College Admissions Insider

Send us a Text Message. If you've been listening to College Admissions Insider for a while, the title of this episode might ring a bell. In some of our early episodes, we invited real admissions counselors here to talk about how reading applications really works. Today, we're doing it all again. We'll be chatting about the process front to back — and then some. Our guest is Kevin Mathes '07, associate vice president and dean of admissions at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. Your grades, extracurriculars and essay responses paint a picture of who you are. But there's another part of your application that colleges and universities pay special attention to: your intended major. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're providing tips on identifying the primary discipline you'll study throughout your four years. We'll discuss when students should start thinking about their major, what your intended major tells a university and how it factors into the admissions process. Our guest is Jill Medina, senior associate dean of admissions at Bucknell. If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Find a transcript for this episode.

Send us a Text Message. There's only so much you can learn about a school from Google. One of the best ways to get to know a college is to experience it for yourself. An in-person visit can push a college into dream school territory, or send it falling off your list entirely. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring how you make the most of a college visit from the options available to setting it up and beyond. Our guest is Chris Rowe, admissions specialist for daily campus visitation programs at Bucknell. If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Read a transcript of the epsiode. Plan your visit to Bucknell.

Send us a Text Message. When exploring colleges, there's only so much you can do online. At some point, you have to see these places for yourself — all five, 10 or 30 schools on your list. Unless a family member has unlimited vacation days (or a teleportation machine), the only way to realistically visit multiple schools in a reasonable amount of time is by planning a college visit road trip. But how do you organize one of these info-gathering trips? How can you keep all these visits straight in your head? And what's the best way to maximize that family time as you travel together from destination to destination? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we provide a road map for success. Our guest is Alison Almasian, director of college counseling at the Taft School, a private boarding school in Watertown, Conn., Before that, she spent 22 years in college admissions. Read a transcript for this episode. If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Plan a visit to BucknellBlog post: planning a college visit road tripBlog post: 80 questions to ask on a campus tourInfo about applying to BucknellBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsHi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Send us a Text Message. Maybe you sketch in your free time, have a leading role in community theater production or dance in a semi-professional company. Whatever your arts interest, there are abundant opportunities to pursue it in college. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're chatting with two current Bucknell students about their involvement in the arts. We'll talk about how they found opportunities on campus to get involved, what their activities look like and more. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Learn about Bucknell's Arts Merit ScholarshipsResources for students who've been admitted to BucknellInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. In our last College Admissions Insider minisode, we shared some advice for weighing your admission offers and making a decision. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. There's no one better to walk high school seniors through the process than students who were in their shoes not too long ago. In this episode, we've invited our very own first-year college students to share how they chose the school that was best for them. We'll talk about their journey from applying to deciding, as well as some advice they have for current college-bound students. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Resources for students who've been admitted to BucknellInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. So far on College Admissions Insider, we've taken you through each step of the application process — from exploring what schools are out there, to making a decision on where you will be applying, and getting ready to submit your very best applications. Now, we've made it to spring and its decision season. It's an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful. Is there a magic formula to figuring out which offer you'll accept? Brooke and Becca walk you through how to decide. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Resources for students who've been admitted to BucknellInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. While search engines provide millions of answers in less than a second, there is one life-changing question for which the answer doesn't arrive as quickly: Did I get in? When you want to know whether you’ve been accepted into your college of choice, things don't happen quickly. In fact, it may be months between the moment you press “submit” on your application and the day that acceptance notification appears in your virtual or physical mailbox. So what do you do in the meantime? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we’ll provide a few answers to that crucial question right here, right now. We’ll share tips for making the most of the time leading up to decision release day and advice for how to mitigate anxiety while you wait. Our guest is Jill Medina, Bucknell’s senior associate dean of admissions. Jill has more than 25 years of work in higher education under her belt, and she plays a role in the acceptance process at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Application dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to BucknellUndergraduate admission requirements@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramInfo about applying to BucknellBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome CenterHi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Send us a Text Message. In the past few episodes of College Admissions Insider, we've covered academic disciplines one by one. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities, engineering and management. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're rounding out this series with the social sciences. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Michelle Johnson, associate Dean of faculty in the social sciences at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & SciencesInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, humanities and engineering. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring management. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what management looks like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Matt Bailey, a chair in business administration and professor of analytics and operations management at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the Freeman College of ManagementInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. In this College Admissions Insider minisode, Brooke and Becca are diving in on their top recommendations for how college-bound students can best spend their last winter break of high school. You might be super excited for this break from learning — and from your college applications. But there are plenty of little ways that you can keep progress going on the college process. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences, mathematics, the arts, and humanities. We encourage you to jump back and listen to those episodes if you haven't yet. Today, we're exploring engineering. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what engineering look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Erin Jablonski, associate dean of Bucknell's College of Engineering. Welcome to the podcast. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of EngineeringInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we're doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. So far, we've covered sciences and mathematics. We encourage you to jump back and listen to that episode if you haven't yet. Today, we're chatting about the humanities. On this episode, we'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what the humanities look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Anthony Stewart, associate dean of faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & SciencesInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. There are so many important choices you'll make in college: which hall to live in, what to eat, how many extracurriculars to join. But most crucial is the decision of what you'll study. For the next little while on College Admissions Insider, we'll be doing a deep dive into academic disciplines one episode at a time. This episode is dedicated to the sciences and mathematics. We'll get to know the kinds of majors available in these disciplines, what math and science studies look like in college, and the careers you can break into post-graduation. Our guest is Le Paliulis, associate dean of faculty for Bucknell's College of Arts & Sciences and professor of biology. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Explore the College of Arts & SciencesInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. Waiting is the most agonizing part of the college admissions process. You send off your materials and then keep clicking that refresh button until the decision arrives (or your phone dies). But for a select group of applicants, that waiting period is significantly reduced. These are the students who applied Early Decision or Early Action to their top-choice school or schools. These students could get a decision as early as December instead of the following March or April — a huge relief, to be sure. Plus, many schools admit Early Decision applicants at a higher rate than Regular Decision applicants. But before you click submit on an early application, you'll want to make sure you've gone over all the pros and cons for doing so. In this episode of College Admissions Insider, Dean of Admissions Kevin Mathes ’07 covers everything you need to know about Early Decision and Early Action. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Bucknell admissions dates and deadlinesGeneral info about applying to BucknellFor prospective studentsFor parents of prospective studentsBlog post: When to apply for collegeBucknell Virtual Welcome CenterHi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Send us a Text Message. Think about the latest TV series you binge-watched. Did it start by saying, "In this TV show, you'll meet a messed-up family with lots of problems." Probably not. It likely threw you right into the story, sharing something interesting just a few moments after you pressed "play." In other words, it hooked you quickly, and it did so by showing, not telling. What if you applied this same strategy to application essays? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll share how to create an application essay that an admissions office won't be able to stop reading. We invited two Bucknell students who wrote killer application essays to share a little about their process. They'll also read an excerpt from the essays, to give you an idea of how they turned their unique story into unforgettable prose. Our guests are Meghan Tran, a management student from New Jersey, and Kelley Francis, an arts & sciences student from Colorado. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Essay tips from Bucknell AdmissionsApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to BucknellUndergraduate admission requirements@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramInfo about applying to BucknellBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsHi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.

Send us a Text Message. Are you wondering how to take your high school athletics game to the collegiate level? Determining whether you should seek to compete in NCAA Division I, II or III sports or continue your involvement at the recreational level can be confusing, but we’re here to help you make the best decision for yourself, based upon your level of commitment and investment. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we're exploring the different ways students can pursue athletics in college. Our guest is Natasha Wilson, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Athletics at BucknellInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. Whether you're looking to graduate early, get a taste of college level learning or simply challenge yourself with an advanced class, taking an AP, IB or dual enrollment course could take some work off your plate once you get to college. Courses like these often earn students transfer credits, which can be applied to your college transcript and count towards certain required university courses — all before you’ve even arrived. On this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll further define what transfer credits are, how you get them and the process of submitting them to the school of your choice. Our guest is Sarah Paris, transfer records coordinator at Bucknell. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info about transferring credits to BucknellInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. Life is full of firsts, from our first steps to our first car, to the first time we leave home to attend the college of our choice. But no one faces life's milestones alone. Experiencing every new phase alongside us are the family members who nurture and cheer us on. This episode of College Admissions Insider is for those family members who are preparing to send their student off into their next new phase: college. We'll hear advice for navigating the emotions, shifting dynamics and increasing independence that comes with your child's first year away. Our guests are John and Son Huang, two Bucknell parents who gone through the college transition several times with several children. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Info for prospective parents & familiesInfo for current Bucknell parents & familiesInfo about applying to BucknellApplication dates and deadlinesPlan a visit to Bucknell@iamraybucknell, our student-run InstagramBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsBucknell Virtual Welcome Center

Send us a Text Message. College is more than a place to learn, meet interesting people and grow. For most students, it's also where you'll live — perhaps for four years of your life. Young people who may be accustomed to living in their own room at home will suddenly be sharing a room (and bathroom) with others. That fact makes finding the right housing fit just as important as finding the right academic fit. So how do you do it? In this episode of College Admissions Insider, we'll swing those doors wide open. Our guests are Stephen Apanel, Bucknell's Director of Housing Services, and Ashley Hubler, Bucknell's Assistant Director of Housing Services. Listen as we discuss the benefits of off-campus and on-campus housing, specialty housing options like Affinity Houses, and roommate selection. Read a transcript for this episode If you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode, email podcast@bucknell.edu. Links: Bucknell Housing ServicesResidential Colleges at BucknellBucknell's Affinity HousesInfo about applying to BucknellBuild a Bucknell Custom ViewbookLatest news for prospective studentsHi, everyone. It's Brooke Thames from College Admissions Insider. Before this episode starts, I wanted to let you know that, every so often, we'll be revisiting past conversations we've had here on the podcast that may be especially relevant to where students and families are in the admissions process.