College Admissions Insider

Latest Episodes:

Episode 12: A Guide to Early Decision and Early Action Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

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 than Regular Decision applicants.
But before you click submit on an early application, you'll want to make sure you've gone over all the pros and cons for doing so.
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, Dean of Admissions Kevin Mathes ’07 covers everything you need to know about Early Decision and Early Action.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

Episode 11: What International Students Need to Know About Applying to College in the U.S. Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

Top-tier American universities like Bucknell (which welcomed its first international student in 1858) have been attracting talented international students for generations.
But even as more international students choose to attend college in the United States, the process for exploring, applying to, and attending American universities has not gotten any easier.
This episode of College Admissions Insider is all about the unique — and sometimes complicated — journey that international students must take if they want to attend college in the United States.
In addition to sharing advice for international students, we also help families living in the U.S. understand what colleges are doing to make international students feel more welcome — and how you can help.
Our guest is Brett Basom, Bucknell's associate director of international recruitment. He’s been in college admissions for 30 years and at Bucknell for three years. In addition to meeting with students from around the world, Brett reviews every application to Bucknell from an international student or an American student living overseas.

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 University.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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When you visit campus for a preview session and guided tour, chat with our student ambassadors, or experience an interactive virtual tour of campus, you'll have a front-row seat as you explore this place we call home.
This combination of in-person and virtual visit offerings means you can learn more about Bucknell in the way that fits you and your family best.

Episode 10: A Guide to Transferring Colleges Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Most of the material you'll find about applying to college covers all the steps leading up to applying — and then it stops.
But what happens if you end up at a school that's not the right fit? Or what if you attend a two-year school and want to transfer to a four-year university?
That's where transferring comes in. How is the process of applying to transfer different from the first-year application journey? What are schools looking for in prospective transfer students? And what are some things to watch out for along the way?
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell offer a guide to transferring colleges.
Our guest is Caro Mercado, Bucknell's Associate Dean of Admissions and the professional in charge of Bucknell’s transfer program.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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Episode 9: What Is a Liberal Arts Education? Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

As you explore colleges, you’ll see these two words everywhere: “liberal arts.”
But what does that phrase mean? What kinds of students might benefit most from a liberal arts education? And how might the day-to-day experience at a liberal arts school differ from life at a different kind of school?
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at the benefits of a liberal arts education.
Our guest is Kim Councill, Bucknell's associate dean of faculty in the Division of Arts & Humanities and also a professor of music education.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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Episode 8: What 9th and 10th Graders Can Do Now to Prepare to Apply Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

After 8th grade, the warmup rounds are over, and suddenly everything starts to count.
By 9th and 10th grade, every class, activity, and test has the potential to help students get into the college of their dreams.
It’s no wonder that’s the same time parents, teachers and counselors start expecting students to think about their college plans.
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at those 9th- and 10th-grade years.
Our guest is Carrine Gadoury, a Bucknell alum who is now an admissions counselor at Bucknell.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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Episode 7: The Role of Parents When Applying to College Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

Behind many successful college students is a passionate parent who helped coach and guide them throughout the application process.
They're there every step of the way as a coach, cheerleader, personal chauffeur and so much more. But now that it's time for their student to apply to college, these parents might not know what role to play.
They don't want to overstep and become that aggressive snowplow parent or lawnmower parent all those parenting articles warn against. But they also don't want to just sit back and do nothing.
So how can parents walk that line? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at the role of parents when applying to college.
Our guest is Jill Medina, Bucknell's senior associate dean of Admissions and a mother of two.

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

Episode 6: Applying Test Optional Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Standardized tests are one way that colleges can learn more about an applicant — but they're no longer the make-or-break moments they once were. That's why some schools, including Bucknell, decided to make SAT and ACT scores optional when applying.
It's called a "test-optional" admissions policy, and it shifts the power away from the companies that make these standardized tests and back to where it belongs: in the hands of students themselves.
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at "test-optional" policies. Why do schools go test-optional? Does applying test-optional hurt an applicant's chances of being admitted? And if they're not requiring test scores, what do test-optional schools look for?
Our guest is Kevin Mathes, Bucknell's Dean of Admissions who spearheaded the University's shift to a test-optional policy back in 2019.

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

Episode 5: Writing a Killer College Application Essay Dec 14, 2020

Show notes

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 Wendell share proven tips to help students craft a killer college application essay.
Our guest is Josh Wilkinson, Bucknell’s associate director of admissions for communications and an application reader, meaning he gets to see hundreds of student essays every year.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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Episode 4: Inside the Mind of an Application Reader Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

Students pore over every detail of the application, craft the perfect essay, and manage to score some top-notch recommendations. But then: silence. No feedback until that envelope or email arrives with the decision.
Even that feedback is limited to just three varieties: Yes, you're in. No, you didn't get in. Or hang on, you've been put on the waitlist. The student doesn't know where they went right or what thinking went into the decision to admit them.
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell end at least some of that uncertainty surrounding the process of application review.
Listen as Lauren Rambo, Bucknell University's Senior Assistant Director of Admissions takes you inside the mind of an application reader.

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

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Episode 3: Applying Undecided Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

We know that not everybody has a major identified when apply season arrives. In fact, the most popular major for students applying to Bucknell is "undecided."
Bucknell and other highly selective schools know that "undecided" doesn't mean "indecisive." It can actually show your willingness to explore and take advantage of the wide range of opportunities that await you.
But does applying undecided hurt your chances of getting into schools like Bucknell? What does an application reader think when they see "undecided"? And how can you actually make that "undecided" designation work to your advantage?
In this episode of College Admissions Insider, brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell welcome Chrissy Findlay, associate dean of Admissions at Bucknell University, to answer those questions and more.
Read a transcript for this episode
If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu.

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