Ep. 220 | Admissions results, explained
In this week's podcast, I dive into this year's crazy admissions results. Take a look at the admit rates of a sampling of popular colleges:
- Amherst 9%
- Bowdoin 7%
- Brown 5%
- Colby 6%
- Columbia 4%
- Dartmouth 5%
- and the list goes on...
What exactly is going on here?
Single-digit acceptance rates as far as the eyes can see.
I walk through an example of how an unhooked student has to compete against 10,000 similarly-credentialed students for just 300 spots at a popular college.
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Ep. 219 | The new Digital SAT is here (for good)
In today's episode, I review the new digital SAT.
If you are a parent, or a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader, this is a must-listen.
What are the big 4 changes, and how do you set yourself up for success?
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PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank (2X), etc.
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Inside PrepWell Academy, Black teaches students everything they...
Ep. 216 | Yale goes back to test-required. Anyone else?
In today's episode, I discuss how Dartmouth's recent decision to return to a test-required policy for the SAT/ACT has influenced other schools.
As I predicted last week, Yale has now returned to a test-required policy as well. They call their policy test-flexible.
Columbia has gone in the opposite direction and proudly announced that they are making their test-optional policy permanent.
Harvard and Cornell are kicking the can down the road for another year and keeping test-optional in place.
University of California schools still refuse to accept any test scores (test-blind).
What is going on here?
What does any of this mean?
What should my child do?
Listen to today's podcast to get some guidance.
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Ep. 215 | An extracurricular activity cheat code
In today's episode, I discuss how to develop a compelling extracurricular activity in the final 6 months before college applications are due.
There are many juniors who wake up halfway through the year, and realize that their extracurricular activities list is pretty light.
It dawns on them that their applications are due in 6 months -- and they hit the panic button.
What can I do to be different, to stand out? Most of my activities are pretty generic and unorganized...
Listen to today's podcast to learn a way to take your ECA list to the next level.
If you're younger than a junior, learn how to use the same strategy over 18 - 24 months, instead of 4 - 6 months.
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Ep. 214 | Dartmouth reinstates requirement for SAT score
In today's episode, I discuss the implications of Dartmouth College's recent decision to reinstate the standardized test (SAT or ACT) requirement next year.
Translation...you will be required to submit an SAT or ACT score. Just like the old days.
In other words, the gig is up!
I predict that nearly every other highly-selective college will soon revert back to requiring an SAT or ACT by next year (or the year thereafter).
Learn how this decision came about, when the other colleges will follow suit, and who will be the winners and losers in this ongoing drama.
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Ep. 213 | Should you bother applying to UC schools?
In today's episode, I discuss your child's chances of getting into a UC (University of California) school.
There are 9 UC campuses up and down the coast of California.
7 of the 9 schools are in the "Top 10 most-applied-to colleges" in the country.
For example: UCLA (about 150K applications), UC Davis (about 110K applications)
With this obscene number of applications, is it even worth applying? What are your chances of getting in?
If you're interested in how your child might fare in the UC admissions lottery, please listen.
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Ep. 209 | Is college worth it? 51% of Americans say, no
In today's episode, I try to uncover the reasons why, for the first-time ever, a majority of Americans (51%) no longer believe that college is worth the time or money.
Yikes! That's quite a shift compared to 5 years ago.
- Why is this the case?
- What happened?
- Which students should go to college?
- Which students should not?
- At what price is college worthwhile?
- Alternatives to $300K colleges?
If you're interested in the radical changes happening on college campuses, from affordability, to student protests, to the spread of commercially useless degree programs, give this episode a listen.
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Ep. 208 | How to maximize the time we have left
Show Notes:
In today's episode, I discuss how little time we have left with our children (and how to maximize that time).
Statistically, once our child turns 18, 90% of the time we will ultimately spend with him/her - is already spoken for.
Translation: Once our child goes to college, it's possible that we will only see them another 60 times (total) over the next 30 years.
If you're interested in this topic and making an effort to maximize what time you do have left with your child, give this episode a listen.
Paragraph for show notes.
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...
Ep. 207 | Does your child know how to write?
Show Notes:
In today's episode, I bring up a question that most parents can't answer:
Is my child a good writer?
Can my child write a 3-sentence email without an error in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?
My guess: probably not.
Please listen to today's episode to find out how to make sure your child doesn't fall into this category.
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Podcast Host:
PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs,...
Ep. 206 | Why teenagers should not drink alcohol
Show Notes:
In today's episode, I address the issue of underage drinking.
I've been reluctant to speak on this topic publicly because of my controversial stance.
However, after my son's friend almost died in a DUI incident over the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided it was time to let my perspective be heard.
Unlike some other episodes, this might be a good one to listen to with your teenager.
It's a bit longer than usual, but the subject required more time to cover.
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Podcast Host:
PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime...