The College Prep Podcast show

The College Prep Podcast

Summary: Nationally recognized experts Megan Dorsey and Gretchen Wegner share tips and tricks about creative study strategies, SAT/ACT prep, college applications, essay writing, teen-friendly time management tools, and more. They will also host experts on a number of subjects including scholarships, parenting, test prep, learning differences, NCAA athletics, and more! About the hosts: Megan is a college admissions consultant and test prep guru who helps students and parents plan and prepare for college admission. Gretchen is an academic life coach who helps stressed out students and their families feel smart, confident and ready for the rigors of college without losing their lives to school and studying. Together, they are a one-stop shop for how to survive...and thrive!...during the final approach into higher education.

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Podcasts:

 248: Why Teens Tell Fibs and How Parents and Educators Can Respond Effectively | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:20

Teens tell fibs more often than parents wish. Some of them are pre-meditated and manipulative, but often they are a primal response to fear, especially in students with learning differences like ADHD. In this episode, Gretchen walks you through her notes from a great presentation she heard at last November’s International ADHD Conference. The presentation was called “Beyond Fight, Flight & Freeze: Is There a Fourth F?” and was presented by Barbara Brikey Hunter and Monica Hassal.  Specifically, she shares Hunter and Hassal’s thoughts about: * How the original three F’s of Flight/Fright/Freeze are connected to the nervous system’s primal response to fear, and why Fib might be the fourth F* How to talk to students about the effect that primal responses have in the brain* The acronym SPEED and how it represents fiver different reasons why students might be afraid in the moment, prompting them to Fib* The acronyms WIN and COOL, which represent how to support both the student and the parent in responding a fib when it’s taken place* Some specific phrases parents and educators can say when “catching” a student in a fib* And more! For more information about these presenters, please visit Barbara Briskey Hunter’s LinkedIn Profile, and Monica Hassal’s website www.connectadhd.com.  Also note: the conference where Gretchen heard them present was the 2018 International Conference on ADHD in St. Louis, sponsored by ACO, ADDA and CHADD.

 247: What Megan Did Right (And Wrong!) as the Parent of a Senior Applying for College | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:03

As a college consultant who guided her own daughter through the college application process, Megan realizes there are some things that she would have done differently if she could do it over again!  Tune in to hear how her personal experience differs from some of the professional suggestions she makes to clients. Specifically, she discusses: *  When it’s best to complete applications (and it’s not what she originally thought)* How to consider a student’s ability to focus well when planning SAT prep and planning vs. her focus* The importance of not visiting schools you don’t want your kid to go to* The importance of considering the money component BEFORE you apply* The importance of including the other parent (in this case, dad) earlier on in the process,* and more!

 246: 8+ Non-Boring Ways to Study for Tests | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15:53

The key to effective studying for tests is a brain-based trick called “retrieval practice.”  Most students forget to do this when studying. They might review their notes or text book, but they forget practice “retrieving” it from their brain (which means looking away from the source of the information and testing yourself to see how much you know). Tune in to hear 8+ non-boring strategies for putting this technique into action, just in time for final exams (for some of you) and for the new semester (for the rest).  Note: This podcast was originally published on May 15, 2015 as episode 53.

 245: Do Aptitude and Interest Tests Help with College Admissions and Choosing Majors? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:44

Many high school students feel pressured to choose a college major before they ever arrive in college — during the application process. Megan walks us through whether it makes sense for students to take aptitude and interest tests to figure out what they want to study in college, and whether this helps with the college admissions process. Specifically she discusses: * What aptitude and interest inventories are* The two different ways to take these inventories — through a profession, and on your own via an internet search* The benefits of having high school students take these kinds of inventories, including insights, ideas, possible areas for exploration, and a source of open conversations between parent and student* The drawbacks of these inventories, including the potential low quality of the data, things that these tests don’t consider, like personality or job skill match, is not a quick fix or exact answer* Why Megan didn’t have her daughter take these kinds of tests during her college admissions process* Additional suggestions for parents 

 244: Finding a Good “Safety” School | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:34

You’ve likely heard the advice to make sure you include a “safety” school in your college list. However, what exactly does that mean? Megan helps you understand the two types of “safety” schools you will want to consider, and provides tips for finding these types of schools. Specifically, she and Gretchen discuss: * The two kinds of “safety” schools you need on your list * how to tell if your school is a good “safety” school * How to adjust your  mindset about the importance of “safety” schools * Why we keep putting the word “safety” in quotes * How to plan ahead so you’re not left in a lurch, * And more! Additionally, here is the resource that Megan mentioned in this episode.

 243: The Power of Atomic Habits (and How to Skim a Nonfiction Book) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:11

There’s a new book about habits that’s all the rage right now: Atomic Habits by James Clear. Gretchen does two things at once in this episode: teaches you how to skim a nonfiction book effectively while also introducing you to some key tips and tricks about developing stronger habits. Specifically, she and Megan will: * discuss the importance of skimming to give you an overall picture of what you’re about to read * practice skimming Atomic Habits by reading and discussing the table of contents * explore how to tell what parts of the chapter to read, when you’re ready to skim in more depth * share their take aways about how to tweak their own habits to be more effective * and more!

 242: The Most Important Factor in College Admissions | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 37:39

Are you surprised by what the “most important factor” in getting into college is? Gretchen was surprised when Megan told her that it’s the high school transcript. This episode contains everything you need to know about your high school transcript. Specifically we’ll discuss: * what the core classes that you need on your transcript are * what other people think the most important factor in college admissions is, and why they’re not * whether the high school classes you took in middle school count * how to decide which electives to cut if you need to * how to think about advanced level classes * how to develop your passions without getting in the way of core classes, * and more!

 241: Six Unusual Ways to Save Money on College | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 26:17

The cost of college continues to skyrocket! That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t all kinds of ways to save money wherever possible. Tune in to hear Megan’s wisdom about each of these money saving tips: * Work as a Teaching Assistant or Resident Assistant * Graduate in 3 years * Say no to pricy social spending * Find the colleges that will give you more money * Earn as many inexpensive credits as possible * Maximize free resources

 240: Two New Coaches Reflect: What Do Students Struggle With Most? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 42:08

Academic coaches get an intimate view into family life and student struggles. In this episode, Gretchen interviews two recent graduates from her training program about what surprised them most, and gleaned some great tips for families about how to be more proactive. In this episode useful for parents and educators alike, Nancy Minolli and Jessica Finnigan reflect on: * their background and what drew them to coaching * how many clients they’ve been able to scrounge up in their first year of coaching * what surprised them most and least in regards to common struggles students experience * a tip or two for how parents and students can meet these common struggles * and more! Find out more about Jessica at www.DIYHomework.com and Nancy at www.bayareaacademiccoaching.com. For more information about Gretchen’s Launch Your Biz coach training, visit this information page. For more information about the Study Cycle, check out this free course for educators (and it’s great for parents as well).

 239: 5 Ways Parents, Teachers and Students Can Work Together | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:49

Have you ever noticed that adults often have higher expectations for students than for themselves? Gretchen shares her latest thinking about the ways in which both teachers and parents have made the teens in their lives the “identified patient”, and how this can negatively effect students. In this episode Gretchen reflects on: * The false idea that students are wrong or bad because they struggle with procrastination, lack of motivation, or not doing their best work, * The important truth that adults struggle with the same issues, but have a harder time admitting it * 5 ways that students, parents and teachers can work together to help each other learn: Get humble, get honest, get curious, get empathetic, and get collaborative. Tune in for a slightly controversial take on how to level the playing field between adults and kids.  

 238: Colleges Love Good Grammar! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:06

Too many students have poor grammar, and it weakens their writing. This has become increasingly obvious to Megan as she works with students on writing their college admissions essays. If you are looking for skills to build or strengthen with students grades 6-12, consider following some of Megan’s advice to improve students’ grammar and usage. In this episode, Megan breaks down: * three reasons why it’s important to improve grammar sooner rather than later (hint: one of them is the SAT and ACT tests) * the importance of not just acquiring knowledge of grammar rules, but of ALSO practicing this knowledge so that it becomes fluent, and * some tools and tips for how to get this practice regularly. Megan also recommends the following resources: * Khan Academy’s writing practice, * Grammar Girl’s The Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, and * The Elements of Style.

 237: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Parents of Teens | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:32

Parenting teens is hard! Recently Gretchen asked all the coaches in her Facebook group for their advice to parents of their clients. Here is a summary of what they said — in a convenient and memorable top 10 list. We’ve included the full list below. Tune in to hear Gretchen and Megan discuss them all, as well as to find out which ones Megan disagrees with and why. DO… DON’T… 1. Get Curious and ask questions 1. Lecture or feign curiosity 2. Pause. Ask consent. 2. Ambush 3. Analyze grades. 3. Freak yourself out by checking grades alone 4. Refer to observable data 4. Blame, especially with “you always” or “you never” 5. Acknowledge effort and process 5. Hyperfocus on grades as desirable outcomes 6. Remember change takes time 6.  Expect immediate improvement 7. Make family expectations visible 7.  Agree verbally on expectations 8. Follow through. Do what you say. 8. Make threats you may not carry out 9. Celebrate mistakes as learning 9. Save your kid from mistakes 10. Have multiple ways to soothe your own anxiety 10. Wait for behavior change  to soothe anxiety  

 236: Tips for Writing Resumes and Rocking Interviews | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 32:08

College interviews are not as big a deal as you think, but there are still some easy tips for how to knock them out of the park. In fact, it is nearly impossible to screw up your interview unless you commit some basic faux pas. Listen in as Megan provides some tips, including: * what exactly a college interview is for, and how the basic process works * why the college interview is  are more casual than they think * how to incorporate a resume into your interview, and what to include on your resume * how to make it a 2-way conversation and what kinds of questions you can ask them (since you’re also interviewing them about whether you want to go to the school in the first place!) * basic interview etiquette, including how to dress, and * additional hot tips too!

 235: Is it Even Possible to Make School Work “Fun”? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:00

At a recent speaking gig about how to tackle procrastination, students asked Gretchen how to make school work fun! They seemed incredulous that “fun” is even a worthwhile pursuit when it comes to school. Listen in as Gretchen provides a few thoughts about how to take responsibility for making your learning by “anti-boring” no matter how bored you really feel, including: * Two mindset tips, so you can change your THINKING about school work and fun * Three practical actions to make your experience of class less boring.

 234: Military Academies and How to Get Accepted | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 28:19

Military academies require a lot of extra work to apply to, but it can be worth it for the high quality free education they provide if you get in. In this episode, Megan answers this listener question and details the steps it takes to apply and get accepted to these kinds of schools: Dear Megan and Gretchen, I have begun to listen to you at the end of this summer because I wanted to improve my act and sat score although I haven’t taken the sat. The start of this summer I’ve had the motivation to attempt and get into a military academy as in the naval academy and Air Force etc. I’ve found the basic requirements to get into those types of schools and have been working my way too achieve those. I wanted to ask if there is anything you guys know that will help me have a better chance to get accepted. My current act score is a 24 but haven’t taken it in a while and am about to go into a class for it. My GPA is around a 3.7 but have a lot of upcoming AP classes and am determined to get all A’s. Lastly, I feel I have an edge up because by the end of high school I will have studied Chinese for 8 years with two AP Chinese classes. I wanted to know what you guys think and I respect your drive to better students lives by providing them quality information. Thank you!!! Braxton

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