College Admissions Insider

Seeking a scholarship is among the best ways to secure financial support for college. But that's not all scholarships are good for. 

In this episode, we're exploring the world of academic scholarship programs. You'll hear:

Guests: Carrine Phillips, associate director of admissions; Elizabeth Durden, professor of sociology.

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A Disney-Pixar voice actor, a gold medalist in the British Biology Olympiad, and an internationally ranked pinball player. Those are just a few experiences that make up Bucknell University's first-year students.

Today, we're diving into how admissions teams bring unique individuals together into one well-rounded college class. You'll hear:

Guest: Kevin Mathes '07, vice president of enrollment management & dean of admissions

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If...

College isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. On many campuses, there's an entire office dedicated to providing accessibility resources for a variety of needs, including learning differences.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring:

Guest: Jessie Jones, accessibility coordinator at Bucknell University

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Please note: Information presented in this...

Since 2020, we've pulled back the curtain on all things admissions, sharing expert advice for your college journey.

Today, we're celebrating our 100th episode of College Admissions Insider by tackling our biggest topic yet: the state and future of higher education.

What better guest to invite than someone who's dedicated their career to championing lifelong learning? That person is John Bravman, who currently serves as the 17th president of Bucknell University.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell...

Senior year is finally here, and with it comes all of the excitement and nervousness about what comes next.

For students with their eyes set on college, now is the time to get to work on submitting your very best applications to your dream schools. 

In this last episode in our College Planning Timeline series, Becca and Brooke cover tips, tricks and application insights for high school seniors. 

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When it comes to the college search process, it can feel like all eyes are on junior year.

From the classes you take and the grades you earn, to the steps you take to explore colleges and universities, your junior year in high school might be the most essential.

In this episode of our college planning timeline series, we're offering advice for making the most of it.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

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After nearly 100 episodes, we've learned that it's never too early to start planning for college.  

In our College Planning Timeline series, Becca and Brooke are offering a step-by-step action plan to take you from 9th through 12th grade and beyond. 

Today, we'll cover tips and best practices for students who are sophomores in high school.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of...

Applying to college may seem like one big step toward your future, but you'll be more successful — and less stressed — if you instead see that journey as dozens of smaller steps. 

In the next four episodes of College Admissions Insider, Becca and Brooke will be walking you through our college planning timeline, offering a step by step action plan to take you from 9th grade through 12th grade and beyond.

Today we’ll cover tips and best practices for students who are in their first year in high school. 

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If there's one thing that's always constant, it's change. Nowhere is that more true than in the field of technology. Like many industries, higher education is transforming in the midst of the newest tech revolution: Artificial intelligence.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll explore some of the ways colleges are implementing AI assistance, how that impacts the experience for students and families, and what it means for the future of higher ed.

Our guest is Emily Smith, Principal Vice President of Partner Success at CollegeVine — a company that helps colleges and universities optimize th...

Submitting your application is the ultimate way you'll tell a college you want in. But that's just the end of the story. In the years before you apply, many admissions offices will be on the lookout for something called demonstrated interest.

In this episode, we talk about why demonstrated interest has become increasingly important in recent years, what counts as meaningful engagement, and what students should and shouldn't do as they try to stand out.

Our guest is Kevin Mathes '07, vice president of enrollment management and dean of admissions at Bucknell University.

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The application is the main way colleges and universities get to know you as an applicant. But it's not the only way. At some schools, students are invited to share their story in-person through an admissions interview.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll learn why interviews are valuable in the admissions process, what you can do to practice and prepare, and how building interviewing skills can benefit you in the future.

Our guest is Alison Slater, founder of Interview Prep, which provides personalized coaching for high school students to help them make the...

For some students, college is just a short drive away. For others, it means crossing time zones, states or even coasts.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we’re diving into what it’s really like to attend a college far from home. From culture shock to homesickness to learning how to fly solo (literally and figuratively), we’re sharing stories and insights that can help you decide just how far you’re willing — or excited — to go.

Our guests are Bucknell students Clara Carroll, a senior from Sacramento, Calif., and Terian Williams, a sociology ma...

For some students, their dream school might be right down the road. While for others, it's a road trip, train or plane ride away.

On today's episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll talk about attending school far from home, what that means for your college search, and more importantly, your college experience.

Our guest is with my colleague Cameron Walsh, a regional associate director of admissions at Bucknell. 

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When so much of the college search is about what you'll do during university, it can be easy to push off what comes after until, well, after. 

But knowing what graduates go on to accomplish can be a powerful tool when deciding which schools are on your list. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're diving into outcomes.

We'll discover how universities manage and share outcomes data, the best time to start thinking about careers, how parents and families can best support their students' post-graduate goals and more.

Our guest is Pam K...

Whether you're just now thinking about college or have been visiting campuses for months, there's a step in the college process that all students arrive at: Building a college list.

With thousands of colleges and universities in the U.S., choosing the ones you'd like to attend can feel like a tall order. Good news is you don't have to do it alone. 

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll discuss how to find schools that match your interests, how to organize the colleges that make your list, how parents can play a supporting r...

Spring is officially here, and with it, those long-awaited responses from college admissions.

You may think there's only two options. “Congrats, you're in,” or, “We regret to inform you.” But plenty of students will receive a third message, offering them a spot on the waitlist.

In this minisode, we'll chat about the most important tips for navigating that outcome.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate...

From Google to mobile apps to podcasts like this, there are countless resources out there to help students find the school that's right for them and craft a strong application. 

Many students might find that the ultimate college support is right in their own backyard. On today's episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring community-based organizations. 

We'll define what community-based organizations are, who they serve and the difference they can make in a student's admissions journey. 

Our guest is Adam Navarro-Jusino, associate dean of admissions for access & outreach at Bucknell.

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Websites, brochures and social media can only tell you so much about what a college is like. While visiting in person is an excellent way to get a feel for campus life, there are even more immersive opportunities.

Today on College Admissions Insider, we're diving into pre-college programs. We'll learn what pre-college programs offer prospective students, what the experience looks like at Bucknell, and how it can help you decide where you'd like to attend.

Our guests are Carrine Phillips, senior assistant director of admissions at Bucknell, and Elena Mohan '27.

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Tell us about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

Reflect on a moment when your actions made a difference for others.

Describe one of your passions and why it lights you up. 

These aren't just ideas for your next journal entry. They're prompts you might see when you sit down to write your college essay — one of the only places on the application where students use their own voice to tell an admissions committee about themselves.

 In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we chat about crafting a stro...

There's no shortage of acronyms in higher education, but perhaps none are more important for prospective students than FAFSA and CSS.

For students and families seeking financial aid, these are the essential forms you'll need to submit. Today we'll break down these financial aid forms, the differences between them and some tips for using the FAFSA and CSS to secure aid at the schools on your list.

Our guest is Erin Wolfe, Director of Financial Aid at Bucknell.

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If you have a question, comment or...

In this minisode of College Admissions Insider, Brooke and Becca dive into minimum requirements. You'll learn what minimum requirements are, how they might differ between schools, and ways that you can ensure you're on the right preparation track for college.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since changed. Participants may have changed roles or no longer hold positions at Bucknell...

At schools like Bucknell that receive thousands of applications every year, there’s a good chance some applicants will have similar grades, academic rigor, and extracurricular involvement.

But there's a place where applicants can stand out — something guaranteed to be found in their application and no other. We're talking about the college essay — an applicant's best opportunity to show colleges who they are.

Writing a great college application essay doesn't have to be an intimidating process.

In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendel...

While it may be the student who gets admitted to college in the end, they aren't the only ones with a hand in the process.

From those initial Google searches to campus visits and beyond, parents and families are discovering and learning right alongside their student. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're taking a closer look at the parent and family experience.

We'll talk about the role that parents and families play in the college search process. 

Our guests are two parents who also happen to be admissions professionals at Bucknell. L...

No two college journeys are the same. For some, it might mean attending college right in their hometown, while others might travel halfway or even to the other side of the country for school.

Then, there are those who take their education beyond borders. At the request of one of our listeners, in this episode of College Admissions Insider, we are exploring options for attending college outside of the US.

We'll learn where students can begin researching schools, how admissions can differ from country to country, what the day-to-day learning experience might look like, and...

After choosing where to enroll, the next major decision in the college process is, “What is going to live with you in your home away from home?”

In this College Admissions Insider minisode, we're sharing some tips and considerations to keep in mind when packing for your first year of college.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode was accurate at the time of recording, but may have since chan...

If you've been listening to College Admissions Insider for a while, the title of this episode might ring a bell. In some of our early episodes, we invited real admissions counselors here to talk about how reading applications really works.

Today, we're doing it all again. We'll be chatting about the process front to back — and then some.

Our guest is Kevin Mathes '07, associate vice president and dean of admissions at Bucknell.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, em...

Your grades, extracurriculars and essay responses paint a picture of who you are. But there's another part of your application that colleges and universities pay special attention to:  your intended major.

On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're providing tips on identifying the primary discipline you'll study throughout your four years. We'll discuss when students should start thinking about their major, what your intended major tells a university and how it factors into the admissions process.

Our guest is Jill Medina, senior associate dean of admissions at Bucknell.

If you have a q...

There's only so much you can learn about a school from Google. One of the best ways to get to know a college is to experience it for yourself.

An in-person visit can push a college into dream school territory, or send it falling off your list entirely. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring how you make the most of a college visit from the options available to setting it up and beyond.

Our guest is Chris Rowe, admissions specialist for daily campus visitation programs at Bucknell.

If you have...

When exploring colleges, there's only so much you can do online. At some point, you have to see these places for yourself — all five, 10 or 30 schools on your list.

Unless a family member has unlimited vacation days (or a teleportation machine), the only way to realistically visit multiple schools in a reasonable amount of time is by planning a college visit road trip.

But how do you organize one of these info-gathering trips? How can you keep all these visits straight in your head? And what's the best way to maximize that family time as yo...

Maybe you sketch in your free time, have a leading role in community theater production or dance in a semi-professional company. Whatever your arts interest, there are abundant opportunities to pursue it in college.

On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're chatting with two current Bucknell students about their involvement in the arts. We'll talk about how they found opportunities on campus to get involved, what their activities look like and more.

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In our last College Admissions Insider minisode, we shared some advice for weighing your admission offers and making a decision. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

There's no one better to walk high school seniors through the process than students who were in their shoes not too long ago.

In this episode, we've invited our very own first-year college students to share how they chose the school that was best for them. We'll talk about their journey from applying to deciding, as well as some advice they have for current college-bound students.<...

So far on College Admissions Insider, we've taken you through each step of the application process — from exploring what schools are out there, to making a decision on where you will be applying, and getting ready to submit your very best applications.

Now, we've made it to spring and its decision season.

It's an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful. Is there a magic formula to figuring out which offer you'll accept? Brooke and Becca walk you through how to decide.

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If...

While search engines provide millions of answers in less than a second, there is one life-changing question for which the answer doesn't arrive as quickly: Did I get in?

When you want to know whether you’ve been accepted into your college of choice, things don't happen quickly. In fact, it may be months between the moment you press “submit” on your application and the day that acceptance notification appears in your virtual or physical mailbox.

So what do you do in the meantime? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we’ll provide a few answ...

In the past few episodes of College Admissions Insider, we've covered academic disciplines one by one.

So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities, engineering and management. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're rounding out this series with the social sciences. 

On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. 

Our guest is Michelle Johnson, associate Dean of faculty in the so...

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. 

So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities and engineering. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring management.

On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. 

Our guest is Matt Bailey, a chair in business administration and professor of...

In this College Admissions Insider minisode, Brooke and Becca are diving in on their top recommendations for how college-bound students can best spend their last winter break of high school.

You might be super excited for this break from learning — and from your college applications. But there are plenty of little ways that you can keep progress going on the college process.

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If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email [email protected].

Please note: Information presented in this episode wa...

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time.

So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, and humanities. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring engineering.

On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what engineering look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. 

Our guest is Erin Jablonski, associate dean of Bucknell's College of Engineering. Welcome t...

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time.

So far, we've covered sciences and mathematics. We encourage you to jump back and listen to that episode if you haven't yet. Today, we're chatting about the humanities.

On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what the humanities look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation.

Our guest is Anthony Stewart, associate dean of faculty in the College of...

There are so many important choices you'll make in college: which hall to live in, what to eat, how many extracurriculars to join. But most crucial is the decision of what you'll study.

For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we'll be doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. This episode is dedicated to the sciences and mathematics.

We'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what math and science studies look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation.
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Waiting is the most agonizing part of the college admissions process. You send off your materials and then keep clicking that refresh button until the decision arrives (or your phone dies).

But for a select group of applicants, that waiting period is significantly reduced. These are the students who applied Early Decision or Early Action to their top-choice school or schools.

These students could get a decision as early as December instead of the following March or April — a huge relief, to be sure. Plus, many schools admit Early Decision applicants at a higher rate th...