745. WHY ARE SOUTHERN COLLEGES SO POPULAR?

While higher education is grappling with the implications of a demographic shift among applicants, an equally important trend of a decidedly geographic nature is creating winners and losers on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Mark Stucker to explain why Southern colleges are currently so popular.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

1. Are Southern colleges and universities really outpacing other schools in popularity, and why?

2. How did the pandemic influence admissions trends?

3. Are there any particular schools drawing more applicants?

4. Are students happy at Southern colleges once they get there?

5. What should students who aren’t from the South know about attending Southern colleges?

MEET OUR GUEST

Mark Stucker has spent more than 25 years helping students and families navigate one of life's most important decisions: finding the right college fit. Throughout his career, he has worked in college admissions, boarding school admissions, and college counseling across independent, public, and charter schools, as well as in private practice, guiding more than 2,000 students from all 50 states through the admissions process. His philosophy is simple but powerful: every student deserves a college that is both the right academic and personal fit—and one that is financially attainable for their family.

Mark's career has included leadership roles at Westtown School, where he served as Associate Director of Admissions, chaired the admissions committee for five years, and worked extensively in college counseling. He later spent more than a decade with KIPP Metro Atlanta, building and leading college counseling programs that helped approximately 70 students each year successfully transition to college. In 2010, he founded School Match 4U, an educational consulting firm dedicated to helping students identify their best educational opportunities.

Widely recognized as a trusted voice in college admissions, Mark is the author of 171 Answers to the Most-Asked College Admissions Questions and the founder, co-host, and producer of the Your College-Bound Kid podcast, which has become Apple's most-listened-to podcast in the Education for Kids category. His expertise is informed by visits to more than 350 college campuses and professional involvement with organizations including IECA, NACAC, and SACAC. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Summer Institute for College Admissions and Stanford University's Counselor Outreach Program.

When he's not talking college admissions, Mark enjoys traveling, golfing, gardening, reading, exploring different cuisines, and following college and professional sports. He and his wife of 35 years are the proud parents of two successful daughters, and his passion for helping students discover their futures continues to shape the advice and insight he shares with families across the country.

Mark can be texted at 404-664-4340.

LINKS

The Lure of the South: Why More Students Are Heading South for College

The Rising Popularity of Southern Colleges

RELATED EPISODES

THE FLUTIE EFFECT IN ADMISSIONS 

ATTENDING A LARGE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY 

THE BENEFITS OF JOINING A FRATERNITY 

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.