613: What Are Colleges Really Looking For?
collegepreppodcast's podcast
In this episode of The College Prep Podcast, hosts Megan and Erin tackle a question that causes a great deal of stress and confusion for students and parents alike: What do colleges really want from applicants? Moving beyond myths about perfect GPAs, nonstop leadership titles, and extreme extracurriculars, they explain how colleges evaluate students across a wide range of institutions, from community colleges to highly selective universities. Megan and Erin break down the key factors colleges consider, including a student’s ability to handle academic rigor, how well an applicant aligns with...
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612: How to Maximize College Scholarship Opportunities
collegepreppodcast's podcast
Paying for college can feel overwhelming, especially for families who do not qualify for need based financial aid. In this episode, Megan and Erin break down how merit based scholarships really work and how families can be more strategic about reducing the cost of college. What We Cover in This Episode • The difference between need based aid and merit based scholarships • Why income level does not disqualify students from scholarship opportunities • How families should think about affordability when building a college list • The importance of choosing schools that want your student...
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611: Early Steps for College Planning and Academic Success
collegepreppodcast's podcast
LISTENER EMAIL! We love these--and our friend Ben sent one in wanting to know what he might do in the early stages of college prep to set himself up for success. Megan and Erin make a must-have checklist for this proactive eigth-grader!
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610: Is Desmos the Key to Top ACT/SAT Scores?
collegepreppodcast's podcast
If you have no idea what Desmos is--then this is the episode for you! If YOU do know what Desmos is and heard it is the key to getting an even higher score on those standardized tests--then this is also the episode for you! Find out what Desmos is and when it's a good idea to rely on it for extra points and when it might not be magic tool so many are promising.
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Megan & Erin's Holiday Wish List
collegepreppodcast's podcast
The holidays are here! It's a time for reflection and hope. Megan and Erin share the things they most want this year for students, for education, and for the entire college-application process. For reading resources, check out:
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92_8_Actions_to_Take_At_The_Beginning_of_the_Semester.mp3
collegepreppodcast's podcast
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53_8_Non-Boring_Ways_to_Study_for_Tests_Effectively.mp3
collegepreppodcast's podcast
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15_Should_You_Get_Tested_for_Learning_Disabilities__With_Dr._Liz_Angoff.mp3
collegepreppodcast's podcast
info_outlineIn this episode of The College Prep Podcast, hosts Megan and Erin tackle a question that causes a great deal of stress and confusion for students and parents alike: What do colleges really want from applicants? Moving beyond myths about perfect GPAs, nonstop leadership titles, and extreme extracurriculars, they explain how colleges evaluate students across a wide range of institutions, from community colleges to highly selective universities.
Megan and Erin break down the key factors colleges consider, including a student’s ability to handle academic rigor, how well an applicant aligns with a school’s institutional goals, and the ways students are likely to contribute to campus life. They discuss why transcripts matter more than just grades, how colleges think about fit, and why leadership and contribution look different for every student. The conversation also addresses less talked about realities of admissions, such as institutional priorities, rankings, financial considerations, yield, and the unavoidable role of chance in selective admissions.
The episode concludes with practical guidance on how families should use this information, especially when building a balanced college list. Megan and Erin emphasize focusing on mutual fit rather than prestige, understanding that rejection is not a personal failure, and choosing schools where students can both succeed academically and belong meaningfully.
Questions?
If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for an upcomming show, we'd love to hear from you. You can email us at collegepreppodcast (at) gmail (dot) com
More about the hosts
Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.
Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.