The Truth about College Admission

Johns Hopkins Press

The college admission experience can be overwhelming and complicated. This podcast helps students and the adults who support them cut through the noise around searching for, applying to, and deciding on a college. In each episode, you can expect guests who are national experts working in the field of college admission and enrollment who will give you honest takes, helpful perspective, and in many cases some much needed levity and solace. https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/

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78 episodes
Updated June 30

Episodes78

Newest first

Sep 6, 2023 · 34 min
The Truth about AI and Admission-- Sal Khan, Khan Academy
To open season 2 of The Truth about College Admission, Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark are joined by Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, to discuss the current state of how AI is impacting the college admissions process, how currently it is being implemented in admissions reading rooms, how it can be effectively used to improve essays, and what the future might hold with better trained AI. Links: https://www.khanacademy.org/khan-labs https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/ https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/27/chatgpt-ai-disadvantaged-college-applicants-affirmative-action https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/business/college-admissions-essay-ai-chatbots.html Georgia Tech's Statement on AI Hosts: Rick Clark, Brennan Barnard Guest: Sal Khan Production: Jack Purdy Grown and Flown Admission- Free Trial Offer
Sep 5, 2023 · 11 min
The Truth about College Admission Season 2 Trailer
Season 2 of The Truth about College Admission podcast is here! This season, our hosts Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark bring on another great roster of guests to discuss many of the current topics dominating the college admissions space, from AI to testing to the recent Supreme Court case. Along with those topics, this season will once again bring insight from working face to face with high school students and counselors, advice on how to understand what colleges are thinking and doing when they recruit prospective students, and guidance on how to have healthy conversations for families going through the admissions process. On September 5, 2023, the second edition of the Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark's book, The Truth about College Admissions, is available to purchase at Johns Hopkins University Press, Amazon, or wherever you buy your books. The Truth about College Admission website includes details about speaking engagements, books, podcast, other writing, resources, and more. The Truth about College Admissions is exclusively sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Press, and in partnership with Grown and Flown. Hosts: Rick Clark, Brennan Barnard Production: Jack Purdy https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/
Jun 8, 2023 · 34 min
The Truth About Using AI in Academics and Admission - David Joyner
Join hosts Rick and Brennan in an engaging episode of "The Truth About College Admission" as they're joined by David Joyner to delve into the fascinating and ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its use in academics and college admission. David Joyner is Executive Director of Online Education & OMSCS in Georgia Tech's College of Computing. | https://www.davidjoyner.net/ Read David's recent tweet thread about the language he's adopting in his course syllabi regarding AI assistants | https://twitter.com/DrDavidJoyner/status/1657569489330876417
May 3, 2023 · 23 min
The Truth About Return on Investment in College and Major Choice - Jeff Selingo
This week, Jeff Selingo joins Brennan and Rick to discuss return on investment and value across types of colleges, degrees, and skill-building opportunities in college. Burning Glass Report, Making the Bachelor's Degree More Valuable. College Scorecard See more from Jeff here
Apr 13, 2023 · 26 min
The Truth About Understanding and Discussing Financial Aid Packages - John Leach
John Leach, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and University Financial Aid at Emory University, joins Rick today to break down college financial aid. He discusses financial aid terminology and the basic calculations that go into determining a package, as well as how and when students and families can discuss and anticipate cost of attendance. Additionally, John shares what students can anticipate when appealing financial aid or receiving a package after admission from a waitlist.
Mar 22, 2023 · 19 min
The Truth About Focusing on What You Can Control in College Admission - Jon Boeckenstedt
This week, Rick and Brennan are joined by Jon Boeckenstedt, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Oregon State University. Jon shares thoughts and data on test optional policies as well as behind the scenes insights on admission decision making, that put into perspective why it's so important to focus on the things you can control in your college application and decision. https://jonboeckenstedt.net/2022/12/13/why-you-were-denied/ @JonBoeckenstedt https://www.highereddatastories.com/ Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
Mar 8, 2023 · 20 min
The Truth About Burnout and Finding Joy Again - Angel Pérez
This week Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), joins Rick and Brennan for a conversation about his personal journey of experiencing burnout and a discussion of his article where he shared how he found personal and professional joy again. Angel shares insights for college applicants, parents, and professionals who may also be experiencing burnout, and important reminders and resources (see below) for those learning to put themselves first again as they find their way out of the "fog". Resources: Angel Pérez's Article: One CEO's Story of Executive Burnout More about Angel Pérez NACAC NACAC Committee on Mental Health and Equity in the Transition to Postsecondary Education American School Counselor Association SchoolSafety.gov
Feb 22, 2023 · 20 min
The Truth About Mindful Communication Between Families and Their Students - Allison Slater Tate
This week, Allison Slater Tate joins Rick and Brennan to gives tips on supportive messaging and expectation setting between families and their students, as well as reminders about reprioritizing student contentment in college selection. Allison Slater Tate is a college counselor and a freelance writer and editor in Florida specializing in parenting and college admissions. Check out these pieces on Grown & Flown and MSNBC for more from Allison.
Feb 1, 2023 · 18 min
The Truth About Character Development for College Applicants - Angela Duckworth
In this episode, Rick and Brennan are joined by Angela Duckworth, co-founder, chief scientist, and a board member of Character Lab and Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at University of Pennsylvania. Angela shares insights on character development for high school students and finding inner confidence in times of self-doubt, as well as important reassurances for students in the midst of receiving college admission decisions. Learn more about Angela's work
Jan 18, 2023 · 11 min
The College Admission Year Ahead In Songs and Stereograms
This week, Rick and Brennan discuss their goals and priorities for the year, as well recent pieces on priorities juniors might have as they prepare for their admission experience ahead. College Admission Year In Preview: A Playlist Juniors, College Admission Is A Stereogram email your questions: holisticadmission@gmail.com
Dec 27, 2022 · 16 min
The Truth As We Each See It, AKA Admissions Festivus '22
Happy Festivus 2022! In our final episode of 2022, we walk through a few of the issue as we see them in college admission, including: College Search Grade Inflation Self- Reported Grades More on our two different perspectives on a variety of issues: Forbes 2022 HuffPost 2017
Nov 30, 2022 · 18 min
The Truth about a Family College Admission Experience- Tim Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown
Co-authors Tim Fields (Senior Associate Dean, Emory University) and Shereem Herndon-Brown (CEO and Founder, Strategic Admissions Advice) join the podcast to discuss their new book: The Black Family's Guide to College Admission: A Conversation about Education, Parenting, and Race. Shereem and Tim have extensive experience working with families on the high school side, and making admission decisions in colleges and universities. In this conversation, they do a phenomenal job laying out good questions for families to ask, practical insight about the admission process, as well as tips for students and parents on essays, making the college choice, and much more.
Nov 17, 2022 · 19 min
The Truth about Expressing Character in Application Essays - Whitney Soule
This week University of Pennsylvania's Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions, Whitney Soule shares insights on the intentions behind schools' carefully crafted essay prompts, and how students can approach those essays as a way to introduce their character. She discusses Penn's new short answer prompt that invites students to express gratitude to someone that they haven't thanked, an exercise intended to provide Penn a glimpse of how the student relates to others, and to provide students a feel-good reflection on the impact of others in their lives. The Daily Pennsylvanian article featuring Whitney Soul. More on the University of Pennsylvania here.
Nov 2, 2022 · 19 min
The Truth about Admission by Major - Andy Borst
This week, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Director of Admissions, Andy Borst shares insights on how academic major plays into the review of an application, the shaping of an incoming class, and a Kung Fu Panda spoiler. He points students to the importance of asking their questions of the schools they are considering- and encourages colleges to display more detailed and differentiated data. One of the best in the business, we hope you will enjoy this one. Inside Higher Ed article featuring Andy Borst More on the University of Illinois here.
Oct 19, 2022 · 17 min
The Truth about Belonging in College - Miya Walker
This week, Agnes Scott College's Director of Admissions, Miya Walker shares insights on how students can think about not only where they will succeed, but more importantly where they will thrive. She helps students and families focus on getting a sense of belonging by pausing to ask what is most important to them-- and looking for a true community, i.e. a place where they will find clubs, organizations, faculty, and other support. And some truly phenomenal advice for parents and supporting adults on how to support and advocate for their students without driving the process. Inside Higher Ed article featuring Miya Walker. More on Agnes Scott College here.
Oct 12, 2022 · 17 min
The Truth about "Safety Schools" - Rachelle Hernandez
Rachelle Hernandez, vice provost for student affairs at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, joins the podcast to discuss helping students think about colleges where they will be "excited to go." In addition to her work in higher education over the last 25 years, Rachelle's own son is currently a senior in high school, so this conversation, and the terms often used in college admission, are personal. Rachelle discusses the concept belonging, and focuses on the importance of choices and options for students in their search. Additionally, she talks about the term "safety" schools and why that label is not accurate, or helpful. She suggests great questions for students and families to ask as they look for good matches in their college search and selection experience. Rachelle's professional accomplishments are too extensive to capture here, but suffice it to say she brings a wealth of experience, including prior roles at University of Minnesota and University of Texas. She is committed to and focused on student success and access as well as "fostering and supporting an engaged student educational experience and cultivating student connection and belonging in co-curricular and academic spaces." It's always a pleasure to spend time with the inimitable Rachelle Hernandez, so we hope you'll enjoy this one.
Oct 12, 2022 · 12 min
The Truth about College Rankings
In our kickoff episode, Brennan and Rick discuss the annual college rankings. What factors go into creating them? What do they and do they not indicate about the quality of a college? To what extent should students and families consider rankings in their admission experience? They also provide a few resources for further consideration: Listen: Revisionist History, "Lord of the Rankings" Malcolm Gladwell College Guidance Network, Best Rankings Webinar EVER! Read: Top Three Reasons NOT to Trust Rankings, 5 Best Tips For Responsibly Using College Rankings Try This: Create Your Own Rankings System More about your co-hosts: Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling, Khan Lab School Rick Clark, AVP and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission- Georgia Tech
Sep 20, 2022 · 1 min
Introducing The Truth about College Admission Podcast
We are excited to launch our new podcast, which will air every other week. In each episode, along with national experts in the field of college admission and enrollment, we'll bring you insight from working directly with high school students, an understanding of what is happening in colleges around the country as they recruit students, make admission decisions, and build their new class, as well as timely advice for your family so you can have healthy conversations about searching for, applying to, and ultimately making a college choice. The Truth about College Admission is exclusively sponsored by Johns Hopkins Press.

The Truth about College Admission

The Truth about AI and Admission-- Sal Khan, Khan Academy

The Truth about College Admission Season 2 Trailer

The Truth About Using AI in Academics and Admission - David Joyner

The Truth About Return on Investment in College and Major Choice - Jeff Selingo

The Truth About Understanding and Discussing Financial Aid Packages - John Leach

The Truth About Focusing on What You Can Control in College Admission - Jon Boeckenstedt

The Truth About Burnout and Finding Joy Again - Angel Pérez

The Truth About Mindful Communication Between Families and Their Students - Allison Slater Tate

The Truth About Character Development for College Applicants - Angela Duckworth

The College Admission Year Ahead In Songs and Stereograms

The Truth As We Each See It, AKA Admissions Festivus '22

The Truth about a Family College Admission Experience- Tim Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown

The Truth about Expressing Character in Application Essays - Whitney Soule

The Truth about Admission by Major - Andy Borst

The Truth about Belonging in College - Miya Walker

The Truth about "Safety Schools" - Rachelle Hernandez

The Truth about College Rankings

Introducing The Truth about College Admission Podcast