The College Spy Podcast

We all know that college admissions officers look at your student’s GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars and test results.

But would you be surprised to know that your intended major can also impact admissions decisions?

This conversation with Lisa Marker Robbins is a must-listen as your high school student plans for college applications. Thinking ahead to majors and career goals can have a significant impact on which universities your student wants to apply to as well as their admissions prospects at those schools. Lisa and her team completed in-depth research with the 50 flagship state universities to learn more about how majors play a role in their admissions decisions.

Lisa Marker Robbins has the heart of a teacher, coupled with a purpose and passion for supporting families, teens and young adults through her career coaching course, Launch Career Clarity. Since 1999, she has supported thousands of students as an independent college counselor.

In 2010, she doubled down specifically on college major and career coaching for students because she realized those two things were the cornerstone of post high school planning. Four thousand students have benefited from her proven three pillar framework, moving them from overwhelmed and confused to clear, confident and motivated about their future. In 2018, Forbes magazine cited her work as a crucial first step in improving the ROI of college.

Also in this episode: 

Admission Tip of the Day: Start job shadow experiences and informational interviews in high school. Online resources are helpful but talking to a real person working in the field can bring a new perspective.

College Spotlight: Colorado College 

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Key points in this episode

2:49 Meet Lisa Marker Robbins

5:28 Research on the impact of major & college selection

6:33 What do 90% of flagship colleges care about?

10:08 The busy phase of raising teenagers

12:07 Who owns the career exploration process?

15:40 How colleges try to balance their incoming class

20:01 Thoughts on transferring colleges

20:43 Recommended career resources

25:00 Flourish Coaching’s practice and data

29:05 Admissions Tip of the Day

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Additional Resources

Join us for my interview with Ryan Palm, Executive Director of the Brad McGarry Center for Neurodiversity at Mercyhurst University. Not only will you learn about the AIM program at Mercyhurst and how it supports autistic students, but we also cover how to research and evaluate these kinds of fee-based programs, how college is different from high school for neurodivergent students and what you can do as a parent of an autistic student to help prepare them for college while they're in high school.

Ryan Palm is the executive director of the Brad McGarry Center for Neurodiversity at Mercyhurst University and is working to expand the mission of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) with a focus on increasing enrollment and building corporate relationships and employment opportunities. In this role, Ryan brings employment experience in three primary sectors, government, non profit, and corporate, and leverages those experiences and connections to help AIM students with their career aspirations. Ryan also identifies new partnership opportunities that will benefit both Mercyhurst students, as well as the external partner, creating a new or expanded pipeline of neurodivergent talent.

Also in this episode:

How Academic Coaching can help your neurodivegent student prepare for college.

Admission Tip of the Day: Make sure to be working on the following college ready skills while your student is in high school so they're most likely to have a successful transition to college. 

• The ability to make decisions on their own.

• The ability to solve their own problems. 

• Money management skills. 

• Advocating for oneself

• Being able to complete work independently

Learn about Academic Coaching: https://thecollegespy.com/academic-coaching-package-high-school

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College Spotlight: Elon University

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Key points in this episode

1:52 Meet Ryan Palm

4:25 Introduction to AIM and how does the program support autistic students

6:00 Why autistic students struggle in college

6:45 Modifications vs Accommodations

8:44 Recommendations for researching fee-based college support programs

13:45 Admissions at AIM is not related to admissions at Mercyhurst

17:22 Academic Coaching to prepare students for college

18:20 Challenges for families as their students transition to college

19:53 FERPA waiver discussions

21:50 Fees and financial aid for a fee-based support program

24.35 CREATE program at Mercyhurst

30:28 Tip of the Day

31:15 College Spotlight: Elon University

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#23: Charting Your Course Preview: An Interview with Aaron Basko

Join us for an interview with Aaron Basko, author of “Find Your Purpose. Manage Your Career” and instructor for our upcoming live class Charting Your Course.  As a higher education leader, speaker and author, Aaron has led four different colleges to enrollment turnarounds and been quoted in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Today, we’ll be talking about his practical book full of hands-on advice to help students discover where their passions lie and turn that into a rewarding career.  You’ll learn why starting early is so important, how to think about selecting a major and a pro tip for triangulation that you can use in creating a compelling application package. 

Also in this episode:

Admission Tip of the Day: There is a wide range of competitiveness in college athletics from Division I to club sports to intramural sports. If sports have been an important and positive part of your high school career, look for ways that it can be part of your college life too! There will be a level where you are ‘good enough’ to play!

Is academic research an important part of the admissions process? How do you know if it’s right for your student? And how do you find a position that fits your student’s interests?

We cover all of these topics and more in today’s episode with Dr. Robert Malkin, Professor of the Practice of Biomedical Engineering and Global Health, Emeritus at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  He is also the Academic Director of the International Research Institute of North Carolina. Dr. Malkin was the founder and Director of Engineering World Health and The Global Public Service Academies, organizations dedicated to improving healthcare in the developing world. 

Dr. Malkin talks to The College Spy about why academic research can help a college application stand out from the crowd. He also explains why experienced mentorship is so crucial to a research position. You’ll learn the importance of correct citation of your research and why apprenticeship is the key method to learn research skills. 

Dr. Malkin published a helpful guide for high school students looking to get into academic research that we highly recommend. Link below.

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Tip of the Day: Think about whether a large university is right for your student. These schools often have wide varieties of majors and student organizations but some students feel that it takes time to find their place and get to know professors. Visit large, small and medium sized colleges to get a feel for what is best.

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College Spotlight: Northeastern University

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Key points in this episode:

2:57 Meet Dr. Robert Malkin

6:40 The best ways to get research positions

10:55 The importance of mentorship

13:08 Why your mentor matters more than the institution name

17:40 Why networking matters in research

19:30 How important is research to getting in?

22:00 Is research a good fit?

23:40 Goals for academic research

26: 37 Tip of the Day

27:45 College Spotlight on Northeastern University

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Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast

Back to school season is here! High school students often start the year excited to reinvent themselves. Learn how to harness this positive energy to start the semester on the right foot.

Today, we’re talking with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities. As a high school special education teacher for over 40 years, Lisa helps students master their strengths, organize their time and improve their grades. 

Here’s Lisa’s top 4 tips to help your neurodivergent student hit the ground running this year! 

1. Encourage your student to send an email introducing themselves to their teachers. This is a great way for students to share their learning disability, accommodations and why they need those accommodations. Thank the teacher for reading the email.

2. Find an organization system that your students want to engage in. Don’t impose your own organization style on your student (and don’t write their name in marker all over every folder!)

3. Create a plan for grade checks. Once a week seems to be the right cadence.  Choose a set time such as Wednesday afternoons or Thursday evenings to check grades together. 

4. Every student has to maintain some type of a calendar. How they do it needs to be up to them. The student should maintain their own calendar and consult with the parent, rather than vice versa.

   
   

Academic coaching can help your student become a better learner, a more efficient student and generally happier kid. 

Studying now is different than it was for parents. Google classroom, technology tools and AI have all dramatically changed the skills you need to study effectively. 

Reach out to get started with academic coaching? Email us at Michelle@TheCollegeSpy.com.

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Tip of the Day: Take a walk around a college campus this fall — no matter what age your kid is. Just drive to the closest campus, grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll. 

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College Spotlight: California Polytechnic University 

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Key points in this episode

2:12 Meet Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with disabilities

4:18 Four strategies to help your student succeed this semester

14:57 Why every student needs to maintain their calendar

18:00 College changes

22:21 How the right schedule can make all the difference

24:15 All about academic coaching

31:52 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day

33:00 College Spotlight

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Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast

Learn more about academic coaching with Lisa Delfino for high school students:

Today, we widen our lens to help students connect their education and career success. We’re talking with Sonia Cacique of DiscoverU, College and Career Ready Coaching. Sonia is a student advocate and career coach expert that is challenging the status quo of college and career readiness by bridging the gap between education, careers and the current workforce. Her goal is to help students create career connections early in their education journey. She helps students with character development, identity, self-advocacy, career connections and networking skills among other soft skills.  

We dive into how to prepare your student to make the most of any college they attend. We also talk about the importance of connections for career exploration and why students’ should prioritize getting a real life ‘behind the scenes’ look at their careers of interest to gauge if it’s a good fit. We wrap up with conversations about defining success between generations and how parents can truly listen to what their kids are saying. 

Tip of the Day: Follow the college’s official social media accounts as well as student group accounts (like the marching band or student organizations). By following lots of accounts about a particular college, you’ll get a lot of information. 

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College Spotlight: The College of William & Mary - the second oldest college in the US!

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Key Points in this Episode

2:59 Meet Sonia Cacique

6:04 Why career assessments aren’t a easy button

8:33 Coaching parents to be connectors for their kids

12:01 Sharing with students that they have something special to offer

13:29 Connections and why they matter so much

15:10 Why 30% of college students don’t complete their degree

17:27 Why Gen X parents are advocating for their Gen Z kids

19:38 Defining success if different seasons of life

21:15 “The Not Your Mom” phenomenon and tips for parents to connect with kids

22:40 Sonia’s latest course to be college and career ready

27:53 Tip of the Day

28:38 College Spotlight:The College of William & Mary

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Read the podcast transcript: https://thecollegespy.com/podcast

Learn more about Sonia Cacique:  https://collegecareerready.org/

Get in touch with Sonia Cacique: info@collegecareerready.org

The college admissions process is synonymous with stress & anxiety these days. How can parents go against the grain to actually enjoy this process with their students?

Join us for a conversation with Lisa Rouff, Ph.D, from School Match 4 U and co-host of Your College Bound Kid about her experiences as a clinical psychologist and independent educational consultant. Lisa works with all types of students and parents and shares her real world tips to reduce stress around college admissions with a deep understanding of the pressure parents feel to keep up socially and make smart financial decisions. Michelle and Lisa discuss hidden gem universities and the benefits of focusing on the process instead of only the outcome. 

Tip of the Day: Visit colleges. You and your child will be able to determine criteria for the college search and gain confidence in the process as you find the best fit college for your student based on their interests and personalities, not a list of rankings.

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College Spotlight: Binghamton University in NY

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Key Points in this Episode

2:29 Meet Lisa Rouff

7:46 How can parents lower their stress levels-  knowledge is power!

8:12 Why rankings are meaningless

9:30 Why hidden gems colleges are so special

11:13 Favorite resources - The FISKE Guide

12:50 LinkedIn as a tool to research colleges

17:30 Handling rejections with a disaster plan

19:54 MIchelle reflects on not getting into her dream school of Cornell

25:30 Opting out of the highly competitive side of the process

28:53 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day

30:07 College Spotlight: Binghamton

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Read the podcast transcript: link after posted on website

Eighty-five percent of colleges have some type of first-year experience or first-year seminar course. So why have colleges added these courses to their curriculum?

Join Michelle McAnaney, founder of The College Spy, while she talks to Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner. As a sociologist, professor and first-year expert, Dr. Brenner is the creator of Talking College Conversation Cards and the co-author of How to College: What to Know Before You Go and When You’re There. After teaching at American University at Washington DC, Dr. Brenner shifted to administration to design a First-Year Experience Course for all incoming students. She is now a speaker and educator on the college transition, helping families and universities around the nation empower their students to succeed in college as they learn ‘adulting’ skills and balance academics, social skills and life skills in college..

Tip of the Day: What is the right number of colleges to apply to? There is no ‘right’ number for all students. Depending on a student’s goals, desired major, importance of merit aid and many other factors, the number of colleges to apply to can vary widely. The College Spy’s students have applied to as few as 3 colleges or as many as 25.

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College Spotlight: Drexel University in Philadelphia

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Key points in this episode

2:20 Meet Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner

5:25 What is a FYE or FYS?

7:10 Why do we need to help students with the transition to college?

10:41 What can you do to help ease this transition for your student?

13:40 Why is it so hard to let your kids fail?

14:32 Detrimental enabling

15:49 “Messy bodies, messy brains’

19:48 “You can’t keep being a high school parent to a college student”

21:25 Redefining success in high school

22:42 All 5 Talking College Card Decks

27:40 Tip of the Day

28:26 College Spotlight on Drexel University

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Read the podcast transcript: link after posted on website

Learn more about Dr. Brenner:  https://www.ambrenner.com/

Learn more about Talking College Conversation Decks: https://talkingcollege.com/

Register for The College Spy Bootcamp: https://thecollegespy.com/coursesandcamps/the-college-spy-boot-camp

“My kid will listen if you tell them to do it.” That’s a phrase we hear all the time in our work as college consultants. 

So why do teenagers listen to other trusted adults more than their parents?

And what impact does an expert voice have on a student’s college admissions process?  

Listen to today’s episode to learn why adolescents experience conflict with their parents (and why it’s completely normal). We’re also sharing our top 5 top tips to connect with students and help them through the college admission process.

Whether you decide to work with a consultant or not, this episode will help your family navigate the college admissions process with a few less headaches and disagreements. 

Tip of the day: Stop relying on fellow parents or peers to answer questions that you should ask directly of your student’s universities of interest. Call the admissions office instead. Admissions staff are usually more than happy to reply to your questions about their specific process and then you know you are getting the right answer for that particular school. You can also utilize the staff at the financial aid office for questions about financial aid, scholarships and tuition.

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College Spotlight: Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI

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Key points in this episode

1:48 What College Consultants do

2:08 Why do students listen to other adults and not their parents?

2:37 Why separation from parents is developmentally normal and expected

4:10 Why to expect some degree of conflict during the college admissions process

6:55 How The College Spy keeps you updated every step of the way 

8:07 Handling “I don’t know?” kids

10:00 Top 5 tips from The College Spy on connecting with your student

15:42 How to get our concierge service with unlimited conversations

17:19 All about College Admissions 101

19:24 The College Spy tip of the day

20:58 College Spotlight: Roger Williams University

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Got a student studying for the SAT? Today’s episode is a must listen!

Join us for an interview with Aaron Basko, author of “Find Your Purpose. Manage Your Career.” As a higher education leader, speaker and author, Aaron has led four different colleges to enrollment turnarounds and been quoted in Forbes, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Today, we’ll be talking about his practical book full of hands-on advice to help students discover where their passions lie and turn that into a rewarding career.  Also in this episode:

Admission Tip of the Day: There is a wide range of competitiveness in college athletics from Division I to club sports to intramural sports. If sports have been an important and positive part of your high school career, look for ways that it can be part of your college life too! There will be a level where you are ‘good enough’ to play!

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College Spotlight: American University

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Key points in this episode

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2:58 Aaron’s favorite way to help people maximize their potential

3:15 The 3 reasons why Michelle loved Aaron’s book

4:30 The 3 keys to a career fit: design, desire and demand

6:14 Why grade 10 is a good place to start

8:06 Why “find your passion” isn’t enough

11:49 Michelle’s love/hate relationship with assessments

17:25 Managing your ‘brand’ in the admissions process

19:33 Aaron’s insider tip on triangulation

21:22 What typical career paths look like today

22:42 The power of informational interviews

26:58 How to get Aaron’s book

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Join us for an interview with Lisa Delfino, The College Spy’s academic coach for students with learning differences. As a Nationally Board Certified (NBCT) Exceptional Needs Specialist, Lisa is certified to teach students with mild and moderate learning differences. Listen to learn how to help your student during the third quarter slump (hint: It’s on their back!). You’ll also discover the best time to start academic coaching and how to shift your goals to prioritize independence and organization over grades and exams. 

Also in this episode:

Admission Tip of the Day: On campus visits, always ask about upcoming changes planned for the campus. This is a quick way to learn what is important to this college now and where they will make investments going forward. 

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College Spotlight: College of Charleston

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Key points in this episode

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2:56 Meet Lisa Delfino

3:51 How to help your neurodivergent student stay motivated through the year (especially 3rd quarter)

4:57 The first place to help your student get organized - “Let’s clean out your backpack!”

6:58 How to make a checklist to help students deal with feelings of overwhelm

9:11 Lisa and Michelle’s thoughts on digital vs. paper tools

11:20 What is academic life coaching - learning, time management, anxiety

15:25 Reminding parents that ‘all kids grow up’

16:09 Why 10th grade is the sweet spot for starting academic coaching

21:54 Helping parents pull back

24:15 Redefining success from grades to practicing independence

26:44 College Admissions 101 details

28:49 College Spy Tip of the Day

29:16 College Spotlight: College of Charleston

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Join us for our interview with Diane Dempster (CPC, PCC, MHSA) of Impact Parents. As a coach, educator and speaker, Diane works with parents of complex kids of all ages to figure out how to allow their students to become more independent. Diane shares the four roles that parents can take on - director, collaborator, supporter, champion - and helpful advice for parents to shift their style as kids grow and mature. You’ll also learn why connecting and building trust with your student is fundamental to having those meaningful conversations and how this applies to the college admissions process.

Also in this episode:

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Admission Tip of the Day: Make a list of the resources you think you will need on campus like a writing lab, math tutor or internship support. Make sure that your list of target universities includes these resources and pay them a visit while you are on campus.

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College Spotlight: Rhode Island School of Design

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Key points in this episode

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2:15 Meet Diane Dempster of Impact Parents

3:55 The four types of parenting roles (director, collaborator, supporter, champion)

6:05 Why working with someone who is not the parent can be helpful

9:27 Why kids say ‘I don’t know’

10:24 Setting a day to talk college

14:08 What coaching requires

15:22 ‘Getting help’ as an adulting skill

16:36 How to get help from Impact Parents

20:32 The College Spy’s Tip of the Day

21:21 College Spotlight on the Rhode Island School of Design

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In this spring episode, Michelle covers a hot topic - academic rigor. As parents and students look to make course selections for the upcoming school year, this episode provides useful guidance and considerations they may not have though of yet when choosing classes.

Learn what colleges are looking for regarding academic rigor. Dive into what academic rigor means and why it’s not just AP and IB courses. Why do colleges want to see students who are choosing to challenge themselves in high school? And what does it predict about future college success? This episode will help parents and students make smart choices for their fall high school classes. 

Also in this episode:

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Admission Tip of the Day: On college visits, let your child express their opinion first and then you, as the parent, chime in afterwards. To find out what they really think,  let your child process the experience on their own and form an opinion before you voice yours.

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College Spotlight: Vanderbilt University

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Key points in this episode

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1:48 Definition of academic rigor

2:56 The job of an admissions advisor

4:04 The qualities that strong academic rigor demonstrates

5:01 The College Spy’s recommendation on academic rigor

5:42 Common concerns from families 

9:10 How to get your specific college admissions questions answered

9:39 All about College Admissions 101

11:40 Tip of the Day

12:27 College Spotlight: Vanderbilt University

15:02 Interesting facts about Vanderbilt

15:46 Interview with a Vandy student

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In this episode, Michelle McAnaney interviews Sol Rosenbaum, an engineer and founder of The Engineering Mentor about the soft skills engineers need that aren't taught in college, as well as various factors a high school student could consider as they search for a perfect college, such as ABET certification and the ability to sit for the professional licensing exam. They also discuss whether selectivity is important when choosing an engineering program.

Also in this episode:

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Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons High School Students Need a Resume

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College Spotlight: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

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1:32: Main Segment: Interview with Sol Rosenbaum

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27:04: Help with College Visits from the Talking College™ Campus Visits card deck

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28:00: Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons High School Students Need a Resume

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28:44: College Spotlight Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: 28:44

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In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks school counselor and independent educational consultant, Piet Lammert, about the differences between school counselors and independent educational consultants, how to use your school counselor more effectively and reasons to hire an independent educational consultant.

Also in this episode:

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Admissions Tip of the Day: Estimating the Cost of College with Net Price Calculators

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College Spotlight: Bowdoin College

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1:29: Main Segment: Interview with Piet Lammert.

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35:46: The College Spy Can Speak at Your School.

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36:23: Admissions Tip of the Day: Net Price Calculators.

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37:06: College Spotlight Bowdoin College.

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In this episode, Michelle McAnaney speaks with Dale Troy about the transition to college. They talk about a proactive approach to parenting teens that will help teens develop the independent skills and confidence and thrive in college.

Also in this episode:

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Admissions Tip of the Day: Reasons to tour colleges early (before grade 11).

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College Spotlight: DePauw University.

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2:40:  Main Segment: Interview with Dale Troy.

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31:53:  College Admissions 101.

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33:11:  Admissions tip of the day: Tour colleges early.

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33:37:  College Spotlight: DePauw University.

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