Best Great Minds Advising Podcasts (2024)

1
Exposing Top Private HS Matriculation Records 46:05

7d ago46:05

46:05

In this episode, we perform a case study analysis on acceptance and matriculation data from one of the top private high schools in the U.S. and a well-known Ivy League “feeder school.” We cover the following: Most Recent Year and 5-Year Ivy League Matriculations Ivy League Acceptance Data for “Unhooked” Students (i.e. non-legacy/donor, recruited at…

1
Stanford Application Review 5:41:13

22d ago5:41:13

5:41:13

In this deep dive episode, we analyze the profile and application of a current high school senior applying to Stanford. We pinpoint many critical strategic mistakes affecting the quality of the student’s presentation across both the Common Application and the Stanford supplements––errors that are very often committed by top academic students in gen…

1
“Help With My Vanderbilt Essay!” & Answering Other Student Qs 1:30:39

1M ago1:30:39

1:30:39

In this episode, we return to the popular online forum Reddit to answer college admissions questions from students across the country. In particular, we cover the following topics: Additional Information Section: Good or Bad? Including A Third Teacher or Supplementary Recommendation Early Action Plans That Prohibit Early Decision To Other Colleges …

1
Application Strategy With HS Senior 4:01:05

2M ago4:01:05

4:01:05

For the first time, we analyze the profile of a current HS senior targeting three top colleges: WashU, Vanderbilt, & Michigan. While this student possesses a strong academic foundation (perfect GPA in 15 APs, 34/36 ACT, ranked #1 in HS class), he significantly lacks the type of extracurricular profile, depth, and admissions “hook” that will differe…

1
10 Ways To Build An Admissions Hook 2:06:16

2M ago2:06:16

2:06:16

In this episode, we cover ten primary ways students can build their admissions hooks to differentiate their applications at top colleges, the pros/cons of each activity type, and several highly common activities that tend to contribute minimally to—and even potentially jeopardize—a student’s odds of acceptance. “The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell a…

1
Episode 16 — Do The PSAT & National Merit Matter? 1:19:38

3M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

In this episode, we break down the timeline and significance of the PSAT and various National Merit awards that are associated with strong PSAT scores: PSAT for students in grades earlier than 11th (e.g. PSAT 8/9 + PSAT 10) The PSAT/NMSQT exam in 11th grade Score ranges for juniors who might be in play for National Merit awards connected to their P…

1
Episode 15 — Should You Contact Admissions Officers? 1:21:55

3M ago1:21:55

1:21:55

In this episode, we dive into the many different types of “demonstrated interest” and the particular case of contacting admissions officers: Why “demonstrated interest” is generally overrated and over-discussed compared to other candidacy-building factors for students targeting highly selective colleges “Strong” vs “weak” demonstrated interest: def…

1
Episode 14 — Application Red Flags To Avoid 47:00

3M ago47:00

47:00

Admissions Masterclass Registration (8/7 via Zoom) In this episode, we cover the much more strategic attitude—versus a purely “instructions-following” mindset—students should take into the application process for each and every piece of information admissions officers will view, including components that might seem like pure “data entry.” We highli…

1
Episode 13 — The Truth About Summer Programs 1:25:49

4M ago1:25:49

1:25:49

Admissions Masterclass Registration (8/7 via Zoom) Think college summer programs are helping your case for admission to highly selective schools? Think again. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the widely popular—and vastly overrated—college summer programs in which so many high school students enroll and why almost all of them fail to ac…

1
Episode 12 — An Extraordinary Applicant? 1:07:15

4M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Admissions Masterclass Registration (8/7 via Zoom) In this episode, we dissect the candidacy of a student from the Wall Street Journal piece, "To Get Into The Ivy League, Extraordinary Isn't Always Enough These Days." The piece spotlights Kaitlyn Younger, a Texas high school senior with a 3.95/4.0 unweighted GPA in 11 AP courses, 1550/1600 SAT, top…

1
Episode 11 — “What Are My College Chances?” & Other Student Qs 1:35:46

4M ago1:35:46

1:35:46

In this episode, we respond to real questions in the popular online forum Reddit from students across the country. In particular, we cover answers to the following: Which letters of recommendation do I send? How important is course rigor freshman and sophomore year? How do you come up with your college essay topic? Which GPA do colleges use? What a…

1
Episode 10 – How To (Actually) Interpret Acceptance Data 1:06:31

4M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Many students and families heavily rely on the college acceptance data (GPA/test scores vs. college outcomes) of past applicants from their high school to make high-stakes decisions about their school list, selection of early decision colleges, and likely overall college outcomes. In this episode, we break down how past college acceptance data is r…

1
Episode 9 — Rejected Premed Case Study 51:23

5M ago51:23

51:23

In this episode, we review the profile and applications of a premed student who was rejected from both of their early decision schools, roughly top-25 to top-35 national universities. This student attended a top-1% US high school, possessed a 3.9 unweighted GPA, 99th percentile test scores, took 15 AP/honors courses, and had what many would conside…

1
Episode 8 — School List Mistakes & Myths 1:05:49

5M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

In this episode, we cover many factors—including costly mistakes, myths, and traps—related to students’ school selection. In particular, we address the following: School Visits Why it doesn’t make sense to visit highly selective colleges before mid-11th grade Prioritization of best and best-fit colleges for visits, especially schools that offer bin…

1
Episode 7 — Building An Admissions “Hook” 1:37:15

5M ago1:37:15

1:37:15

In prior episodes, we’ve determined that top colleges seek not only students with excellent grades, course rigor, and test scores but also students with compelling admissions “stories” or “hooks” related to their academic/intellectual passions and how they will contribute to their future college—and hopefully, the world—in some specific, unique way…

1
Episode 6 — Rejected Valedictorian Essay Analysis 36:37

5M ago36:37

36:37

She was the Valedictorian of her high school. Perfect GPA in over twenty advanced classes, taking Calculus BC by 10th grade and college math courses by 11th grade. All perfect or near-perfect test scores, tennis captain, multiple leadership positions, a scholarship to a prestigious math program, and state math champion. To boot, as a female applyin…

1
Episode 5 — The Biggest College Essay Mistake 56:32

6M ago56:32

56:32

Summer is upon us, and many rising seniors—if they haven’t already—are turning their attention to college applications. Among the most important components they will be tackling is the Common Application “Personal Essay”, often simply called “the college essay.” For almost all students, this will be the most important essay colleges read, and for s…

1
Episode 4 — What Top Colleges Look For & How To Build It 45:35

6M ago45:35

45:35

College admissions has never been more competitive: high GPAs, strong test scores, and a well-rounded resume—once sufficient for an acceptance—are now common features of most applications to highly selective colleges. In this episode, we reveal what top colleges nowadays seek: students with compelling admissions stories centered around a focused ac…

1
Episode 3 — Why College Outcomes Vary 26:26

6M ago26:26

26:26

When many parents applied to college around three decades ago, college lists and outcomes assumed a fairly predictable, linear order. You had your “safeties,” schools to which you were almost certain to be admitted, your “targets,” schools to which you could reasonably expect to be admitted, and “reaches,” schools to which you would most likely not…

1
Episode 2 — Breaking Down Single-Choice & Restrictive Early Action 21:07

6M ago21:07

21:07

You’ve probably heard of Early Action, but do you know what Single-Choice and Restrictive Early Action are? Seven of the top colleges (Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, CalTech, Georgetown, and Notre Dame) offer one of these unique sub-types of Early Action that place significant restrictions on the other colleges to which students under these pl…

1
Episode 1 — One Thing Every Junior Must Do Now 40:04

7M ago40:04

40:04

While many students and parents are caught up with AP exams, senior course selection, college visits, college essays, requesting teacher letters of recommendation, in this episode, we reveal the one thing that absolutely every high school junior must do right now if they want to ensure they are on the path to admissions success at top colleges. And…

1
Twits in Peril, Chapter 5 - My Short but Brilliant Acting Career 26:29

7M ago26:29

26:29

When we last saw Cyril he was being carried on the shoulders of a mob bent on confronting the evil tycoon Cyril Chippington-Smythe. They little suspect that the heroic “Johny” who is leading their little uprising is, in fact, the very Chippington-Smythe they despise. Quite a sticky wicket for our hero, but every step is bringing him closer to the r…

1
Twits in Peril, Chapter 4 - I Get a Job 23:47

7M ago23:47

23:47

We left Cyril and Binky packed like sardines on a creaky old mattress. Binky has put his foot in it by passing himself off as a leader of the Welsh Underground in order to impress Judy. A new day has dawned, however, bringing with it the promise of new adventures... and pancakes! Judy has arranged jobs for them and they happily head off to experien…

1
Twits in Peril, Chapter 3 - Wales is a Mysterious Place 24:23

7M ago24:23

24:23

We left Cyril horrified by the arrival of his Aunt Hypatia, Uncle Hugo, Cousin Binky and C. Langford Cheeseworth, who have come to join him in the amusing game they call, “Slumming”. Will they scuttle Cyril's chance to win his wager? Will he be forced to slink back to the Club in disgrace? The relatives retire to Cheeseworth's camouflaged land yach…

1
Twits in Peril, Chapter 2 - I Eat a Cherry 23:45

7M ago23:45

23:45

We left our hero in shorts and flip-flops, preparing to infiltrate a world without privilege. Can he survive for a week without cheesy eggs? without a girdle? Without Bentley? Ernie leads him into the topsy-turvey world inhabited by the working poor and Cyril's eyes slowly begin to open. A cherry causes him to re-evaluate his beliefs. NOW AVAILABLE…

1
Twits in Peril, Chapter 1 - An Ill-Advised Wager 22:44

7M ago22:44

22:44

Cyril is happily swilling down a Brandy and Prozac at the Club Bar when his old friends, Ford and Lincoln join him. The conversation turns to the gulf between the privileged class and the masses and Cyril is goaded into betting that he can pass for a member of the working class for a week. His cousin Binky arrives and places his bet on Cyril. Alas,…

1
Twits in Peril, Trailer (Season 2) 0:52

8M ago0:52

0:52

Cyril Chippington-Smythe (Michael Urie) never met a wager he didn't like. When his old friends, Ford (Nik Walker) and Lincoln (James Rana), bet him that he can't survive living like an average citizen named “Johny” for a week he jumps in with both feet and his cousin Binky (Christian Borle) jumps with him. Alas, Bentley (Dakin Matthews) must stay a…

1
Twits In Love, Chapter 5 - Showdown at the Hydrogen Plant 23:40

3y ago23:40

23:40

Alice has rushed off to keep a mysterious date with destiny and left Binky lip to lip with Pansy, much to Cyril's chagrin. At last Binky reveals Alice's terrible plan and the whole company races after her on Cheeseworth's mechanical caravan to save civilization from certain destruction! How will it all end? Join us now for the final chapter- “Showd…

1
Twits In Love, Chapter 4 - La Commedia E Almost Finita 16:33

3y ago16:33

16:33

We last left Cyril Chippington-Smythe preparing for a luncheon pregnant with complications. He pines for the beauteous Pansy, who is preparing for the performance of a lifetime as part of Binky's plan to win the hand of the toothy Alice Witherspoon once and for all. It all takes place under the terrifying gaze of Aunt Hypatia. Join us now for Chapt…

1
Twits In Love, Chapter 3 - A Hot Time at the Old Chateau 22:53

3y ago22:53

22:53

Things in town have gotten a little too hot. Time to escape to the country... but behind the swampy grounds of the country estate danger lurks. Cyril's peace is invaded, first by his imperious Aunt Hypatia and Uncle Hugo and then by the eccentric C. Langford Cheeseworth and his beauteous ward, Pansy. Binky is still struggling to win the dentally-ch…

1
Twits In Love, Chapter 2 - A Beastly Day at the Club 29:21

3y ago29:21

29:21

Cyril flees to the safety of his club, “Twits” but peace eludes him even there as he has failed to get the notice that hats are now required. The Club Hatter, Ahmed Ben Fitzwilliam educates him on the supreme importance of headgear. Binky appears, behaving in a most eccentric manner and invites himself and Alice to Cyril's country estate for the we…

1
Twits In Love, Chapter 1 - I Am Awakened 26:46

3y ago26:46

26:46

Cyril Chippington-Smythe awakes from a drunken stupor to discover that he may be engaged to the horrifying Alice Witherspoon, whom his best friend, Binky has been in love with for years. He appeals to his steam-powered valet, Bentley, to devise a plan to shift Alice's affections from himself to Binky. The ever-resourceful Bentley complies and the m…

1
Twits in Love, Teaser (Season 1) 3:37

3y ago3:37

3:37

Cyril Chippington-Smythe (Michael Urie), eligible bachelor and the world's richest man is living a life of ease, attended by his resourceful steam-powered valet Bentley (Dakin Matthews). When the toothy Alice Witherspoon (Helen Cespedes) invades his breakfast room determined to marry him whether he will or no, Bentley concocts a scheme to transfer …

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