Our Last Episode
collegepreppodcast's podcast
The College Prep Podcast is signing off after 12 great years!!! Find out how Megan and Erin's businesses have shifted focus recently and why they are stepping back from the podcast. Of course, you can still reach out to us. Megan () and Erin () Some of our college prep advice is as good now as the date it originally aired. You might want to check out these episodes: If you are looking for new podcasts on college admissions, Megan highly recommends Drop In-- A Decision Drop Podcast () with Josh Hudley and Lisa Clay. For academic and study skill coaching, Erin recommends Crista Hopp of...
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Summer of Skills: Cleaning/Tidying
collegepreppodcast's podcast
We are continuing with our shorter summer episodes and with Erin's series highlighting the ways in which students can learn key skills so they can live independently. Today's focus is on cleaning. Now that we have covered decluttering (episode 481) and organization (episode 483), Erin shares some of her cleaning tips and even her special (super basic) ! Resource: YouTube channel 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...
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College Essays: What's Your Passion?
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today’s topic: what excites you? — don’t overthink your response, but do take time to brainstorm the topic and how it fits into your overall set of application responses — there are BAD answers to this question — you can write about hobbies — genuine enthusiasm comes through when you discuss topics about which you are truly passionate.
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Summer of Skills: Organization
collegepreppodcast's podcast
We are continuing with our shorter summer episodes and with Erin's series highlighting the ways in which students can learn key skills so they can live independently. Today's focus is on organization. Moving from decluttering (episode 481) to organization, Erin shares her big tips for getting a space organized including what to buy (hint: nothing), where to put things, and the different organizational styles. Resource: - Cas Aarssen
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College Essays: Discuss a Favorite Book
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today’s topic: discuss a “great” book. — Not all colleges ask about books, but this question appears on a number of school’s supplemental essay lists. — Don’t overthink your answer; be genuine. There isn't a right or wrong answer. (Trying to sound impressive isn’t the goal.) — Brainstorm the “why” part of your answer. Your thought process is a significant part of the essay. — Look at your application...
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Summer of Skills: Decluttering Your Bedroom
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today's focus is on decluttering. Did you know that decluttering, organizing, and cleaning are three very separate tasks? Erin tackles the first of these with some of her best tips from her favorite declutterer. Resource: - Dana K. White
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College Essays: How Have You Impacted Your Community?
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today’s topic: “how have your impacted your community?” — No, you don’t need to cure cancer to impact your community. — Impact is far more about what you DO than developing an activity with an impressive sounding title. — There are a lot of misleading rumors every year that try to crack the code on what activities sound good to college. — Community can be defined very broadly. — This topic should prompt...
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Summer of Skills: Self-Care
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today’s focus: self-care. We want our students to grow up and develop the skills needed to successfully get themselves through college and live independently. This week we are talking about self-care. What does that mean? It isn't bubble-baths and me-time. And when does self-care turn into something that isn't actually helpful at all? Resource: - Julie Lythcott-Haims
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College Essays: What Do You Want to Study?
collegepreppodcast's podcast
This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today’s focus: habits. This summer Megan will focus on different college application essay topics, pinpointing common pitfalls and offering suggestions for strong responses. Today’s topic: “what do you want to study?” (This may also appear as “why have you selected this major?”) —...
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Summer of Skills: Habit Loops
collegepreppodcast's podcast
back to school in the fall. This summer Erin will focus on building skills that will help students in the present and are essential to transition to a functioning adult. Today’s focus: habits. Learn How do you make change? How do you know you are ready? How do we form habits? Here are some resources mentioned: - Charles Duhigg - James Clear
info_outlineToday Megan and Erin answer a listener question about online classes and brainstorm ideas for students, parents, and educators to help avoid a schedule full of unwanted online college classes.
Laurie wrote:
I have noticed a trend the past two years that is frustrating the students I work with and I would love to hear your and Erin's perspectives and thoughts. Out of about dozen college freshman that I worked with last year, 8 of them have come home on their holiday break from college disappointed because they had so many online classes their first semester. They are very discouraged and it's all I could do to talk them into not transferring but trying to advocate for themselves and talk to their advisors about not accepting online classes semester 2. Thoughts/ questions:
- Why are colleges and universities doing this? Budget cuts? Lack of professors? They have to know that sitting in your dorm, alone and doing an online class is not an optimal experience for new freshman.
- Should we encourage parents to help advise their students when they register for classes their first semester? Just to peek over their shoulder and make sure they are not stuck in a bunch of online classes? They right amount of parent involvement is a fine line...
- How can we help students learn to advocate for themselves? They do not have to accept the first schedule they are offered- and one that is likely generated by an algorithm. What can they say and do when they need to change it? My students say they felt trapped, like they shouldn't be "difficult" or that it wouldn't be possible to find all their classes in person, or they didn't know how exactly to make changes.
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.