College Matters. Alma Matters‪.‬ Venkat Raman

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US Colleges cost quite a bit, to put it mildly. For International Students, cost is quite often the primary factor. Given Aparna’s experience guiding Int’l students, we turned to her for a Primer and tips on Financial Aid for International students.

On our podcast, Aparna gives us an overview of Financial Aid for Int’l Students, College Cost, Merit Scholarships, Graduate Study Aid, Resources and Tips for Int’l High School students.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 


Introduction to International Financial Aid
College Cost
Applying for Merit Scholarships
Tips for High Schoolers

Topics discussed in this episode:


Introducing Aparna Chandrasekharan, 10X Int’l School []
Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
Int’l Financial Aid Introduction []
College Cost? []
Applying for Merit Scholarship []
Resources []
Getting Scholarships []
Aid for Graduate Study in the US []
Does the Major Matter? []
Closing Thoughts []

Our Guest: Aparna Chandrasekharan is the Head of College Placements at 10X International School in Bengaluru, India. Previously, Aparna was EducationUSA Advisor in Chennai, India. Aparna graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Botany from Ethiraj College, Chennai India, and Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Memorable Quote: “I would ask them [college applicants] to be more open minded, explore liberal arts and science colleges, which are known to give more scholarships generally. And also look at some public universities like Colorado State University has a $12,000 Scholarship for international students, Michigan State University has a somewhat similar scholarship.” Aparna Chandrasekharan.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences

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Dean Nicola Foote discovered Honors education, when she came to the US after getting her PhD in History from University College London. She found that Honors education allowed students to explore different disciplines in addition to being part of a community.

Three years ago, Dean Foote became the Dean of Frederick Honors College University of Pittsburgh.

On this Podcast, Dean Foote introduces the Frederick Honors College, BPhil & Experiential Programs, Undergraduate Research, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 


Dean Nicola Foote’s Background
Frederick Honors College
Student Requirements
Career Opportunities

Topics discussed in this episode:


Introducing Dean Foote, Frederick Honors College University of Pottsburgh []
Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
Background []
Frederick Honors College []
Program Highlights []
Experiential Programs []
UG Research Process []
Types of Research []
Applying to Honors College []
HC Student Body Profile []
Program Size []
Scholarships []
Career Opportunities []
Advice for High Schoolers []

Our Guest: Dr. Nicola Foote is the Dean of the Frederick Honors College University of Pittsburgh. Dean Foote is a Distinguished English Professor, writer and novelist.

Memorable Quote: “And then most significantly, what I'm most proud of is that we also offer a BPhil degree. And we're one of only a handful of universities anywhere in the world that offer that it's the highest research distinction available to an undergrad.” Dean Foote. 

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

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Growing up, Deniz was interested in Science. He enjoyed AP classes in High School. He was on the robotics team for 8 years, and went to summer STEM camps.

When COVID happened Deniz cold emailed a Prof in Dept of Neuroscience in Virginia Tech to do research. Shortly thereafter, Deniz was doing cognitive tests on mice, with touchscreen devices!

Deniz joins our podcast to share his University of Virginia undergraduate experience, Interest in Neuroscience, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Neuroscience and CS, and his Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 


Overall UVA Experience
UG Research
The Goldwater Scholarship
Neuroscience and Computer Science Major
Advice to High Schoolers

Topics discussed in this episode:


Introduction to Deniz Olgun, UVA []
Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
Overall Experience at UVA []
Why UVA? []
High School Interests []
Neuroscience Research []
Transition to UVA []
Academics & Profs []
Starting UG Research []
Was Research Intentional? []
Research Details []
Research Outcomes []
Impact of Research []
Why Goldwater Scholarship? []
Winning the GW Scholarship []
The Goldwater Scholarship Difference []
Broadening the Major []
Helping with Earthquake in Turkey []
Advice for High Schoolers []
Memories []

Our Guests: Deniz Olgun is a Goldwater Scholar, who is studying Neuroscience and Computer Science at the University of Virginia.

Memorable Quote: “What you major in is, of course, important, but more important is your flexibility in transitioning and kind of just general thinking skills, right? And how fast can you get up to deal with something that's hard? How well can you identify new opportunities? And then how can you learn to like, really just ask good questions and think critically? ” Deniz Olgun.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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This admissions season, FAFSA delays have cast a huge shadow.

Jodi Foxx of Charlotte Christian and Tom Stepkoski of Westhill High School have different perspectives based on the experiences at their school.

In this episode, the two Counselors share the FAFSA Impact on their students, How Colleges have been Responding, the New FAFSA features, and Learnings from this experience.

Topics discussed in this episode:


FAFSA Delays Impact []
Current Status []
Is New FAFSA Simpler? []
The Learnings []

Our Guests:


Jodi Foxx is the Director of College Counseling at Charlotte Christian School, North Carolina.
Tom Stepkoski is the Career and College Counselor at Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition, Tom also runs Tom Step Coaching for Personal Development.

Memorable Quote: “...we have found out that if you personally are having a problem, you can call and most universities will actually talk to you about the deadline and actually work with you.” Tom Stepkoski.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

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Rayyan was working 30 hour weeks while in High School. Outside of that, Rayyan was more likely to be playing basketball or video games.

Then in his senior year he took some “sciency” classes, as he calls it, and did well and liked them! He felt Science might be his thing.

Rayyan joins our podcast to share his UC Riverside undergraduate experience, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Pursuing in Bioengineering, and his Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 


Overall Undergraduate Experience
UG Research in Tissue Engineering
The Goldwater Scholarship
Bioengineering Major
Advice to High Schoolers

Topics discussed in this episode:


Introduction to Rayyan Ayoub, UCR []
Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
Overall Experience at UCR []
Why UCR? []
High School Interests []
Research Interest []
Starting UG Research []
The Research []
Impact of Research []
Goldwater Scholarship []
The GW Difference []
Challenges in School []
What’s Next? []
Majoring in Bioengineering []
Advice for High Schoolers []
Memories []

Our Guests: Rayyan Ayoub is a Goldwater Scholar who is studying Bioengineering at the University of California Riverside.

Memorable Quote: “If work is play, no one can beat you.” Rayyan Ayoub.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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Swimming took up a lot of Grant’s time in high school. So he had little time to think about his career and beyond.

He did get interested in Biology later in high school, and was involved in Biology competitions.

Grant joins our podcast to share his UC Irvine undergraduate experience, UG Research in Antibiotics, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Pursuing in Chemistry, and his Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 


Overall Undergraduate Experience
UG Research in Antibiotics
The Goldwater Scholarship
Chemistry & Biological Sciences Major
Advice to High Schoolers

Topics discussed in this episode:


Introduction to Grant Lai, UCI []
Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []
Overall Experience at UCI []
Why UCI? []
High School Interests []
Transition to College []
Peers & Profs []
Starting UG Research []
Antibiotics Research []
Research Impact []
Applying for Goldwater Scholarship []
Winning the GW Scholarship []
The GW Difference []
Outside Class Activities []
Majoring in Chemistry []
What’s Next? []
Impact of Research on Education []
Advice for High Schoolers []
Memories []

Our Guests: Grant Lai is a Goldwater Scholar who is studying Chemistry and Biological Sciences at the University of California Irvine.

Memorable Quote: “For most people, I would say almost all my friends did chemistry, because they had a great chemistry teacher in high school. ” Grant Lai.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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