The big-picture idea of healthy, functioning soils is so appealing: more moisture available to the plant, more nutrients recycling, fewer weeds, lower inputs… what’s not to like, right? To the busy farmer, are the ideas of healthy functioning soils just that… ideas? Put another way we should ask: “what has merit and what is myth”? At Merit or Myth our mission is, through the social media, to engage with South Dakota-based farmers, researchers and conservationists to gain a better understandi ...
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A show that explores ways to make life a little more interesting, with the intention of convincing you to entertain ideas that you wouldn't normally allow yourself to consider. These ideas would normally get thrown in the crazy basket, but there may just be some merit to them. Each episode will take you on a small journey and will start with something pretty normal… but similar to a thought process will jump around and end up discussing something a little more outrageous or fantastic. Welcom ...
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In this podcast series, we break down the complex game that is elite college admissions and the strategies and pitfalls students need to adopt or beware of if they hope to win admission to one of America’s top colleges. “The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising. Sam is a published scientist, having spent four years as a neuroscience researcher at Columbia University. Building upon his experiences in research and academia—as well as over a decade in educat ...
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10 Ways To Build An Admissions Hook
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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…
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Episode 16 — Do The PSAT & National Merit Matter?
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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…
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Episode 15 — Should You Contact Admissions Officers?
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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…
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Episode 14 — Application Red Flags To Avoid
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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…
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Episode 13 — The Truth About Summer Programs
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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…
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Episode 12 — An Extraordinary Applicant?
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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…
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Episode 11 — “What Are My College Chances?” & Other Student Qs
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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…
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Episode 10 – How To (Actually) Interpret Acceptance Data
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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…
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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…
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Episode 8 — School List Mistakes & Myths
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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…
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Episode 7 — Building An Admissions “Hook”
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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…
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Episode 6 — Rejected Valedictorian Essay Analysis
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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…
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Episode 5 — The Biggest College Essay Mistake
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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…
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Episode 4 — What Top Colleges Look For & How To Build It
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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…
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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…
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Episode 2 — Breaking Down Single-Choice & Restrictive Early Action
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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…
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Episode 1 — One Thing Every Junior Must Do Now
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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…
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We have the machinery, so are we already living in the technology driven future promised by science fiction movies? Also an answer to why we haven’t met any time travel tourists…. yet. Guests Blair Crawford https://daltrey.com/podcast/ John Cadogan https://www.youtube.com/user/AutoExpertTV Matthew Szydagis https://www.albany.edu/physics/faculty/mat…
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Dear Vic, Having a glass of wine is not your meditation. The experts have backed me on this. Join me as I go on an inner journey to discover the pros and cons of meditation. Guests Rory Kinsella - https://we-meditate.co/ Sara Lazar, Ph.D https://scholar.harvard.edu/sara_lazar Willoughby Britton https://vivo.brown.edu/display/wbritton Antony Foo Mil…
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When people talk about their passion for coffee, they always talk about the taste, the aroma and how they "need it".... but there is never any real acknowledgement of the fact that they just love getting high... on coffee. Guests Emily Oak https://about.me/emilyoak Professor Simon Crowe https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/display/sfcrowe Ray Thorpe htt…
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Sleep could possibly be the solution to all your problems, you need it to be healthy and it's also a place to explore your inner most ideas and thoughts through a technique called lucid dreaming. Join me as I speak to sleep enthusiasts, dream practitioners and scientists about this interesting way to approach your nightly slumber Guests Sam Downing…
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In part one of McUniverse we serve a 3 course meal of ideas as a carnivore, a vegan and a scientist, talk about the ethics of eating and the consciousness of plants. Guests James Aspey https://www.jamesaspey.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/jamesaspey/?hl=en Dr Monica Gagliano https://www.monicagagliano.com/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/book…
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Join me, Dan McHugh, for McUniverse... A podcast that encourages you to entertain ideas that you wouldn't normally allow yourself to consider. Contact www.danmcuniverse.com https://twitter.com/DanMcUniverse dan@danmchugh.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Dan McHUgh
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Brian and Jamie Johnson of Frankfort, SD talk to us about how soil health, an open mind, and teamwork can lead to more efficient, sustainable farming.By Merit or Myth
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Dwayne Beck, Research Manager at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, sits down with us to discuss everything soil health... or as he likes to put it, "soil resiliency"!By Merit or Myth
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Cropcast Ep. 1: Soil Scientist Randy Anderson
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Buz and Barrett discuss the finer points of their talk with South Dakota soil scientist Dr. Randy Anderson!By Merit or Myth
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