Mindful Admissions podcast

#Podcasting Education #Strive To Learn

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

Mindful Admissions

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The Strive to Learn team demystifies college admissions topics that can confound even the savviest of students: financial aid, SAT/ACT testing, educational planning, college admissions essay writing, scholarships, and much, much more. Press play to hear from our expert college counselors as well as frequent guest stars and guiding voices in the field of college admissions!

35 episodes

Mindful Admissions

updated 2 years ago

Series home•Feed

35 episodes

#Podcasting Education #Strive To Learn

All episodes

Mindful Admissions

1
Stepping Up Your Game: Benefits of Taking the SAT or ACT Even with Test-Optional 28:13

2 years ago28:13

28:13

This podcast episode talks about the ramification of a majority of colleges going test-optional, which colleges have changed their minds and is requiring SAT or ACT scores for 2023 applications, as well as some of the benefits that students gain when submitting their scores and who should consider studying for these tests. We also talk about the unintended benefits that students can gain from preparing for the SAT or ACT test that impacts their lives far beyond just a score they can submit to college We interview our former student and podcast host, Lily, about her experience increasing her ACT test score from the low 20's to 32 and how that impacted her ability to be admitted into a prestigious college (and what kind of timeline did it really take to get that kind of score growth).…

Mindful Admissions

1
King of the Hill: How Empathy-Led Tutoring Wins Best in Orange County 30:22

2 years ago30:22

30:22

In this interview with Strive to Learn's founder, Josefine Borrmann, we discuss the qualities that have helped her small business of 5-8 people win Best of Orange County in tutoring for seven years. In this interview, we talk about how mentorships and self-efficacy help high schoolers succeed. How empathy and holistic approaches help reduce employee turnover, and how the best tutors and college admissions consultants aren't necessarily the kids who got perfect SAT and ACT scores and graduated from elite colleges.…

Mindful Admissions

1
Food for Thought: Picking the Right Personal Insight Question Prompt 22:36

2 years ago22:36

22:36

Which UC PIQ prompt should you pick? In this episode of Mindful Admissions, college consultant Amanda Merrifield helps students overcome the hurdle of procrasto-perfectionism (where you procrastinate because you are a perfectionist) by outlining the steps that she uses to help students break through writer's block and craft compelling and vulnerable Personal Insight Responses.…

Mindful Admissions

1
Ounce of Prevention: Avoid these Common Mistakes on your UC Application 38:36

2 years ago38:36

38:36

In this episode, college counselors Josefine Borrmann and William Giacchi from Strive to Learn discuss the latest changes made in the University of California's college application, and share best practices that students should follow so that they can present the best application that helps them stand out. This episode covers: UC application conditional logic in the About Me section How to approach your application (what do you need to start) Fees and fee waivers Test scores Getting UC scholarships What to put in the Activites section Missed oppertunites under the "Other Coursework" section The importance of getting your academic history right How to avoid misclassifying DACA students as international students…

Mindful Admissions

1
That Ship Has Sailed: The Value of Study Abroad 43:41

3 years ago43:41

43:41

In this episode, Amanda, Rachel, and Lily compare study abroad experiences, share advice and fun facts, and discuss the challenges of striking out on your own.

Mindful Admissions

1
Well Begun is Half Done: Colleges for Students with Learning Differences 37:49

3 years ago37:49

37:49

In this episode, William and Lily discuss how students with learning differences can navigate the college landscape successfully.

Mindful Admissions

1
Other Fish in the Sea: Unique Colleges You Should Know 47:56

3 years ago47:56

47:56

In this episode, William and Lily discuss five unique colleges that are worth looking into in your college search.

Mindful Admissions

1
Take it With a Grain of Salt: Community College Mythbusting 1:12:53

3 years ago1:12:53

1:12:53

In this episode, Lily and Josefine bust some community college myths, debunking some of the most common misconceptions about choosing to attend a community college.

Mindful Admissions

1
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait: The Gap Year Experience 1:30:12

3 years ago1:30:12

1:30:12

In this episode, Josefine met with Alexia Bass and Julia Rogers to discuss their gap year experiences, and to share exactly what a gap year is all about.

Mindful Admissions

1
Bite the Bullet - How to Decide Which College to Attend 39:41

3 years ago39:41

39:41

In this episode, Lily interviews Josefine about how accepted college applicants can decide on which college to attend, after all the application drama is over.

Mindful Admissions

1
A Dime a Dozen: Reading Financial Aid Award Letters 54:54

3 years ago54:54

54:54

In this episode, Amanda talks financial aid award letters with expert Claire Law, founder of Educational Avenues, author, speaker, and seasoned college mom. Get the scoop on navigating financial aid and leveraging your financial position to your advantage.

Mindful Admissions

1
Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk: Why College Decisions Don't Determine your Worth 56:54

3 years ago56:54

56:54

In this episode, Lily and the college counseling team get personal, discussing their own less-than-traditional college journeys, and giving advice on how to avoid falling into a self-worth spiral during acceptance season.

Mindful Admissions

1
Timing is Everything: How and When You Should Take the SAT/ACT 47:44

3 years ago47:44

47:44

In this episode, Lily and Josefine talk about how and when to take the standardized tests (the SAT or ACT) required by some colleges in their application.

Mindful Admissions

1
I've Got the Blues: Unpacking The Varsity Blues Admissions Scandal 1:07:51

3 years ago1:07:51

1:07:51

In the season three premiere, the college counseling team gathers to discuss the largest college admissions scandal in history.

Mindful Admissions

1
Hindsight is Clearest: A Look Back at the 2021 College Admissions Cycle 24:20

3 years ago24:20