The College Prep Podcast

There are 5 key steps to take when planning how your high school student will take their college admissions tests. In this episode, Megan gives a detailed description for how to make a 4-year plan for managing your college admissions...
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The science shows us that mistakes are an important part of learning and growing, yet our schools and homes are often structured to punish students for making mistakes. Why is this, and what can be done to create environments that...
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Many AP Coordinators at high schools list all the benefits of taking AP classes, but rarely do they list the drawbacks and limitations. Megan spells out for families a number of reasons why you might not want to take AP...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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