The College Prep Podcast

In this episode of The College Prep Podcast, hosts Megan and Erin tackle a question that causes a great deal of stress and confusion for students and parents alike: What do colleges really want from applicants? Moving beyond myths about perfect GPAs, nonstop leadership titles, and extreme extracurriculars, they explain how colleges evaluate students across a wide range of institutions, from community colleges to highly selective universities. Megan and Erin break down the key factors colleges consider, including a student’s ability to handle academic rigor, how well an applicant aligns with a school’s institutional goals, and the ways students are likely to contribute to campus life. They discuss why transcripts matter more than just grades, how colleges think about fit, and why leadership and contribution look different for every student. The conversation also addresses less talked about realities of admissions, such as institutional priorities, rankings, financial considerations, yield, and the unavoidable role of chance in selective admissions. The episode concludes with practical guidance on how families should use this information, especially when building a balanced college list. Megan and Erin emphasize focusing on mutual fit rather than prestige, understanding that rejection is not a personal failure, and choosing schools where students can both succeed academically and belong meaningfully. The post 613: What Are Colleges Really Looking For? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Paying for college can feel overwhelming, especially for families who do not qualify for need based financial aid. In this episode, Megan and Erin break down how merit based scholarships really work and how families can be more strategic about reducing the cost of college. What We Cover in This Episode • The difference between need based aid and merit based scholarships • Why income level does not disqualify students from scholarship opportunities • How families should think about affordability when building a college list • The importance of choosing schools that want your student academically or talent wise • Megan’s three step framework for maximizing scholarships – Identify your student’s strengths and academic profile – Find colleges where your student is a strong match – Stay flexible and compare offers at the end • Why being a “big fish in a smaller pond” can be an advantage academically and financially • How GPA, rigor, and test scores are evaluated for scholarships • Why weighted GPA matters far less than most families think • Where private schools often have more flexibility than public universities • How to use college fairs, school counselors, and college websites to identify scholarship friendly schools • Why most scholarships are about getting more for less, not going to college for free • Alternative cost saving paths including community college, transfer options, and tuition reciprocity programs • Why private outside scholarships are usually supplemental rather than the main source of aid Key Takeaway Most scholarship money comes directly from colleges trying to attract the right students. Families who are open minded, realistic about fit, and strategic about school selection often see the biggest financial wins. The post 612: How to Maximize College Scholarship Opportunities appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

LISTENER EMAIL! We love these–and our friend Ben sent one in wanting to know what he might do in the early stages of college prep to set himself up for success. Megan and Erin make a must-have checklist for this proactive eigth-grader! The post 611: Early Steps for College Planning and Academic Success appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

If you have no idea what Desmos is–then this is the episode for you! If YOU do know what Desmos is and heard it is the key to getting an even higher score on those standardized tests–then this is also the episode for you! Find out what Desmos is and when it’s a good idea to rely on it for extra points and when it might not be magic tool so many are promising. The post 610: Is Desmos the Key to Top ACT/SAT Scores? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

The holidays are here! It’s a time for reflection and hope. Megan and Erin share the things they most want this year for students, for education, and for the entire college-application process. The post 609: Megan & Erin’s Holiday Wish List appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Oh noooooo! It’s the end of high school (and maybe the start of college) and my child has decided that college isn’t for them. Is this devastating news? What options does your child have to become a productive member of society? How do we have a dialog about this and move forward as a family? The post 608: My Kid Decided Not to Go to College appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

You are stuck with a teacher that is a bad teacher or you don’t like–what can you do? In many cases, you can’t switch the teacher or decide not to take the class, so now what? How do you learn what you need to know? How do you help build a relationship with a difficult instructor? And what do you do if it just isn’t working? The post 607: Terrible Teacher in a Core Subject: What are your options? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

The school year is now in full swing and it is time to start on that “when I get time” list. What should be on the list? How do I know if I am on track? What can I do right now to give myself a competitive advantage? The post 606: Are you doing what you should be doing? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

When you have stellar grades and a super test scores, what should be the focus for getting into those elite schools that only accept a small percentage every year? What types of activities stand out? How do you differentiate yourself ... Read More » The post 605: How Highly Selective Admission Is Different appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Get all the late, breaking news from the college admissions world! Megan highlights SAT/ACT changes, test optional vs. SAT/ACT required, auto-admission to colleges, erasing past mistakes, and Early Action/Early Decision/Restricted Early Action debates. Get caught up on all that’s coming ... Read More » The post 604: What’s New in College Admission (fall 2025) appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Chat GPT and AI are here. It can create and essay in a fraction of the time it takes the typical high schooler and many families are looking to it to ease the college application process. Megan and Erin provide ... Read More » The post 603: How can I use AI and Chat GPT for College Applications? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

So many changes and redesigns – what is the current information? When should we fill it out? What tax year do we report? Megan helps answer all those questions without you having to search around amongst conflicting information to be ... Read More » The post 602: FAFSA Refresh Fall 2025 appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Maria writes and asks how high school students might get valuable lab experience in order to be more competitive. What should a STEM student do if their high school doesn’t offer research opportunities? Megan and Erin discuss strategies for high ... Read More » The post 601: LISTENER QUESTION: How to get Research and Lab Experience appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

UGMA? UTMA? 529? Saving for college can be overwhelming and daunting. Erin is here with her finance experience to break down the difference between them and help you determine what is the best financial plan for your needs. The post 600: College Investment Information appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Megan and guest host Gretchen Wegner explore the concept of cognitive overload and its impact on students’ learning abilities, particularly focusing on working memory and its limited capacity. Listen to learn about working memory which has a limited capacity and ... Read More » The post 599: Cognitive Overload in Student Learning with Gretchen Wegner appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

This week we are answering a listener question. Jason’s 9th and 19th graders are on track to exceed their state’s graduation requirements by the end of their third year in high school. They will also have surpassed the maximum number ... Read More » The post 598: Pros & Cons of Early College Entry appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

Writing college admissions essays is hard. We are here to help. This week, Megan and Erin discuss strategies to produce better essays and tips for educators and parents looking to support students through this process. We share lots of ideas ... Read More » The post 597: Supporting Students with College Essay Writing Strategies appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

We love getting listener questions! Today we answer a question about universities in the UK and Canada. The post 596: Universities in the UK & Canada: Is admission the same? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

This week we are answering a listener question: is it feasible for a 10th grader to take two AP courses, compete in varsity swim, and still have time for everything else? Listen as we discuss:— the rationale behind taking two ... Read More » The post 595: Is Two AP Classes + Varsity Sport Too Much? appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.

We are seeing it already this school year— students making bad schedule choices. High school course selection is important. Students and parents should make informed decisions. Listen as we discus A bad schedule choice can result in daily struggles. Avoid ... Read More » The post 594: Bad schedule choices based on rumor appeared first on The College Prep Podcast.