The Standard in Career Planning

Dr. Zed
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Going to the right school, to get the right job, without tons of debt is every student's goal. It is hard, but not impossible. Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) founded Education Encompassed with Experts that have helped thousands of students achieve these goals. Now he wants to share is insights and experience to help you achieve yours. Whether you are in middle school, high school, college, or going back to school, this is the podcast for you.

Episodes

  1. Sep 25

    Is College Worth It? The Truth About Its Real Value

    Is college really worth the investment, or is it just what everyone expects you to do? In Episode 5 of The Standard in Career Planning, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) explores one of the biggest questions students face: is college worth it? Using real data and student experiences, he explains why the value of a college degree isn't just about earning more money. It's about having clear purpose and direction before you enroll. Dr. Zed covers: The true value of a college degree Why college isn't a one-size-fits-all solution How choosing the right major impacts your future Why going to college without a plan can lead to frustration How purpose and direction maximize your college investment College isn't the goal, it's a tool. The key is knowing how to use it.

  2. Sep 11

    The Entrepreneurship Trap: Should You Start a Business or Go to College?

    Everyone seems to be saying, "Start your own business!" But is entrepreneurship really the right path for everyone? In Episode 4 of The Standard in Career Planning, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) breaks down the myths surrounding entrepreneurship and explains why passion alone isn't enough to build a successful business. Whether you're considering college, starting a business, or both, this episode will help you understand the importance of having a plan, developing the right skills, and building a strong foundation before taking the leap. Dr. Zed covers: The biggest myths about entrepreneurship Why having a business idea isn't enough The value of a college degree versus starting a business Why direction, planning, and accountability matter How working in an industry first can prepare you for entrepreneurship Success isn't about choosing college or entrepreneurship, it's about choosing the right path and preparing for it.

  3. Aug 28

    The Shocking Truth: 3 Out of 4 Students Aren't Ready

    Did you know that 3 out of 4 high school graduates don't feel prepared for college or their future careers? In Episode 3 of The Standard in Career Planning, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) explores the surprising statistics behind why so many students graduate without a clear plan. He explains why career decisions are often shaped by parents, friends, or expectations instead of personal goals, and why starting career planning early can change everything. Dr. Zed covers: Why 75% of students feel unprepared after graduation Why many students don't know what career they want How outside influences shape major and career decisions Why career planning should start before senior year How the right guidance builds confidence and direction Success after graduation doesn't happen by chance, it starts with a plan.

  4. Aug 7

    Who Are You? The Question That Changes Everything

    Is college really worth the investment, or is it just what everyone expects you to do? In Episode 2 of The Standard in Career Planning, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) explores one of the biggest questions students face: is college worth it? Using real data and student experiences, he explains why the value of a college degree isn't just about earning more money. It's about having clear purpose and direction before you enroll. Dr. Zed covers: The true value of a college degree Why college isn't a one-size-fits-all solution How choosing the right major impacts your future Why going to college without a plan can lead to frustration How purpose and direction maximize your college investment College isn't the goal, it's a tool. The key is knowing how to use it.

  5. Jul 28

    Direction Before Decision: Why Most Students Struggle in College

    Is college really worth the investment, or is it just what everyone expects you to do? In Episode 1 of The Standard Career Planning, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) explores one of the biggest questions students face: is college worth it? Using real data and student experiences, he explains why the value of a college degree isn't just about earning more money. It's about having clear purpose and direction before you enroll. Dr. Zed covers: The true value of a college degree Why college isn't a one-size-fits-all solution How choosing the right major impacts your future Why going to college without a plan can lead to frustration How purpose and direction maximize your college investment College isn't the goal, it's a tool. The key is knowing how to use it.

  6. Jul 10

    Summer Is Not a Break, It's Your Biggest Opportunity

    Most students treat summer like a finish line. Dr. Zed breaks down why summer is actually the most important window you have before college and how what you do with these three months can separate you from 150,000 other applicants. In this episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) speaks directly to seniors, rising seniors, and juniors about what needs to happen right now before fall hits and the pressure becomes overwhelming. Dr. Zed covers: Why graduating seniors still have work to do even after committing to a school How to negotiate and appeal for more financial aid before the summer deadline Where billions of unclaimed scholarship dollars are sitting and how to go after them Why juniors need to start their college essays now, not in August What application season actually looks like and why waiting guarantees panic How to use your summer to build real experience that stands out in applications Why internships, volunteering, and shadowing this summer do double duty for your future If everyone else is relaxing, this is your chance to get ahead. This is where you separate yourself.

  7. Jun 26

    The College Debt Crisis Starts With a Missing Plan

    Most families don't talk about college money until it's too late. Dr. Zed breaks down why student debt isn't just a college problem, it's a planning problem, and what you can do right now to make sure you're not adding to the $1.7 trillion. In this episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) tackles the student debt crisis head-on and reframes it as something that is largely preventable with the right plan in place. Whether you're a student, a parent, or both, this episode will change how you think about paying for college. Dr. Zed covers: Why $1.7 trillion in student debt is a planning failure, not just a college problem The real cost of changing your major and how extra years multiply your debt The difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans and why it matters now Why brand-name schools aren't always the best or most affordable choice How smaller schools often offer better financial aid packages than Ivy Leagues The step-by-step process for building your college cost spreadsheet How FAFSA works, why timing matters, and how to optimize your student aid index If you don't have a plan, you're already falling behind. This is where the plan starts.

  8. Jun 12

    Your Resume Is a Database, Not a Document

    Most students treat their resume like a one-page summary. Dr. Zed breaks down why that thinking costs you opportunities before a human ever sees your application and how building a master resume the right way puts AI to work for you. In this episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) introduces the master resume, the foundational tool inside the Education Encompassed Career Portal. Before you can be found, before you can be matched, before you can be considered, your data has to exist in a format that AI can actually read. Dr. Zed covers: Why your resume is a database first and a document second What a master resume is and why everything goes in, no filtering, no editing, no leaving things out Why standard Word and PDF templates fail AI parsing and what that costs you How the Career Portal's resume builder is built to be AI-readable from the start What sections to build first and why each one feeds the matching process How the system uses your master resume to find jobs, analyze fit, and optimize your applications automatically If you are not visible, you are not findable. This is where visibility starts.

  9. Jun 5

    Career First, College Second: The Framework That Changes Everything

    Most families pick a college before they have a plan and that single misstep drives years of wasted tuition, unnecessary debt, and careers that don't fit. In this episode, Dr. Zed breaks down the three-part framework that fixes it. In this episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) walks through the sequence every student and parent needs before setting foot on a campus: start with a destination career, build backward to a matching major, and only then select the college that serves both. Skipping this order doesn't just cost time, it costs semesters. Dr. Zed covers: Why choosing a college by name, ranking, or school spirit is an emotional decision with a financial consequence The career-to-major-to-college sequence that eliminates wasted semesters and compounding debt What FAFSA actually is and why it's the opening move in a financial negotiation, not just paperwork How to appeal a financial aid offer and why the first number is rarely the final one Why billions in scholarship dollars go unclaimed every year and the tailored application strategy that changes that How one business major landed a $20,000 environmental scholarship by thinking strategically, not conventionally College is a capital investment. The plan comes before the campus visit, not after.

  10. Jun 5

    The $450,000 Mistake: And the Plan That Prevents It

    Most families treat college like a brand name purchase. Dr. Zed, licensed engineer, Harvard alumnus, and doctor of higher education, breaks down why that instinct is costing families $450,000 and what a real education plan actually looks like. In this pilot episode of Clarity Before College, Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) opens with the defining question behind Education Encompassed: what happens when brilliant, credentialed, objectively successful people still end up miserable in their careers? The answer is a missing plan, and it starts long before graduation. Dr. Zed covers: Why a four-year degree can silently become a six-year, $600,000 liability The fatal flaw in choosing schools by ranking, reputation, or campus aesthetics Why career alignment must come before college selection, not after The 15,000-school landscape most families never explore How Education Encompassed was built from one honest conversation in a room full of engineers who would have chosen differently This is not motivational content. This is the strategic framework families need before they make the most expensive decision of their lives.

  • 10 Episodes

About

Going to the right school, to get the right job, without tons of debt is every student's goal. It is hard, but not impossible. Dr. Zachariah Seiden (Dr. Zed) founded Education Encompassed with Experts that have helped thousands of students achieve these goals. Now he wants to share is insights and experience to help you achieve yours. Whether you are in middle school, high school, college, or going back to school, this is the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Zed
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Education Encompassed, LLC. All Rights Reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form
  • Show Website
    The Standard in Career Planning