Let's Talk College

Applying to college can be an overwhelming process. Join Shane Bybee as he sits down with students, parents, and other experts in the field to discuss their real experiences in the college admissions process. Find out what worked for them as they discuss their most effective decisions and the mistakes they wish they could have avoided. New episodes drop every Thursday.

#68 - Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy Fields 01/18/2024

#68 - Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy Fields Join me, Shane Bybee, on this episode of "Let's Talk College" as I chat with Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy Fields, experts in college admissions. 🎙️📚 Shereem, CEO of Strategic Admissions Advice, and Timothy, Senior Associate Dean at Emory University, discuss their book "The Black Families Guide to College Admissions." We delve into their insights on college admissions, diversity, and redefining success in education. This episode is packed with valuable advice for families navigating the college application process. Tune in! 🎓🤓 #CollegeAdmissions #EducationInsights /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/29533423

#67 - Jim Etri 01/11/2024

#67 - Jim Etri 🎙️ In this episode of "Let's Talk College with Shane Bybee," I chat with Jim Etri, a lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a soccer coach. We delve into Jim's journey from defending companies against the SEC to joining the "other team" as an SEC lawyer. We explore the intricacies of law school, clerking, and how Jim balances a demanding career with family life. Plus, we discuss the hidden truths behind TV appearances and share essential advice for parents navigating the college admissions process. Tune in for an enlightening conversation filled with insights and surprises! 🎓⚖️⚽ /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/29164483

Monday Briefs #3 - The Teacher's Perspective 01/08/2024

Monday Briefs #3 - The Teacher's Perspective 📚🎙️ In this episode of "Let's Talk College with Shane Bybee," I delve into the often-overlooked subtleties of grade inflation from a teacher's perspective. I explore how English teachers, passionate about literature, balance their workload and the impact this has on student grades. We'll discuss the challenges of grading, the pressure from parents and administrators, and how these factors unintentionally contribute to inflating GPAs. Join me as we navigate the complexities of education and college admissions. Share and tune in for insights! 🏫✨ #Education #CollegePrep #TeachersLife /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/29199143

#66 - Ben Taylor 01/04/2024

#66 - Ben Taylor 🎙️ Join me, Shane Bybee, on this eye-opening episode of #LetsTalkCollege! 🎓 I chat with Ben Taylor, a.k.a. Pleasant Green, about his unique journey on YouTube exposing scams. 🕵️‍♂️📹 Ben dives into his process of scambaiting, sharing insights and tips to stay safe online. 🌐💻 Don’t miss this intriguing conversation that blends storytelling, education, and a pinch of humor!💡🎥 Click here to check out Pleasant Green on YouTube! /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/29164313

#65 - Mike Rose 12/28/2023

#65 - Mike Rose Join Shane Bybee in this enlightening episode of Let's Talk College, where he converses with Mike Rose, a seasoned leader, author, and coach. Mike shares his journey from starting his first business in a dog shed to leading a successful digital marketing agency, Mojo Media Labs, and how the principles of art and science fuel marketing success. Discover the power of being "mentor-able," the art of learning, and insights from his book "Return on Energy." A must-listen for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs! 🔑 #LearningToLead #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #Mentorship #CollegeSuccess #LetsTalkCollege /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/29017573

#64 - Jason Armour 12/21/2023

#64 - Jason Armour In this episode of "Let's Start College" host Shane Bybee explores the unconventional career path of Jason Armour from Armour Creative. With no college degree, Jason's journey in creative services is a testament to self-taught skills and seizing opportunities. From working at a call center to founding a successful creative agency, his story is a rich tapestry of resilience and ingenuity. Dive into this insightful conversation that challenges traditional views on education and career success. Contact Jason at [email protected] /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28962243

#63 - Aaron Denney 12/14/2023

#63 - Aaron Denney Join Shane Bybee as he explores Aaron Denney's journey from a Berklee College of Music graduate to a New York actor. Aaron shares the challenges and triumphs of his artistic path, offering insights into the entertainment industry and advice for aspiring artists. A must-listen for anyone interested in the realities of pursuing a creative career. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28961823

Monday Briefs #2 - Grade Manipulation 12/11/2023

Monday Briefs #2 - Grade Manipulation In this insightful episode of Monday Briefs, Shane Bybee delves into the complex world of grade manipulation in education. He explores how pressures on educators lead to grade inflation, impacting students' GPA and their college admissions journey. Drawing on decades of experience, Shane analyzes the discrepancies between grades and standardized test scores, and the ramifications of policies like 'no fail' and grade rounding on academic assessment. Join us for a critical look at how grades may not always reflect true mastery. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28999773

#62 - Keith Wilkerson 12/07/2023

#62 - Keith Wilkerson Keith Wilkerson is the founder of College Thoughts, a college prep company that provides help with all of the elements that go into college and private school applications. He shares his insights into what is going on with the changes to the SAT and FAFSA as well as the impact of the Supreme Court decision last June affecting the use of race in college admissions. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28739223

Monday Briefs #1: The Problem with Averages 12/04/2023

Monday Briefs #1: The Problem with Averages In the first part of a multi-part series, I tackle the misconceptions surrounding academic grades. Why a student's GPA might not be telling you what you think it is. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28887853

#61 - Andi Thacker 11/30/2023

#61 - Andi Thacker This week's guest is Andi Thacker, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with kids and adolescents. Note - We had some technical difficulties during the recording. I worked to patch through the especially rough places. I apologize in advance but promise that Andi's insights are well worth it! You can contact Andi at . Here are the links to the books and documentaries Andi suggested. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28707083

#60 - Brian Eufinger 11/23/2023

#60 - Brian Eufinger Brian Eufinger's college prep company Edison Prep works with a couple of thousand students a year. I don't know anyone in the test prep industry who is more dedicated to figuring out how the sausage is being made in college admissions. Based in Atlanta, Brian is our resident expert on all things UGA. In fact, he just released his annual look at UGA's Early Application information. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28706268

#59 - Manu Shahi 11/16/2023

#59 - Manu Shahi Manu Shahi, owner of Homework in a Cafe, is an expert on helping students with executive function and helping parents "connect before you correct." In this episode we talk about a number of the "meta" requirements that go into helping a student be academically successful. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28545098

#58 - Mike Bergin 11/09/2023

#58 - Mike Bergin I joke that Mike Bergin is the godfather of test prep, but he's been involved in the industry for longer than just about anyone and at all levels having worked with Kaplan and Huntington before starting his own tutoring company Chariot Learning. He's seen multiple changes in the tests themselves as well as the way colleges are usuing the tests for admissions. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28440548

#57 - Jason Robinovitz 11/02/2023

#57 - Jason Robinovitz This week's guest is Jason Robinovitz. As the COO of Score at the Top Learning Centers and Schools in Florida, Jason has a unique insight into trends in college admissions for the range of universities from highly selective on. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28434083

#56 - Freddie deBoer 10/26/2023

#56 - Freddie deBoer Freddie deBoer was kind enough to find an hour to sit down and catch up with what he's been up to over the last 2 years. He also shares his perspective on what's going on in higher education as well as K-12. You can c or . /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28369757

#55 - The Relaunch 10/19/2023

#55 - The Relaunch It's been close to two years since I shelved the podcast to focus on the growth of the business. Things were moving quickly for us, and something had to give. But now we've gotten organized and I can put my attention back on this passion project. In this relaunch episode, I focus on something that isn't getting shared with most parents when they hear about college admissions. Some critical numbers that affect most of the students who apply to college. If you'd like to see the numbers I share in the podcast to take a closer look, . /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/28355879

#54 - Freddie deBoer 01/20/2022

#54 - Freddie deBoer Freddie deBoer is a freelance writer. He has a Ph.D. in writing assessment and has worked in administration in higher education. After Harvard announced they would stay "test-optional" through the class of 2026, his article "Why the Fuck Do You Trust Harvard?" had some interesting insights. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21815237

#53 - Ben Sexton 01/13/2022

#53 - Ben Sexton We're starting off our 2nd year with a conversation with someone who has been doing test prep long enough to see the dramatic changes that have happened. Ben Sexton, owner of Sexton Test Prep, specializes in helping students trying to get into the top 5 percent of test scores. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21647939

#52 - What they don't tell you about test scores 01/06/2022

#52 - What they don't tell you about test scores Want to save $50,000 on college? /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21647693

#51 - Jackie Polina & Josh Kariyev 12/30/2021

#51 - Jackie Polina & Josh Kariyev TikTok stars, SAT prep experts, and now published authors. Josh and Jackie, owners of J&J Test Prep, sat down to talk with me about their new book, No B.S. SAT Math, their approach to helping students improve their scores, and other things going on in the world of college admissions. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21562928

#50 - Rusty Oglesby 12/23/2021

#50 - Rusty Oglesby Many parents and students have the dream of playing their sport in college. I sat down with Rusty Oglesby, one of the top soccer coaches in Texas, to talk about the process of becoming a college athlete and his experiences helping students achieve that goal. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21561896

#49 - Pranoy Mohapatra 12/16/2021

#49 - Pranoy Mohapatra Pranoy Mohapatra, owner of PM Tutoring, is an expert in online tutoring. We sat down to talk about how to make online sessions as effective as in-person tutoring and what parents should watch for in a quality online tutoring session. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21493016

#48 - Dave Lynch 12/09/2021

#48 - Dave Lynch Let's Talk LSAT! Dave Lynch is THE expert LSAT tutor! /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21346451

#47 - Vinny Madera 12/02/2021

#47 - Vinny Madera Whether he is a college professor and part time tutor or a tutor whose side hustle is math professor, Vinny Madera is definitely one of a kind. It was great to sit down with him for an hour to talk about his unique perspective on this crazy college thing. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21328310

#46 - Wendy Raynor 11/18/2021

#46 - Wendy Raynor Wendy Raynor is the expert I turn to any time I have a question about accommodations for the SAT or ACT. She sat down to talk with me about the way tutoring and testing is different for neurodivergent students. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21126407

#45 - Tony Miglio 11/11/2021

#45 - Tony Miglio In the world of test prep tutors, Tony Miglio is something of a unicorn. He was tutoring virtually well before a pandemic forced tutors to figure out how to make it work. He's built a thriving business focused primarily on helping students with just one section of one of the tests. If you're looking for an expert on ACT Math, Tony is your guy. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21106625

#44 - Claudia Murga 11/04/2021

#44 - Claudia Murga Claudia Murga is on a mission to help 1st generation college students with the complicated college admissions process. It was exciting to find out more about how she created a program that has already helped hundreds of students realize their college goals. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/21046616

#43 - Kevin Newton 10/28/2021

#43 - Kevin Newton With the rising costs and increased competition at universities in the US., some students are thinking about attending schools overseas. Kevin Newton, founder of An Education Abroad, sat down to share his insights into how the process of applying to a school in another country is similar to and different from applying to a school here, as well as what the advantages and disadvantages can be. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/20965139

#42 - 5 questions to help build a college list 10/21/2021

#42 - 5 questions to help build a college list No guest this week. Instead, I share 5 questions we ask to help build college lists and some key resources to help you find the answers. /episode/index/show/bybeecollegeprep/id/20886596

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