The College Prep Podcast

Imagine your student getting into their dream school, only to realize your family can’t afford to send them. It’s a soul-crushing reality that can be avoided with proper planning and communication. In this mini-episode, we cover: Questions? Email us at ... Read More » The post 584: Don’t Wait Until Decision Day to Talk About College Cost appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Where your student sits in class matters more than most people think. Research shows that students who sit in the T-Zone—the front rows and down the center aisle—tend to outperform their peers. In this mini-episode, we break down: College success ... Read More » The post 583: How Choosing the Right Seat Leads to Higher Grades in College Classes appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

A strong work ethic matters—but in college admissions, it’s not enough. Many students (and families) fall into the trap of thinking that showing up, trying hard, and staying positive will carry them through every challenge. But when it comes to ... Read More » The post 582: Hardwork Alone Won’t Get Your Student Into College appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Most college students don’t know how to use a syllabus, and that can lead to confusion, missed deadlines, and a rocky start to the semester. Even on Day 1, when some professors may expect them to come in having already ... Read More » The post 581: Don’t Let Your Student Start College Without Reading This First appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Strong grades don’t always equal strong test scores—and that disconnect can be frustrating for both students and parents. In this mini-episode, we break down why the SAT and ACT are their own skill set, not a reflection of intelligence or ... Read More » The post 580: The SAT & ACT Aren’t About Being “Smart” appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

College admissions are behind us and it’s time to check out and enjoy summer, right? Wrong. This summer is your secret weapon. Why? Because getting into college is just step one. The next challenge is making it all the way ... Read More » The post 579: 5 Core Skills Every Student Needs BEFORE Day One of College appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Your college application isn’t just paperwork—it’s your personal sales pitch. It’s how you present your academic story, your values, and your potential to admissions committees who may only spend a few minutes reviewing it. In the fourth episode of our ... Read More » The post 578: College Applications 101: Everything You Need to Know (College Admissions Essentials #4) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Getting accepted to college is a huge milestone, but getting in and graduating are two very different challenges. The truth? Most students spend months preparing college applications and almost no time preparing for what happens next. In this episode, we ... Read More » The post 577: They Got In! Here’s how they make it to Graduation Day appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

For students with learning differences or executive functioning challenges, the transition from high school to college can be exciting—but also overwhelming. That’s why we invited Cindy Palmer of Threshold Coaches to share her most essential, experience-tested tips to help neurodivergent ... Read More » The post 576: 10 Essential Tips for Neurodivergent Students Preparing for College appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Most students think they’re ready for finals—until they try to explain the material out loud and suddenly blank. That moment? It reveals more than hours of rereading ever could. This episode introduces the Feynman Technique, a simple, research-backed method for ... Read More » The post 575: The Most Powerful Study Strategy You’ve Never Tried | the Feynman Technique appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Choosing the right college isn’t just about rankings or prestige—it’s about finding the best fit. In this special episode, Megan shares the story of how her son made his final college decision for next fall. Along the way, we reflect ... Read More » The post 574: Big Name School vs. Best Fit: A Real-Life College Decision Story appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

When it comes to college applications, extracurricular activities often feel like a mystery. Are leadership titles essential? Do you need to be in five clubs? What actually matters? In this episode, we break down how students can move beyond simply ... Read More » The post 573: The Truth About Extracurriculars: What Colleges Actually Care About (College Admissions Essentials) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

It’s that time again—the final weeks of the semester, when papers, projects, presentations, and exams all pile up at once. But what if our students could spread out the work now and avoid the stress later? In this episode, we ... Read More » The post 572: End-of-Year Survival Guide: How Students Can Beat the Stress appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Between economic uncertainty, political shifts, and institutional changes, students and families planning for college in 2025 are facing new pressures—and many old ones that have become more urgent. In this episode, we explore how current events are directly impacting college-bound ... Read More » The post 571: Planning for College in Uncertain Times: How Current Headlines Affect College Choice appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

When families start thinking about college admissions, they often focus on test scores, extracurriculars, and essay strategies. But the most essential factor in getting accepted to college is so obvious that it’s often overlooked: your high school transcript. Colleges don’t ... Read More » The post 570: The #1 Factor in College Admissions That Families Often Overlook (College Admissions Essentials #2) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Many students rely on ineffective study habits—like highlighting, rereading, and cramming—without realizing they don’t work. In this episode, we bust 7 common study myths and reveal research-backed strategies that actually improve learning. 🔎 What You’ll Learn: • Why rereading and ... Read More » The post 569: 7 Study Myths Holding Students Back (and What Actually Works!) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Everyone who wants to go to college can. (And not just community college!) Despite the headlines and fear-driven narratives, the truth is that most students get into one of their top three choices—and many even their first choice. According to ... Read More » The post 568: Debunking the Fear: The Reality of College Acceptance Rates (College Admissions Essentials #2) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

When in doubt, eliminate! The Process of Elimination (POE) is one of the most powerful strategies for SAT, ACT, and multiple-choice test success—but are students using it the right way? In this episode, we break down: —What the Process of ... Read More » The post 567: Mastering the Art of Elimination – A MUST-KNOW Test-Taking Strategy appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Taking notes isn’t just about writing things down—it’s about learning effectively. Yet, many students fall into ineffective note-taking habits that make studying harder instead of easier. In this episode, we break down a crucial study skill: how to take better ... Read More » The post 566: 3 Common Note-Taking Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Today we’re diving into a lister question! A parent asks: How can students decide if AP, IB, or dual credit classes are worth taking? With so many options, it can be confusing to know which courses will actually count for ... Read More » The post 565: Earning College Credit in High School: Are AP, IB & Dual Credit Classes Worth It?! appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.