifth episode in the 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL).Our guest is Yvette Shaffer, Director of Admissions, at St. John’s College located in Santa Fe, N.M. St. John’s College started in Annapolis, Md. and maintains two campuses, Annapolis and Santa Fe.All students follow the same core curriculum, with only a couple elective classes. The college’s premise is based upon 200 moments when the written word changed the direction of how we see ourselves as human beings, from ancient Greece to today.Each campus, situated in beautiful, historical centers, has roughly 400 undergraduate students. Santa Fe offers outdoor activities such as hiking, great dining and a city vibe. Annapolis provides access to historical architecture and has a bit of a Hogwarts feel.St. John’s has a diverse student population, representing most U.S. states and more than 40 countries, which creates a true diversity of thought.Applicant attributes: Johnnies are curious, risk-takers, and always ask “why.” Ideal students aspire to be changed from their learning experiences, love learning and are less interested in rote learning. St. John’s is test-optional.Financial Aid: St. John’s underwent a tuition reset this year and is now $35,000. St. John’s offers limited merit aid defined by a student’s essay, GPA, and letters of recommendation. The college comes very close to meeting students’ demonstrated need and offers an appeals process for families who need more.Student life: Student government allows students to charter a diverse array clubs ranging from sports to gaming to crafting and arts.Assessment: St. John’s doesn’t send grades to students. Students and tutors meet regularly to discuss each student’s performance, identify opportunities for growth, and to help celebrate what’s amazing about each student.Post-college: Many students progress to graduates school.Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) is a cohort of schools that focus on designing a campus experience that’s relevant to students. CTCL dates back to 1996 and the publication of Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope, a retired New York Times education editor and journalist. Pope believed college rankings are a simple solution to a complex question. Following the book, CTCL colleges began working together to promote Pope’s philosophy of a student-centered college search.Be sure to download the action guide and use it to follow along with this series.Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!Show linksColleges that Change LivesColleges that Change Lives InterviewAllegheny College Interview

Yvette Sobky Shaffer currently serves as the Director of Admissions at St. John's College, Santa Fe. With over 20 years of higher education experience at multiple institutions, her career started humbly as a campus tour guide at her undergraduate alma mater, Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She also earned her Master's Degree in Writing at Otis College of Art and Design. As a first generation student herself, she is motivated to help students of all types to find their perfect fit institution and to reach higher for their education.

Colleges that Change Lives - Reed College Episode 81This is our fourth episode in the 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL).Our guest speaker is Milyon Trulove, Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, at Reed College located in Portland, Ore.At 1,400 students, Reed is a small, liberal arts college. Reed is a good fit for students dedicated to serious and open intellectual inquiry, and the college ascribes to a “living the life of the mind” philosophy.Popular majors: Psychology, English, Economics and Biology are most popular at Reed. The college is 4th overall in the U.S. for students who go on to obtain their Ph.D., and it has an uncommonly large population that progresses directly to graduate school. Reed also has a large population of student entrepreneurs who begin their own businesses.As a Reedie, what can students expect from their college experience? Reed doesn’t focus purely on grades to evaluate student performance. Students and teachers rely on a paper conference to facilitate dialogue around a student’s learning.Applicant attributes: Ideal applicants are students who illustrate intellectual passion. High school grades, challenging coursework, passion and the student essay are all important components of the student application.Financial Aid: Reed provides 100 percent of financial aid for those with demonstrated need. Tuition at Reed College is $17,000 a year, making it one of the most affordable schools in Oregon.Student life: The college does not have any NCAA athletic teams, fraternities or sororities. Instead, Reed offers activities, clubs and team sports that are open to all. Student government is very active. Legislation that is passed goes through the student senate, effectively engaging students in crafting part of their education.Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) is a cohort of schools that focus on designing a campus experience that’s relevant to students. CTCL dates back to 1996 and the publication of Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope, a retired New York Times education editor and journalist. Pope believed college rankings are a simple solution to a complex question. Following the book, CTCL colleges began working together to promote Pope’s philosophy of a student-centered college search.Be sure to subscribe to this podcast, share it with a friend and leave us a rating or review!Show links:Reed CollegeColleges that Change Lives Episode 78Allegheny College Episode 79​New College of Florida Episode 80Colleges that Change LivesAbout Milyon TruloveMilyon Trulove has held a variety of roles in higher education, including as director and dean; his enrollment experience includes his alma mater, St. Olaf, the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Hamline University, also in St. Paul. Milyon received an MA in leadership of student affairs from the University of St. Thomas. He is currently Vice President and Dean of Admission & Financial Aid at Reed College, in Portland Oregon. In his free time he enjoys grilling, reading great fiction, NPR, collecting, and exploring Portland’s diverse food scene.

Colleges that Change Lives - New College of Florida Episode 80This is our third episode in the 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL).Sharon Alcock, Associate Director of New Student Recruitment, is actively engaged in recruitment efforts for the New College of Florida.New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college, offers rigorous courses for its 850-student population. Average class size is approximately 15 students. Professors teach classes and advise their students. Due to the school’s small size, students are able to do research and conduct internships right away.Top majors: Biology, Pre-Med, Marine Biology, Political Science, Pre-LawGrading: Students do not receive traditional grades or a GPA. Instead, they receive a grade of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” with guidance on their strengths and areas of improvement. At New College of Florida, the focus is on learning rather than on grades.The ideal New College of Florida student: Self-motivated and passionate about learning; possesses an activist mindset; musically or artistically creative; seeks an intimate classroom experience.When admitting students, New College of Florida takes a holistic view, considering the student’s quality extracurriculars (i.e., leadership), personal statement and letters of recommendation. Test scores are also considered.Financial considerations: Tuition is comparatively low since New College of Florida is a state school. An automatic $15,000/year scholarship is granted for out-of-state students. Base tuition is $30,000. Room and board costs run roughly $9,000/year. Campus is located in Sarasota, Fla.Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) is a cohort of schools that focus on designing a campus experience that’s relevant to students. CTCL dates back to 1996 and the publication of Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope, a retired New York Times education editor and journalist. Pope believed college rankings are a simple solution to a complex question. Following the book, CTCL colleges began working together to promote Pope’s philosophy of a student-centered college search.Be sure to subscribe to this podcast, share it with a friend and leave us a comment or review!Show links:New College of FloridaColleges that Change Lives Episode 78Allegheny College Episode 79Colleges that Change Lives

Colleges that Change Lives - Allegheny College                     Episode 79This episode is the second in a 6-part series on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Be sure to download the action guide that corresponds to this series linked in the show links.Jason Andracki, a first-generation college student, attended Carnegie Mellon University. Since graduation in the late 1990s, Andracki has worked in college admissions and is the Associate Director of Marketing & Communications at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.Founded in 1815, Allegheny College is the 32nd oldest college in the U.S. Allegheny recognizes people are not one-dimensional and celebrates each individual as a culmination of “unusual combinations.” Students are encouraged to pursue both a major and a minor and/or consider interdisciplinary programs.Allegheny’s student body is comprised of students from 46 states and 65 countries. When reviewing applications, the college considers a student’s willingness to work hard and challenge themselves, considering fit and the applicant’s diverse array of interests. At Allegheny, admissions looks beyond classes and grades and relies on recommendation letters and personal statements to get to know their applicants.Scholarships* Trustee Scholarship is based on the application and is awarded from $10,000 to $35,000 per year, based on student’s high school record, not necessarily their class rank.* Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leaders commit to at least two years of service and one summer partnering with an organization in town. This scholarship can be beneficial for many students.* There are scholarships available for students who wish to participate in art, music, theatre, and dance, even if it’s not their major. Interviews or auditions are required for these scholarships.Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) is a cohort of schools that focus on designing a campus experience that’s relevant to students. CTCL dates back to 1996 and the publication of Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope, a retired New York Times education editor and journalist. Pope believed college rankings are a simple solution to a complex question. Following the book, CTCL colleges began working together to promote Pope’s philosophy of a student-centered college search.Be sure to download the action guide and use it to follow along with this series.What are your unusual combinations? Share yours! And be sure to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a comment or review

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About Jason AndrackiUnusual Combinations: Collector / Metalhead / PescetarianJason joined the Admissions Office at Allegheny in January, 1999. He is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Professional Writing. While in college he was involved with orientation and residence life and discovered he wanted to continue working in higher education. After some time in alumni affairs at his alma mater he decided he wanted to assist students and their families with the college search, particularly in a liberal arts environment. He enjoys meeting students throughout their college search and helping them to see if Allegheny will be a good fit.In addition to working with students on their college search, Jason assists with communications and data management in the Admission Office. He never understood why it was necessary for Excel to have upwards of 50,000 rows until working in admissions. Jason lives near campus with his wife, an Allegheny grad and high school English teacher, daughter and two cats that sometimes “help” when reading applications at home.LINKS:Allegheny College

Colleges that Change Lives                                                        Episode 78This episode is the first in a 6-part series focusing on Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). Be sure to download the action guide that corresponds to this series. But first, a couple announcements…Scholarship Bootcamp is launching soon! This four-week program is for graduating seniors (class of 2019) and current college students. The course focuses on private scholarships, search secrets, how to stand out as a competitive applicant and more.And, a great big THANK YOU for listening and sharing this podcast with your friends! You helped make The Scholarship Shark podcast one of the 100 outstanding podcasts for 2019!IN THIS EPISODEColleges that Change Lives is a cohort of schools that focuses on designing a campus experience that’s relevant to students. Maria Furtado, its Executive Director, speaks about the lifelong value of a college education and the benefit of a liberal arts education. Ms. Furtado believes finding the right college should be about fit.Colleges that Change Lives dates back to 1996 and the publication of Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope, a retired New York Times education editor and journalist. Pope believed college rankings are a simple solution to a complex question. Following the book, CTCL colleges began working together to promote Pope’s philosophy of a student-centered college search. By delivering four tours per year, CTCL enables students and their families to be introspective, consider lesser-known options and stay open minded throughout the college search.A few facts:CTCLs attract faculty who want to teach, mentor and advise.CTCL believes the college search should be student-centered.CTCL is hosting 25 events in 2019. Learn more at their website in the show links.CTCL offers a scholarship. Applications are available now until March 22, 2019. Two awards, $1000 a year, renewable for four years as long as the student stays at a CTCL school.Share this podcast with a friend and be sure to leave us a comment or reviewABOUT MARIA FURTADOMaria Furtado is the Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Colleges That Change Lives. She has worked in higher education for closer to 25 years, and she worked at two CTCL schools, Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Eckerd College in St Petersburg, Florida. Maria speaks all around the country to students, parents and counselors about college rankings and popular misperceptions about college admission, the strength and worth of a liberal arts education, the lifelong value of a college education – the return on investment - and offers tips for students and parents on how to manage the college search. She really enjoys helping students and families as they take on the college search process, and she believes that finding the right college should be about "fit,” not just settling or chasing the name brand. Maria also believes that it's OK, and actually preferable, to enjoy talking about colleges. She also thinks the college search should actually be fun.Show links:Scholarship Bootcamp2019 List of 100 Outstanding PodcastsColleges that Change Lives